10. Hunter

Isaw the panic in his eyes. He was spiraling.

I didn't even have time to recover from the best sex I'd ever had—and it had nothing to do with Kinsley. I felt guilty, but she took one look at me and knew that Tyler was the one I wanted sleeping in my bed tonight. I'd dabbled with my fair share of men and women, but none of them rattled my bones like Tyler Riley.

Kinsley left with a swift peck on my cheek, and her eyes told me the same thing I knew: Tyler was panicking. Which was confirmation enough that I was likely his first gay experience.

He also had zero interest in women. He hadn't touched Kinsley, nor did his dick so much as twitch at the sight of her. But me? Oh was he ever attracted to me. I knew people found me attractive, but having his desire? God, I was drunk on that knowledge alone.

My mind kept going to his lips on my back, how he fucked me with such confidence while his hands were so tender. He showed me with his touch just how much he appreciated every part of my body. It was different to everyone else.

For the first time, I wanted more than just one night. Outside of Kinsley, I'd never had someone more than once. It probably wasn't the smartest idea to go into this without her in it, but I could see Tyler wasn't completely into her being part of our sexual exchange. When I saw the look in his eyes in the bathroom, I could see the battle he was fighting. All I wanted to do was hold him together. I watched as he came to some conclusion in his mind.

I could see it then, the guy behind the blue-green eyes. He came here for the biggest opportunity in a lifetime: a way to prove himself. He wanted to show the world that a small-town Aussie boy could make it in the big leagues. If the last few weeks of being on the ice with him were any indication, I knew he could do it.

What we just did was like throwing a slapshot to an unguarded goalie. Tyler now had to hide a huge part of himself. Up until now, he was happy denying it, but now it came roaring to the surface. He'd only have to learn to bury it deep down again.

I tried holding onto him, but when he said, "Just one night," I let go, watching as he tried to find his clothes in the dim light. There was a war going on inside me. I didn't want him to go. I really didn't want this to be a "wham, bam, thank you man."

"Tyler, please. It's late and you've been drinking. Just stay, the guys will be sleeping well into the afternoon. I doubt they'd question you being here anyway."

He paused and mulled over my words. His head hung low as he fought with his indecision. I took a step closer. The wild animal that was unleashed moments ago was now outside of his cage, wondering where the fuck to go after a life stuck in captivity.

I stepped into his space. I had briefs on, but he was still naked. Every beautiful manly curve on display in the lamplight. I wrapped one arm around his waist, pressing him into my chest, the other hand spearing through his gorgeous auburn locks. He tensed in my arms, hands firm on my hips, ready to push away. But we both knew he didn't want to. I shushed him and held him tighter. His body trembled and I felt my own eyes burn in reaction to his overflowing emotions.

"It's okay, baby. it's okay." He shook his head against my shoulder. I alternated between rubbing his back and stroking his hair in an attempt to calm him.

"There is nothing wrong with you," I whispered against his temple.

"Why me? Why does shit always happen to me? Why can't I just be a hockey player like everyone else? All I ever dreamed about was going pro." His voice cracked as he fought against the threat of tears.

"You will, Ty. You will go pro. Everyone can see it. You can't help who you're attracted to."

He pulled back and looked into my eyes. God, that broken look had me all tied up. No one had ever torn me up like that man did. No one made me as angry, no one had made me want like that—no one had ever made me feel like he did.

"Yeah, but you can choose. You can still be with women. Fuck. I tried, but ever since…" The words died on his lips and shook his head.

Bile rose up in my throat. I didn't have a clue what happened to him, but I knew that a woman did it. And it only made me sick that I'd let his first encounter with a man—with me—trigger him.

"I can't choose who I have feelings for Tyler. Say I do fall for a man. I'd face the same war you're having right now. Look, I'll probably be the last guy on the planet to fall in love. I'm a dick, I know that. You know what I think, though? Fuck the world. It's messed up anyway. God knows we're living in a country with an outdated system but do they deserve to know the real you? Hell no. they aren't ready for that. But they are entitled to know you are going to be the best damn hockey player of our generation. And fuck you for that too—you took my title the moment you swept that fine ass in here."

Tyler chuckled and the sound fueled the fire in my belly. I lifted his chin higher, his lips close enough to kiss. "But that's all they are entitled to. You're entitled to your privacy. So don't let this—" I gestured between the two of us "Make you think you're doing something wrong. It's okay that you like men, especially my fine ass." Tyler smacked said fine ass, - "On behalf of all the queer men, we're fucking elated to have you on our team."

Tyler was breathing heavily in my arms, but at least the misery in his eyes was gone, replaced by desire. His tongue darted out to lick his lips and my eyes tracked the motion. I felt his dick harden against my own.

"For a complete ass, you really know how to bring a guy away from the edge."

My hands moved, cradling his strong jaw. "Seems you light up a sentimental part of me." I didn't know what he was doing to me. I never, never spoke like this, but just like on the ice, we were connected in a way I couldn't explain. The words left my mouth like his ears needed to hear them. All that frustration in the locker room made so much sense. Our bodies knew better than we did that we needed each other.

"We still have tonight, right?" Tyler murmured against my lips. That had my cock at full attention. I grabbed his ass and pulled him close, making sure he felt it.

"Mmhmm, the night is still young. Well… the morning is. What are you suggesting? Sixty-nine? Or a dual-hand job? I would say you could fuck me again, but I'm a little sore—you're bigger than what I'm used to."

That practically made him purr. "How about you do me?"

I froze, looking down at my baby gay.

"You sure?" I searched for any sign of doubt but found none. I only found those beautiful eyes blazing with heat.

"I want you to fuck me, Hunter. If this is the only night I can have, I want it to be with someone who makes me feel… safe, who turns me on like no one else. Please."

God, he didn't need to beg.

"You have no idea how many times I have thought of taking this ass while I'm ogling you in the locker room."

Tyler chuckled. "I had the same thought. Especially when you were winding me up. It only made me want to fuck the attitude right out of you."

I gave Tyler a nudge and he matched me step for step, backing up eagerly until his ass hit the edge of the bed. I took him in as he slowly lowered himself to the pillows, his hand stroking his dick.

Damn, he was so confident.

My first time with a guy was a fumble. It was an awkward jerk-off session in the bedroom, hoping the other guy was as into it as I was. Then it went to awkward blow jobs and eventually, I was able to find my first bottom. Later on, I dabbled in being vers.

Tyler was my first in a long time. And now? he was splayed out in all his Australian country boy glory. There wasn't an ounce of fear in his eyes. He went hard or went home and fuck, it was hot. I hoped to God he didn't ever go home; I didn't want to find out what that felt like. I crawled over him, bracing myself on the pillow on either side of his head.

I wanted to take this slow. I shouldn't have rushed it before seeing his reaction after was proof of that. I was chasing my own pleasure and somewhere along the line, I decided that I wanted it to be different with him. I wasn't sure what it was, but he was just different, and my usual way of doing things wasn't going to fly with this guy.

I feathered my lips over his, and he arched into my touch. His tongue prodded at my lips, begging for entry. My jaw fell open in invitation. I slipped my tongue into his mouth, taking my time and mapping out every available space. For the first time, fear of the morning after made my heart race.

Tyler must have read my thoughts because his hands cupped my cheeks and his tongue danced with mine, short-circuiting the worry cycle I was about to fall into. A noise left my lips, haunted by what hold he had over me. With one hand I fumbled for the lube, locating the bottle and clumsily flicking the lid open before I slicked up my fingers. I slowly stretched him to get him ready for me, loving the way he writhed against me, how his whispered cries called for me, and only me.

"Please, Hunter, I want you, need you, please." I kissed the pleas from his lips.

"Did you have another condom in your wallet?" I remember how hard he insisted on using his own, and I was gifted with a look of appreciation. Tyler nodded; eyes sparkling.

I moved quickly, hating the way the cold air stung my skin. I craved his presence again. I got out his wallet, finding the condom swiftly, and returned to the bed.

"Did you want to do the honors?"

Tyler bit his lip, and I quickly learned that it was his way of holding in his feelings. I really wanted to be someone he could voice those thoughts to.

But something told me, I wouldn't get that. I've only got this one night. After that, it's back to being his teammate.

Tyler snatched the condom, ripping open the foil and rolling it on me with care. He then grabbed the lube and slicked up my shaft. Silently, I lined myself up with his hole, the air sizzling with anticipation. I pressed in and heard his initial hiss as I breached the first ring of muscle.

I leaned down. "Relax baby. Let me make this good for you." I kissed him and reached for his dick. I stroked it slowly, getting him to relax and let me in. With each inch I gained his cock pulsed in my hand.We both spit out a curse as I bottomed out. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing to keep from blowing my load too soon. Only Tyler Riley would have me coming like it was my first time.

"Move, Hunt. please." His words made me groan. And the lust in his eyes had me losing my breath. I'd been looked at many ways over the years, but nothing topped the way he looked at me in that moment. I gave him one experimental thrust, getting the feel for him. It was like I was feeling everything for the first time again. I felt his every pulse, every reaction to my movements. His body surged when I hit that spot, and I felt his toes curl.

I was going to make this man fall apart.

And fuck, did my baby fall apart.

He threw his head back on the pillow, mouth open as he tried to regulate his breathing. His body shuddered. I leaned down, needing to feel his lips. When our lips met, instead of the hungry, frenzied kisses I was used to, our mouths met in a soft, sweet dance.

He wrapped his legs around my waist, pulling me closer as he began to move with me. Our bodies moved in sync, each of us chasing our release. Our lips explored, only briefly separating to meet each other's eyes. His was… perfect. It was the only word that came to me. The slight part of those full lips had me wanting to kiss him and never stop. The flush to his cheeks made my heart stutter. My hand swept his hair back, kissing down his square jaw and his neck where I sucked a kiss to his Adam's apple. It bobbed under my touch, drawing a whimper from him.

I'd fucked men before, but this is completely different. This was not fucking. I was lost in him, entranced in his smell. So rich and earthy, with a hint of peppermint that I couldn't place. His body quaked as if my gaze alone made him feverish.

The way our bodies moved reminded me of how we were on the ice: our skates moving in time, knowing where the other one is without having to look, moving towards our goal together.

Just like that, I felt his cock swell and jerk, spilling over our chests. His body clenched around me, milking out my own release. My ears were ringing, but I knew we were cursing each other's names. Maybe it's because we knew this was different. Something more than just a one-night stand. It was to me at least. And fuck if it didn't leave me confused. I couldn't even begin to process it in my own head. And when I looked down at him, I could see the question in his eyes.

"Is it always like this?"

"No, baby. This is something different," I panted between shaky breaths. He nodded but didn't say a thing, didn't let me into his thoughts. I leaned my forehead against his, like a pathetic loser hoping those thoughts would breach the barrier.

"Will you stay?" I whispered against his lips. It was a sentence I never anticipated uttering to anyone else. It came out more like a plea, my brain realizing that the moment he was gone, I would be left questioning everything. In that moment, my own voice felt unfamiliar to me. He nodded, almost as if saying no was impossible. I planted a kiss on his nose and reluctantly pulled away, catching his hiss as I pulled out. "You alright?" I asked, my concern lingering in the air.

"Yeah, Hunt, I'm good." His smile revealed one lone dimple carved into his cheek.

I bit my lip to refrain from licking that little dip. I needed to hold back some of this vulnerability he was causing me to display.

I went to the bathroom to clean myself up, then returned with a warm cloth for him. His eyes tracked my movements lazily as I wiped his chest clean. I threw the cloth in the hamper across the room and slid between the sheets. Tyler surprised me by rolling over so we were eye-to-eye, and then his lips grazed mine. "Thank you."

Before I could think to reply, he found his way under my chin and rested his head on my chest. I worried he might hear how loud my heart was beating. I counted his breaths as they slowly evened out. My lips found his hair, my fingers stroking between the soft strands. I don't know when I dozed off, but I shouldn't have been surprised that like everything I did with Tyler Riley, it was a perfect sleep.

The cold sheets the next morning were like a torment I knew all too well.

Nothing perfect lasted.

"He isn't here," Colton's voice stopped me from scanning the open living area of the hockey house.

"No shit," I groused, joining him in the kitchen to help myself to some coffee.

"You know, when I said to become friends with him, I didn't mean fuck him."

"Who said anything about fucking? He just slept in my room because he was too drunk to walk home." I knew that anything I said would fall on deaf ears. Nothing got past Colton. He was the all-seeing eye.

"I'm going to guess he slept naked. Also, Kins left way before he did. Not normally your style. What would have happened if someone saw you? What would that mean for the team, Hunter?"

I looked away from Colton's hard stare. He was an old friend. I knew he didn't care what I did in my spare time. He never once outed me to anyone. Though, it wasn't lost on me that a good person in my books is one that will keep the fact that I am bisexual a secret. It should be common courtesy, but that wasn't the world we lived in

"Unless you decided to be a Peeping Tom, Colton, you know nothing. He slept on my couch because he was drunk. Kinsley left to make it less awkward. So you don't have to worry, Captain. Your precious forward and I are getting along fine."

I gave Colton a seething gaze, one of warning. He raked his hand over his face.

"I'm sorry, okay? I just don't want you messing with team members. I have no issue with your sexuality, you know that, right? Just… you have a way of sabotaging things, and I don't want the team to be one of them. Aussie doesn't give me the impression that he likes one-night stands, and that is what you do. So the last thing I need is you playing with his emotions okay? Don't you remember what it was like the last time you had a regular fuck buddy that wasn't Kins?"

I rolled my eyes. "This isn't the same." I cursed the moment the words left my lips. I'd just outed myself. I knew Colton wasn't stupid, but I wasn't going to out Tyler. Even if he did leave me without so much as a goodbye. "Because he slept on the couch," I jumped in.

Someone gag me.

"Mmhmm, right, so your banter back and forth is just that."

"Yup. We get under each other's skin, just drop it okay? Aussie and I are fine."

"I'm sure you do get under each other's skin. But fine, I'll drop it. Just don't fuck with the team members, okay? This is the year, and I will not have your sex life get in between it."

I clenched my jaw so tight my teeth ground together and I nodded—if for no other reason than to end the conversation so I could go back to brooding.