14. Tyler

CHAPTER 14

TYLER

My feet pound against the frozen sidewalk, breath rising in visible puffs as I push myself through the neighborhood. The frigid morning air bites at my lungs but I welcome the sting, hoping the cold can numb the chaos churning in my mind.

I can't escape the memory of DJ's lips on mine, the heat of his hands gripping my hips, pulling me into him. A lot has happened since we kissed but that moment in the locker room has haunted me continuously. DJ smashed through the careful walls I've built around the truth I've been running from for years.

I'm into him. DJ. A dude. Like, really fucking into him .

A groan escapes me and it has nothing to do with the stitch in my side. I've gotten so good at pushing those desires down, locking them away. Pretending to be the cocky straight bro, fooling everyone—hell, even myself most days.

But that kiss...fuck.

It changed everything.

I think about how Sydney looked at me yesterday when I finally shared my truth with someone out loud.

Her face, always so open and honest, held no judgment. Only warmth and understanding.

"You owe it to yourself to see where it leads."

I reach my building and slump against the brick wall by the door, gasping to catch my breath.

Holy shit. Am I actually going to do this? Risk alienating my family, endure vicious press scrutiny, upend my entire fucking identity...to explore things with DJ?

My mind conjures an image of him. Strong jaw, full lips quirked in that cocky smirk that never fails to piss me off and turn me on. Broad shoulders, muscular arms, and big, rough hands I've secretly imagined on my body for years.

Yeah . Years . The thought strengthens my resolve— I'm doing this. This has been a long time coming. No more running.

Feeling ten pounds lighter, I haul myself upright and head inside, mind spinning as I think through my next steps.

First things first—it's game day.

The arena thrums with palpable energy as I skate out to take my place between the pipes. Thousands of eyes bore into me but I block them out, my world narrowing to the puck and the players before me. I'm clearheaded, focused.

Ready.

The whistle blows and the game begins in a flurry of motion. I move on pure instinct, my body an extension of my will as I deflect shot after shot. Stick, blocker, glove —each save is met with a deafening roar from the crowd.

"Let's go Simmonds!" they chant, their voices filling me with a heady surge of adrenaline.

I feel untouchable, invincible, like a goddamn superhero in my pads and mask.

The clock ticks down, seconds stretching into eternity. One more shot, one more save . The buzzer sounds, and the arena erupts.

3-0, a flawless shutout.

Gloves and sticks rain down around me as my teammates mob the crease, their shouts of elation blending with the crowd's. Strong arms wrap around me from all sides and I'm swallowed up in a sea of sweaty jerseys and fist bumps.

In this moment, I'm on top of the world. The doubts and insecurities that plague me off the ice melt away, replaced by an unshakable confidence. With my team at my back, I can face anything.

Something deep in me clicks into place, and I know I'm finally ready to talk to DJ. Tonight.

The team is packed into our favorite pizza joint, the smell of pepperoni and victory hanging heavy in the air. Laughter and loud voices reverberate off the scuffed wooden tables as the guys relive the game's biggest moments, riding high on our win.

"Simmonds, those saves in the third were fucking clutch!" Matthews grins, lifting his beer towards me.

I flash him a smile and nod in thanks, but my eyes are tracking DJ across the table as he chats animatedly with Cooper. His easy laughter draws me in like a magnet.

I can barely focus on the banter flying around me.

And then our gazes lock and everything else fades to the background entirely. That familiar current of electricity sparks to life between us, unspoken but undeniable.

DJ's lips quirk up at the corner and his eyes glint with a look I've been fantasizing about for months.

The confidence from our win pulses through my veins, mingling with the thrum of anticipation. Sydney's advice echoes in my ears and I take a deep breath.

Fuck it, it's now or never .

I catch DJ's eye again and tilt my head subtly towards a door marked "emergency exit" in the back—or rather, towards the dark hallway that I know is behind it, from past mistaken searches for the bathroom. He looks confused and my heart pounds in my throat. For a harrowing second, I think I've misread everything.

But then a grin slowly spreads across his face, turning almost feral.

"Be right back," I mutter to no one in particular, sliding out of the booth. The guys barely look up from their heated debate over a ref's missed call.

I make my way to the dimly lit back hallway on shaky legs, hyper-aware of DJ's presence a few steps behind me. As soon as the door swings shut behind us, he pins me against the wall, his hands sliding over my hips and his breath hot against my ear.

"Been waiting for you to make a move," he growls, his voice rough with want.

Any coherent response I might have had is swallowed by his mouth on mine, passionate and demanding. I fist my hands in his shirt and pull him closer, kissing him back just as fiercely.

DJ's hands are everywhere, leaving trails of heat even through my clothes. I melt into his touch, craving more, all my pent-up desire pouring out. He starts fumbling with my belt and I freeze for a second, a spike of shocked excitement piercing the haze of lust.

It's finally happening .

"This okay?" DJ breaks the kiss to ask, his eyes searching mine.

I swallow hard and nod firmly. "Yeah. I want this. Want you."

It's all the encouragement he needs. DJ undoes my pants and takes my cock in hand, confident and sure. Oh, Jesus .

I let my head fall back against the wall as he starts to stroke me, teasing and exploring. Sparks of pleasure shoot through me as I harden in his grip.

"Fuck, your hands," I groan, my hips jutting forward.

"You have no idea how many times I've imagined this," DJ says, his voice strained. "God, Tyler, I've been thinking about this huge cock nonstop."

His words send a thrill through me, imagining that he's touched himself thinking about me—the way I have about him, so many times.

I clutch him tighter, bucking into his hand, and he meets my movements with his own, a perfect sync that drives every thought from my mind but him. The walls of the hallway are cold against my heated skin, a stark contrast to the warmth between us.

"Don't stop," I breathe out, and DJ chuckles lowly, his breath tickling my ear.

"Not a chance," he promises, and shifts his position slightly to give himself better leverage. His other hand slides up under my shirt, fingers exploring the plane of my back before digging possessively into flesh.

DJ crushes his lips against mine, trailing down the side of my neck before kissing me deeply again.

"Your cock feels incredible," he murmurs against my mouth. "I need to taste you."

I exhale with desire and anticipation and he grins against me.

"That's right, I'm going to blow you now. As long as that won't freak you out?"

He drops to his knees and glances up at me, his lips parted and eyes dark with lust. My heart nearly pounds out my chest at the sight.

This is real. This is actually happening.

"God, yes," I rasp out. "Please."

DJ doesn't need to be told twice. He takes me into the wet heat of his mouth and I stuff my fist against my lips to muffle my moan. His tongue swirls and teases as he bobs his head, taking me deeper.

The sensations are almost too much, overwhelming in their intensity. DJ is thorough, deliberate in his movements, and I can tell he's just as caught up in this as I am. His mouth is unbelievable, each stroke of his tongue sending shivers down my spine.

DJ's lips come up to circle the head of my cock and he sucks hard.

The way he looks up at me through his eyelashes, eyes alight with mischief and lust—it ignites something inside me and I grab his hair and fuck his mouth hard once, twice, before I realize what I'm doing and begin to back off.

But DJ grabs my thighs to stop me, taking me deeper into his throat and then groaning around me, the vibration adding another layer of pleasure that has my knees buckling.

"Holy shit, DJ..."

He pulls back slightly, lips shiny and swollen as he grins up at me.

"You like that?" he teases, voice husky.

I nod, unable to form words. His hands have come up to play with my dick and I watch as he uses his fingers to smear his spit and my pre-cum up and down my straining cock.

The sight turns me on more, if that's even possible, and I moan and lace my fingers into his hair again, guiding his hot mouth back to my cock until his lips are pressed against the head.

DJ's gaze is locked on mine, intense and unyielding as he takes me all the way again, until my tip is hitting the back of his throat. The sensation is mind-blowing, his mouth a perfect heaven of pressure and wetness.

The rush is building from deep within, threatening to overwhelm me.

"DJ...I'm gonna—" My voice breaks off into a ragged gasp as he increases his pace, his hands gripping my hips to hold me steady.

He hums around me again, sending vibrations through my entire body, and then I'm gone. The world narrows to the blinding pleasure cresting through me and I throw my head back against the wall, my orgasm ripping through me in waves.

DJ doesn't let up until I'm spent, gently easing me through it with soft licks and sucks, drinking down every ounce of the hot cum I'm shooting into his mouth.

When I finally open my eyes, DJ is standing up, his lips curved in a self-satisfied smirk. "Fuck yeah," he rumbles, standing to press against me once more. "I'll suck you off for dessert anytime."

I laugh, the sound more breathless than I'd intended. "You... God, DJ, that was?—"

"Everything you hoped for?" he interjects as he wipes the back of his hand across his mouth with a cocky raise of his eyebrow, his voice still rough.

"More," I admit, pulling him into another fierce kiss. My lips are hungry against his and I can taste my own cum in his mouth—it's intoxicating. His arms wrap around me, strong and secure, and I can't help but press closer, wanting his body against mine without any barriers.

As we break for air, my forehead rests against his.

"I didn't know it could be like this," I confess, my voice scratchy, not even entirely sure what I mean.

DJ's smile gentles, the usual playful spark in his eyes giving way to something softer.

"It can be whatever you want it to be," he whispers back, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. His fingers linger against my skin, heart-stoppingly tender compared to the animalistic roughness moments ago.

Someone passes by the door, talking loudly, and the hallway suddenly seems too public despite the seclusion. DJ seems to sense my unease. Leaning in for a quick final kiss, he gestures towards the door.

"Come on," he says. "Let's get out of here."

We try to be subtle as we grab our coats, making casual excuses individually to the team before meeting back up outside.

Out in the night air, the usual charged energy between us shifts into something calmer but no less present. The city lights cast shadows over DJ's features, making him look both mysterious and impossibly handsome. We walk in silence for a few blocks, each lost in our thoughts.

I'm frowning slightly when DJ wraps his hand around mine and tugs me to a stop.

"Hey," he says gently. "I hope you're not freaking out." He quirks an eyebrow at me, our breath steaming between us in the winter air.

His words are casual but I can see a crease of concern on his forehead.

I smile and shake my head, trying to find the right words.

"No, I'm not freaking out," I assure him, squeezing his hand. "Just...overwhelmed, I guess."

DJ laughs softly, looking relieved. "Good overwhelmed or bad overwhelmed?"

"Definitely good," I reply without hesitating.

"Good. Because for me it was fucking amazing." His easy words take the air out of me. "So…my place is just over there, but I'm not asking you back…" For a moment I'm stung, but then he grins and continues. "Because if I do, I can't be held responsible for what I do to you, and I think I've probably given you enough firsts for one evening."

DJ's hands have come up to fist in my hair, and all I can do is stare at him as his words light up my skin, my cock already stirring with arousal again.

"But you think we can do this again sometime?" he asks.

"Yes," I say, my voice only shaking a little. "I'd like that a lot."

DJ's smile widens, and he leans in, his lips brushing against mine in a kiss that's sweet and slow. It's another stark contrast to the intensity we shared minutes ago, yet it sets off a whole new range of tingles through my body.

As he walks away, he turns back to shoot me one last mischievous grin and a small wave. I watch him until he turns the corner, and then I'm left standing alone under the streetlights, every moment of tonight whirring around my mind in vivid detail.

I'm going to be replaying this night for a very long time.