Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

MADDOX

I woke up at seven, plastered to Kayden's back. My arm and leg were still wrapped around him, holding him close, and I didn't want to move. Not from this position or this bed. Huh. For a guy who couldn't stand to be touched, I was becoming addicted to Kayden's.

My therapist would call this a breakthrough. I called it a freaking miracle.

And my cock, now rested after a full night's sleep, was also very happy to be sleeping next to the big guy. Then I remembered where we were.

Roll away from Kayden and hit the shower.

I didn't budge. Until I felt Kayden suddenly shift in my arms. Then I quickly let go. But I continued to stare at him, wondering how the hell I'd ended up here. He rolled over and faced me, his sandy hair a wavy mess around his face, his golden eyes sleepy.

"Hey," he murmured and reached out to cup my face.

"Hey."

His touch was gentle, and that startled me more than anything.

I swallowed past the huge lump in my throat. And when he leaned over and kissed me, I let him. More than that, I took control of the kiss, teasing him with my tongue, all the while pushing at his shoulders, urging him to his back.

Straddling his waist, I rocked my hips, my morning wood rubbing against his. The loud groan that rumbled out of his chest made me shiver, lust sparking like wildfire in my veins.

"Get these briefs off," I demanded. "Now."

"Fuck," Kayden whimpered and slid his hands down my back and over my ass. We both struggled to get out of our underwear as fast as possible, and when our naked cocks brushed against each other, hard, hot, and leaking, I rubbed myself all over him. I needed to come so fucking bad.

"Next time," I moaned against his mouth. "I want to eat your ass."

"Fuck yes," he moaned. "I want that too."

Kayden gripped my ass cheeks tightly as he thrust his hips in tandem with mine. We humped frantically, and all the while I devoured his mouth, needing his taste, so fucking greedy for it.

"Kay," I groaned as my body took over, my hips pumping hard and fast.

"Come with me," Kayden urged.

I pumped my hips one more time, and then I unleashed, my body jerking hard with the force of my orgasm. Kayden called out my name, lashing my skin with his cum, both of us a sweaty, sticky mess.

I collapsed on top of him, panting, too blissed out to move.

"This is a much better way to get your hips flexors ready for the game," Kayden teased.

"Mmm," I whispered against his shoulder, then gently nipped the skin and licked it. "I think you're on to something there."

One of his hands slid up my back, then up higher to my shoulder, my neck. I tensed, so unused to being touched like that. Kayden's hands were gentle now, slow, and easy. I trembled a few times, then I figured it was just aftershocks. But when he traced one of the tattoos on my right arm, the trembling intensified.

Suddenly, he stopped.

"Shit, I'm sorry."

"It's okay," I replied, my head still tucked under his chin. "I'm still not used to being touched like that."

"Does this skull and snake represent someone?"

I moved my head, looking into his eyes.

"I…I don't want to talk about. Not today. But, someday, alright?"

He nodded and then slid his hand back around to grip my neck, bringing me in for a long, deep kiss. It didn't matter if it was fast and dirty, or slow and sweet, kissing Kayden was so freaking incredible. Fuck, I could lie here all day and make out with him.

"See," I finally said when we came up for air. "You freaked out for nothing."

"What?"

"Your call with Dane."

"You heard?"

"You're not exactly quiet, Kay."

His face turned pink, his freckles darkening, and I did the unthinkable. I kissed him. No, not his mouth. His cheek.

I leaned back and Kay stared at me, mouth open, eyes wide.

"What?" I bit out.

"Nothing." Kayden shook his head and hugged me tighter. So tight I was surprised I could draw breath.

But our cum was drying, and it was starting to get itchy.

"Shower, breakfast, rink," I declared as I reluctantly pulled away.

Kayden stared up at me, his hands wandering up my stomach, higher, until he reached my nipples. When he ran the pads of his fingers over them, I jolted. Who knew that would turn me on?

"Good?" he whispered as he licked his lips.

"Very. But we don't have time to explore that now."

"Later?"

I nodded.

Then I took hold of his hands and pulled them away from my chest. He interlocked our fingers tightly, and suddenly, my mouth was dry, my heart knocking hard against my ribs. Holding his hands make me nervous as hell. Kayden tugged, and I leaned forward, taking his lips again. Harder this time, kissing him soundly, my tongue snaking around his. We didn't let go of each other. Not until our phones started chiming.

"Reality calls," I reminded him.

"Reality bites," he whispered and smiled against my lips.

"Sounds like me," I quipped.

"That's what I thought at first, but no," Kayden looked at me, his expression serious. "You're all bark and no bite."

"A pretty fierce bark."

"Eh, I'm getting used to it."

Kayden

By the time Mad and I showered, changed, and ate breakfast, it was time to head for the bus.

And when we arrived at the rink, I was pumped up. Feeling better than I had in a long time.

See? I could handle whatever this was with me and Mad. Sex. Really hot, intense sex that led to amazing orgasms that cleared my head and gave me that much-needed oomph. I chatted up all the guys, high-fiving them, offering words of encouragement, getting them amped up for the game. Maddox kept himself to himself. Which was fine. I knew there was no interfering with his pre-game ritual.

Dane skated up to me as we finished our warm-up.

"You're in an extra good mood," he whispered. "Don't tell me you and Mad?—"

I tried to hold back my smile, but I couldn't.

"Your face, Kay. Everyone will know or suspect you got laid and the questions will start."

Shit, I didn't think about that.

"I can't help it. Why didn't anyone ever tell me that having an orgasm before a game was the best thing ever? I feel like I could play hockey in the freaking Olympics right now and win gold."

"Oh my God. Is Maddox aware of what he's unleashed?" Dane teased.

I glanced at the net and Maddox glared back at me, shaking his head.

"I think so."

"Oh no," Dane muttered.

"What?"

"That look on your face. I fucking know that look, Kay. You like him. More than like?"

"Well, I did ask you how you knew about Jackson. It shouldn't be that much of a shock."

"Yeah, but Maddox? I mean, he's hot, but volatile as fuck. Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

"He may be all that, but he has his reasons. He's so much more than that. And yes, despite my shitty grades, I'm not totally stupid. I can handle this."

"I never said you were that. Never." Dane looked at me, hurt in his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I know you didn't mean it that way," I replied quickly. "It's gonna be fine. I'm sure this feeling is just temporary. It'll burn itself out and then we'll move on. That's what happens, right? It's fun for a while and then it's done. Nothing lasts forever."

Well, maybe for some people. Like Dane and Jackson. They were in love. Okay, maybe I liked Maddox more than a hook up. And yes, whenever I was with him, I was free-falling into something I knew nothing about but wanted anyway. And I was a committed player. Once the game got going, I was all in. It was the same way with Maddox.

"Remember what I said. It can't interfere with the game," Dane added.

I nodded, positive in my decision.

Coach called us back to the bench for a final talk before the game started.

"Melnyk, Moss, Rowland, Lund, St. Pierre, you're up. Show them how it's done!"

The ref skated onto the ice and blew his whistle, getting everyone's attention. And when I stepped out, I was ready.

First period, and we're on fire. Dane scored, then Axel. I also got my first assist of the season. I was so revved up that when I skated past Maddox, he offered his blocker to me, and I tapped it. It wasn't a pat on the ass, but I'd take it. And thank God, Playing Rockland College wasn't the mayhem that was us against Boston.

For the rest of the game, it seemed like nothing could stop us.

We were up 3-0 by the second period. Rockland still hadn't scored, and it didn't look like it was about to happen anytime soon. All our guys were glued to the fucking puck in every play, with none of us letting up. Their goalie started looking tired; after so many shots on goal, we wore him down.

By the time the third period rolled around, though, we'd hit a bit of a bump. Silas, up until this point, was killing it. Until he let one of Rockland's forwards slip past him. The guy fired a wicked slapshot, and we held our collective breath as the puck took flight.

It was a beautiful corner shot. But it was no match for Mad's reflexes. No goal. And while Rockland's crowd sat silent, everyone on our team celebrated. We jumped off the bench and yelled as loud as we could, then I got the team chanting Maddox's name.

And by the time the final buzzer sounded, it was 3-0 Cougars. Shut the fuck up, it was a shutout! The bench was lit. Even Coach was smiling.

We rushed from our box to center ice to celebrate. Everyone except Maddox.

He was skating in front of his net, tapping the bar, and watching us. I could sense that he wanted to join in, but also that he needed to hold back. He didn't like crowds or being crowded. I gave him that space, but once we calmed down, which, let's face it, for a group of college players, takes a while, I ambled over to give him a hug.

He needed one, whether he liked it or not. And what was more surprising? He let me. For about five seconds. Then he pushed me away and told me to fuck off.

That was the moment I knew I was falling hard for Maddox Rocher.