25. Benny

TWENTY-FIVE

BENNY

I wake up with a slightly sore ass and with a big smile on my face.

We stayed over at Chris's house, since it's closer to Jules and Sterling's house, and we were both so fucking happy with how dinner went, that we couldn't help but have a celebratory fuck. I mean, who doesn't like that, right?

As always, Chris is still sound asleep when I open my eyes, and I wonder what even woke me up, since I'm still groggy as hell.

I register the buzzing on the nightstand and flip over to reach for it.

God, so many notifications, what the hell is happening?

It's from the group chat of everyone who went to dinner last night. I don't understand what they're talking about, so I scroll up to the first message which was only ten minutes ago. It's a link to a post on social media.

I click it and see it's... well, how do you describe such blatant bigotry ?

Fucking hell.

A sporting magazine reposted a picture of all of us last night. How did they get—ah, it says in the caption Jules posted it this morning.

"The Gay Team," that's what the headline says. How in the fuck do they think it's okay to post something like this? I scroll down, thinking I ought to comment something, and that's when I see it. A comment by our fiercest warrior.

GabDarnell: You spelled multiple Stanley Cup–winning team wrong. Also, if I could sue you for publishing the words of an imbecile who apparently had a lobotomy, I would. And I'd win.

I snort despite myself. She's something else, our Gab. I take a screenshot of her comment and go back to the group chat. I'm not sure they've seen it since it says she only commented a minute ago.

I send it, and instantly, there are more messages to go through.

Sterling

See? No need to get a lawyer.

Bear

I love that woman.

Drew

I love her more.

Xander

I want to be her son.

Milkman

Well, she already treats you and Drew better than all of us.

Jules

She's the best thing that's ever happened to this world.

Sterling

What are we going to get her?

They immediately start to come up with the craziest ideas—like buying her a horse. So I lock my phone and make sure it won't vibrate off the damn nightstand, then put it down and turn around to stare at Chris like a creep.

Well, it's not that creepy. Since he is my boyfriend and all.

Like I do when I have time in the mornings, I catalog every single line and dip of his face. I have to put my hands under my cheek again to stop myself from reaching over and touching him. His dropped lower lip looks so soft, so lickable. His cheeks have a four o'clock shadow, like mine probably do, and since he shaves cleanly every other day, I want to take advantage and feel it against my palm while I have the chance.

Maybe I can convince him to grow a beard with me when the playoffs start?

That would be something, wouldn't it?

We could wear matching outfits and be all dopey for all those months. I snicker quietly, I'm so ridiculous.

I must drift off too, because I feel fully rested when my eyes open again. What kind of power does Gab have, that after being outed and basically ridiculed to the world, one comment from her made me relax enough to fall asleep so quickly ?

I remember the song I sang to Chris. "The Power of Love" sounds about right, even though it's corny as hell. I don't mind being corny. I think it's cool and fun and happy.

Chris is still asleep, so with great regret, I get up and go downstairs to his kitchen to make some breakfast, otherwise my stomach will start eating itself.

I have a cup of coffee with just a little bit of creamer ready for Chris when he comes down, and I accept the minty kiss he offers me.

"A package arrived for you, handsome," I nod toward the entrance where I put the big box. I didn't open it, but the suspense is killing me. What did he buy that's so big? Being curious isn't a crime, but opening someone's mail is, so I resisted investigating.

"Oh, those are the mirrors I ordered," he says casually and walks over to the box.

"Mirrors?" I say in a breathy voice that sounds as horny as I instantly feel. My dick starts to thicken in my briefs so fast I think I'm about to become lightheaded. I rest my hands on the counter just in case my knees go out—okay maybe I'm being dramatic, but come on.

This is like . . . the best thing.

But then again, there are a lot of things Chris does that are the best. Like buying a Switch to play with me when I'm away, and stocking Cokes in his house for me. Learning so much about hockey that he now knows more than his brother in less than a month, and going out of his way to ensure he sleeps next to me every night because he knows how much I like it.

The list goes on and on and he just keeps adding to it .

"Chris," I whisper in wonder. "You bought mirrors?"

"Well yeah, baby," he says, sounding absentminded as he unpacks the six-foot-tall mirrors. "You like them so much I thought I could put them all around the house."

Big Ben's words flow into my mind clear as day. I didn't have to try to be in love with her, I didn't ever have to remind myself of it, I didn't have to decide. I just was in love with her.

And I just am in love with Chris.

It's as simple and as complicated as a fact.

I didn't have to try. I didn't have to twist myself into being something I'm not, into believing something that's not true. It's so us that I realized it while he's doing something so we can have sex all over the house, but it's also sweet. He wants me to enjoy our time together, that's what this tells me. He wants me to want to be here, even if it is to fuck all over his place. It's still so big, so meaningful.

"I love you." I say the words without being able to help it. The realization is so poignant that I just have to say it out loud.

It gets Chris's attention all right. He spins around so fast he almost falls, but he regains his balance and stares at me with those dark eyes filled with love.

And tenderness.

And that fucking intensity that always wants to bring me to my knees.

He swallows hard and takes a deep breath.

"Because I bought mirrors?" he asks, like he's not sure he heard me right, like he needs confirmation.

"Yes," I answer with a laugh. "But also because that's something I know you would absolutely do. For me. For us. I love you because you're you. I've been trying to fly all these years on the ice, but it's only with you that I do. Only with you." I shrug, not able to explain it as well as I wish I could.

He walks determinedly to me and grips my cheeks the way he always does. "I love you too, baby Benny." He seals it with a kiss. One that I don't ever want to end. I could stay right here forever, in his arms, and I plan to.

"Well, look who's finally come to pay his dues," Gab tells me with a raised eyebrow and both fists on her hips.

"Hey, Gab." I bend down and kiss her cheeks. "This is Chris Collins, my boyfriend. Don't say anything to scare him off please?" I ask and bat my eyelashes at her.

She rolls her eyes but puts on her kind smile—she has one that's pretty mean, so it's necessary to notice these things—and offers Chris a hand.

"Nice to meet you, Chris."

"Likewise, Gab."

"Oh, Benny told you to call me Gab, that's good. One thing less for me to do. So tell me, what are your intentions with our sweet Benny."

"Gab—" I start with a groan.

"I intend to love him for as long as he lets me." Chris' voice sounds so sure and... earnest. God, I really do love him. Will I be able to stop thinking about it every few seconds ?

I don't think I'd mind it if I'm not.

"Good." She nods once then turns her stare to me and narrows her eyes. "You brought him only once and while I wasn't here."

"It's not my fault you're a busy bee," I tease her.

"You know I hate to miss things, Benjamin," she says, clearly pretending to be offended. "And I hate it when one of our games falls on a Sunday during football season."

"Because you have a favorite child," I point out. We always tease her that the teams she owns are like children to her, and even though I know damn well there's nothing she loves more in the world than her twin daughters, the teasing won't stop any time soon. "Your precious Rogues," I murmur.

"You know damn well I love all of you equally."

"Do you really?" I ask, laying the disbelief on thick.

"Well, I spent all morning cussing people out because they decided to come after you."

"Point." I relent and once more bend down to kiss her cheek. "I'm going to introduce Chris to everyone and let the kids ask him millions of questions, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. Go ahead."

"Are Lucy and Alex coming?" I ask about her daughters.

"Yeah, should be here any minute."

"Awesome, can't wait to catch up with them." We walk away and Chris looks at me with millions of questions in his eyes, so I do my best to answer them. "The twins just started grad school—medical and law respectively because they're overachievers and smart as hell just like their mom—and I haven't seen them in a while. Eagle and I are the only ones on the team who're the same age as them, and I think I'm their favorite." I wink at him.

"So you're telling me there's two more just like her?" He points a finger behind his back.

"Oh, there's no other like Gab." I let out a laugh. "But her daughters are badasses too. They probably salivate less over the thought of gossip, and I'm pretty sure they would never be able to get diagnosed with FOMO by a psychiatrist like Gab could if such a thing existed."

I get what I want, Chris's laugh, and again the thought flows in seamlessly. I love this man and he loves me.

"Benny," I hear a child's voice and look down to see Jorgen, Mater's oldest son.

"Hey, Jorgen. How are you, buddy?"

"Good, we're playing with Bear again later. My dad said to go get my skates on."

"That's good. You're gonna get lots of goals today?" I ask as I crouch down.

He nods and looks up curiously at Chris. "Is that your boyfriend?" he asks so simply. I love that all the kids from other players or employees of the Pirates see me walking hand-in-hand with a man and just accept it.

"Yes. His name is Chris."

"Hi," Chris says. His eyes are wide with just a little bit of fear. I laugh at him.

"Go put your skates on. I'll show you and your brother how to skate super fast, okay?"

"Thanks!" he shouts happily and runs off.

I straighten and interlace my fingers with Chris. "Come on, I'll take you to the not-scary adults." I snicker at him.

"Shut up," he mutters and bumps his shoulder to mine. " I've never spent time with kids except for when I was a kid."

"That's about to change, handsome. Most of these guys reproduce like they're getting paid for it. Well, Bear hasn't yet, and I don't think he will."

"Neither have Milkman and Xander."

"Well, they've been together less than a year and Milkman is twenty. I know some people can be ready to be parents very young, but he isn't one of those, let me tell you."

Chris barks out a laugh, right as we reach the guys from last night who are hanging out with Bates, Eagle, Fire, and Santa as well.

"It's kind of weird, though," Xander says when we reach them.

"What is?" I ask.

"That the whole world knows what I look like. I mean, Jules had never posted a picture of me before, let alone a sports magazine."

"As long as we have Gab on our side, what can go wrong?" Milkman asks Xander as he puts an arm around his shoulder and kisses his temple.

The conversation goes on around us, but I get stuck on just how na?ve I was this morning to not ask Chris if he was okay with the whole thing.

I told him about it of course, but he didn't seem too worked up or nervous. Maybe I should've checked in with him. We talked about this before, and I assured him there were no paparazzi interested in me—which I think is still true after today—but I didn't tell him this kind of thing could happen .

I never prepared him for it because I wasn't expecting it either.

"I'm proud to be part of the gay team," Fire says in his German accent and brings me back to the present.

"Me too," Santa agrees. Eagle stays quiet, but he's smiling.

We've been lucky—with this team, with this organization, and with our owner—but I know not everyone is. I know there are still a lot of people in the world who think that what we are is wrong. I look at Chris, at how he listens to my friends talk about whatever with a smile.

I see my whole life with him, so I'll talk to him about all of this later, and enjoy the day with my Las Vegas family.

"Hello everyone, can I get your attention?" Gab's voice comes over the speakers. "I just want to welcome you all to our start of the season celebration. We've been fortunate enough to have a lot to celebrate in the last few years, and I'm sure there's only more of that in our future. I want you all to know how much you mean to me and to the organization, and I hope you have fun today, and enjoy our last days of peace before the madness begins again." She chuckles and looks around. "I also have a quick announcement to make. Our GM, Barlow, Laney, and I are very proud to announce a trade who's arriving later this week. Together, the three of us convinced Charlie Heart to give us one more year, and I know we can make history with him as a Pirate. Thank you all for coming."

"Svyataya yebuchaya khren', mudak!" Santa spits out in Russian. I have no idea what he just said but man he looks mad .

"Santa," Jules says cautiously, but he just shakes his head.

"Charlie Heart, stupid fucking name," he mutters darkly in perfectly spoken English. He sounds freaking American. Something he never has before, at least not in front of me. He looks like smoke could be coming out of his nostrils, he's that pissed, but he shakes his head again and walks away.

"What the hell is that about?" Bates asks.

"He hates Heart," Bear says in an even tone, but I see his jaw tense. Then he turns to where Gab is now talking to Barlow and marches right to them.

"Okaaay," I say, not knowing what's happening.

"This is going to be interesting," Eagle says from next to me. I turn and see he's looking at where Santa's storming off. He slams the door on his way out of the rink which leaves me shocked.

Santa's always been so fucking chill. I've rarely heard him speak Russian, and the American accent thing was weird as hell too.

"We'll figure out what's happening later. For now, let's go have some fun," Jules says and we all follow his orders.

I have to ask the second we get to Chris's place.

"Are you freaked out by the photo thing? About it going viral? I know I told you no one cares enough about me to follow me around or anything, and that's still true. People only care because it's Jules who posted it, and of course because Sterling's in the picture with him. I swear I'm not?— "

"Baby, breathe," Chris tells me and places both hands on my shoulders. "It's fine. I'm fine."

"How can you be fine?" I demand, not understanding anything at all.

"Well, I just am," he says defensively. "I don't care if the world knows what my face looks like. Especially if it's next to you, so just breathe."

I do as he says and think about what he just told me. I focus on my breaths for a minute and even close my eyes for a moment.

"Okay," I say, calm now. "Are you sure, sure?" I have to double-check.

"I'm sure, baby. Now go upstairs and take a shower. You're all sweaty. I'm going to set up one of those mirrors." He wags his eyebrows and I stay stock-still for a second, then I sprint up the stairs.

"I'm gonna get you on the ice eventually!" I shout on my way up.

"Not a chance," he sing-songs. I laugh hysterically all the way to the bathroom. I start the shower and get the lube. I know Chris enough to know he won't fuck me hard until I'm well and truly ready, just like I know myself enough to know I will be whining and pleading as soon as he touches me. So of course I'm going to get myself ready, so Chris can be inside me as fast as humanly possible.

I wonder where he'll place the mirror as soon as I step under the spray, and my dick starts to harden.

Yeah, the mirror thing really gets me going.

I'm out of the shower just ten minutes later and dying to get my hands on Chris. I don't know how, but he got the mirror set up already. It's not fully built, I can tell, since there are still parts around it, but it's standing in front of the bed. The only thing missing, though, is Chris.

"Chris?" I call out.

"Coming!" he shouts, his voice muffled by the walls. My guess is he's in one of the guest rooms he has up here. I sit on the bed, not in front of the mirror since I don't really feel like looking at myself right now. No. What I like about the mirror is seeing me and Chris together.

Seeing his hands touching me while feeling them is the best thing in the world as far as I'm concerned.

He's in the doorway in less than a minute, and as naked and damp as me.

"You could've joined me in the shower," I tell him. I would've enjoyed that.

"I know," he says as he walks over. "But we wouldn't have left the shower for a while if I had." He offers me his hand to stand up, but that's not what I want.

I take it, but only to kneel in front of him. His cock is as hard as mine, and right at eye level. Perfect. He's fucking perfect. I lick his head once, then let my eyes shift to the side, and fuck, the picture we make.

My mouth wrapped around his tip. It's perfect. I suck hard and start to bob at a slow pace.

"Baby," Chris groans. "So good." He's patient, let's me go on for a long time, long enough for me to have to take myself in my hand and squeeze tight to avoid coming. I still want him deep in me. "You like how it looks, baby Benny?" I nod awkwardly but I get my point across. "It's going to look even better when you're on the bed, so come on up."

I suck hard as I lean back and let him slip from my mouth, then I do stand up. Without direction I get on the bed on all fours, positioned just right so I can see Chris climb up behind me. I can see how he grips my hips, how the tips of his fingers turn white, just like my skin under those fingers.

He takes himself in his hand and shuffles closer. "You got ready for me, huh?" he asks, though he doesn't have to. He knows it's how I prefer to go about it unless I'm in the mood to be edged to death—which I sometimes am, to be fair.

"I did."

"Good." He pushes inside me and I breathe in sharply when the tip passes the tight ring of muscle. Then I can't breathe at all when he slams into me. The way our hips are fused together, as close as we can be, it's a picture that can get me hard as a rock on any given day, but today, well, it brings me close enough to the edge that once more I need to squeeze the base of my dick, hard.

"I'm not gonna last long," I warn.

"That's okay, baby. We've got all the time in the world."

We do.

Every time I work, I'll come back home to him. Whether that's here or at my place, I'll find him there. I grab his hand from my hip and squeeze once.

"We do, but please fuck me, handsome. Now. Hard. I need you."

"It'll be my pleasure." I drag his hand up until he gets the message, and he places it softly on my throat, then he snaps his hips back and forward so strongly that I almost fall on the mattress. I manage to keep my arms straight, and moan when he puts more pressure on my neck.

I snap my head back, loving how he only squeezes tighter .

"You can come, baby. You're already squeezing me so tight, I'm going to come with you. I'll fill you up, baby."

That does it. I spill all over the bedspread and love the way he twitches inside me.

The only thing I can process while I pant, still looking at us in the mirror is, if I play my cards right, I can have him forever.