Page 9 of Aries (PAHL #1)

Vin

The game was brutal. They’d made it to the third period without any major injuries but barely. Vin had been on his toes for the entire game. Aries was doing what he could by staying ahead of the defense and trying to score goals but even he was getting tired.

Vin grasped Aries by the back of the neck as they made their way down the tunnel toward the ice.

“Just hang in there,” Vin said quietly.

“These guys are…are…”

“Assholes,” Vin finished for him.

“Yeah!” He pounded his gloves together.

“Hey.” Vin pulled his boy to a stop.

Aries looked up at him with those big unique blue eyes of his. This boy. He had no idea the power that he had over Vin. None at all.

“You go out there and score a goal. I’ll keep those goons off your ass.”

“Okay.” He grinned suddenly. “I want ice cream after this.”

“I’ll get you ice cream.” Vin would get Aries anything he wanted.

“Yes!” Aries pumped his stick in the air.

“Are you coming?” Shawn called.

“I’m getting ice cream!” Aries announced, jogging toward his friend.

Shawn gave Aries a confused look then glanced at Vin. Understanding lit his eyes and he nodded and grinned. Yeah, their teammates were catching on. Robbs had already cornered Vin in the locker room before the game, warning Vin to be careful about dating a teammate. Vin knew his relationship was different. Aries belonged to him. Fated mates might be something from myths, but Vin could almost believe that something stronger than attraction was pulling them together.

“Hey! Get out there!” The assistant coach knocked into his back.

Vin shook his head hard to clear away his thoughts. He had a hockey game to finish and a boy to protect.

Aries was bouncing on the bench next to Shawn as the refs on the ice skated around.

Third period was about to begin.

The blood pulsed inside him.

Vin fisted his hands.

Taking his seat beside Aries, he waited until it was their turn on ice.

The atmosphere in the arena was electrifying.

As soon as his skates hit the ice, Vin knew they were going to score.

“Let’s go earn you that ice cream!” Shawn said to Aries.

They fist-bumped as Aries grinned at Vin as they all took their places for the faceoff.

Bane won the faceoff, passing the puck to Shawn. Shawn and Aries took off down the ice with the defensive duo from their opponents chasing after them. Robbs knocked away one defenseman while Vin threw the other into the boards.

Vin held his opponent there as Aries flew by him. Aries drew his stick back and sent the puck to the net. The little black disk whistled through the air before entering the net over the goalie’s left shoulder.

It had been a beautiful shot.

Aries threw his arms up in celebration as he turned toward the goal.

Vin saw it.

He fucking saw it.

The other defenseman barreled toward Aries.

The play was over.

The goal light flashing.

The whistle blew.

Greg Thompson didn’t stop. Didn’t slow.

“Aries!” Vin shouted.

Aries turned his head, smile bright, still celebrating when Thompson hit him at full force.

“No!” Vin screamed.

Aries was lifted off his feet as he soared back. He crashed through the reinforced glass around the rink. The glass scattered and Aries disappeared from sight.

There was a roar.

All Vin could see was red.

He rushed forward to throw himself at Thompson. Vin realized the roaring in his ears came from him. Deep, trembling growls and roars escaped as Vin pounded his fists into Thompson’s face.

He hit him again and again, harder and harder. Hands pulled at him but no one was going to keep him from beating Thompson to death.

Thompson had dared to touch what belonged to Vin. Dared to hurt his little shifter.

Vin roared, flashing his fangs in Thomson’s face before everything went black.

* * * * *

Aries

His head hurt. Well, his entire body actually ached in a way that shocked him. But Aries’s head was throbbing horribly along with his pulse. His stomach rolled and he heaved. Aries was moved onto his side, and he emptied his stomach.

He puked until he was shaking and exhausted.

Aries’s head hurt worse now. A blinding pain worse than anything that he had ever experienced before.

Flopping onto his back, Aries blinked open his eyes to see Shawn, Matty, Zany, and the team doctor standing over him. Why were they staring at him like that?

“Vin,” he whimpered. Aries wanted Vin. Vin would make everything all better.

Shawn’s eyes widened. He shook his head quickly.

Tears fell from his eyes. “Vin,” he said on a groan. His head hurt. He needed Vin to take the pain away. To make everything better.

“Get him!” Matty snapped. “I don’t care what anyone says. Get Vin.”

“Vin,” Aries cried. It hurt so bad. So bad.

The door banged open. Aries winced. Loud. Too loud.

“Get out!” The order was growled out. Low, deep, terrifying.

Not that Aries would ever be scared of Vin. He started to cry harder. Aries needed Vin.

“Now!” Vin ordered.

Barely managing it, Aries turned his head.

Vin stood in the doorway to the training room, covered in blood and stripped down to his underclothes. Was he hurt? Had Vin been hurt? Aries was hurt. He didn’t remember or know why he hurt so much but he was hurt.

“Vin,” Aries sobbed. His arm felt too heavy when he tried to reach for him. He couldn’t reach his boyfriend. He needed Vin closer.

“I need to check him over,” Doctor Welch stated firmly.

Vin nodded. “Only you stay.”

Shawn patted Aries’s shoulder, Zany squeezed his ankle, Matty looked sick. They backed away and the door closed behind them. Vin still hadn’t moved.

Tears were starting to blur his vision.

“Baby.”

“Please!” Aries begged. He just needed Vin closer. To touch him. Why was Vin on the other side of the room?

Hands cupped his face. “I’m here, baby. I’m here.”

Aries could smell blood. A lot of blood. It wasn’t Vin’s blood though. He was missing so much. Something had happened.

“Hurts,” Aries whimpered to Vin.

“Oh, little one. I know. It’s going to be okay. Let Doc take a look at you.”

“What…what happened?”

“Don’t worry about it.” Vin brushed his lips across Aries’s forehead. “Close your eyes.”

Aries did as he was ordered even as Vin wiped the tears from his face.

Something cold and wet was placed over his eyes, instantly relieving some of the pain. Not all of it. Enough.

Doc started to probe all over Aries’s body. Asking him question after question. Aries did his best to answer. Vin stroked him where Doc wasn’t touching. Every pass of Vin’s hands did more to calm and soothe Aries than whatever cream Doc rubbed on him. All he needed was Vin.

“His concussion is severe,” Doc said. “He needs to rest for at least forty-eight hours. Then I want to see him again.”

“I can take him home?”

“He needs someone to stay with him. You know what to look for, right?”

Vin’s chuckle warmed him. “I have experience with concussions.”

“I know. He’s going to be in pain. I would prefer he didn’t take any human meds. Just stick with the shifter over-the-counter. If it gets too bad, you can give me a call. I’ll come to him if I need to.”

Aries let the words brush over him. He floated in the darkness of his closed eyes and the security that Vin was watching over him. Vin would take care of him. Vin was the best at taking care of Aries. All he had to do was trust. Aries could do that.

* * * * *

Vin

Robbs unlocked Vin’s SUV with the key fob before holding the back door open. Vin climbed into the back seat with Aries still in his arms. Robbs climbed behind the wheel, Shawn into the passenger seat, and Zany beside Vin in the back seat.

“I don’t think it will take the whole team to get Aries settled,” Vin groused.

“It’s not just Aries that we’re worried about,” Shawn said from the front passenger seat.

“I’m fine,” Vin growled.

“You nearly killed someone,” Robbs snapped.

“He deserved it.” Vin didn’t regret his actions.

“Well, you better hope that the league agrees with you or you just ended your career.”

That brought everything to light. Vin had nearly murdered someone in front of an entire arena as they shouted for blood. He couldn’t regret what had happened but he could admit he might have gone overboard. Vin could lose his place on the team. Or more.

Seeing Aries fly through that glass had snapped the humanity out of him.

He’d wanted to kill Thompson. Destroy him. Bathe in his blood.

If Robbs hadn’t slammed a hockey stick against the back of Vin’s head, Vin would have done all that and more. Vin looked down at the boy in his arms. His fury sparked. Anger filled his vision.

Even knowing their captain was back at the arena, dealing with the coaches and the league to see how severe Vin’s punishment would be.

“He’s going to be okay.” Zany held Vin’s wrist.

Vin’s anger flowed out of him.

Lifting a brow, Vin turned to the goalie. That was a neat trick. Zany was a transfer from another team and newer to the league so Vin didn’t know the goalie well. Aries and Zany had become tight in a short amount of time and that was all that mattered to Vin. That Aries had good friends from the team by his side.

“Aries is going to be okay. He’s tough. Tougher than a lot of others think,” Zany said.

Vin kissed his boy’s forehead. “I know.”

Aries was out cold. A concoction that Doc had given him. The pain that Aries was in had to be fierce. Vin didn’t want his boy hurting. He hated this.

“You’ll be okay too.” Zany gave his wrist one last squeeze before letting him go.

Vin laughed. “I’m not worried about me.”

“You should be,” Shawn told him. “Aries is obviously very taken with you. He’s also a walking disaster. He needs you to stay around. And him and Nix together?” Shawn snorted. “Don’t even get me started on all the shenanigans those two got up to in college.”

Peering down at his boy, Vin could merely imagine. He couldn’t wait to spend more time learning all about Aries, even with Nix in the picture. At least Gem would be on his side to help. Shit!

“Did anyone call his mom?” Vin asked. That game had been televised and Aries already told him that his mom never missed one of their games.

“Coach called his mom,” Shawn said. He waved the cell phone in his hand. “I’ve spoken to Nix and Gem. They’re worried but I assured them that we’ll take good care of their little brother.”

Vin snorted. He did not need Aries’s brothers on their doorstep.

“We’re here,” Robbs announced, pulling into Vin’s reserved parking spot.

Peering up at their apartment building, Vin held in a sigh. He’d gotten Aries home but now the real battle would begin. He needed Aries to be calm and still for the next forty-eight hours. Aries was never calm and still. Not unless he slipped into subspace.

“I’ll get your door,” Robbs said.

He slipped out of the SUV with the rest of the guys following behind him. Shawn was carrying Aries’s bag from the locker room.

“His keys are in the front pocket,” Vin said as they reached the elevator.

They all remained quiet as they traveled up to their floor.

“You guys are neighbors?” Robbs asked, surprised, when Vin carried Aries to the door across from his.

Vin nodded.

Zany snorted. “It appears that the fates were very determined to put the two of you together.”

He glanced over quickly at Zany, not understanding, but Shawn had the door open, and Zany was already walking ahead of him. Vin would have to catch the goalie later.

“Wow, this place looks so much better than the last time I was here,” Shawn mused as he continued into the living area.

He couldn’t help but smile. Vin had brought even more items from his own apartment. Anything with soft neutral tones and soft material. Aries loved to run his fingers over comfort items.

Shawn turned to him. “This your doing?”

“Aries hated his decor.”

“That’s not really something that a teammate would care about,” Shawn replied. His lips pressed tight together.

“All of you know that Aries and I are more than teammates,” Vin said firmly.

“I knew that you were getting there,” Shawn pointed out. “This looks like you’ve spent a lot more time with Aries than I knew about.”

“Does this interrogation need to happen with Vin standing and holding Aries in his arms?” Robbs snapped. “Aries wanted him. He’s obviously been here before.”

Shawn flushed. “Shit! Sorry.”

Vin nodded. He did understand where Aries’s best friend was coming from. “Will you turn down Aries’s sheets for him?”

“Sure.” Shawn headed toward the hall leading to the bedrooms.

“I’ll order us some food,” Robbs declared. “Zany, turn on the television and see what they’re saying.”

“On it!” Zany rushed over to the couch.

Vin was thankful for his fellow defenseman having his back. It would be a long night making sure that Aries was comfortable and now that the adrenaline had worn off, Vin was concerned about his own career. Not that he regretted his actions. Thompson had better watch his back.

“I’m going to get Aries settled in bed.”

“Then you need to take a shower, buddy,” Robbs said. “You’re still covered in blood.”

“Fuck.” That was right. He needed to change Aries’s clothes too. He strolled down the hall. Shawn had turned on a small lamp in the corner of the room and had the sheets pulled down. He was rummaging in Aries’s dresser.

“I’ll help you get him undressed,” Shawn said.

A part of him wanted to decline the offer. Aries was his to take care of, but Shawn was Aries’s best friend and the two were close. Plus, in a locker room, it wasn’t like they didn’t see each other naked or nearly naked almost daily. “Thanks.”

“I know your protective instincts are riding you hard, but I need to help too,” Shawn said softly.

“I appreciate your help and I know that Aries trusts you.” Vin placed Aries carefully in the middle of the mattress with his head on the pillow.

Shawn gulped audibly. “He’s never this still.”

Vin turned and gripped Shawn’s shoulder. “He really is going to be okay. The doc just gave him something to sleep until his healing takes over.”

When Shawn looked up, his eyes were wet with unshed tears. “When the glass broke and he disappeared from sight, I thought he was dead. The hit was so hard.”

Damn it! Vin wasn’t the only one affected by what happened to Aries. The entire team, their friends, coaches, fans, had all been horrified. Vin didn’t remember ever seeing such a rotten display in his entire existence. Even though Vin was not a touchy-feely guy, he pulled Shawn into a hug.

“Aries adopted me the first day of practice,” Shawn said, clinging to him. “The coaches paired us up and he skated right over and said ‘hey, best buddy, let’s show these jokers how to do it.’”

Vin snorted. “That sounds like him.”

“I didn’t have many friends. I’d always been more of a loner. Aries changed that. He dragged me everywhere with him. Wouldn’t let me be alone but somehow knew when I needed quiet. He’s the best friend I ever had.”

“It’s going to be okay.” Vin patted his back. He liked to think that he’d always made a good teammate, but he could admit that comforting someone else wasn't something that he was used to. Shawn was important to Aries, which meant he was important to Vin.

With a watery laugh, Shawn pushed away. “Let’s get him changed so you can shower. I’m going to need to borrow a shirt now that I have blood all over me.”

Glancing down, Vin winced. “Sorry about that.”

Shawn shrugged. “Hey! I got a hug from the grumpy vampire. Totally worth it.” Shawn laughed until the slurred voice from the bed spoke.

“My grumpy vampire.”

Vin jerked his head around. Aries was squinting at them.

“Leave my man alone.”

He loved the jealousy in Aries’s voice but pushed that sentiment down. “Hey, baby, how are you feeling?”

“Not as baaad…” He yawned while speaking.

“We’re going to get you changed and you need to sleep more,” Vin ordered.

“M…okay.” Aries attempted to roll over but Vin caught his shoulders.

“Hold on a minute,” he said softly.

Aries whined. “Sleepy.”

“I know, little one. We’ll hurry.” As carefully as he could, Vin pulled off Aries’s undershirt. Shawn helped, with Aries smacking at their hands. It was harder than it should have been, but soon enough Aries was in a clean pair of boxers and a soft T-shirt.

Shawn started to shove some of the multiple bat stuffies that Aries kept on his bed into Aries’s arms. Vin had tucked Aries to bed a couple of times and Aries had seemed embarrassed by the stuffed animals so Vin hadn’t pressed. It seemed Shawn understood. It made Vin pleased. His boy needed all the softness in the world, especially in that moment.

“Mmm…” Aries breathed as he settled into the mattress once they released him. “Snuggies.”

“Snuggies soon, baby. I need to shower,” Vin told him.

Aries was already snoring.

“Snuggies?” Shawn rocked back on the heels of his feet. “Are you a snuggler, Vin?”

“I can still beat your ass,” he threatened without heat.

Shawn snorted. “I’m starving. I’m going to see how Robbs is coming on getting dinner here.”

Vin waited until he was alone with Aries then pulled his bloodstained shirt off. He didn’t want to get more of a mess on anything. He had no idea how he even got that much blood under his jersey. He really had lost his mind.

Dropping down to his knees beside the bed, Vin pulled the blanket over his boy before grasping Aries’ hands in his. He bowed his head, breathing in the scent of his boy and the quiet snores escaping.

“Please be okay, baby. I’m so sorry you were hurt.”

He stayed in that position until his knees began to ache. Reluctantly, he pushed himself to his feet and strolled back to the hall. Robbs leaned against the wall outside the bedroom.

“Bad news?” Vin asked. He wouldn’t be surprised if he was suspended for the rest of the season or worse.

Robbs shook his head. “Nothing yet. I went to your place and grabbed you some clean clothes since I still had your keys. I figured you wouldn’t want to leave him and there’s no way you’re going to fit into anything Aries owns.”

“Thanks, man.” No, Vin was not leaving Aries, and he hadn’t even thought about clothes for himself.

Robbs started to pass him the clothes but pulled them away suddenly.

“What?” Robbs was one of his oldest and dearest friends. “I’ve never seen you like this.”

He sighed. “I’ve never felt like this before,” he admitted. “I have no idea when or how it happened, but that boy is my entire world.”

Robbs grinned. “I’m happy for you.” He passed Vin the clothes. “Now let’s hope we can save your career.”

“Yeah, that would be nice.” Vin turned toward the bathroom. He was going to have to talk to his agent and manager. His lawyer, probably. It was dawning on him that he had really fucked up.

* * * * *

Vin

Sitting in his usual chair inside Aries’s apartment felt weird with the place full of teammates and Aries asleep in his room. They’d demolished most of the food that Robbs had ordered although Vin had a plate saved for his boy when Aries woke.

They were watching the media coverage on what happened at their game. Aries’s brothers had come out in support for Vin, Gem even mentioning the threats he’d received days before from Thompson and his goons. The coaches and management were supporting Vin. His phone and been going off constantly while he’d been trying to eat and Vin ended up silencing it.

Shawn and Zany were sprawled out on the floor, snacking still as they made hilarious commentary on the news reports. Robbs was half asleep on the couch. Matty had shown up around the same time as the food and was typing furiously on his phone. Vin found himself wanting to smile at the picture they made. Aries’s little circle. Did the tiny shifter even know how rare it was to be so early in a new season as a rookie and have this many people in his corner? Shawn had even had to tell some of their other teammates to stay away until tomorrow so Aries could rest, or the rest of the team would be there too.

Shuffling caught his attention and Vin turned his head toward the bedroom.

Aries was doing a pretty good zombie lumber across the room. His eyes were closed and there was a fat black and purple bat in front of his face as he crept slowly closer. One of the many stuffed animals that was always on the bed. Vin didn’t know why Aries had grabbed it, he’d never carried a stuffie around before, but if it helped Aries feel better, than Vin was glad for it.

Unsure if anyone else in the room noticed him, Vin remained quiet until Aries was climbing into his lap.

“Okay, baby?” Vin asked in a whisper, drawing Aries against his chest.

“Lonely,” Aries murmured.

“Just rest here with me.” He cupped the back of Aries’s head to his chest.

“Here,” Matty said quietly as he placed a soft cream blanket around Aries.

Aries settled in deeper against him, releasing a sigh of contentment, and the stuffed bat found a home under Aries’s chin. Vin pulled the blanket around Aries’s shoulders and everything inside him calmed. The emotions and worry evaporating with Aries in his arms.

“Here’s an update!” Zany climbed to his knees as he turned the volume up.

Vin peered at Aries, but his boy had fallen back asleep.

On the screen, his coach, the team manager, and the team owner stood in front of a podium. The team owner held up a hand. Vin tensed, knowing the next few minutes would determine his future with the PAHL.

“Doug Stafford, owner of the Vegas Vikings, will now make a statement.”

“Hello and thank you all for coming. I’ll keep this statement brief as we have an injured player that deserves our attention. Due to the nature of the injury to our player, an investigation into the act is being performed by the league. We believe this injury to not have come from the heat of competition but instead from a place of prejudice. We demand justice for our player and all of those out there that were put at risk because of a small group of bad apples.”

“Apples,” Aries murmured.

“Shh,” Vin soothed, rocking his boy.

“We have agreed to a three-game suspension to our own defenseman for retaliation for the injury caused to a teammate.”

“Three games,” Matty repeated. “That’s not bad.”

It was less than Vin expected. He nodded in agreement.

“Especially since Aries will be out at least two of those.” Zany glanced over his shoulder with a grin. “He won’t be on the ice without you.”

That had a smile breaking out on his face. Very good point.

“We, however, demand the suspension of Thompson and anyone else that the league finds involved in a conspiracy to purposely injure players.”

“Fuck yeah we do!” Robbs growled.

It was over. The waiting anyway. Now Vin could concentrate on taking care of his boy. He sank back into the chair, the weight of Aries’s body its own kind of comfort.