Page 48 of Back in the Game (Pride in the Game #1)

Harrison had done the exact opposite. He always used rainbow tape. He always supported charities and events for the LGBTQ+ community. He marched in parades. He donated. He even participated in a queer hockey summer camp during his high school years.

And even though Harrison had never tried to hide who he was, he never shouted it from the rooftops either.

He would ignore interview questions about his sexuality, no matter how hard he was pressed, which normally led to him storming out or telling the person to fuck off.

He showed who he was through action, not words, and he wasn’t scared to ruffle feathers.

Those damn butterflies in his stomach started doing somersaults again. Sexy Killinger was amazing, but snuggly Killinger was a whole other level.

Harrison’s chuckle sent vibrations through him, making his skin tingle.

“Because you’ve been staring into the open fridge for five minutes, Sunshine. Do you need help finding something to drink?”

Okay, fair. He had totally been spacing out.

Jett closed the door with a sigh, and he turned in Harrison’s arms. “I was looking to see what I need to order to fill the damn thing, which is everything if you’re wondering.”

Harrison walked them over to the counter and lifted Jett by the back of his thighs, setting him on the surface so they could see face to face. “Are you cooking tonight? I was under the impression that you’re on the fire department’s list because you’re a high risk in the kitchen.”

“One,” said Jett, jabbing a finger into his chest. “I am not that fucking bad. Two: No, I’m not cooking, that’s what delivery is for. Three: I don’t have to worry about my cooking when I have enough money to pay a personal chef to cook for me. ”

Harrison’s blue eyes were bright with amusement. “We all have faults, Jett. Not everyone can be perfect, and that includes you.”

Jett opened his mouth to protest, but Harrison silenced him with a quick, chaste kiss that left him stammering. When Harrison leaned in for a second, Jett ducked his head—so Harrison smiled and kissed his brow.

“Fuck.” Jett pressed the backs of his hands to his cheeks, trying to cool them. “I can’t believe you’re actually my boyfriend. I think I’m still in shock.”

Harrison frowned and took a small step back to look at him. “Is it…too fast?” he asked gently. “We sort of dove right in. If you wanted to take things slower, we could’ve dated more first.”

Jett held his hands up to stop him before he could say anything else. “No way. Everything’s perfect, so don’t worry about that. Sex with you has been… exactly what I needed. Honestly, I don’t think I could’ve taken things slow.”

He let out a breath, his eyes dropping to Harrison’s chest. “It’s just… you’re you , and I’m me . And I know I’m not the worst option out there, but still—it’s hard not to wonder why someone like you would pick someone like me.”

Harrison scoffed like he had just said the stupidest thing ever.

“No, you’re only gorgeous, talented, kind and well-liked.

You’re last year’s runner-up for the cup, alternate captain of your team, and one of the top ten players in the league.

You’ve been awarded the Calder, Conn Smythe and the Hart Memorial.

You have surpassed me in every way possible, and you’re still climbing to the top. ”

Jett swallowed hard. He was mesmerized by the determined expression on Harrison’s face. He couldn’t help but lean in for that second kiss, if only to see the determination shift into adoration.

“You need to stop putting me on a pedestal, Jett,” Harrison said against his lips. He drew back from the kiss, staying close enough that their breaths mingled. “You’re more than worthy. If anything, I’m the one who feels like I hit the jackpot.”

Jett gave a curt nod, unsure what else to say without giving Harrison more fuel to talk about how amazing he was. He loved praise, but this kind was hard to hear without feeling embarrassed .

“Can I take you out on a date?” Jett asked instead. “After our next home game, if we’re not crazy busy before going out to celebrate.”

The smirk that drove Jett crazy swiftly returned, and again, the butterflies began dancing. Fuck, he was so handsome. Everything Harrison did brought him closer to the edge of insanity.

"Where are you taking me for this date?" Harrison murmured, tilting his head to press a trail of slow, burning kisses along Jett’s jaw.

“It’s a secret,” Jett said between clenched teeth. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

“It better be somewhere nice, Mr. Millionaire,” Harrison said with a teasing glint in his eye, his voice low and playful. He trailed his fingers down Jett’s chest, grinning as he added, “I expect to be spoiled rotten. Fancy dinner, mood lighting—the whole deal.”

Jett knew that Harrison wanted nothing of the sort, but there was no way he was giving him any hints.

He was dumb, but he wasn’t that stupid.

“Horseback riding on the beach,” Jett blurted, squirming in Harrison’s arms in a half-hearted attempt to escape. “I’ll even hitch a little wagon behind my horse so you don’t have to strain your leg.”

His sarcasm earned a barking laugh from Harrison. Jett didn’t think anything was hotter than his grumpy boyfriend throwing his head back to laugh at something he had said.

Well, he could think of a few things, but this was one of the only fully clothed options that came to mind.

“You’re a brat,” said Harrison. “I take back everything I said before. I don’t think I’m attracted to you anymore—”

Jett attacked him with a kiss, shoving his tongue into Harrison’s mouth as he tugged him closer with his legs, holding him in place to keep him from leaving.

He slid their mouths together, enjoying the way Harrison went from slack-jawed surprise to aggressive need in seconds.

His hand curled into Jett’s hair to tug his head back, giving himself better access.

Jett whimpered into the kiss, a sound that felt embarrassingly vulnerable, but he couldn’t hold it back. He didn’t know how long this all-consuming passion between them would last, but deep down, he hoped it would never fade.

He pulled the tie out of Harrison’s hair, partially because he knew it annoyed him, but mostly because he loved it when his hair was down. The strands were so soft and easy to brush his fingers through, and they gave Jett even more leverage to keep Harrison exactly where he wanted him.

Jett was sure he was about to get bent over the counter and fucked right next to the spice rack when a sharp chime echoed through the room, freezing them both in place.

Harrison dropped his head on Jett’s chest with a groan. “Why do you have friends?”

Jett laughed and jumped off the counter, tugging his shirt down to hide the obvious bulge in his pants. Harrison was in a similar state, and they had no time to readjust their clothes and hair. He knew Max was being nice by ringing the doorbell, warning them he was coming in.

“Jetty?”

“You’re good. We have clothes on,” Jett called out, grinning when he heard Max snort a laugh.

Harrison positioned himself strategically behind the kitchen island, glowering at the marble countertop like it had offended him. Jett grinned and earned himself a one-finger salute.

The scuffling sounds near the entryway cut through their bickering, drawing their attention.

Jett turned just in time to see Max cautiously stepping into the main living area, his bright eyes wide with curiosity.

Jett greeted him with a warm, encouraging smile, hoping to ease whatever tension lingered in the room.

Ryan’s younger brother was a bit shorter than Jett.

He didn’t have the same dark blond hair as Ryan, and after seeing family pictures, he knew Max took after their father in appearance.

Sun-kissed skin, brown hair and the greenest eyes Jett had ever seen.

When people said they had green eyes, they normally had hints that could be mistaken for blue or grey, but Max’s vibrant colour was unmistakable in any light.

“I’m sorry if I interrupted anything,” said Max, his gaze darting between him and Harrison. “I can come back later if you two were—”

“You weren’t interrupting,” said Jett. He walked over and threw his arms around Max in a tight hug, knocking the strap of his art case off his shoulder, causing it to fall to the floor with a thump. “I missed you, buddy. ”

Jett hadn’t seen Max for a while. Hockey schedules made it difficult to keep an active role in friendships, but he always invited him over for food before he flew out for games.

Max was free to come and go as he pleased, and since he lived a few floors down from Jett, it made seeing each other easier.

Max hugged him enthusiastically and smacked him on the back like Ryan always did, mocking his brother. “I watched the game against Montreal. You were awesome. And the one with Calgary—”

Max stopped abruptly and rose onto his tiptoes, craning his neck to peer over Jett’s shoulder toward where Harrison was standing.

Even without seeing Max’s face, Jett could tell he was blushing—his cheeks flushed a deep, unmistakable pink.

Max’s wide eyes flicked back and forth, clearly caught off guard.

“Oh god,” he muttered, voice barely above a whisper.

“Be cool, bro.” Jett got behind Max to keep him from backing out of the room. “Don’t move too fast, and he won’t be able to see you.”

“Shut the fuck up, Fraser.” Max was bracing against him despite his words. “I’m not a spazz. Just let me work up the courage to do this.”

Harrison raised an eyebrow while watching them, and Jett stifled a laugh. They weren’t quiet, so Harrison knew what they were saying, but seemed content to play along.

Max took a deep breath and held it before letting it back out. He squared his shoulders, straightened his posture, and then started marching toward Harrison like he was about to charge him.