Page 28

Gavin awoke to find the bed beside him empty.

He squinted, patting the cool sheets as if he’d somehow find Dakota there if he looked hard enough. But there was only smooth, polished cotton under his palm, and he frowned, wondering where Dakota had gone off to.

The door to the en suite bathroom was open and the lights were out, so clearly, he hadn’t gotten up to relieve his bladder. A glance at the clock told Gavin it was an hour before their alarms were supposed to go off. Maybe he hadn’t been sleeping well and had gotten up early?

It would be very like Dakota to not want to wake him.

Gavin threw back the covers, padding softly across the bedroom, wondering if he’d find him in the living room, reading or quietly watching TV or something. But when he swung open his door, there was a light glowing around the half-open door to the home gym.

He frowned, stepping forward and peering inside.

Dakota was dressed in his usual soft, casual, organic looking activewear and nodding at someone on a laptop screen. He had earbuds in, so Gavin couldn’t hear what the guy on the other end was saying.

A moment later, Dakota spoke. “So, you’re doing great, Kevin! It’s clear you’re really making progress with your reps. Do you feel like you’ve plateaued?”

He fell silent for a few moments before he nodded. “Sure, definitely. I think if you add another ten pounds of resistance but keep the same number of reps and sets that it’ll be that next level of challenge you’re looking for. How does that sound?”

Gavin backed out of the door silently, not wanting to interrupt.

It looked like Dakota was offering fitness advice. It was fine, just sort of … surprising. Gavin hadn’t known Dakota was doing it. And why had he kept it a secret?

Gavin made a detour to the bathroom to use the toilet and brush his teeth before he settled in bed. Rather than try to sleep, he reached for his phone. At this point, there was no way he’d be able to drift off again.

Between wondering exactly what was going on with Dakota, thoughts of the phone call he’d made at 12:01 am to Wade Cannon—which had gotten him a thorough cussing out for the late hour but a promise to have Rafael Moon call him the following day—and the idea of Finn O’Shea as a possible replacement swirling in his head, there wasn’t a chance in hell he’d sleep.

Gavin googled Finnegan O’Shea, refreshing his memory by skimming through the laundry list of his history and accomplishments as a player—former Boston Harriers captain, multiple Stanley Cup winner, Selke Trophy winner, King Clancy Award winner, various leadership awards—there was no denying he had the resume to be a good candidate.

But since his retirement he’d been working as an investment banker and program coordinator of a youth hockey league. Did he have any interest in leaving that behind to return to pro hockey or was that just Declan’s desire?

Of course, Finn did spend a fair amount of time around the team, dropping in to watch practices on weekends and games whenever he could. He and his children were frequently seen faces on the Jumbotron, and he often dropped by Gavin’s office to chat.

Perhaps he missed being involved in pro hockey more directly. Gavin supposed there was only one way to find out, so he typed out an email to Finn, asking if he’d be interested in meeting up in the next few days.

Gavin had hit Send when the bedroom door swung open silently. Dakota stepped through it and shot him a startled glance, obviously not expecting him to be awake.

“Uh, hey. You’re up early,” he said.

“You are too,” Gavin pointed out.

Dakota bit his lip. “I was in your home gym.”

“I know. I came out looking for you. I was worried you couldn’t sleep.”

Dakota looked uneasy. “Uhh, I had an appointment.”

“You’re still working as an online trainer in addition to your work with the Harriers?” Gavin guessed.

Dakota took a seat on the edge of the bed. “Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Uhm, it’s complicated.” Dakota’s fingers twisted in the bedsheets.

“Simplify it?”

“I need the money.” Dakota looked down.

“Because of Bryce?”

“Yeah. He left me with a shitload of debt.” Dakota’s swallow was audible.

“I remember you saying that, but I didn’t realize it was so bad you needed a second job.”

Dakota sighed. “It’s pretty bad. I mean, I’m managing . Living with Violet and Jeff has helped a lot. And the Harriers pay me well. But if I ever want to get ahead of this debt and move out …”

He shrugged, as if to say this second job was the only shot he had.

“How long will that take?” Gavin asked.

“Paying off the debt?”

“Yeah.”

“Three more years. And that’s assuming everything goes the way I hope.”

Gavin whistled. “That’s rough.”

“Yeah.” Dakota looked tired. “Are you upset I didn’t tell you?”

“Disappointed, maybe? I thought we were on the same page about being honest with each other. I bared my fucking soul and …”

Dakota’s expression crumpled. “I’m sorry. You’re right, I should have told you.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Honestly?” Dakota said. “I didn’t think about it. You already knew about my past and this was … simply me dealing with the consequences. But now I realize how hypocritical I must seem after going on and on about us not having secrets from each other.”

“Having a whole second job feels like something a partner should know,” Gavin pointed out. “Although I guess I can see where you’re coming from too.”

“I wasn’t trying to hide it,” Dakota said, then winced. “No, maybe … maybe I was. Maybe a part of me hoped you wouldn’t have to see how bad it was.”

“I don’t judge you for the position you’re in, Dakota,” Gavin said softly.

Dakota looked him in the eye for a long time, as if searching for the truth before he nodded. “You really don’t, do you?”

Gavin shook his head, then hesitated, unsure of how to broach what he knew would be a difficult decision. “I’d like to help you.”

“I’m not taking your money,” he protested.

Gavin laughed. “I knew you were going to say that. Which is why that’s not what I’m suggesting.”

Dakota blinked. “Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed that’s what you meant.”

“No, it’s a logical conclusion to leap to. I would offer that, if I thought that’s something you’d want. But I’m learning! I’m trying to understand how to be a supportive partner in the way you want.”

Dakota smiled, sliding closer. “I know. And I appreciate that. I’ll work on not leaping to conclusions before I let you finish.”

“Deal.” Gavin leaned in and pressed his lips to Dakota’s hair.

As he drew back, Dakota gave him a curious look. “What were you going to suggest?”

“How would you feel about me hiring a PI to track Bryce down? I worked with a guy when I was trying to find my parents’ address after they left Pennsylvania and I’d be happy to reach out to him about this.”

Dakota blinked. “How is that any different than paying off my debt?”

Gavin shrugged. “Because hiring a PI would cost a fraction of what paying off the debt does. And if he hunts down Bryce and convinces him to pay up, then you can always pay me back.”

“Oh.” A thoughtful expression crossed Dakota’s face. “But what if he can’t find Bryce or convince him to pay me?”

“Then I’ll know I did what I could to try to help someone I care about,” Gavin said simply.

“You won’t be upset about losing the money?” Dakota bit his lip.

“No. What kind of partner would I be if I let you struggle and overwork yourself when I could try to help you instead?”

“I never thought about it that way.”

“I get that money is complicated,” Gavin said softly. “But anything I offer you comes with no strings attached. You want to help me reduce my stress, right?”

Dakota nodded.

“So why wouldn’t I want to do the same for you?”

“I—I don’t know.”

Gavin gently tugged Dakota into his lap until he straddled his thighs, then framed Dakota’s face with his hands. “You deserve to have people treat you well, Dakota.”

Dakota looked at Gavin for the longest moment, brows drawn together, before his expression crumpled. He leaned his forehead against Gavin’s and whispered, “That’s all you’ve been trying to do this whole time, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Gavin said softly. From the damned fresh fruit to the offers to pay for a ride back to Quincy, all he’d wanted was to do nice things for Dakota. Simply to show him he cared, and he was thinking about him. He rubbed his thumbs against Dakota’s cheeks, feeling the soft prickle of his facial hair. “Will you let me in the future?”

Dakota let out a long, shuddering sigh. “Yes.”

“Thank you.” Gavin pulled back far enough to brush his lips across Dakota’s cheek, then looked him in the eye. “Does this mean you’ll let me hire the PI for you?”

Dakota gave him a lopsided grin. “Yeah, I suppose it does.”

“You won’t regret it,” Gavin promised with a smile.

“You really think the PI can find him?” Dakota asked, his tone hopeful.

“I can’t promise anything, but I think so. The guy is good. One of the best around.”

“It would be amazing if he could.” There was a wistful note in Dakota’s voice. “I want to have my life back. I want to feel like I can focus on my career and my relationship with you and …”

“Then we’ll talk to the PI together,” Gavin promised.

“Thank you,” Dakota whispered. “I’ve never—I’ve never been with anyone who wanted to take care of me.”

Gavin looked down at him. “I do want to take care of you. Just know it’s never because I don’t think you can take care of yourself or that you aren’t capable. It’s only ever because I want to support you. Because I want to make your life easier. Better .”

Dakota sighed, pressing their foreheads together. “I’ll remember that. I just don’t ever want to be someone who takes from you the way Rory did, or the way Bryce took from me.”

“You’re not Rory,” Gavin assured him. “I’m sure you’re nothing like Bryce, either. I just want you to keep being Dakota.”

My Dakota, he thought.

“Just with a little less suspicion about your motives?” Dakota teased.

Grinning, Gavin pressed a brief kiss to his lips. “Yes. But mostly because I want you to trust me.”

“I do ,” Dakota whispered.

“Even though I haven’t always been the most trustworthy person in the past?” Gavin asked, throat suddenly tight.

“People can change,” Dakota said firmly. “For better and for worse. It’s clear you have changed, Gavin. You’re not the person you were twenty years ago.”

“No, I’m not,” Gavin agreed. “And I’m working on not being the person I was even a few months ago.”

“So let’s change together. Let’s grow together.”

“Let’s.” Gavin smiled because that was all he’d wanted. A partner. Someone to learn with and grow with.

And he wondered if that was where he’d gone wrong with his brother. If maybe his desire to learn and grow and change had inadvertently left Thad behind, when it should have been something they’d done together.

If he’d talked to his brother and tried to help him understand he wasn’t trying to let go of him, only to find himself, find his own identity, might things have gone differently? Might they have been able to navigate it all together, instead of being constantly at odds?

“You look sad all of a sudden,” Dakota whispered, cupping his cheek, stroking his thumb against Gavin’s whiskers in a way that made Gavin shiver.

Gavin focused on Dakota’s eyes, the ones that looked at him so softly, so worriedly. “Wistful, maybe,” he admitted.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not right now, but I’ll tell you later.”

“Okay.”

It seemed to be as simple as that for Dakota to accept his word. As uncomplicated. And maybe it could be. With secrets out of the way, with honesty and trust at the forefront, maybe they could have the kind of relationship Gavin had always wanted.

He kissed Dakota again, more than a brief brush of their lips together this time. Instead, it was slow and deep. He tasted a faint remnant of mint on Dakota’s tongue as Dakota opened to him.

They’d burned so hot and hard at first, but this was softer, gentler.

“Gavin,” Dakota whispered, sliding a hand across Gavin’s shoulders and making him shiver when his blunt nails skated over the sensitive spot at the base of Gavin’s neck.

“Dakota,” Gavin whispered, suddenly emotional, suddenly needing him to know how much he felt for him. How much he wanted him.

Not for a quick tumble in bed or a thrilling hookup. But something deeper. Something more meaningful, something longer lasting.

Gavin had never been the kind of man who thought in terms of forever.

Life, hockey … they were fickle. They gave and they took, and they never stayed the same. And wasn’t that what he’d always loved about both? Wasn’t that what filled him with the fire to wake up every morning and dive deep, negotiate deals, battle for everything they could give him?

But maybe forever wasn’t so impossible with the right person.

Maybe it was within reach, if he took a moment to slow down, to appreciate what he had right here in front of him. Maybe if he took the time to nurture the relationship, to build it with the kind of stable foundation that would allow it to last.

Maybe he could finally take a deep breath and allow himself to trust that whatever came, he was with someone who wanted what he did.

Who would want that forever too.

Gavin whispered Dakota’s name, then reached down and gripped Dakota’s hips, coaxing him to slide forward until their cocks pressed together. Neither of them were hard yet, but oh, he didn’t think it would take long.

“Shouldn’t we be getting ready for work?” Dakota asked, smiling now.

“Mmm, I had something else in mind,” Gavin admitted.

“Like what?” Dakota asked with a lift of his eyebrow, that smile still playing at his lips.

“How about we get you out of these clothes to start with,” Gavin said teasingly, tugging at Dakota’s shirt.

Dakota reached behind his head and tugged the shirt off, dropping it onto the floor beside the bed. “Better?”

“Much.” Gavin reached out, running his palms along Dakota’s lean, muscular chest. His skin was soft, though goosebumps broke out everywhere he touched.

When they were naked and stretched out on the bed on their sides, Gavin leaned in and kissed him again. He feathered his lips across Dakota’s, sliding closer, tangling their bodies until they were pressed together from head to toe.

As much as he’d loved the frantic, heated hookups they’d had at first, being naked with Dakota, being able to take his time was a revelation. Being able to touch the hollow of his spine and trace his fingers along his back and make him shiver was heady.

Being able to murmur quiet words of appreciation and hear Dakota’s soft, contented sighs made warmth spread through his chest.

The feel of Dakota’s cock, firming against his stomach, made him moan.

Emotion welled up in Gavin, something pure and sweet that was new and unfamiliar. Giddiness washed through him as Dakota slipped his tongue into Gavin’s mouth and explored with an unhurried leisure that made Gavin grip him tighter.

Gavin’s cock was getting hard too, sandwiched between their bodies, and as he fumbled for the lube he’d grabbed a bit ago in anticipation of this moment, Dakota’s fingers closed around the bottle.

“Let me,” he whispered around Gavin’s mouth.

Gavin nodded, kissing him again.

The first slick touch of Dakota’s hand on his cock made him moan, but it grew even louder when Dakota smoothed it along his own dick, then pulled his hand away and pressed their bodies more tightly together.

They rocked together as their kisses grew deeper, more needy and desperate. Dakota wound his leg around Gavin’s hip and rolled onto his back, bringing Gavin with him. Gavin made a rough sound of need as the new position added more pressure. He rose up onto his elbows, staring down at Dakota’s face, taking in the sweat gathering at his brow and the way his lips parted with every dirty grind of Gavin’s hips.

“Fuck you’re gorgeous,” Gavin whispered. “I knew it when I first saw you, but now …”

Dakota’s lashes fluttered open and there was a softness in his eyes that made Gavin’s throat go tight.

“You didn’t like me when you first saw me,” Dakota teased, his voice a little breathless, his fingers biting into Gavin’s biceps.

“You didn’t like me either,” Gavin pointed out, rubbing his thumbs against Dakota’s temple.

Dakota tilted his hips, seeking more friction, and Gavin pressed him harder into the mattress, loving the way Dakota’s breath hitched.

“I thought you were arrogant,” he said with a soft laugh.

“And now?” Gavin braced himself on one arm, reaching down to grab Dakota’s thigh, pushing it higher so he could get better leverage.

The feel of their cocks sliding together, slippery and sensitive, was making Gavin’s head spin, making it hard to think.

“And now, I—I … fuck , Gavin,” Dakota cried out, gripping Gavin tighter as wetness spread between their bodies and he shivered and panted his way through his release.

Whatever Dakota had been about to say was lost in the force of his orgasm, and Gavin greedily watched every little expression on his face, drank in every sigh of pleasure.

By the time Dakota finally stilled under him, Gavin was hard and aching to come too, but he merely dipped his head and kissed Dakota, content to have brought him pleasure.

Dakota kissed him back, then gently pushed him away. “On your back,” he whispered.

Well, if Dakota wanted him to come …

Gavin lifted an eyebrow but shifted to stretch out on the bed. Dakota’s stomach was shiny with lube and cum as he knelt on the mattress by Gavin’s hip, staring at him.

“Am I going to have to do this myself?” Gavin teased, reaching for his cock.

Dakota licked his lips. “There’s an idea.”

Gavin raised an eyebrow but wrapped his fist around his shaft and began to stroke. At first, when Dakota reached for the lube, Gavin assumed he was going to hand it over, but instead, he slicked his fingers, nudging Gavin’s thighs apart.

“Can I finger you?”

Gavin nodded, breath caught in his throat, closing his eyes at the first slippery press of Dakota’s finger between his cheeks.

The touch was gentle and teasing, sending shivery frissons of pleasure through Gavin’s body, ramping up the feelings already building in him.

Dakota pressed inside carefully, slicking his way and then retreating before repeating the motion. It was slow and deliberate, the drag against Gavin’s inner walls a tease in the best of ways, and he arched into the pleasure.

And then one finger became two, slick and perfect.

Gavin’s rhythm faltered.

“Do you like this?” Dakota asked, twisting his wrist.

“Yeah,” Gavin whispered.

He hadn’t always, usually too tense to enjoy it, but right now it suddenly reminded him of the first yoga session he’d had with Dakota, the tight ache of clenched muscles suddenly releasing, pleasure unspooling through him.

So he took a deep breath, forced himself to relax and soften.

“Yeah, like that,” Dakota murmured, leaning in to kiss him, gently fucking him open. “Keep stroking yourself.”

Gavin did, gripping himself tighter, then had a dizzying thought, wondering what it would feel like if it was Dakota’s cock inside him instead of his fingers. He opened his mouth to suggest it, to beg for it even, but all that came out was a low cry at the drag of Dakota’s fingers across his prostate.

And then he did it again. And again.

Dakota twisted his wrist, going deeper, toying with that sensitive spot until Gavin rocked forward and back, lost in the bliss of pleasure coming from so many places at once. Just when he thought he couldn’t take any more, Dakota rubbed his thumb against Gavin’s taint, stimulating him from both sides, and pleasure, which had been gathering inside him, hit hard, slamming into him so quick, all he could do was hang on.

A few half-hearted strokes of his cock and he was coming everywhere, clenching around Dakota’s fingers, shaking through the orgasm.

After, when he was limp and wrung out, body sheened with sweat, he realized he was still trembling, overstimulated. “Unhhh,” he managed.

Dakota laughed softly, easing his fingers away. He was careful, but it still sent a jolt of almost painful pleasure through Gavin’s body.

Dakota pulled away for a moment, then settled beside him on the bed. Gavin rolled over until he had Dakota pinned under him, nuzzling into the warm space where his shoulder met his neck.

Gavin dragged in a deep breath, smiling at the mingled scents of sex, Dakota’s shampoo, and Gavin’s own body wash he’d loaned Dakota last night. He liked the latter two especially. He liked the idea of their lives mingling the same way.

He liked Dakota here in his bed, stroking gentle fingers along his shoulders and down his spine. He shivered at the light touch and the sweat cooling on his skin.

Dakota pulled the covers over them both.

“I should get up,” Gavin murmured, although he gripped Dakota a little tighter. “We’re a mess. We need to shower.”

“Just stay here a little longer,” Dakota whispered. “Stay in bed with me for a while.”

So Gavin sighed, nuzzling in more, and stayed.