Page 2

TWO

KEVIN

Tyler’s hands commanded my attention. Strong, calloused from years of gripping a stick and working out, yet surprisingly elegant as he moved them while he talked about the fundraiser he was missing. We’d shifted position again, back to cross-legged on opposite sides of the king bed.

Teenagers at a sleepover came to mind, not two hockey players stranded by a blizzard.

“Sorry, I keep rambling about charity stuff.” Tyler ran a hand through his sandy blonde hair. “Hazard of being raised by my parents. They drilled into us the importance of giving back.”

“It’s fine. I like hearing about it.” Truth was, listening to Tyler Bennett talk about anything was enjoyable. Since the trade two months ago, a hopeless crush—that’s exactly what my sister Meg would call it—had taken root. And grown. Fast.

It wasn’t just the blue eyes or the smile that could light up a room, though those certainly didn’t hurt. He was genuinely kind. The first guy to welcome me, showing me the ropes at the facility, offering neighborhood tips when I mumbled something about apartment hunting. On the ice, our communication was seamless, a silent language developing faster than any pairing I’d ever had.

Now this. Beers. One bed. And the shared, startling revelation about Grindr. I regretted we hadn’t become friends sooner. Of course, that was on me for keeping to myself.

“What are you thinking about?” Tyler tilted his head, his gaze curious. “You got quiet.”

I took another swig of beer, the cool liquid a stark contrast to the heat building in my chest. “Just... processing, I guess.” I looked everywhere but at him for a moment. “When I was traded to Boston, I never imagined I’d end up... here.”

“Stuck in Detroit during a snowstorm?”

A corner of his mouth lifted.

“Sharing a hotel room with Tyler Bennett.” The words tumbled out. “Finding out you’re on Grindr, too.” A nervous laugh escaped me. “Definitely wasn’t in the trade agreement.”

Tyler’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “An unwritten bonus.”

The third beer, or maybe the storm raging outside, had loosened me up. Normal boundaries felt blurred, with the combination of forced proximity and unexpected connection. Or was it just Tyler, relaxed and approachable, looking less like a star defenseman and more like someone...

My empty bottle hit the nightstand with a soft clink. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

My heart hammered. “Your profile? Blue tile background, torso shot—it’s you, right? BeantownBen?”

Surprise flashed in his eyes. “You’ve seen my profile?”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. Damn it. “Wasn’t sure. Looked familiar.” I forced myself to hold his gaze. “That chest... I’ve seen you in the locker room enough to have suspicions.”

“So you recognized me by my pecs?” His smile turned playful, curious. “I’m flattered. Why didn’t you message if you thought it might be me?”

A shrug. “Seemed like a terrible idea. Hitting on a teammate.” I stumbled over my words. “Especially one who’s... you know my D partner. Plus, you’re Tyler Bennett. Half the city wants your attention.”

“And yet you never gave any indication.” Tyler leaned forward, the space between us shrinking. His calm confidence radiated warmth. “Not even a hint.”

My turn to lean in. “Would you have responded? If I had messaged?”

Something else flashed in his blue eyes. “In a heartbeat.”

My pulse pounded in my ears as Tyler shifted closer.

“For the record.” His voice was softer now, intimate. “You’re selling yourself short, Kogan. You’ve caught my eye more than once these past couple of months.”

My breath hitched. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” His voice got rougher. “Especially after that Montreal game. When you laid out Rousseau with that clean hit, keeping him off me so I could get a pass to Lawson.” A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “That was sexy as hell.”

A nervous laugh bubbled up. “Just looking out for my D-partner.”

“Is that all it was?”

Close now. So close. Close enough that I saw the darker flecks in his irises, smelled the faint hops on his breath.

My throat tightened. “No.” I admitted, the word barely a whisper. “That wasn’t all it was.”

Time stopped. Then Tyler’s hand lifted, calloused fingers warm against my jaw, thumb brushing over my cheek. The simple touch sent a jolt straight through me.

“Tell me if I’m reading this wrong,” he murmured, his gaze locked on mine.

Words failed. Action didn’t. I closed the remaining distance, pressing my lips to his. Tentative at first, then his fingers slid into my hair, cupping the back of my head, and a small sound escaped my throat. Need surged, sharp and undeniable.

The kiss deepened. Tyler’s mouth opened, a low groan vibrating against my lips. My hands found his shoulders, gripping the solid muscle beneath the worn cotton of his t-shirt.

I wanted more.

He shifted, pulling me closer, maneuvering until I was practically in his lap. The heat of his body seared through my clothes.

“Been wanting to do this.” He breathed against my neck, the words sending shivers down my spine. “Since the third when you put Robinson into the boards.”

I pulled back slightly, dazed, breathless. “Today’s game?”

A mischievous glint sparked in his eyes. “Yeah. I told you. Watching you get physical with our opponents is a turn on.”

Laughter escaped me, quickly silenced as I kissed him again, harder this time. No hesitation left. His hands slipped under my t-shirt, palms scorching against my skin, mapping trails of fire across my back, my sides.

“Is this okay?” Tyler asked. His fingers traced the hem of my shirt, thumbs brushing the sensitive skin just above my waistband.

“More than okay.”

I lifted my arms so he could remove it. Then I went for his shirt, pulling it up. Fair was fair.

Skin against skin. Raw electricity. Tyler’s chest was broad, defined, dusted with light hair that narrowed downward. My hands roamed, taking in the shape of his shoulders, the strength in his arms.

This was real.

“You have no idea.” I confessed, the words tumbling out unfiltered. “How many times I’ve wanted to touch you like this.”

His smile turned softer, intimate, devastating. “Show me.”

We fell back against the pillows, legs tangling, mouths fused. His weight pressing me into the mattress was perfect, grounding. One of his thighs slid between mine. A sharp gasp slipped from me as he bumped the bulge in my sweats.

“God, Kevin.” He breathed against my ear, sending a fresh wave of shivers down my spine. “You feel amazing.”

What followed blurred into heat and urgency. My hands found the waistband of his shorts, fingers hooking under the elastic.

“Can I?” I asked, voice rough with need.

Tyler nodded, lifting his hips. “I’ll be mad if you don’t.”

I tugged the shorts down, my breath catching as his erection sprang free. He wasn’t wearing anything underneath. The sight of him—hard, ready, drop of precum forming at the tip—sent a surge of desire through me so intense it was almost painful.

“Your turn,” he murmured.

I lifted my hips, letting him strip away the sweats that formed the last barrier between us. His eyes darkened as he took me in, a soft “fuck” escaping his lips.

We were exposed to each other now, nothing left to hide. It was different than catching a fleeting glimpse in the locker room.

My heart hammered against my ribs as Tyler’s eyes traveled slowly up my body, appreciation clear in his hungry smile.

“Better than I imagined,” he said, voice husky.

His honesty emboldened me. I reached for him, wrapping my hand around his length. The weight of him, hot and solid in my palm, drew a groan from my throat. Tyler’s head fell back, eyes fluttering shut as I stroked him.

He moaned as his breathing quickened.

I explored him slowly, learning what made him shudder, what made his hips lift, seeking more. His hands weren’t idle either. Strong fingers wrapped around my cock, the perfect pressure making my world narrow to just sensation.

“I want to taste you,” he said, eyes locked on mine.

Before I could respond, he shifted down my body, trailing kisses across my chest, my stomach. His tongue traced the line of my hip, causing me to shiver with anticipation. When his mouth closed around me, warm and wet, I gasped, fingers clutching the comforter.

“Tyler, Jesus—” Words failed me as he took me deeper.

He knew exactly what he was doing, alternating between teasing licks and taking me all the way. My hand found his hair, not guiding, just needing to touch him, as pleasure built. He looked up, and the intimacy of his gaze, as his lips were wrapped around me, nearly pushed me over the edge.

“Stop, I’m too close?—”

He pulled off with a final, lingering lick. “That’s kind of the point,” he said, a wicked smile playing on his lips.

“I need you too,” I admitted.

Tyler’s eyes darkened. He moved up to kiss me deeply before settling on his back, an invitation I eagerly accepted. I took my time learning his body, tracing the defined muscles of his chest, the sensitive skin of his inner thighs with my mouth.

When I took him between my lips, his sharp intake of breath was the most satisfying sound I’d ever heard. His taste, his scent, the way his legs tensed under my palms—it was intoxicating. I’d thought about this more times than I cared to admit, but reality put every fantasy to shame.

“Kevin, fuck—” His voice was strained, desperate.

I pulled back, panting. “I want to try something.”

Tyler’s eyes met mine, pupils blown wide. “Anything.”

I shifted my position, turning my body around while still keeping my mouth close to him. “This way we can both...”

His expression transformed as he understood. “God, yes.”

I moved, placed my knees on either side of his head, lowering my hips as his hands guided my cock. The first touch of his tongue made me nearly collapse forward.

“Oh, fuck.” My voice broke as he enveloped me.

The dual sensation was overwhelming—his hot mouth around me while I took him between my lips again. Different angle now, deeper. He gripped my thighs, pulling me to him.

We found a rhythm, awkward at first, then perfect. His fingers dug into my ass, encouraging me. Every moan he made sent vibrations through my core, spurring me to take more of him.

Tyler pulled away briefly, breath hot against my sensitive skin. “You taste so fucking good.”

The praise sent a surge of heat through me. I redoubled my efforts, swirling my tongue around his tip before taking him all the way.

His hips bucked upward. I steadied myself with one hand on his thigh, the other wrapping around the base of his shaft.

Time dissolved into pure sensation. The wet heat of his mouth, the weight of him on my tongue, the small sounds escaping our throats.

He slipped a finger in my crack and brushed my hole. My entire body shuddered with the new sensation. I arched my back, lifting my head for just a moment. “Yes. Fuck yes, Tyler.”

I returned to his swollen cock, devouring it to the base as I worked him with my tongue. He continued to tease at my entrance.

All at once, the telltale tightening signaled there was no going back.

“Tyler, I’m...” My voice was muffled with his dick between my lips.

All I heard was a mmm-hmmm. He didn’t let up.

I returned to him with renewed focus, matching his rhythm, feeling him swell in my mouth.

His thighs tensed.

The first pulse of his release hit my tongue just as my orgasm crashed over me. The timing was perfect—his pleasure triggering mine. I moaned around him as we both shuddered through it, neither of us stopping, drawing out every last sensation.

The intensity was blinding. My whole body tensed, then surrendered as waves of bliss washed through me. I felt Tyler swallowing, his throat working, even as I struggled to do the same.

When the last aftershocks subsided, I carefully shifted position, collapsing beside him on the bed. We lay there, catching our breath, skin slick with sweat, limbs heavy. I longed to kiss him, but I didn’t have the energy to move.

“That was...” Words failed me. Nothing felt adequate.

“Yeah.” Tyler agreed, his voice rough. He pressed a kiss to my hip, warm lips against damp skin. “It was.”

“Not how I expected this snowstorm to go,” he murmured, his voice sounded relaxed, contented.

“It’s a definite improvement on my usual road game routine.”

We cleaned up, navigating the shared bathroom with little awkwardness, the charged air now thick with comfortable intimacy. Stolen kisses against the cool shower tile, lingering touches. Back in bed, Tyler pulled me against him, my back fitting naturally against his solid chest, his arm secure around my waist.

* * *

I woke slowly, aware first of the steady warmth against me, Tyler’s even breathing near my ear. The distant scrape of snowplows echoed from the street below.

Staying, I took it in, Tyler holding me close. Enjoying the feeling of waking up with someone.

Reality creeped around the edges of my thoughts. The snowstorm bubble would dissolve soon.

He stirred, tightening his hold on me. “Morning.” His voice sent a flutter through my stomach.

“Morning.”

He stretched, muscles shifting against me, warm and solid. “Sounds like they’re clearing the roads.”

“Yeah.” Hesitation crept back. How did we do this? “I’m sure we’ll hear something about travel soon.”

Tyler’s hand found mine under the covers, fingers lacing through mine, a simple, grounding gesture. “You okay?” He paused. “With... last night?”

“More than okay.” I released his hand and moved so I could face him. “Just... wondering what happens next.”

“You mean when we get back to Boston?” His thumb brushed over my knuckles.

I nodded, my heart rate picking up again.

“Well.” Tyler’s expression turned thoughtful. “I was thinking we might see where this goes. If you want to.”

Excitement washed through me, swift and potent. “I’d like that.”

He leaned in, pressing a gentle, promising kiss to my lips.

Buzz. Buzz. Our phones vibrated on the nightstands, the team group chat coming to life.

Tyler reached for his. “Weather clearing. Bus departing for airport at 1 PM. Breakfast available until 11.” He glanced at the hotel clock display—9:17 AM. “We’ve got some time.”

I raised an eyebrow, my earlier tension replaced by a different kind of anticipation. “Any ideas how to spend it?”

His answering grin was pure wickedness. “Several, actually.” His hand slipped inside my boxers where my cock was already hard.