Page 73 of Cracked Ice (The F*cked Up Players #1)

thirty-four

P ulling out of Trevor, I reposition us so that I’m in the middle and Sydney is tucked into my side. Her body twitches beneath my touch as I rub soothing circles over her ass where she’s already starting to bruise.

In my defense, she bruises easily, but it’s possible I might’ve been a little too rough with her.

I wish I could say I felt a little worse about it, but I don’t.

The only thing I feel is pride that she took it like the good girl she is.

I’ll have to remember to reward her later, but for now, these two need a break.

It wasn’t the worst of the worst, but at this point, if she hasn’t run away yet, then she really is here to stay.

I haven’t minded being alone all these years, it really was for the best.

I don’t think I would have gotten as far as I have in life if I didn’t adapt to the loneliness. With the exception of good friends like Trevor, who has really specific needs and secrets of his own, it’s always been best that I don’t indulge too much with those in captivity.

Sydney is different. She’s proven she can survive on my side of the fence. I don’t have to be separated from her. I don’t have to be alone.

“Lucien,” calls Trevor’s smooth voice.

I sigh, knowing what he’s going to ask.

“Are you okay?”

Sydney looks at me, recognizing Trevor’s tone of voice for what it is. Forever the concerned pup that he is.

“I’m better now.” I don’t even have the energy to give a witty remark. I think I came too much. There’s still cum leaking from my dick as it rests against my stomach, completely spent. Jesus fucking Christ, it’s been a crazy night.

“I didn’t realize Anderson was chirping about your family,” Trevor murmurs into my shoulder. “You should have come to me. I would have handled it.”

Trevor’s hand rests on my chest as he lifts to his elbow.

Sydney looks up at me, hauntingly beautiful, with her face blushed.

She’s equally worried for me, despite her own demons that are clearly haunting her.

She’s had this sense of impending doom circling her all night, but right now all focus is on me.

I’m not sure what I ever did to earn the affections of two big-hearted people, but it’s a blessing and a curse—or a cruel joke altogether.

I shrug.

“You’re the captain,” I chuckle. “We needed you in the game. Besides, it wouldn’t have mattered, I snapped the moment he brought up my mom.”

Trevor’s arm snakes over my middle, squeezing me tighter.

“That asshole,” he grumbles.

I chuckle, “I know, right? He was so rude.”

We laugh softly, sadly almost, but then Sydney moves to get up. My arm whips out and I grip her hand tightly, halting her midway.

“Relax,” she coos. “I’m not breaking any rules. Not running away. See?” She leans forward and kisses us both. “I just have to pee.” I release her and she giggles, sauntering away to the en-suite bathroom, no longer shy about being stark naked.

I watch her pad away, handprint bruises glowing on her ass.

Trevor hisses. “Did you have to spank her so hard?”

More laughter bubbles from my chest. “She needed to learn her lesson.”

“You know she was only baiting you so you would fuck her, right?”

I stroke his head as he lays on my chest and tell him the truth. “I know, but I’m so fucking crazy about that girl, it’s unreal. I needed to know if something with her could last.”

His head lifts from my chest.

“Seriously? You want something long-term with her?”

I brush his dark curls off his forehead, peering at those pretty green eyes.

He’s not asking out of jealousy, I can see that.

He wants me to have someone special since we both know it can’t be him.

His strict Christian upbringing and self-loathing would make a relationship between us difficult, to say the least.

I was willing to fight for him all the same but after being kicked out of his house and his bed, I didn’t want to risk being kicked out of his life too.

He begged me to stop fighting, so I did.

Not to mention he’s two years older than me, my captain, and well on his way to the NHL.

There’s no future for us beyond friendship and random hookups where he hates himself the next day, but there’s an actual chance for me and Sydney.

“I want forever with her if I can have it.”

His dimples are prominent as he smiles at me.

“That’s amazing. I think if there was anybody you could have forever with it’d be with her. She’s clearly just as obsessed with you as you are with her. You’re both kinda crazy,” he teases, pressing a kiss to my lips. “And you’re both amazing kissers.”

“She’s a great kisser, right?! I thought it was just me, but she’s really fucking good at it.”

His laughter is as rich and velvety as his voice.

“Yeah, she kisses like you.”

His lips press to mine, and I grip the back of his neck. Our time is coming to a close. Taking her virginity isn’t something that’s going to be shared between us, something he’s already aware of.

That part is all mine.

One final kiss and he’s putting his clothes back on, looking a little ruffled, but his room’s down the hall, so he’ll freshen up over there like he always does.

Standing up, I throw on my boxers and tuck my dick away before I’m tempted to use it again. Then I walk him out like I always do.

I hate it when he leaves, and he always leaves.

Even though this time is for a good reason, it still never feels good to have people you care about leave you behind. Leaning my forehead to his, I give him some final praise so he doesn’t beat himself up over this again.

“You did so well, Captain ,” I say, mocking Sydney’s little nickname for him.

He chuckles.

“But seriously, you’re alright, right?” I ask, seeking his reassurance once more.

I need him to be okay.

He nods and I hold him to me a little tighter. “It felt good, and you know there’s nothing wrong with that. You deserve to feel good. Fuck whatever your family has to say.”

Fuck every single one of them.

He nods again. “Yeah, I know. I’ve . . . never felt better either,” he says, giving me a smile that reaches his eyes and deepens his dimples. “Maybe we can do this again sometime.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, maybe.”

The worry I felt eases. I hadn’t dealt with losing Trevor very well, but at this point I think I’d fare even worse if I lost Sydney too.

If she would have run away from me, I’m not sure what I would have done.

Probably lose all sense of rationality and saneness.

I’d burn the whole world down if I had to lose one more goddamn person.

For the briefest moment, I was worried she really would run away when she learned about Trevor. I’m so glad she didn’t.

“I’m going to see if I can talk to Coach, okay? I don’t want you to be kicked off the team. Not over that dickhead,” Trevor says.

“Thanks,” I say, though I don’t actually believe he’s going to be able to save me this time. I love hockey and I don’t want to lose it either, but I also can’t change the past. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way, so it’s out of my hands at this point.

Speaking of hands . . .

I hold mine out to Trevor and he smirks, handing me Sydney’s underwear from his back pocket. I’m tucking it into one of my many pockets on these jeans when Sydney returns from the bathroom.

“Hey, you leaving?” Sydney asks, walking out, looking as beautiful as ever.

Her face is clear of makeup and she’s dabbing her hair with a towel.

She must have rinsed the cum off her face and hair.

It’s taken her makeup off with it, but she still looks like a gorgeous princess.

Her wet hair clings to her naked breasts, the cool air and damp skin making her nipples perk into sharp peaks.

“Yeah,” he grins, staring at the same tits, “but now I’m seriously thinking I should stay.”

I clear my throat, and he takes the hint, grinning his dick-hardening dimples. Maybe I will have them both again, but tonight it’s me and her.

She giggles, crooking a finger at him. “One last kiss, Captain. Before you go.”

Something about the way she says last , sounds an alarm that I want to react to but that I allow myself to ignore. She doesn’t say it like it’s the last of the night; she says it like it’s the last in her life. The alarms only sound louder when she kisses him like it too.

She pulls back, looking up at Trevor with gratefulness before pecking a softer, more chaste kiss to his lips.

“I’m sorry if I was a bitch to you before. I guess I was kind of jealous but tonight was . . . amazing. You were right, I needed this.” Her hand cups his face. “And I’m really glad Lucien has someone like you in his life.”

Trevor rubs the back of his neck; a sign he’s the one feeling guilty.

“I know what that must have looked like in the moment . . . but I want you to know I think you guys are great together. I wasn’t sure at first—that you’d be good for him—but I think he’s in good hands . . . with you. I mean that.”

Sydney reaches out to embrace him again in a final hug, but she still looks sad, defeated even, when she looks at me over his shoulder.

“Catch you later, Little Stalker Princess,” he teases, throwing a wink in her direction and his award-winning smile.

Her smile, however, is weak, barely reaching her eyes. She’s not even bothering to correct him that she’s not a stalker.

I want to question her about it but when Trevor opens the door to leave, loud cursing and yelling filters in from downstairs.

“Where the fuck is Morningstar?!”