Page 2

ERIK

Hey! It’s Erik

I had a great time talking to you last night :)

I stare at the messages I sent to Luke, going over them and overthinking like an idiot.

I’m being way too eager, right? And why did I have to use that damn smiley-face? It hasn’t even been a day and I’m already hitting him up, which he might interpret as me trying to get in his pants.

I mean, yeah, I’d be lying if I said that didn’t cross my mind a bunch of times.

While Luke might not be an athlete, he could’ve fooled me—I could barely tear my eyes away from his body last night, and even then, it was only to drink in the sight of his attractive face.

Life sure chooses favorites, and Luke might as well be a number one draft pick.

And unlike most guys in the past, Luke actually tried to keep a conversation going with me. Sure, there’s only so much anyone can do to counter the initial nerves that I’ve never been able to shake, but he didn’t run for the hills after one too many awkward silences. I’ll take that as a rare win.

And he called me cute. Me . The confident, smoking hot, way out of my league stranger called me cute . What Luke sees in a lumbering, awkward, generic hockey player is beyond me, but coming from him? Holy shit.

Like, I know I’m decent looking—my face is okay, I’m not unsuccessful on the apps, and my mom says I’m handsome, but I can’t put much stock into that. Guys tell me I’m hot mid-hookup, when they have to. Not during an actual conversation, and not when they look the way Luke does.

He texts back before I have a chance to fall deeper into my thoughts.

Luke Tremblay

Hey! I had fun last night too

How was morning skate?

A smile tugs at my lips as I read his message. Leaning against the arm of the sofa, I sit up and reply.

Same as usual, but it’s over now

I flip my phone around, waiting for Luke to text back. My fingers hover over the keyboard as I type out a double text.

I have tomorrow and Monday off, wanna grab drinks sometime?

Desperate, much?

Or maybe not. Luke replies almost immediately.

I’m so down

My stomach slips and I hold my breath. Am I imagining things, or is he interested?

Tomorrow works for me, where were you thinking?

I’m okay to head downtown

Sounds good, I know a few places around me

Let’s meet outside my building at like 7 tomorrow night?

I break into a grin before hauling myself back to reality. We’re getting drinks, we might hook up, and I’ll go home after, but still, I need to make a good second impression on Luke.

Great. The very first time in a year I go to a gay bar, I end up liking the first guy I talk to. What are the chances? Liking someone is inconvenient with my lifestyle of constant away games, early practices, and the ever-present chance of getting injured or traded.

Sure, my stats are decent and the team here seems to like me, but this is the AHL—even if I don’t move, the team itself might relocate. Even if it’d probably be an hour down the road to Hamilton, nothing about that bodes well for any kind of relationship?—

What am I even doing, thinking about that already? Luke is already being so much more patient with me than other guys, but that isn’t a reason for me to get stupid over him like this. Who knows how long that patience will last?

Shit. I shouldn’t have tried to schedule things today because now I have another twenty-four hours to get ahead of myself and freak out.

For once, the metro doesn’t break down, and I arrive at Luke’s building a bit early. The sun is still out, which makes the evening hotter than I’d anticipated, and I slip my hoodie off. I’m about to head back into the station to wait when my phone pings with a text from Luke.

Hey, I might be a bit early, I can wait for you to get ready though

DELIVERED 18:05

Luke Tremblay

No worries

My hot water isn’t working so I’m running kinda late, you should come up and chill

RECEIVED 18:35

That’d be great if you don’t mind

Not at all! I’m unit 2307 and the buzzer code is the last four digits of my phone number

His building is fancy as hell, with a modern lobby decked out in dark stone accents, marble floors, and a fake fireplace. I take the lift up to the twenty-third floor, my heart rate hiking a little.

Luke is waiting at the door when I knock. His wavy black hair is damp and adorably messy, and I struggle to keep myself in check. I can’t come across as creepy or over eager.

“Hey, Erik. Come on in,” he says.

I step inside, comforted by the cool air-conditioned breeze. “Thanks for letting me up. It’s like a sauna out there.”

He sends me an easy smile, which sends a wave of warmth straight through my body. “Yeah, no problem. Make yourself at home—I’m almost ready, but let me warm up from my frigid shower first.”

I nod, looking around his apartment. It’s simple and tastefully decorated—Luke has a bunch of lamps around the living room, which all give off a cozy glow.

The place smells good too, kind of citrusy and spicy, making it even more inviting.

He’s got a fresh aesthetic going on, and it’s nicer here than back at mine, for sure.

Luke reappears behind me, carrying a can of sparkling water. “I thought you could use something while you wait around for me,” he says.

“Thanks, this is perfect.”

Luke then disappears into his bedroom to change. I try to focus on my drink, but when he emerges and walks into the bathroom, I immediately focus on how his clothes fit around his toned body.

I shouldn’t stare, but it’s impossible not to. His shirt clings to his wide shoulders, tapering down to a tight waist that gives way to?—

I tear my gaze away from Luke’s generous ass. I don’t need to get hard right before going out with him for the first time. No way.

Doesn’t fucking matter. What my eyes don’t see, my brain fills in the gaps.

Luke comes out of the bathroom and fixes his hair in the hallway mirror, giving me a view of his toned arm flexing beneath his white t-shirt. He walks over, and the proximity only makes me even more flustered.

“Sorry I took so long,” he says. “We can head out now.”

With my hands in my pockets, I stand up, and thankfully, Luke isn’t staring at my crotch.

“Sure, let’s go.” My voice is strained, and Luke tilts his head.

“You okay?”

I nod, and Luke puts a hand on my shoulder that should be reassuring, but all it does is fire me up even more.

“Trust me, I don’t bite,” he says.

“Yeah, I know, you’re just so hot and I’m nervous as heck.”

Oh, come on.

Why in the ever-loving hell did I say that?

While I’m kicking myself for blurting out my unfiltered thoughts, Luke fixes me with a deer in the headlights expression.

And then he smirks.

Heat zips up my spine and wipes my brain. I try to say something, anything to redeem myself, but words fail me, and Luke trails his fingers down my arm, leaving tingles in their wake.

Out of self-control, I lean in for a kiss, but Luke moves first. His lips hover for a torturous second before he crashes his mouth onto mine, fast and rough, as he releases a breathy, satisfied moan.

My eyes fly open in surprise before slamming shut to deepen the kiss, spearing my tongue into his, needy and desperate, as I cup his face with my hand.

I pull back, out of breath, and I’m greeted with the amazing, dick-hardening sight of Luke’s thick eyelashes framing lust-hooded lids.

In one smooth motion, Luke backs me onto the sofa, claiming my mouth for another molten kiss.

He stays in charge the whole time, darting his tongue into me and exploring.

Most of the guys I’ve been with expected me to make all the moves, but Luke is handling me like I’m clay, and damn, I dig it.

Now I’m the one to moan, the deep, guttural noise filling the room.

Luke rips himself away from me, his arms around my neck. He presses his forehead to mine, breathing hard. “Wasn’t expecting any of that so soon.”

“Do you want to stop?”

He shakes his head. “Fuck no. Do you?”

And that’s all I need to crush my mouth back onto his.

My dick strains in my underwear as Luke grinds against me, brushing his fingers against the edge of my shirt and slipping under the fabric every few seconds.

He’s teasing me to the point of insanity, and I tear my shirt off, unable to hold back any longer.

Luke blinks, taking me in. “Holy shit, Erik.” He doesn’t finish his sentence, choosing to run languid hands over my chest, mapping me out like he doesn’t know where he wants to touch.

“Holy shit,” he says again, and that’s all he has time to say before I collapse on top of him for another kiss, passionate and hungry, while Luke fumbles with his own shirt.

I help him the rest of the way, and as soon as the fabric clears his head, that’s it for me. Game over.

His chest is tight and muscular, covered in a smattering of dark hair that makes my mouth water. The fuzz thins out over his chiseled abs before thickening, stretching down beneath his underwear, pointing to everything I want.

I’m so hard that the pressure in my jeans hurts, and Luke notices, reaching over to trail his fingers down my torso, stopping right above my waist. His touch lingers for a long, maddening second before he hooks his thumbs on my belt and sinks down to the floor, face flushed, lips parted, and hands planted on my thighs.

“I need you in my mouth,” he mutters. “Please.”

Desire slams into me, hard, and my mouth hangs open. He’s initiating , not reciprocating. That's new.

I nod, unable to get any words out.

Luke doesn’t waste a second. He discards my belt before yanking my jeans and underwear down, freeing my aching dick, and then his lips are on me.

That’s when my vision goes blurry and my body seizes up. I let out a loud, desperate groan as Luke slicks my cock and circles the head with his tongue. Luke knows what the hell he’s doing, and shit, I’m weak.

This is more than a blowjob—this is pure, destructive pleasure, and I don’t stand a goddamn chance at holding out.