CHAPTER ELEVEN

MASON

I shut my door and stared at it, my heart soaring. Holy hell, I was dating Jett Jarvis, the previous bad boy of the NHL. I flicked my gaze to the clock above my stove. It was only ten, and fuck if I was going to be able to sleep. Nope, I needed to talk to someone. Archer…

After jogging to my phone, still resting on my coffee table, I tapped it to call him and set it on speaker.

It rang for a long time and picked up. In a gravelly voice, Archer said, “Hello?”

“Hey, guess what?” I fell onto the end of my couch and raked my fingers through my bangs, my gaze taking in the jagged mountain peaks beyond my patio, glowing in the dark sky from the city lights behind them.

“What?” He let out a harsh breath. “Why aren’t you in bed already?”

“Dude, it’s only ten o’clock. And Jett just left my place.” I smiled at my phone. Wasn’t he the one who wanted to know what Jett’s answer would be?

“Oh, yeah.” Murmuring came through the phone. “It’s just Mason, Leo,” he said, “Hang on. I want to hear this.”

“Okay.” I tapped my fingers on my knee, his soft footsteps echoin g through the phone line. “Well?” Where the hell was he going? The other side of the country?

“I’m here. I just…I haven’t told Leo what’s going on since Jett’s not out.”

“Oh yeah.” Shit, what about the squad if we met them on Friday? I pressed my fingers to my lips for a beat. We’d deal with that later.

“So? What happened?” he asked.

“I’m dating Jett Jarvis. He wants to give us a shot.” I glanced at my reflection in the patio doors. I looked like a kid on his birthday right after the cake had been served. Who’d have thought a few weeks ago I’d want to date Jett fucking Jarvis?

“Seriously? That’s awesome, Mason.” He chuckled. “What are the terms? Who can we tell, and when is he coming out?”

“I don’t know that yet. He needs to take it slow. He has that situation with his dad and his stepmother. Well, just his stepmother, really.” Shit, would he be mad if he heard me call her that? He never did. I pinched my lips. “I guess now I understand why you were so patient with Leo.”

“Every family is different, and he knows them best.” He let out a long breath. “So, I take it he’s not coming out to the team for a while.”

“Not unless there’s a way to do it and not have his dad find out.” The memory of our dinner rumbled through my head. “His dad’s going to endorse the team, and he’s already met with some of the management.”

“Yeah, but don’t they already know about Jett?” he asked.

“Some do, but I think he said something about an NDA.” I scratched my cheek. There had to be a way for the team to know without his dad finding out. “He’s thinking about talking to Volkov.” I freed a sharp chuckle. “We were talking about going to drag night at The Club on Mill with the whole squad and bringing him under the guise of supporting his players.”

“What? Why?” He sniggered. “Where the hell do you come up with this shit? ”

“Big brain, Carlson. It’s almost as big as my dick.” I tapped the side of my head and snorted softly. Yeah, maybe that idea was out there.

“Maybe if you used your brain as much as you use your dick, you’d have this figured out.” He chortled.

“Okay, that was uncalled for.” A sly grin played over my lips. “Anyway, I was thinking he could meet the squad on Friday. We’re having our first official date Thursday night and?—”

“And we have a free day on Friday. Nice. I’ll talk to the guys and invite Leo?” he asked.

“Of course, invite Leo. I have a feeling between you and Leo, there’s a lot of sage advice for him.” I rubbed my chin. Yes, a plan was forming in my head. It was time Jett hung out with his own kind and got the feel of the community he’d been missing out on. Then maybe he’d have the strength to let his father know about him. Damn, I was a sly devil.

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll talk to you later, okay? Gotta get some shut-eye,” he said.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll see you in the morning anyway.” I inhaled deeply. “And Archer?” My chest warmed.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks, man. You’re a good friend.” I was so fucking lucky to have him on this journey with me.

“You’re welcome. You’ve been a good friend too. A little rowdy, but that’s cool.” He chuckled. “Good night.”

“Good night.” I hung up and sighed, watching the twinkling lights of a plane landing at the airport behind the mountain.

After a few days of grueling practices with the coaches trying out new shit on us after our pre-season games, it was finally Thursday night and time for a quiet evening with Jett. After parking my car in his driveway, I grabbed my smaller bag of goodies and clothes, strolled to the portico housing his front door, and knocked, then adjusted my gray shirt over my jean shorts. I’d wanted to dress nice but comfortable. What should we order for dinner tonight?

As his door swung open, he beamed at me, a red-and-white striped apron covering his lower half and a black sleeveless T-shirt showing off his muscled arms on top. “Hey.” His cheeks pinked and he dipped his head.

“Damn, look at you.” I stepped inside, the scent of garlic floating around me, and set my bag inside the door. “Wait, are you cooking for me again?” Leaning in, I planted a long kiss on his mouth.

“Yeah, I decided our first date should be as good as our fake date.” Shutting the door, he rubbed his hands together. “I hope you like lasagna.”

“Oh, hell yes.” Grabbing his hand, I strolled into his kitchen and breathed in. “Damn, that smells good, and we could both use the carbs after how hard Coach worked us.” I perused his fancy table, already set with red wine, silverware, plates and stemware. “You know, you’re really putting off the wife vibes here.” And damn, it was sexy as hell. He was making a statement, like an I’m ready to make us work statement. Warmth bloomed in my chest.

“I knew you were going to say something stupid like that.” He strode into the kitchen, snatched some potholders from the counter, then opened the oven and slid out a pan of bubbling lasagna.

“Shall I pour the wine now?” I stepped to the table and lifted the opened bottle from it. “Sangiovese?” What the hell was that? I didn’t know wines, but he sure seemed to. It sounded Italian, but the vintner was from California. I poured the wine into the glasses.

“Yep, goes great with pasta.” He plated some of the lasagna, brought it to the table, and then unwrapped his apron, exposing white board shorts underneath. “I have some garlic bread staying warm in the microwave. Want to grab it? ”

“Of course.” I sauntered into the kitchen and pulled the bread, covered in linen napkins in a bowl, out of the microwave and carried it to the table. I scanned the spread, only now noting he’d set us up with him at the head of the table and me sitting right next to him. He wanted to be close to me. How sweet.

I dropped into my chair and sipped the wine. It wasn’t as sweet as I’d expected and held hints of cherries with herbs. “Damn, I can see why you chose this.” I was going to turn into a wine snob hanging out with him.

As he moved a large square of lasagna to my plate with a spatula, he said, “Yeah, well, I grew up in Cali. My dad loves to go to the wineries. He’ll buy a few cases at a time direct from the winery when we’ve gone out. He has quite a collection.” He set lasagna on his own plate.

Picking up my fork, I said, “Oh, that’s pretty cool. So, I guess you go wine tasting together?” I dug into my food and slipped it into my mouth, the creamy cheese, savory meat and tomato sauce mixing. “Mmm, mmm…damn, that’s good.” I tapped my fork on the top of my lasagna. “If you cook for me every time we’re together, I’ll be in heaven.” I wagged my brows at him.

“You still owe me a meal, Hopkins.” Lifting his wine glass, he gave me a pointed look. “But I’m glad you like it. It’s pretty easy, actually.” He huffed a laugh. “Definitely easier than?—”

“Chicken cordon bleu?” I snickered and sipped my wine. Yep, these went perfectly together. “But really, you go wine tasting with your dad?”

“I have. A few times.” He wrinkled his nose. “Eleanor didn’t like it much. She doesn’t drink and doesn’t like it when he does.”

“She sounds like no fun.” My breath caught. Shit, maybe she’s in recovery? “Uh, sorry. Is she, was she an alcoholic?”

“No, it’s part of her piety.” With a huff, he shook his head. “She hides it sometimes. Iris and I have found her sneaking it at parties.” He bit the side of his lower lip and released it. “I don’t know why. It’s not like Dad would even care. It’s more like she wants to appear all fucking righteous, even though she’s not. ”

I eyed him. I’d never known anyone like that. It sounded just…odd. “What does your dad see in her?” I ate more lasagna.

“I don’t know. I don’t think she was like that when she met him. She was cold from the very beginning toward Iris and me, but she got sort of…” He looked toward the patio doors beyond his living room and focused on me. “It’s like she got odder and more controlling as time went on.”

I leaned in. “Do you think maybe your dad works a lot so he can stay away from her?” I gauged his reaction.

Sitting back in his chair, he rubbed his lips. “You know? There might be something to that.” He tensed his jaw. “Shit, I don’t know.” He ate some food.

His phone buzzed on the kitchen island next to the table.

“Shit.” Hopping up, he grabbed it and tapped the screen. “It’s Iris.”

“Yeah?” My heart fluttered. He was cool answering his sister’s call when I was sitting right here? But she knew he was?—

“Yeah, I’m having dinner with Mason right now.” As a smile widened his lips, he flashed his eyes at me. “I made him Dad’s lasagna.” He arched a brow.

Shit, this was his dad’s recipe? I stared at my plate of food. Apparently, there was a lot more to his family’s story.

“Yeah, I’ll put you on speaker.” He pressed the button on the phone. “Iris, say hi to the Coyotes’ new center.”

“Hey, Mason. I’ve seen some of your game footage at ASU on YouTube. You’re impressive for a rookie.”

My mouth dropped open. What the hell? “Uh, thanks, Iris. It’s really nice to meet you.” What was I supposed to say? Fuck, I wasn’t expecting this at all. He could have warned me.

“How’s my brother treating you? I have to say I’m really excited he’s finally dating someone.” She giggled.

“Iris, you don’t have to repeat what I said like that.” He scowled and shook his head. “Sisters…”

Butterflies took flight in my gut. He’d been telling her things like we were dating . “Yeah, he’s treating me right. This lasagna is to die for.” I drank some wine. “It’s your dad’s recipe?”

“Yeah, he used to make it before…” Her breath snagged. “Well, before our mom passed. He said it came from his dad, our Grandpa Jarvis,” she said. “It’s one of those things passed down through the men in our family, so of course, he taught Jett how to make it.”

“Oh, come on, he would have taught you if you’d cared.” Setting the phone on the table, he cut into his food. “Iris doesn’t like to cook. If we didn’t have Jenny to make us food for whatever reason when we were young, I did it.”

“Yeah?” Tilting my head, more butterflies took off in my stomach, like a monarch migration or some shit. There was a whole side of him I had no idea about. I could mess with him. “So, Iris, tell me a good story about your brother.” I leaned in, setting my elbow on the table and my cheek in my hand.

“Nope. Don’t you dare.” He glared at the phone.

With a soft snort, she said, “This one time in a summer hockey camp?—”

“No, Iris,” he whined and slumped his shoulders.

I snatched the phone, hopped up and ran into the kitchen. “Hurry, Iris. Tell me.”

“You fucker!” With a snicker, he lumbered out of his chair and stalked toward me.

“He bet a goalie he was better at guarding the net. So, they traded places and the goalie shot, like, ten goals on him. He never lived it down.” She cackled. “He was all bruised up by it and told Dad some bullshit story about getting into a fight.”

“Oh yeah?” With a harsh laugh, I handed the phone back to him. “Dude, you ever hear the phrase, stay in your own lane ?”

“Quiet.” With a wide grin, he snatched the phone away from me. “You love telling that story. Don’t you, Iris.” Strolling back to the table, he took his seat.

I followed and dropped into my chair. “It’s a good story. I’d love t o see you and Sampson switch.” I cut into my food and ate a bite.

“I don’t think he’s going to try something like that again. And yes, it’s my favorite hockey camp story,” she said.

“Oh? There are more?” I drank some wine, washing down my food. I liked his sister. I loved that she liked to fuck with him as much as I did.

With a soft laugh, she said, “Oh, so many?—”

“No more.” His grin waned. “Have you talked to Dad?” His gaze wound to me, and he sipped his drink.

“I did. I called him yesterday,” she said.

My eyes grew wide. Had Jett taken my advice to see if Iris could figure out if their father would have a problem with Jett being gay? Damn, he was moving full speed ahead. I ate a bite of lasagna.

“And…I don’t know. I told him I had a gay friend whose family had disowned him when he came out, and all Dad said was, that’s too bad .” She sighed.

“You didn’t press him more on it?” He set the phone on the table, stuck his fork into a piece of his lasagna and ate it.

“I asked him what I should do about it. He said nothing . He told me it’s between my friend and his family and not to get involved.” She sucked in a breath. “But then, he also said I should be there for him.”

“Okay, so at least he didn’t go full-blown homophobe on you.” I stuffed food into my mouth. Shit, I’d barely met her. Should I have an opinion?

“Yeah, he was like he always is, somewhere in the middle,” she said.

“He’s always been like that. He’s not one to make waves.” Jett pursed his lips. “Maybe that’s how he got so high up in the company. He politics.”

“Yes, maybe he didn’t want to upset me. He knows I’m a queer ally.” She chuckled. “But doesn’t know I feel as strongly as I do because of you, Jett. ”

I grabbed his hand, resting next to his plate, and gazed into his eyes. “No matter what happens with your dad, I’ll be here for you.”

“Me too,” she said. “But you knew that.” She giggled. “I’m so happy you have someone to fall back on besides me.”

With a small smile, he scoffed through a laugh. “Yeah.”

“Anyway, I’ll let you both enjoy the rest of your date. It was nice to meet you, Mason,” she said.

“Very nice to meet you. It’s obvious you two are really close.” With a grin, I cut more food with my fork. Talking to her had been so enlightening. I’d made the right choice, pursuing him.

“Bye, Iris. Talk to you soon.” He ate a bite of food.

“Bye.” The call hung up.

“Your sister is cool.” I stuck my fork into the last of my lasagna. God, was I full. I eyed the bread. Shit, I had to eat at least one slice of it. I set some on my plate.

Nodding, he said, “Yeah, she’s the best. She’s always been there for me and I’m always there for her.” He twisted his lips. “Though she’s pretty on it, so I’ve never really had to be there for her.” He grabbed a slice of bread and dipped it into some sauce on his plate.

“So, given that information about your dad, what’s your plan?” I ate my bread and my last bite of lasagna.

“I’m working on it. I’m going to come out. It’s time.” He squeezed my hand. “Just need to do it slowly, you know?”

“Yeah, I know.” I drank the last of my wine. “What’s next tonight?” My cock perked up. I’d been wanting him all week and had brought some things to play with.

“Movie, or?” He lifted his brows and picked up his empty plate. “Dishes?”

“Yeah, dishes.” I plucked my plate from the table and then poured more wine into my glass. “But I think we need to fool around before we watch a movie. Don’t you think?” I cupped his balls through his shorts.

His breath caught. “Hell yes.”

Naked, I lay on Jett’s bed on my back and shimmied up to the rustic wooden headboard, a small anal plug in my hand. I was so hard, I ached. Waiting through doing the dishes to have him had been torture. I watched him crawl onto the bed, over his fancy cream duvet, his stiff dick bobbing between his powerful thighs. God, he was gorgeous.

“What do you have planned with that thing?” Rolling over, he planted his ass next to mine and lifted his knees, setting his arms across them.

“Tell me what you’ve done.” I leaned into him, my gaze falling to the glistening tip of his cock. My mouth watered and a shiver worked down my spine.

“Uh, do fingers count?” He eyed the plug. “More than one?”

“Yeah, that counts.” I flicked a switch on the plug, and it hummed. “But I bet those fingers didn’t vibrate.” I licked my lips, swallowing down saliva. “I, uh, I have to suck your cock.”

“I’m not going to protest.” With a playful smirk, he lowered his legs and spread out on the bed. “I’m all yours.”

“I like the sound of that.” Shutting off the plug, I set it down and crept between his legs. I wanted the plug and lube close, so I could use it on him while I sucked him. This was going to be so much fun.

Fisting the base of his shaft, I glanced up at him.

“Wait.” He grabbed my nape and leaned down. “I want to kiss you first.” He pressed his lips to mine and slid his tongue inside my mouth.

Slanting over him, I ravished him in hungry kisses while stroking his swollen dick, rubbing my thumb over the head and spreading precum.

With a deep moan, he broke the kisses and nibbled on my lower lip. Against my cheek, he said, “Fuck, your kisses are like nothing else.”

“Yeah?” I dropped down. “Then let me kiss your gorgeous dick. ” I took him to the back of my throat and swallowed over the head.

He gasped and the skin on his thighs pebbled. “Holy fuck.” Curling his fingers in my hair, he tugged. “More, I need more.”

I pumped over him, swirling my tongue at his slit, the salt of his precum filling my mouth. No one should taste this good, but he did. I sucked hard on the way up and devoured him on the way down.

After a minute or so, his face tensed, and his stomach clenched as gasp after gasp ripped from his throat. “Fuck, close, dammit.”

I left him with a wet pop and looked up at him. “Already? I’m that good, huh?”

“Yes, you’re that good.” He panted and snuck a peek at the plug. “Well?”

“Oh, hell yes.” I grabbed the plug from the bed as he threw his matching rustic nightstand drawer open and tossed the lube at me.

I slathered lube on my finger and licked up the vein on his shaft, which had been taunting me ever since I saw it in the hookup app. I circled my finger around his tight hole, and it clenched. “Let me in, little Jett.” I freed a short chuckle.

“Don’t do that.” Huffing a laugh, he rubbed his eyes. “You’re so weird sometimes.”

“Yeah, but you love it.” My eyes popped open. Shit, I just said the L-word to him. We’d barely gotten started. This was our first real fucking date. I swallowed hard and snuck a glance at him.

He bit down a smile. “Don’t say anything.”

With a nod, I focused on his hole and snuck a finger slowly inside and sucked him into my mouth.

“Jesus.” He shuddered and his thighs twitched around my head. “Fuck, keep going.”

I curled my finger just so, rubbing his prostate while milking his dick with my mouth, my tongue fluttering up and down his shaft. As a pulse shot through my own cock, it dribbled precum. This was turning me the fuck on. What would it be like to have him? I slid a second finger inside him.

With a shudder, he whimpered and arched his back. “Yes!”

I left his cock and hole for a second and picked up the plug, lubed it, and turned it on. “Ready?” I stroked myself a few times. I was going to come all over him when this was over.

“Ready.” He lifted his knees into his armpits.

As his dick leaked with precum, I went down on him again and slid the plug into his hole.

He cried out and shuddered beneath me, his cock jerking against my tongue. “Fuck, gonna come.”

Gliding the plug inside him, I quickened my pace over his shaft, swirling my tongue over the head. With his dick pulsing, hot cum shot down my throat. I lapped it all up, rubbing the toy over his bundle of nerves while he groaned and gasped, his body writhing with each ripple of his orgasm.

As he went slack, I pulled out the toy and hovered over him on one straight arm, then stroked my cock in a furious rhythm. “Gonna come all over you, baby.” I gasped. “You’re fucking mine.”

“Do it. Give it to me.” He opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue.

As my climax surged over me in harsh waves, I aimed my dick at his mouth, my cum painting him in quick spurts, hitting his tongue, his face, and his chest. “Fuck, oh fuck.” Sensation hummed and tingled all through me as I stroked my dick to the end.

When it all slowed, I took quick breaths and fell onto my tucked legs, and then licked my cum off his cheek. “That was awesome.” A low chuckle rumbled in my chest.

He slipped his finger through a blob of cum on his chest and sucked it into his mouth, his swollen lips wrapping around his finger.

“Fuck, that’s hot.” A shiver raced down my spine. I could probab ly go again in a few minutes. Getting dirty with him was the best.

“Yeah?” With a wicked smile, he dipped his finger in more cum and snuck it into his mouth.

Yanking his finger from his lips, I devoured him in a deep kiss, tasting myself, then broke it. I locked my gaze on his and cupped his cheek. I wasn’t kidding when I said he was mine. No way could I deal with it if he hooked up with someone else. “This is good, isn’t it? We’re good together.”

He dropped his hand to his side, his eyes widening. “Yeah, we’re good together.”

“Don’t hook up with anyone else. Okay?” Fuck, what was I saying? As tightness wound through my chest, I studied him.

“I…I wasn’t going to.” He tilted his head and curled the corner of his mouth. “If you even think about it, I might have to kill you.”

“Yeah? Good. I’m not going to think about it.” I placed a hard kiss on his mouth. I liked this side of him, the possessive side.

“I’m ready to do things I should have done a long time ago, and that’s because of you. I want you to know that.” His gaze softened. “I believe you when you say you and your friends will be there for me.”

I brushed my thumb over his cheek, taking in his stunning green eyes, the long dirty-blond bangs framing his face. We were going all in here. I was on board. “I guess it’s okay to tell them about us? We don’t have to pretend to be friends with the squad tomorrow?”

“Nope. I trust they’ll keep my secret until I’m ready.” His gaze darted between my eyes. “You’re changing me, Mason.”

I pressed a warm kiss on his mouth. Against his cheek, I said, “I like the new you.” I pulled away. “I liked the old you, but the new you is…” I shook my head, my gaze on his. “Is just amazing.”

“Good, now let’s clean up so we can get to the part where we cuddle and watch a movie.”