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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

JETT

T wo days later, Mason was off at an away game and Dad was on his way over to hang out. He’d sent Eleanor home, and I had a sneaking suspicion things were not going well between them. I wasn’t sure how he could reconcile having a wife who couldn’t accept his son’s sexuality.

My doorbell rang and I hopped from my couch, then strode to the door and swung it open, the bright orange and blue colors of the sunset racing across the sky. “Hey, Dad. Come in.” Shit, this was weird. He’d never come to my home before.

He strolled in and gave me a quick hug with a pat on the back. “Hey, Jett.” As he left me, he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his pants, looking around the kitchen and main room. “Nice place you’ve got here.”

I followed him in, my heart thumping. “Thanks. It’s a rental. I wanted to be sure about the area before I bought something.” Besides the occasional meal out when he was in town on business, I couldn’t remember a time when we’d been alone like this. It was a little nerve-wracking, even though it shouldn’t be. He was my father . “Do you want a drink? I have a decent Pinot Noir from that winery you like in Simi Valley. ”

“Oh, yes, that would be nice.” He sat on the end of my couch, looking a little lost. “Are you able to drink?”

“No, not yet.” I strolled into my kitchen and poured the wine into a glass for him. I’d opened the bottle a little while ago to let it breathe, knowing he’d want it. After refilling my water glass, I brought them both out to the main room, set the drinks on the coffee table and dropped next to him. “So, Eleanor left today?”

“She did.” He pursed his lips. “She’s not happy about you…or about anything right now.” Picking up his glass, he sipped his wine. “We’ve been fighting ever since we saw you in the hospital.”

“I’m sorry, Dad.” I drank some water, studying him. He seemed worn out. I’d never seen him like this.

“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. You didn’t choose to be this way. It’s just who you are.” He glanced at me and exhaled. “She said some terrible things, so terrible I refuse to repeat them to you.” His jaw muscle bulged. “I don’t know what to do.” He hung his head.

Divorce her? Find someone who’d fit in better with our family? I gritted my teeth. He wasn’t ready to hear something like that. “Maybe she’ll mellow out with time.”

His gaze snapped to mine. “She doesn’t want you in her house.” His lip curled. “I told her it’s not her house, it’s our house. What am I supposed to do with that?”

He was hurting and torn between me and the woman he supposedly loved. Placing my hand on his forearm, I said, “We ignore her. I’m not going to not visit just because she doesn’t like it.” I inhaled deeply. It was time for some truths to come out. “Dad, Iris and I never felt welcome around her anyway. She’s never felt like a stepmother to us.”

Dad’s eyes grew wide. “But she’s only ever said great things about you both, well, before she found out you were gay. You should have heard her at church functions.”

If only Iris was here right now to back me up. But no, it was time I stood up for myself and quit relying on her. “Do you ever get th e feeling that maybe she’s a little fake?” I gauged his reaction. Hopefully, I wasn’t being too aggressive right away.

“Fake?” He scanned the room and rested his gaze on me. “I…I don’t know.”

“I think she likes the idea of having stepchildren to brag about to her friends, but I don’t remember her ever really being there for us.” I sipped my water, letting my words sink in. “Why else would she insist on us having a nanny?” I asked, raising my brows. Maybe he couldn’t see it or didn’t want to.

“She was busy with her foundation and doing charitable work.” Shaking his head, he scoffed. “Hell, I don’t know. I suppose what you’re saying could be right.”

There was my in. Shifting closer to him, I squeezed his arm and said, “I am right. You weren’t around much. You were working a lot.” Now it was all about to come out.

“I had to support my family, Jett, and let me remind you that hockey isn’t a cheap sport. Not at the level you played at.” His gaze hardened. “I did my best for you and Iris. I wanted the best for you both and to give you every advantage I never had.”

Shit, maybe I’d overstepped. Fingering the rim of my water glass, I said, “I’m sorry, but sometimes what we needed was you.” I worried my lower lip. “Jenny was great as a nanny, but…”

He took a long sip of his wine and winced. “You know there was never anything between me and your nanny like Eleanor tried to accuse her of.” As his gaze found mine, his brows wrinkled. “Never.”

“I know.” I rocked once, tightening my hold on my water glass. “Jenny was more like a stepmother to us than Eleanor was.” I snuck a peek at him. Was he going to accept what I had to say now? “Eleanor had no right to accuse her of anything.”

“You’re right.” Blowing out a breath, his shoulders slumped. “I don’t know what to do, Jett.”

“You don’t seem to have a problem with my sexuality, do you?” I studied him. If he did, he hadn’t said so .

“It’s a shock, I’m not going to lie.” He faced me. “But I’ll get used to it, and I still love you as much as ever.” With a slight grin, he patted my thigh. “I had a friend in college who was gay. We lost touch after graduation, but I was one of the few people he told in confidence. It didn’t change how I viewed him either, and it won’t change how I view you.”

My eyes grew wide. He’d never talked about this before. But then, I’d never given him a reason to. “Oh.”

“What does Iris think about all this?” He drank some wine.

“I haven’t spoken to her since I came home from the hospital, but I did tell her I intended on coming out to you when you arrived.” I should probably call her soon. I relaxed my shoulders. It felt like the hard stuff we’d had to discuss was over.

“You did?” Turning toward me, he rested his arm along the back of the couch. “And?”

“And she was pretty certain Eleanor would take it badly, but neither of us was sure about you.” I huffed a laugh. “Well, Iris convinced me you’d come around at least.” I glanced out the patio doors onto my covered patio and dark backyard. The sun had gone down while we’d spoken.

“Iris was right.” He tapped his head and gave me a warm smile. “She’s a smart girl.”

With a slow nod, I said, “You got that right.” I returned his smile and drank more water. I wasn’t sure what else was left to say. “So, shall we order some DoorDash and watch the game?” No way in hell I was going to miss my boys playing the Sharks.

“Hell yes. Is there a sushi place we can order from? Eleanor isn’t much for sushi, so I don’t get it very often.” He smirked at me.

“I know.” I gave him a pointed look. At some point, I was pretty sure he was going to see what the rest of us saw. And then divorce? We could only hope. I plucked my phone off the coffee table and ordered some food.

Halfway through the second period, the game was tied two to two. We’d polished off over fifty dollars’ worth of sushi that Dad had insisted on paying for, and we both sat glued to the edge of our seats on the couch.

“That Hopkins is a hell of a player.” Dad drank from his third glass of wine.

“He is.” My gaze followed Mason on the screen across from us as he drove the puck down the ice, passing it to Volkov, then to my substitute, Ekman.

“What do you think about Ekman there? Any chance he could take your spot permanently?” Dad threw a quick glance at me.

Waving my hand at the TV, I scoffed. “Not a chance. He doesn’t get Volkov as well as I do.”

“Or Hopkins?” Dad arched a brow.

“Yes, or Hopkins.” Warmth dashed through my cheeks. “Especially Hopkins.” My gaze met his. Dad was showing his acceptance of our relationship.

“Goal. Holy shit, did you see that?” Dad pointed furiously at the television. “Carlson shot an assist to Hopkins.”

“No, I missed it.” Snatching the remote, I rewound the play and watched.

As Carlson came barreling down the ice, Volkov passed to him while Hopkins lined up to the goal.

Carlson hit a line drive to Hopkins, and he tapped it in behind the goalie’s skate. All the guys on the ice held up their gloved hands in celebration while Hopkins, Volkov, and Carlson bear-hugged each other.

My chest ached. “Dammit, I want to be out there.” Nothing felt quite like watching your team play without you.

“I bet you do, son. Soon enough.” He drank some wine down and smiled at me. “I have a feeling you and Hopkins are going places.” He held up his wine glass. “Here’s to you both.”

I tapped my water glass to his glass and drank it, emotion flooding my chest. “Thanks, Dad.” Who’d have thought that this mess w ith Dallas and my coming out would bring us this close? Whatever bond he had with Eleanor, it was no match for ours.

The next day while I waited for Mason to come home, I sat at my kitchen table and called Iris. It was time to tell her some good news for a change.

The phone rang a few times and clicked. “Jett? How are you? Everything okay? I saw some clips from the game last night. Mason was on fire.” She giggled. “I think he was making those goals for you.”

“You might be right.” I scraped my teeth over my lip, shifted in my chair and laid my forearm across the table. “So, I watched the game with Dad last night.”

“You what? Are you serious?” She freed a soft squeal. “Dammit, it’s about time you told me what the hell is going on out there.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I’ve been trying to rest and it’s been a little messy with everything.” I traced a circle on the table. I really should have called her sooner.

“Tell me everything,” she said. “Did Eleanor throw a fit?”

“She did. And Dad is keeping her away from me.” I inhaled quickly. “At least for the time being.” What would she think of that?

“Okay, but he can’t do it forever.” Her breath caught. “What the hell did she do or say for him to do that?”

I scratched behind my ear. “Well, she got a little belligerent at the hospital and called me a sodomite, but Mason basically kicked her out of the room.” A smile touched my lips. I couldn’t wait for him to come home.

“A sodomite? Wow, that’s old school.” She huffed a laugh. “But you and Dad are good?”

“Yeah, he said he was shocked, but he’s accepting me and Mason.” I smiled a full-on smile as memories of last night wove throug h my head. “We’ve had a few talks, and I’m hoping he’s starting to see what a problem Eleanor has been for our family.”

“Holy shit. You went all out, didn’t you,” she said. “I suppose I’ll be getting a call from Dad soon?”

“You might. I’m sure he’ll want to get your take on everything.” I glanced across the room at the sun streaming across the desert landscaping in the yard, then at my patio couch. The first night Mason was here, we’d sat and talked out there, and I’d been so far in the closet, I’d wondered if I’d ever come out. “Mason has changed me, Iris. I’m not afraid of being myself anymore.”

“I know. I see it and I absolutely love it,” she said. “But tell me, what is Dad going to do about Eleanor?”

“I don’t know yet, but he’s rethinking his relationship with her.” Do I dare say it aloud? I set my jaw. “Maybe they’ll separate,” I said. “He sent her home and stayed out here to spend more time with me.”

“We can hope they’ll divorce, and Dad will find someone new. Someone more like Mom.” She sighed.

“Wouldn’t that be something.” She’d taken my thoughts and said them aloud. “He’s being forced to choose between me and her right now, and so far, he’s picking me.”

“I knew he would.” She chuckled. “Jett, I think he’s been a little lost since Mom died. Maybe he’s only seeing it now.”

“Yeah, maybe.” I bit the side of my lower lip and released it. I eyed my couch. I should probably rest some more before Mason got home.

“How are you feeling? Any better?” She lowered her voice. “You still got the shiner?”

“The shiner’s going to take more than a few days to go away, but the swelling is gone along with most of my concussion symptoms.” I stood and walked toward the couch. “I’m still tiring easily, but I think I’m going to get back in the gym tomorrow and see what I can do without these ribs hurting me too much. ”

“Yeah? Good.” She tsked. “But you better not be pushing it. I know how you are. Don’t try and fake out your doctor to get back on the ice.”

With a soft snort, I said, “Don’t worry, Mason won’t let me.” And somehow, the nosy fucker would figure it out.

“Guess I can count on him to keep you in line,” she said. “Oh, Jett, I’m so happy things are turning around for you.”

“Thanks.” I sat in the middle of the couch. “Speaking of Mason, I’d better be going. He’ll be home soon, and I want to rest before he gets here.” I skimmed my hand over the couch cushion.

“Oh…” She snickered. “I guess you two will be catching up.”

“We will.” Maybe I’d even feel up to having more than blow jobs. “I’ll talk to you later. Have a great rest of your day.”

“I will and you too. Send me some updates as they happen.”

“Sure thing,” I said. “Bye and love you.”

“Bye. Love you too.”

I hung up the call, set my phone on the coffee table and lay down, resting my head on a throw pillow and tucking my hands underneath it. The time couldn’t pass fast enough to have my Mason back home with me. Home… Fuck, I wanted him here all the time, even after I was better. We’d have to have a talk about that. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

“Babe.” Mason’s voice floated through the fog in my head. “Hey.” Soft lips pressed against my cheek. “You okay?”

Fluttering my eyes open, I focused on Mason, sitting on the edge of the couch at my waist, still dressed in his dark-blue suit.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Great, now he was here with me again. I’d really missed him. With my heart fluttering, I pushed myself up to sitting and rubbed my eyes. “What time is it?”

“Around five. You hungry?” Leaning in, he pulled my arms down and placed a long, deep kiss on my mouth, his tongue slidin g against mine. “Goddamn, you taste good. How are you feeling?”

“I’m much better. I think the only symptom I have left from the concussion is some tiredness.” I smirked at him. “But I just took a nap, so not tired anymore.” With my dick waking, I slipped my hand between his thighs and traced the outline of his dick through his slacks. “Just have to be careful of the ribs.”

“Oh, I see. You’ve been sitting here all horny, waiting for me to get home?” He unfastened his slacks and slipped his half-hard cock out. “There, I made it easier for you.” He slanted his mouth over mine, moaning into a long kiss, our tongues dancing together.

Fisting his dick, I placed lazy strokes over it and it hardened against my palm. My own cock tingled and swelled inside my athletic shorts, pushing against the band. I needed him, all of him. Now. I broke our kisses. “Mason? Can we fuck?”

He looked me over, his pupils flaring. “You sure you’re up for that?” he asked, brushing his hand over my shoulder and down to my chest, skimming his palm over my nipple.

As a flash of sensation rippled from my chest to my dick, I groaned. “Yeah, I’m ready for it.” Pressing my forehead to his, I flicked my tongue over my dry lips and gave his dick a few more pulls.

“God, Jett, it’s been too long.” His breath grew heavy. “Want you to fuck me. Does that work?” He nibbled from my cheek to my ear, sucked the lobe into his mouth and bit it softly. “I want you so bad.”

“Yeah, me too. Let’s go in my bedroom.” With heat shivering over my skin, I shifted away from him and stood. “After you.” I pulled him up from the couch, his dick straining to reach his navel. Oh damn, that was too delicious. “Wait.” With a smirk, I dropped to my knees in front of him and sucked him in, wrapping my hand around the base.

“Oh, sweet Jesus.” He fisted my hair and rocked his hips, slidin g his dick in and out of my salivating mouth. “Don’t do that for too long, or I won’t last.”

The heady taste of his precum filled my mouth and the scent of his musk flooded my senses. I needed him more than I knew after all that had happened. After a few more pumps of my mouth over his solid cock, I pulled off him and rose, then swiped the back of my hand over my lips. “I couldn’t help myself.” I knew what would come next.

“’Cause I’m irresistible?” He gave me a quick snort, snatched my arm and tugged me toward the bedroom.

“Yeah, yeah…and full of yourself.” I laughed with him as we stumbled into my room and fell onto my bed, him on his back with me on top. Propping myself on my elbows, I surrounded his head with my forearms and looked deeply into his light-blue eyes, the darkness of his hair, the high chiseled cheekbones. God, he was stunning. “Love you, Mason.”

“Oh, babe, you know I love you. I missed you something fierce.” His gaze darted between my eyes. “All I kept thinking about in that damn hotel room was you and the last time we’d been in one together.” He swallowed hard. “The last time we were like this.” He lifted his head to press a deep kiss on my mouth while rocking his hard dick against my stomach.

With a smirk, I said, “Who’d they have you rooming with?” Funny, but we’d both been so busy we’d barely texted each other.

“Archer, of course.” He gripped my ass and squeezed it. “Volkov didn’t want to give up his single room.” With a groan, he said, “Can we get back to fucking now?”

“Yeah.” I rolled off him, shucked my shirt off and slipped my shorts and underwear down, tossing it all on the floor while he did the same. “Where were we?” I climbed over him, our hot cocks slipping together, and rocked my hips. Sensation wove through me and goosebumps broke out over my skin. I brushed his bangs off his forehead. “Tell me again how much you missed me.” I nuzzled into his neck, nipping and licking the soft skin .

Digging his fingers into my ass cheeks and squirming under me, he said, “I missed everything about you, baby. Having you snuggling with me while I sleep, your hard dick pressing to my ass when I wake up, all of it.” He moaned and thrust against me, his cock pulsing.

“We can sleep like that tonight and tomorrow, maybe I’ll fuck you again.” I bit down his neck to his collarbone, sucked in a nipple and flicked my tongue over it.

“Fuck…” He arched his back, and his breath hitched. “Do it, Jett. I fucking need it.”

I left his nipple to grab the lube from the drawer of my nightstand and slathered my fingers with it. “You hot for me, baby?” I fluttered my tongue over his other nipple, snuck my fingers between his legs and into his crack.

“Hell yeah.” He lifted his knees on either side of my hips and let out a low groan.

Licking and biting down the grooves of his abs, I flicked my tongue over the crown of his dick, circled my finger around his hole and slipped it inside.

“Oh fuck.” His swollen cock bobbed off his stomach and precum leaked from the tip.

Curling my finger just so, I found his prostate and rubbed over it again and again. I wanted to make him see stars.

With a sharp gasp, he bucked. “Keep going, more, deeper. Fuck me, Jett.” He curled his fingers into my hair and thrust.

I slipped a second finger inside him and pumped, my own dick aching and dribbling precum. “You’re so fucking hot, Mason.” I lapped up his shaft and took the head of his dick between my lips.

Letting out moan after moan, he tugged on my hair and rocked his hips, fucking my mouth. “Do it, Jett. Fuck me now. I’m ready.” He lifted his knees into his armpits, exposing himself.

A shudder rolled over my body and a jolt of pleasure shot up my spine. Oh, holy hell, he was doing it for me. “Okay. ”

My breath came in quick pants. After slicking my dick with more lube, I lined it up to his hole and fell over him on one straight arm. With my gaze capturing his, I slowly worked inside him, the heat of his body enveloping me in sweet bliss. “Fuck, you feel good.” I dropped to my elbow as my balls rested against his ass. We were as connected as two people could be. “Love you.”

“Love you more.” With his brows tensing, he bit his lower lip. “You gonna move or what?”

I shifted my cock, pleasure swarming through me. Just being inside him was heaven. “Not sure yet.” I gave him a coy smile and claimed his mouth in hungry kisses, our bodies writhing together, my hips moving in short jerks, supplying a teasing bit of friction.

With a ragged moan against my lips, he dug his fingers into my ass and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

Tangling my tongue with his, I kissed him over and over, savoring the closeness. Gradually, I quickened my pace and thrust harder into him, my dick gliding in and out of him and sensation knotting tight in my groin. “Close,” I gritted out.

“Yeah? Fuck me fast and hard.” He wrapped his hand around his leaking cock and pumped it. “Come with me, baby.” His face tensed and his jaw dropped.

“Fuck yeah.” I slapped into him with forceful thrusts, my orgasm tingling from my dick and out through my body.

“Oh God, coming…hard.” As his hand slowed over his cock, hot cum spurted out to paint his chest and abs.

I lost myself to intense contractions as my dick pulsed inside him, filling him. Gasping, I pushed in deeply and fell over him, my toes curling as pleasure jolted through every nerve ending. As it slowed, I panted against his neck and fought to calm my breath. “So fucking good.” I’d never experienced such an intense connection with anyone.

“Damn right. The best.” He hooked his legs around mine, keepin g my waning cock inside him. “You know we’re meant to be, right?” He kissed my head.

“Yes.” I snuggled into him, breathing him in. Should I tell him what I’d been thinking? It seemed like the right time. “Move in with me.”

“What?” Shifting his head on the pillow, he gave me a lazy smile. “You going all in on me, Jatt Jarvis?”

I lifted onto an elbow and brushed my fingers over his cheek. “Yeah, I guess I am. It’s been so nice to have you here.” I rolled my lips. No going back now, but I was absolutely sure about this. “I want to wake up with you every day.”

“Me too.” He pulled my head down for a lingering kiss. “I have a lease, but it’s done in December. I could move in for New Year’s.” He chuckled. “We can start the year off right.”

“We can.” My gaze met his. He’d responded pretty quickly. “You don’t have to think about this?”

“Are you kidding me? Cheaper rent, a man who can cook me chicken cordon bleu whenever I ask? Who wouldn’t want that?” He smirked. “And hot-as-fuck sex any time? Sign me up.”

With a smile spreading over my face, I said, “You’re signed up. It’s a deal.” I peppered his mouth and jaw in playful kisses. “Love you, babe.”

“Love you.” With a soft snort, he pushed me off him. “Okay, enough. Let’s get cleaned up.”

“Yep.” I slid out of him and peeled myself from his chest, his cum sticky between us. As I climbed off the bed, I said, “I’m going in to do a workout tomorrow.” I headed toward my en suite bathroom with him following.

“Yeah? You sure you’re up for it?” After entering the bathroom, he turned on the shower.

“I’m sure. If we can fuck like we just did, I can train.” I freed a quick laugh. Wasn’t that the truth.

He stopped with one foot in the shower. “You have a point.” Placing his hand under the water, he said, “Come in here with me. I want to soap you up.” He wagged his brows .

“Of course.” I stepped into the shower with him. It was all working out.