Page 48 of My Pucking Crush

Max

W e sweep Albany in four games. Too bad, they’re nice guys. Gentlemen. Unlike Belova’s brutal dogs trying to decimate Cape May.

“Anything change?” Luca returns to my living room with a bowl of popcorn.

Cape May put up a good fight against Richmond. But they’re holding on for dear life. The series is tied 3-3.

This game determines the next twenty days of my life. Either we take an easy trip to the Jersey Shore and play a worthy team in a beautiful state-of-the-art stadium, or burrow to the depths of hell in Richmond’s shitty excuse for an arena.

And I’ll have to prepare for a war.

“Cape May tied it up, but they’re exhausted.” I know how that feels. Skating on fumes, drained, and emotionally wrecked.

Luca sits in a chair and not next to me on the sofa. Probably because I’m ready to detonate.

“You haven’t said anything...” I lean back and throw my arm on the back of the sofa, facing him. “Any credible threats from Richmond if we play them?”

His eyes narrow on me. “I would tell you. Especially if they’re strategizing in an unsportsmanlike manner.”

“Do you have a spy on their team?”

“No.” He leans forward. “If we got caught...”

“Sounds like it’s been discussed.”

“My security team checked the locker room and other common spaces for bugs just to nail them.”

Teams spying on each other happened before, so I’m not shocked to hear this.

I study Luca. “Is there anything you’re not telling me? For my own good, perhaps?”

I have enough to deal with. I trust Luca and the additional security they hired will keep me safe the second I step foot out of this apartment. Playing and winning are my job. I don’t try to play every position. I don’t try to be the coach. Sure, I mentor. Sure, I collaborate. But I stay in my lane.

That includes letting the protection team keep me and the rest of us safe.

“Luca?” I stand up and position myself in front of him. God, I can use his lips around my cock right now.

He grabs my belt and pulls me onto his lap, the sharpness of the move, the sudden loss of balance hits me like a blow. Strikes a nerve of being manhandled as a kid.

My legs tense, and I fight to get off him, but he holds me down.

“Hey,” he says, keeping me in place with the kind of strength that shocks me.

Maybe it’s a center of gravity thing. I have a few inches on him and more muscle. He’s finely cut too, just leaner. But this hold he has on me has my teeth grinding.

“Let me go,” I mutter.

“Look at me,” he says sharply. “It’s me. Not anyone else.”

Fighting ghosts from my past, I give in and look at him. I worry I’ll see Uncle Harris. And that will set me back.

Luca sings to me softly. In Russian. The sexy sultry timbre of a foreign language steals my breath.

“What... What did you just sing to me?” I ask, my voice devoid of emotion.

“No man will ever hurt you again, baby.”

“You can’t make that promise. I’m bound to get another stick in the face—”

He grips my collar and pulls my mouth close to his. “I meant in the despicable way that animal uncle touched you.”

That I believe. Because I’ll fight off anyone who tries to assault me. I doubt anyone would even try, given the monster I’ve turned into.

“I want to get past that. I know you need more from me emotionally,” I choke up.

“I’m willing to wait. But you need to know...” Luca continues. “I like it rough. I like to be rough. I want you to get comfortable with that.”

“Rough how?” I stupidly ask.

“Do you really want to know?” He grins wickedly.

“Yes, but kiss me first,” I answer, needing his lips.

He devours me. But it’s sensual and loving. Something I didn’t think two men could do because we’re both so aggressive. But it works between us.

Luca glances at his watch. “It’s not too late.”

“Too late for what?”

“We can take a drive to my club.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “Club? Are you crazy? I can’t let anyone see me there.”

“You mean with me?”

“Not you.” I get to my feet. “Any man. I’m not out, Luca. There are cameras everywhere.”

He grips my face again. “Do you think I’d bring you to a place where you could be spotted and hurt?”

I think about that. “No. But how do you know?”

“It’s a club rule. We sign NDAs.”

“That doesn’t mean I won’t be recognized. Or you.”

“Not if we’re wearing masks.”

TWO HOURS LATER, LUCA signs me into his club as a guest. In their adjacent shop for sex toys and other necessities for a good time, he snags two masks. Matching to signal I’m his.

“How does this work?” I ask, fingering the soft leather mask that covers half my face, my mouth exposed. “Remember I can’t...”

“You fuck me. That’s our deal. That’s how I like it between us. Nothing will change.”

“Then how?”

“The first thing we’re going to do is walk around. Hand in hand, you and me.” He grips my wrist. “Feel the acceptance of everyone around us. Sure, no one knows it’s you, but they don’t care who you really are.”

My jaw tightens. “How many men have you been with here?”

“I won’t lie. Quite a few. But they never meant anything.” He pulls me in closer. “I’ve never held anyone’s hand. You mean something.”

My phone buzzes, and I yank it from my back pocket. “Shit,” I say filled with dread.

“What?”

“Richmond won.” I hadn’t waited to see the final score. I let Luca drag me out of the apartment with two periods left to play. It was too gut wrenching to watch.

They won their round. I can’t believe we have to go through that shit show again with them.

My expression slacks behind the mask.

Luca notices and says, “Do you want to leave, we can—”

“No.” I stop him. “I need this more than ever. Make it go away, Luc. Make the pain leave my body.”