Page 23

CHAPTER 23

MILLER

The last place I wanted to be tonight was the team Christmas party, but considering I was still the new guy, I needed to show I was part of the team. It was crazy to remember how when I arrived, I wanted nothing more than to ingratiate myself so deeply with the team. I wanted my teammates to love me so they couldn’t imagine the team without me on it. But now, the thought of being in a room with them where I couldn’t touch the man who’d captured my heart was pure torture.

“What are the odds there are any single guys here tonight?” Toby asked next to me.

“Huh?” I broke my stare with Lathan and turned to Toby. He smirked and flicked his eyes to Lathan. Why was he looking at my man? Wait. He wasn’t mine. Cool your jets. I took a sip of my seltzer water. The bubbles tickled my lip and calmed me slightly. “Oh, um, not sure. I’m not really focused on that now that the season has started.”

“Or because you have your eyes on someone else,” he said knowingly, flicking his attention to Lathan. He really needed to stop doing that.

“What? No. No interest there.”

“Hmm.” He leaned close and patted my chest. “I’d believe you if you hadn’t been eye-fucking the alternate captain since the moment he walked into the room.”

I gulped. Shit. “It’s nothing. Just a one-sided crush.”

His face morphed into one I didn’t like—pity. “Oh, honey. It’s cute you think that, but he’s been eyeing you right back.”

“You’re ridiculous. There’s nothing going on.”

“It’s not my business what’s going on, so I’ll leave it be, but if you’re trying to keep this under wraps, you both might want to work on the heated looks you send each other. I’m getting a contact boner from the sexual tension emanating from you two.”

I chuckled; the sound high-pitched and slightly deranged. “You need to get your eyes checked.”

“Sure thing, Miller.” Toby laughed, patted my chest once more, and leaned closer. “I’m going to go before I discover if laser eyes are real. I’m afraid I won’t have a hand if they are. Good luck, friend.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but it was no use. He’d already walked away, and my gaze swung back to Lathan of its own accord. We were like magnets, and I couldn’t fight the pull any longer. My feet took me across the room until we were standing across from one another. The woman he’d been talking to excused herself at my arrival.

“Enjoying yourself?” he asked. I didn’t miss the harshness of his tone or how my body relaxed at his proximity. This was a serious problem. I needed to distance myself before I got too addicted to him. Except it was already too late.

“Not really, no. You?”

Lathan’s expression shifted from anger to surprise. “Uh. But…”

“Toby is just a friend, so whatever your mind is conjuring, it’s not true. Besides, if you don’t know I only want you, you haven’t been paying attention. Excuse me.”

I left him gaping as I hurried out of the room. I couldn’t believe I’d just admitted that. I was losing control of my sanity. Any second now, I was likely to wipe the tortured look off his face with a kiss. It wouldn’t help, though. It would only make things worse. So, it was better to remove myself so I wasn’t tempted to blow everything up.

“Miller time!” one of my teammates shouted. I nodded and headed toward the group.

“Hey. How’s it going?”

“Good, man. Have you met my wife, Lexi?” Samson asked.

“No, I haven’t. It’s lovely to meet you,” I said, shaking her hand.

“You, too. How do you like Austin? You’re new to the team, right?”

“I am.” I smiled. “Austin’s lovely. I already feel more at home here than I ever did in Chicago.”

“Have you found a new place yet? Yours caught on fire, right?” Samson asked.

“Yeah. It did. That was shocking coming home to.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I’ve been staying with Lathan for the time being. I have a few feelers out, but nothing has been right.” Mostly because none of them came with a six-foot blond with ice-blue eyes.

“Oh, no! That’s terrible. Real estate in Austin can be overwhelming. It took us two years to find the right place.”

“Even if it wasn’t, we’re not moving now. We have too much stuff.” Samson chuckled.

Lexi smiled and slapped his stomach. “Half of it is your hockey stuff, mister,” she teased before turning back to me. “Any location you’re looking at? I might know some hidden gems from our search.”

“Something close to the stadium and the Rainbow Lounge. Those are really the two places I spend the most time at.”

“I haven’t heard of the Rainbow Lounge. What is it?”

“It’s a non-profit organization for LGBTQ+ youth. I volunteer there as much as the schedule allows.”

Her eyes widened, and she smiled. “That’s amazing. I didn’t know there was something like that in Austin.”

“Yeah. It’s a great organization. I’m helping them prepare for a gala to raise enough money to start a hockey club.”

“Really? That sounds awesome,” Samson said.

“Yeah. They’ve got me helping with some of the promotions.”

“Does the team know? I bet several others would attend, and the Aces organization itself would contribute.”

“I hadn’t wanted to pressure people.”

Samson nodded and gave me a kind smile. “It’s not easy being the new guy, but you’re a big part of the team, Miller. You and Silver are fire together. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’d almost believe the two of you have been skating together for years instead of months.”

Was it warm in here, or was my face just heating on its own?

“Uh, thanks. It’s been great clicking with him on the ice. We’ve known each other since college, so maybe that translates on the ice.”

“Hm. Perhaps,” Samson mused, his gaze assessing.

“Hey, don’t forget about me,” Lexi interrupted, and I could kiss her for taking her husband’s all-too-knowing gaze away from me. “I want to help. Does the Rainbow Lounge need regular people volunteers?”

“I can pass along your information if you want. They do background checks for all volunteers since there are youth involved, but I’m sure they’d gladly take any help they can get. There’s a secret guest attending that they’re keeping hush-hush, but it’s increased the size and security of the event.”

“Ooh, sounds fun! Count me in. It will be great to do something outside of the house once in a while. I’m an interior designer, but I haven’t done anything in years.” She sighed and settled her hands on her stomach. “Three kids is not for the faint of heart. I’m not sure I’m going to survive the fourth one.”

“You’ll be fine, babe. You’re a great mom and wrangle us all just fine.” Samson kissed her cheek, and she blushed.

“Stop it. You just like the baby-making process a little too much.”

Samson chuckled and wrapped his arms around her waist. “What can I say? I’m a hockey player. We’re a different breed. When I find the one for me, I claim them over and over.” He nuzzled her neck and longing to do the same to my man, smacked me upside the head. Samson wasn’t wrong. I wanted to do nothing but claim Lathan over and over.

“And that’s my cue to get a refill,” I joked, but neither Samson nor Lexi heard me.

I chatted with a few other players and met their girlfriends and wives. Everyone was friendly and cheerful as I made my way across the room. By the time the speeches were over, I was ready to leave. I’d lost track of Lathan thirty minutes ago, so I could only hope he was ready to go. I pulled out my phone and shot off a text, telling him to meet me at the coat check-in. He thumbed up my message, and I sighed in relief. Finally.

Samson and Lexi were also gathering their coats when I approached, but their attention was lost to one another as they shared a deep kiss. I handed the attendant my ticket and waited quietly to the side.

“Here you go, sir,” the attendant said. The couple broke apart at the words. Samson looked smug, while Lexi appeared slightly embarrassed.

“Good night,” I said and retrieved my own coat.

“It was lovely meeting you,” Lexi said.

“You too.”

“Oh! I thought of the perfect apartment for you. I’ll send you the details,” she said.

“Uh, thanks.” I slid on my jacket and turned to find myself on the receiving end of another Lathan glare. “You ready?”

He didn’t answer and headed out the door. Sighing, I followed him out and slid into the waiting car. The second my door was shut, it took off, and I relaxed into the backseat. The party had been fun but exhausting.

Lathan didn’t speak to me the whole drive, and his body language grew increasingly agitated the closer we approached his place.

“Are you going to tell me why you’re so upset?” I asked once we were in the elevator. “Is it Toby?”

He didn’t answer and stormed out of the elevator once it opened. Rolling my eyes, I followed behind him and prepared myself to sleep alone. I couldn’t deal with the whiplash tonight. I felt strung out from holding myself back from the man I’d fallen in love with.

Puck a duck. What the what.

I froze in the doorway as the realization hit me.

I was in love with Lathan Silver.

Holy moly.

There wasn’t any time to process it before my back was slammed into the door. The breath was knocked from my lungs as Lathan glared at me.

“You want to know why I’m angry, Bambi ? Then let me tell you.” Lathan’s motions were jerky as he unbuckled my belt and shoved my pants as far down as possible. His hand wrapped around my cock, and he squeezed. Hard. “You claim I’m yours, yet you flirt with everyone else all night. Then I hear from someone else how you’re fucking moving out. So, yeah, I’m fucking angry.”

I blinked at his words. It was so far from the truth I was tempted to laugh, but even I knew that wouldn’t be helpful right now.

If I were the betting kind of man, I’d put a lot of money on the fact that Lathan was feeling out of control and experiencing new emotions he had no clue how to handle. So if he needed to feel in control, I could give him that—the emotions he’d have to figure out himself.

“I am yours.”

“Doesn’t seem so.”

“Then make me yours. Show me how good you’ll feel inside me ,” I taunted.

Lathan’s jaw ticked for one second before he launched into action. I was spun around until my front was pressed into the door. His hot breath ghosted over my neck and he rubbed his hard cock between my cheeks.

“I don’t know how to be gentle. Not right now.”

“Who said I needed gentle? Take me hard and fast, Silver.”

He growled, and the sound traveled straight to my dick. His hand tightened around my length, and I was already so close to painting the door with my cum.

“Bedroom. Now.” His hands fell away, and coldness hit my back as he removed himself. I didn’t hesitate and shucked my suit as I jogged to the bedroom. My limbs were trembling, but I hoped he wouldn’t notice.

“Prep yourself,” he said, tossing the lube onto the bed. I did as he asked and kept my eyes from him as he watched me stretch myself. The hunger in his eyes would be enough to do me in, and I didn’t want to come until he was inside me. I needed it more than I needed to breathe.

“I’m ready.”

“Roll over.”

My butt was pulled to the edge of the bed and his cock was notched at my entrance. He tunneled in one thrust, and I would never be the same. Lathan categorically changed me from the inside out.

“Holy shit, Bambi. You’re so slick and tight. I… I don’t think I can last.”

“Don’t hold back. Give me everything. I can take it.”

“I don’t want to waste it.”

I chuckled, and then we both groaned. “What makes you think this will be the only time? Do your worst, baby. Then do it again. And again. And again. I’m not going anywhere, Lath.”

“Fuck.”

The word was the last sound before he unleashed himself, and everything changed right before my eyes.