Page 19

CHAPTER 19

JACE

M e? Center line? I was so proud I wanted to run around campus doing cartwheels.

Like Dane, my role on the team was now official. There was responsibility and a shitload of pressure since I was someone other players relied on, respected, and trusted to lead us to the next level. Not that they didn’t already do that, but Coach’s confirmation solidified things. It meant a lot.

It was also kind of scary. I didn’t want to let anyone down or fuck this up.

And I also knew that the tentative truce between Axel and I was now in jeopardy.

After Coach gave his analysis of the game, he called a close to our wrap-up discussion. Everyone on the team came up to Dane and me to offer their congratulations.

Everyone except Axel.

His fury was as clear as those deep blue eyes of his. Not that I could blame him. If I was in his position, I’d be pissed too.

Give him space and time. He’ll come around.

Instead of listening to my inner voice, I made a beeline for Axel, but he was already leaving.

“Axel!” I called out.

He kept walking, faster, stalking towards the exit like he was marching off to war.

“Let him be,” Dane warned me, tapping my arm.

“But I just want to?—”

“Jace, you’d be the same. Come on. Let him go for now.”

Dane was right. It was smarter to let Axel deal with the news on his own. It didn’t stop me from tracking him, though. Axel slapped the door open with a bang, and just as quickly, he was gone.

I turned back to my friend.

“I’m heading to the dorm,” I muttered.

“What?” Dane looked at me like I’d lost it. “Who are you right now?”

“I’m a forward who’s tired as fuck.”

“No way. School party crawl. All the frat and sorority houses are hosting parties tonight to celebrate the win,” Dane explained and gave me a knowing smirk. “Literally everyone on campus will be there. You’ve gotta show up.”

“Fine,” I grumbled.

Dane stared at me like he didn’t know who I was. Then again, I never turned down a party. And after today? I must be coming down with something.

“Come on Honey, stop thinking about Hot.”

I rolled my eyes at those nicknames, even though secretly, I kinda like them.

“Who says I’m thinking about him ?” I scoffed and shook my head. “I mean, I’m happy as fuck. I just don’t want Axel to disrupt the vibe of the team. That’s all. Things were moving in the right direction a few days ago?—”

Yeah, when I had my tongue down Axel’s throat.

“They still are,” Dane insisted, patting my shoulder. “Just give him a couple of days to absorb the news and calm down.”

I shrugged, unconvinced.

“Jace,” Dane warned.

“What?” I said innocently.

I had to talk to Axel. Right now. Or things would only get worse.

“Don’t give me that look,” Dane sighed. “You’re going to talk to him, aren’t you?”

“No. Maybe.” I ran a nervous hand through my hair. “I don’t think so.”

“Fuck.”

“Relax, Captain. It’s all under control.”

Dane shook his head. “Yeah, like those words don’t make me nervous at all .”

I said my goodbye to Dane and headed off to the dorm.

When I got to my room, I dropped off my bag. My stomach growled up a storm, so I grabbed a protein shake from my fridge, downed it in record time, and then chugged another one for good measure.

I was pretty sure Axel went back to his room. It was fine. We'd have it out, he'd yell at me, and then it would be done. He’d have to deal with it. I wasn't going to let this fuck up the team.

Jace: We need to talk.

Axel: Nothing to talk about.

Jace: I’m headed to your room.

Axel: Don’t.

Jace: Don’t be an ass.

Axel: Fuck off or I’m blocking you.

Okay, I’d try another tactic.

Jace: There’s a party crawl going on to celebrate our win. You have to come. Everyone on the team will be there.

Axel: I don’t have to do anything.

Instead of responding, I shoved my phone in my pocket and headed for the elevator. The ride to the third floor seemed to take forever. Kayden’s room was 333 and I’d found out through him that Axel was in 339.

When I arrived at Axel’s door, I raised my hand to knock and noticed that my hand was shaking. Weird. I rapped on the door twice and waited.

And waited. I rapped again.

And waited.

I was about to knock for the third time when the door opened, an irate Axel staring back at me.

“Get lost,” he replied and slammed the door in my face.

I knocked again. “I’m going to camp out here until you talk to me. Or, until you come and party with us.”

A minute passed. Then two. Five.

I sat down on the carpeted hall floor and put my earphones in, listening to some tunes while I waited. And waited.

Ten minutes later, the door cracked open again. Axel had his jacket on and stared daggers at me.

“I’m going for an hour. For the team,” he declared with a scowl. “But that’s it.”

“Fair enough,” I replied and stood up.

Axel closed and locked his door, and we made our way silently, awkwardly, to the elevator.

“You played amazing today—” I started.

Axel slammed the elevator button so hard that I worried he might have broken it.

“Really? Do you hear yourself?” Axel grumbled.

“What? It’s true. I wouldn’t have scored without that pass. You?—”

“I get it,” he bit out. “You’re the best forward on the team, and I suck. I get it.”

“You don’t suck.”

“Well, I’m not a first line forward, am I?” he groused.

“No, but you’re still one of the best around. You’re making a difference on our team. You’ve got so much potential.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do know that,” I said with a confident smirk.

Axel scowled. “Always so fucking sure of yourself.”

“I have to be, or I wouldn’t get anywhere. Fuck, I’d still be stuck back in Hillington if I didn’t believe in myself and work my ass off. Not all of us are born with a tuition fund and every advantage in life.”

The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside first, Axel following.

Honestly, I was surprised. I expected him to stand there and let the doors close on me.

“Money doesn’t matter when it comes to hockey. Either you’ve got the skill or?—”

“Are you kidding me?” I snapped. “Equipment, lessons, travel. You bet your rich, spoiled ass that it’s about money. Most guys like me can’t afford to play for a month, never mind for years. My aunt sacrificed a lot for me to get here and I work my ass off. I earned that spot. I’m sorry that you can’t deal with it, but maybe if you can’t, you’re not worthy of our team.”

Axel let out an angry growl and came at me.

We collided against the wall of the elevator, his bigger body enveloping mine. A different kind of heat rolled through me when our hips collided, a need so intense that it seared my skin like a brand. I glanced up at his midnight blues and there was no mistaking what I saw there. Fuck, why did this asshole turn me on? I was grateful that I had a solid wall to hold me up because suddenly my knees were shaking, and my hands too. My head was fucked up and my dick so hard I was straining against my jeans.

And I wasn’t the only one.

Axel’s mouth hovered over mine, his hot, minty breath kissing my face.

“Don’t let your frustration ruin everything. Deal with it and move on. Focus on your game, not trying to outplay everyone,” I whispered as I glared at him, willing him to see sense. Willing my body to do the same. “The problem isn’t me.”

He stared into my eyes, electricity snapping between us.

“The problem is definitely you,” he admitted and slammed his mouth over mine.

There was anger in that kiss, frustration mixed with lust, both of us desperate as we ate at each other’s mouth. His callused hands slid into my hair and gripped my neck so tightly I’d probably have bruises tomorrow. I moaned at that thought and reached for his hips, pulling him in as close as we could get. The kiss went on and on, punishing, brutal, and so fucking hot. I snaked my tongue around his and sucked hard, teasing him, and he let out the filthiest moan I’d ever heard.

Without pause, I reached down and cupped his bulge, feeling the weight of his hard dick in my palm. He might be pissed at me, at the situation, but there was no denying he wanted me too. And when he touched me, all my reason and logic were blown to hell.

“I don’t know how to play this game,” he groaned and canted his hips, pushing his dick into my hand. “Fuck, Jace. Fuck.”

“Not a game,” I whispered and gave his lower lip a not-so-gentle nip. “And yes, fuck is right. But don’t worry, like with everything I take on, I’m really great at what I do.”

“You arrogant ass?—”

I kissed him back, hard, cutting off his words, taking possession of his mouth the way I needed to, not letting him up for air as our tongues tangled, until I was full-on fucking his mouth.

“My room,” I demanded when the elevator pinged. “Now.”

Thank God my room was on the first floor.

When the doors opened, I grabbed Axel’s hand and surprisingly, he let me. Every step towards my room felt like an eternity, until finally, with sweaty hands I reached into my pocket for my key. Axel pushed his hips against my ass, rocking into me, his hard dick the only thing I wanted. If I didn’t get this door unlocked in the next five seconds, we were going to hump each other to orgasm in the freaking hallway.

“Jesus,” I muttered as I pushed open the door, and we tumbled inside.

“This is just sex,” Axel confessed with a hard scowl. “We can fuck it out of our system.”

I closed the door and leaned against it, my lips sore and swollen.

Licking them, I tasted Axel. It was heady. Too good.

I nodded. “That’s the only thing I want.”

The moment the words left my mouth I knew it was a lie.

“I’ve never…I mean, with a guy,” he admitted and swallowed hard. “I don’t know?—”

“If you want to fuck me, I’m down for that,” I replied and started stripping off my clothes. “Or, we can do other things. Whatever you need, however you’re comfortable.”

He nodded quickly but said nothing.

“We have regular physicals, and my last test was negative,” I reassured him. “I’ve got the results here. I’m also on PreP. I thought you should know.”

His gaze met mine and he nodded, licking his lips.

“I’m negative too. I always use condoms.”

I threw my jacket aside, my t-shirt, toed off my boots, and kicked off my socks, until I was standing in nothing but my jeans. My confidence soared as Axel’s eyes roamed over me with hungry heat. I yanked on my zipper and shoved my jeans down and off, leaving me bare except for my black jock.

“Take it off,” Axel groaned. “I want to see all of you.”

I complied, but took my time about it, teasing him. When the cool air finally hit my heated skin, my cock slapped hard against my stomach.

“Jace,” Axel whispered. “Holy shit.”

Without pause, I knew what Axel needed. He was all caught up in his head.

I dropped to my knees in front of him and his sharp inhale told me my instinct was right. I was going to suck his stubborn brains out of his gorgeous cock and leave him begging for more.

“Lose the jacket and lean against the wall,” I commanded.

He did just that, throwing off his navy parka, revealing a tight grey t-shirt that stretched across his broad chest, and jeans that molded to every inch of those sculpted thighs. Axel loomed over me, fit as fuck, hard all over, intimidating to some but not to me. I was always amazed that someone so big could be so agile, but he proved it every time he stepped onto the ice.

Now, he hardly moved at all.

Instead of stripping down, he stood rigid, hands fisted by his sides, like he wasn’t sure what to do. No, not that. He was nervous.

Duh, Axel’s never been with a guy before.

His midnight blues were dark, vulnerable, and the power of that look hit me like a wicked cross-check. Axel sparked a possessiveness that I didn’t even know I was capable of. I loved attention—giving and receiving—but there was something about Axel, fuck, I wanted all of his. And only his. To protect whatever this was between us. To make it good for him.

Because, for some unfathomable reason, it felt like he was already mine.