Page 24

CHAPTER 24

JACE

I looked around the third floor for the hundredth time, waiting for Axel to arrive. I was so nervous I kept tapping my stylus on the table, until another student gave me a warning glare.

“Sorry,” I whispered.

This wasn’t like me. It was that damn text from Preston. I’d refused to even look at it, blocking him as soon as I saw his name. Fucker.

“Hey.”

I jumped, turning around to find Axel standing with his backpack in hand, a sullen look on his face. Or, was he sad? He looked as upset as I felt.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

He stared at me, silent for a beat. “Never mind me, what’s up with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Did something happen?”

“Preston texted me,” I blurted out.

“What?” Axel shouted and students turned to stare at him. “Sorry.”

He sat down beside me and pulled his chair in close. “What did he say?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t want to read it, so I just blocked him. I can’t—” I whispered, my hands shaking. “I can’t go there.”

Axel took hold of my right hand, placing it on his thigh. He was so fucking warm, and the icy chill that had wracked my body finally calmed.

“When I saw his name, I freaked out,” I admitted. “I ran for the bathroom but?—”

“You didn’t?”

I shook my head. “I’m okay. I talked myself out of it.”

“I told him to call me,” Axel muttered.

“Oh.”

That made me feel nauseous again and I made to pull my hand away, but Axel gripped it tighter.

“I need to confront him about why he lied to me.”

I nodded, too numb to say anything.

“I believe you, Jace.”

The words were a relief and yet, I knew something was still holding him back.

“Do you?” I asked.

“Yes,” Axel replied. “But, it’ll take time for me to get over what Preston did. I thought he was my best friend. Even though we haven’t talked much since high school, I thought that he was honest with me, and I really felt for him when he said that you hurt him. I can’t believe I didn’t see it. He was playing me all along and I should’ve known better.”

“He’s completely charming when he wants something. And very convincing.”

“Like my parents,” Axel hissed. “My mom called me today. She and my father are going to be at the game in Albany. They want to talk to me afterwards. I know it means nothing good.”

“Oh fuck.”

“Clusterfuck,” Axel sighed and squeezed my hand. “Look, do you want to get out of here? I need to forget about that phone call. Let’s go into town. We could play pool or something?”

“Yeah, I’d love that,” I blurted out.

It sounded like we were going on a date.

No. No, no, no. Not a date. Don’t even think of that word.

“I mean, sure, yeah, we can, uh, hang out,” I replied, trying to stay cool but sounding anything but.

Axel nodded and stood up to his full height, but I was frozen to my chair, my face to his crotch. His jeans molded to that impressive bulge, and I remembered just how amazing he tasted. Fuck, my mouth watered.

Maybe Kayden was right. There was something about this library.

I quickly glanced up, but it was too late. Axel caught me.

“Pool?” he asked with a smirk.

“Huh?”

His chuckle was deep and sounded so dirty.

“My eyes are up here,” he pointed to his face.

“They are. Dark as a midnight sky,” I admitted as I stared up at him like a fool with his first crush.

Axel smiled slowly, and I’d never seen that look on him before. It had my heart kicking up triple time and my mouth aching to kiss him.

He rested one hand on the table and leaned forward. “That’s sounds awfully poetic for a?—”

“Hockey player?” I finished.

“Kinesiology student.”

“I’ve got your poetry right here,” I replied as I lifted my hand and kissed my middle finger.

He laughed, bending closer, brushing his mouth over my ear. “That’s yet to be proven.”

Ignoring his comment, and the hard-on it provoked, I gathered up my stuff and threw on my jacket.

“Let’s see if you can finally beat me at something,” I announced. “You play pool before?”

“All the time,” he replied. “How about a friendly wager?”

“No cash, sorry.”

Axel shook his head. “I didn’t mean that. Let’s make it more interesting. If I win, we go back to your room. If you win, we go back to my room.”

I bit my lower lip, determined not to smile. Don’t do it. Don’t do it.

Fucking hell, I did it.

“So, we both win?”

“Exactly.” Axel nodded. “We can work on the fundraiser, so we don’t have to meet up on Monday.”

All my sexy musings evaporated in a flash. Oh.

“Yeah, of course,” I replied stiffly. “I mean, sure, that’s fine.”

Axel nudged me. “I’m meeting with my advisor Monday. I’m changing majors.”

Oh.

“What did you decide on?” I asked, curious.

“Sports management. Seemed like the right fit. Finally. And, thankfully, some of my economic courses count as electives.”

“That’s awesome.”

“I’m excited about it. When I’m too old to play, I’ll become an agent and organize unruly hockey brats.”

He looked right at me and gave a knowing smirk.

“You want to take on your first client? I know this incredibly talented, smoking hot player who’s gonna make it big,” I teased.

“Less talking, more walking,” Axel replied as he motioned to the door. “And since I’ll be playing in the professional league at the same time, sorry, I can’t represent you. Maybe when you retire, though. I can get you ads for joint pain cream and shit like that.”

I laughed at that idea. “Whatever pays the bills.”

“Damn right.”

We headed for the exit, but instead of catching the elevator, we took the stairs. Axel walked beside me, so close our hands brushed every time we took a step. I should’ve moved away but I didn’t want to. Instead, I wanted to reach out and take his hand.

I want to hold his fucking hand. Jesus, I want to do that.

I stopped walking, too stunned by that realization.

Sex was one thing, holding hands meant…it meant… Oh God, no.

Axel paused on the next step down and turned around.

“Are you okay?” he said looking up at me.

No. I was far from okay.

“Yeah, just a bit lightheaded,” I confessed, staring into his eyes. “Probably need to eat something.”

“Is that all?”

I nodded, unable to say anything else.

We were alone in the dimly lit stairwell. The air between us grew heavier, thicker, until I was barely able to breathe. Axel slowly slid one hand up to my waist and then playfully tugged the belt loop on my jeans. Despite the layers of clothing, I swallowed hard when his fingers brushed my body.

“Gotta keep up your strength,” he whispered. “Especially since we need to get a workout in later on.”

A what?

“And I don’t mean the gym.”

He gave me a wicked grin and let go. When he started down the stairs again, he left me standing there with my mouth open and my dick hard.

Axel was flirting…with me?

“How come you’re not freaked out?” I asked.

He stopped but didn’t turn around, his broad back shifting as he shrugged. Axel ran a hand through his shaggy hair and then quickly glanced at me over his shoulder.

“About us?” he stated.

Why did I love the sound of that? Us . It was one tiny word and yet, it said everything. Everything and nothing. Because this wasn’t a relationship. Even though a part of me now wished it kinda was.

“About what happened in my room,” I corrected.

“Right,” he replied and for a second, I swore I saw disappointment in his eyes. He blinked and his expression cleared. “Well, maybe it hasn’t hit me yet. I don’t know. If I’m bi, I’m bi. I’ll figure it out.”

I nodded, and I should’ve been relieved.

Only, I didn’t want him to figure it out with anyone but me.

Axel

“Are you coming?” I asked Jace.

He stood in the stairwell staring at me like he was lost. Or confused. No, not that. He was probably just upset over Preston contacting him. Given what he’d told me, and their history, I wondered why Preston would try texting him at all. Why now? After two years? Something was off.

“Jace, are you alright?”

“Good, I’m good.” He nodded and finally stepped down to meet me eye to eye. “Let’s get out of here and find that pool hall.”

“Got a thing for long sticks and hard balls?” I quipped.

“Fuck, yeah,” Jace replied while giving me a lusty once-over. “I can chalk your cue with an expert hand.”

“Cheesy, but cute,” I chuckled as I stared into his eyes.

Cute? I don’t think I’ve ever used that word in my life.

He stepped closer, our hips colliding, the tension that always simmered between us suddenly igniting.

Then he snuck his hand around to pat my ass. It wasn’t nearly enough.

“If you’re going to grab my ass, do it right,” I insisted. “Don’t tease.”

“We’re in public.”

“We’re in a stairwell, alone,” I reminded him, feeling reckless, wanting more. “Touch me like you mean it.”

I called his bluff because Jace gripped my ass cheeks in both hands and squeezed tight. Oh fuck, I loved that. A dirty moan rumbled out of my chest and the sound echoed in the silence. Then he pushed me against the wall, and I grunted when my back hit cement. Not because it hurt but because the manhandling caught me off guard. In the very best way. It was unexpected but incredibly hot. I’d never been wanted like this before. And having Jace take control was something I didn’t know I needed. Until I did.

His wicked slapshot stunned goalies without warning.

And suddenly I was the one standing in the net.

It turned out, my feelings weren’t complicated or confusing. And it wasn’t just that I was bisexual.

It was simple. I needed him .

Reaching up, I cupped his face, sinking into pleasure as he kissed me languidly, deeply, so deep that we both groaned when his tongue tangled with mine. He tasted so good, sexy and sweet.

I didn’t want to stop . Please, fuck, never stop.

“What are you doing to me?” I whispered.

“Me? It’s you.”

“It’s us.”

Jace shuddered, closing his eyes.

“Look at me,” I demanded, and he blinked, meeting my gaze. “You like that. You want me. Only me.”

“Stop talking,” he growled, but I shook my head.

I couldn’t help but smile at his put-out tone. I was right. My instincts were spot-on. He wanted me as badly as I wanted him. One night wasn’t a fluke.

And when he took my lips again, hard, possessive, I knew it. But I needed to hear it.

“Jace.”

A sudden bang interrupted the moment and had us jumping apart.

It was probably a door slamming shut on another floor, but still. Getting caught like this wasn’t a smart idea. Not until we figured out what the fuck we were doing.

“Let’s get out of here,” Jace whispered as he licked his lips. “I think we need a cool down.”

It took every ounce of control I had to stay calm and not reach for him. But he was right.

“You still want to play pool?” I asked, and he nodded. “Loser buys dinner?”

“I’m not a cheap date,” he quipped.

I swatted his ass in retaliation and took off running down the rest of the stairs.