Page 32

Ryder

The roar of the crowd is a tinny sound blocked out as I focus on the play happening to the right of me, staying pinned to the side post, ready to spring across and defend the net.

Rook and Campbell are fighting to take possession of the puck along the boards against two Boston players as the clock races down in the third period.

The score is two-to-two, and we need to clinch another goal to seal our win.

This playoff series has been especially contentious, with both Boston and the Hydras having three wins each and needing this deciding game to see who will advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Having this final game in our arena, on home ice, gives us even more to play for.

We don't want to let our fans down .

Playoffs have always been a struggle for me, my nerves becoming a problem, and my focus lost when a goal is scored, leading to more mistakes and letting my team down.

Or at least it was in Boston, which was a contributing factor to why they traded me away after ten years with them.

I’ve proven through this playoff series that I can be dependable after all, staying sharp and shaking off the goals, knowing my teammates have my back and will do their part to even the score.

It’s been good to know I wasn't destined to always be a fuck up when it mattered the most.

Having a coach and a team that believes in me despite my past has been game-changing, literally.

This season, the mental game has been completely different.

I've been learning to manage my emotions and think before I speak, and that’s translated into how I play on the ice.

I’m more focused on the game and less caught up in my head, which has made a big difference.

The Hydras have restored my faith in my playing ability, making me feel like a god on the ice, and with Knox by my side, I feel like a god off it, too.

Hell, I’m not as reckless on ice or off, period.

Rook snaps the puck out to Westy, who clears it up to Monty along the boards, and they race for the other goal.

Monty passes to Nico and switches spots with him, taking the Boston D-man with him, leaving Westy open for the pass Nico sends sailing his way.

Westy slaps the puck and clears Upton’s right shoulder just as he was turning, too slowly, to defend from Westy’s angle.

The lamp lights as the goal horn blares, and our guys surge into the boards, smothering Westy as he takes us out of our tied score, while fans scream their excitement all around Olympus Arena.

Now, we just have to defend and not let another Boston goal in for the last minute of game time, and we’ll be onto the Stanley.

Holy shit, it’s so close.

I turn to get water with the break in play, lifting my mask and spotting Knox in the stands behind me, clapping with the other spectators and grinning like the proud boyfriend he is.

He holds up a sign that says "Kingsy, you'll always be my king, on the ice and off!" making me damn near burst with happiness.

I spray water on my face to rinse off the sweat that’s stinging my eyes and making them water, shaking out my wet hair before I put my mask back on, but not before blowing him a quick kiss of thanks.

He just shakes his head shyly and sits back in his seat as I return to my position in the goal.

The boys set up for a face-off at center ice, everyone tense and ready to spring as the refs reset them several times before they can get a clean puck drop.

Boston wins the face-off, and once again, I’m faced with my former teammates looking to score against me.

They’ve changed up their plays and adjusted to the Hydras’ style throughout this series once they realized I could pick out all their old plays and their old style wouldn't be effective against me.

Now, I have to watch for each player’s tell, and focus on minute details that keep me riveted on where the puck is and who is around to take a pass for potential shots.

The Boston center fakes a pass that sends Rook after the winger it was intended for, leaving a gap as he drops back and lets the D-man who was behind him take the puck instead.

He passes to the right winger, who passes again, and I’m on alert, my glove up and legs ready to sprawl whichever way the puck comes.

I see the wind up before the puck is even passed back, and I make my move, hoping like hell it’s the right one.

When the stick connects with the puck and it comes sailing at me where I’d anticipated, I’m able to stop it with my shoulder as I fall forward, my head craning back to follow the puck’s progress as my glove whips around and I somehow manage to trap it behind my back despite the weird angle.

I’ve clamped my glove shut before I’ve even hit the ice on my chest, the game-ending buzzer a beautiful sound that fills me with relief.

I stopped the goal.

I kept the score three-to-two in our favor, and we won .

We’re going to the fucking Stanley Cup Finals, and I didn’t fuck it up, for once!

My teammates pile on top of me in the net, screaming with elation and more joy than grown men are usually capable of.

When they finally get off of me and help me up, they move out of my way, patting my back and kissing my helmet.

I go to the glass for my ritual with Knox, which they now know is more important to me than anything.

I rip my mask off, dropping my stick and gloves as I glide and crash into the plexiglass barrier where he already has his hands pressed.

All around him, fans are screaming and pounding on the glass, but all I see are his deep espresso eyes that hold my heart, his smile that is infinitely calming and reassuring, and so much love.

He makes a fist and I knock my knuckles into his.

We pull our hands away and press our index fingers to the glass, scar-to-scar.

He bobs his chin, shooing me back to the celebration on the ice.

I return to my teammates, everyone now on the ice with gloves and sticks scattered all around as they celebrate and hug.

I glance over at the bench and catch Coach Kennedy’s rare head nod, a silent but unmistakable sign of his calm approval.

When Knox and I finally make it home, I’m exhausted from the insane travel schedule going back and forth to Boston for the series, and the incredible adrenaline dump this last game was.

After the game, we celebrated at The Hideout, which has quickly become a Hydra favorite for post-game celebrations and where fans go to watch our games when we’re on the road.

The Condors aren't the only team with a fan base in Atlanta now.

Hockey is picking up steam, and we’re winning over the South.

“What kind of prize do I get for stopping that last shot and getting us to the Stanley Cup Finals?” I ask Knox as I drag him through the condo toward our room.

“Oh, your eleven million dollar a year salary isn’t enough? You want something from me now?” he asks with a grin.

“Yeah, I do, Mr. Just Had My Contract Extended For Two Years And Will Be Making Seventeen Million A Year. I want your dick on mine. Let’s try one of my fantasies now, yeah?” I’ve been dreaming up more and more new ways to fuck Knox and get off with him, and it’s been endless fun experimenting to see what we like. My good boy is always up to play, and while he’s giving me shit now, he’ll be happy enough to give in once we get naked.

Knox finished his season in the playoffs, but the Condors didn’t make it to the Super Bowl. They have a strong team for next year, and with his contract extension finally coming through, we have some finality to what his future looks like in football. Knox will play two more years here in Atlanta, after all, and then he’ll retire so we can start the family we both want.

We're already exploring adoption through the foster system, knowing there are so many amazing kids in need of a home full of love. We also have plans to get married this summer during the off-season. Something small, though with Knox’s family alone, it will be large.

His parents have come around a bit more after he came out to them, and most of his siblings are accepting this new information. There are a couple who have been less than understanding, and still won’t talk to him, which I know hurts him deeply. I told him we’re creating our own family now, so whether everyone in his family is on our side or not doesn’t matter.

My side will be less family, more teammates-turned-family. My dad died years ago after finally drinking himself to death, but my mom and I have been slowly working on our relationship. I didn't talk to her for a long time. I blamed her for knowing Dad hurt me and not protecting me from him. Opening up to Knox about what happened back then has helped me realize she was a victim, too, and was working as hard as she could to make sure I could have something that would help me get out of the situation we were stuck in. While she didn’t protect me physically from his abuse, she provided for me where she could. It’s no excuse, but I can understand her a little better now.

“I think you'd better tell me about this fantasy of yours, baby, because I’m quite curious now,” Knox says, sliding his hands under my suit jacket and slipping it off my shoulders. “I like it when you bring up something new for us.” His long fingers deftly unbutton my shirt as I work on his belt and get his pants undone.

I shrug out of my shirt as he pulls my jersey that I now consider his over his head and lets it drop to the floor behind him. Seeing him with my name and number on his back makes me feral for him. I rip the T-shirt he’s wearing right over his head and let my mouth find his chest, his skin so smooth and soft over the hard muscle of his pecs. I suck his nipple into my mouth and flick it with my tongue, making him swear and grab my head. He’s sensitive, and I love knowing I can make his knees weak just with this little bit of play. I move to his other nipple and repeat the motion, savoring his curses as I push his pants down. Our hands are frenzied, both working quickly to disrobe the other.

“I want that hot foreskin of yours stretched over my cockhead while we jack each other off,” I say, breathing the words against his mouth as I rise to kiss him again. “I want to be so covered in cum when we finish, we don't know where one started and the other begins.”

He groans against me and grips my cock. “Fuck, you make me crazy with how badly I want you. That mouth of yours knows exactly what to say.”

“Not too long ago you thought my mouth was just for getting me in trouble,” I joke, sliding my tongue along his jaw to his ear and sucking just below until he squirms. “Maybe I can be taught a lesson.”

“Baby, you can learn lots of things, and you can teach them, too. Now, fuck me like a good student learning a lesson,” he demands, the neediness coming through in his tone so beautifully.

“Does that make me your MVP? Most Valuable Penis.”

“Fuck, Ryder,” Knox says, bursting into laughter.

The laughter quickly fades when I grip his shaft and lay mine on top, circling my fingers and stroking us both as he pushes me against the wall with a gasp. I lean into the wall and let Knox rest his forehead on mine, both of us looking down at where we’re connected so beautifully. Once both of our cocks are slippery with precum and we’re breathing heavy, our gasps mixing in the small space between our faces, I slide my hips back until the heads of our cocks touch. I gently stretch and roll his foreskin forward and onto my cockhead, the sensation snug and warm and oh so good.

“Jesus, baby, you get this all the time? Holy shit, no wonder you’re so sensitive,” I mutter, working to keep my mind on the task at hand, so I don't lose it right here and ruin what I’ve thought so much about doing. I spit in my hand and bring it to Knox’s beautiful monster cock to stroke him. He follows suit, and my knees just about buckle from the pleasure.

“It’s so much better when you’re touching me,” Knox admits, hips moving into my fist as he shuttles his palm up and down my length. He gently tugs his foreskin further down my cock with each pass, pressing our heads together and creating the best kind of friction around the crown where he knows I’m most sensitive. It’s incredible. I’m glad I’m leaning against the wall because my knees are getting weaker with every tug, and my hips are joining in the frenzied movement of our bodies as we race toward our releases together.

“Fuck, like that, Knox, right there,” I growl, voice growing hoarse as my orgasm builds at the base of my spine, balls drawing up as my cock swells.

“Come for me, baby,” he begs, face dropping against my neck as his hot breaths skate across my skin. He kisses my shoulder and rolls his face to look down again. I moan and shake against him. “Goddamn you’re sexy. Fuck, baby, look at you, your cum is going to get me off,” he says as my release explodes from me, spasming against his cockhead and dripping around our hands as I lose the ability to speak. His cock swells in my hand and I focus my attention on flicking my wrist up near the head to finish him off. He makes the most beautiful sound as he falls apart in my hands and his release damn near sets me off again with the force against my sensitive head .

“So much better than I even thought it would be,” I gasp, my lips finding his warm cheek. I love that Knox blushes, and I can heat his cheeks even now.

“That’s life with you, baby,” he says, raising his head and looking at me. “It’s so much better than either of us could ever have expected when we were thrown together again. Now I can't imagine my life without you in it.”

“You don't have to. I’m here for good. I'll never be reckless with you and our life together. That’s the most important lesson you’ve taught me.”

This concludes Reckless On Ice.

Thank you for reading Reckless On Ice! If you enjoyed this book, I would be so grateful if you would leave a review on the platform(s) of your choice. Reviews are so valuable to authors, and each one helps share our stories with others.

XOXO, Adrian