Face Offs & Cheap Shots (CU Hockey 2)

So I ignore it and head straight for my cubby.

We strip down in the locker room, and I tell myself not to look in Jacobs’s direction even for a second.

How Grant went four years in a locker room surrounded by dicks without getting hard I’ll never know.

I’m only interested in one dick, and knowing it’s only twenty feet away, my cock is trying to reach out like a homing beacon.

Don’t look over there. Don’t look over there.

“What the fuck is that on your shoulder?” Rossi yells.

I spin and find everyone looking at the bite I left last night.

I have to suppress my proud smile. Turns out, he wasn’t the only one who was in a marking mood.

Jacobs’s fingers trail over the bite. “It’s nothing.”

“Is that where you disappeared to last night?” Cohen asks. “To hook up? I thought you were sulking.”

Jacobs gives him the finger.

“Who was she, then?” I say, still fighting like hell not to smile.

“No one special.” He cocks his head. “Wasn’t even that good, actually.”

I burst out laughing because I know for a fact that’s bullshit.

“Must’ve been good for her if she left that,” Cohen says.

He has no idea.

13

Jacobs

I knew it was only a matter of time. When I’d gotten through changing this morning without anyone noticing, I’d hoped I was in the clear. But then Rossi had to go and see it, and now they won’t shut up.

When we arrive at the bar, we order drinks and take up a booth in the back. I’m still not sure how to feel about Beck shoving me into the locker room first earlier. My pride wants to be pissed, but my bank balance is definitely grateful.

Beck grins from beside me as Cohen starts his shit again.

“So what was the vamp like? I’m surprised she didn’t suck a tasty guy like you dry.”

My lips twitch. “Nah, that’s next time.” I let my gaze flick to Beck’s, and if I’m expecting the thought of sucking me off to panic him, I’m sorely mistaken. He still looks down for it to happen. And goddamn it, so am I.

I watch as Beck’s tongue quickly darts over his lips before he turns to Cohen. “Tasty guy? You sure there’s still nothing to tell us?”

Cohen flips him off, and I laugh along with the others. Cohen’s never gonna live all that kissing shit down now.

Beck’s distraction works because now the heat is off me and on Cohen. I take advantage of the distraction and lift my glass to my mouth.

“Well played,” I mutter.

His thigh presses harder against mine. “Wouldn’t want you found out, would we?”

I hide my cringe, but that doesn’t stop his words from hitting hard. Last night, I’d been a bit caught up in what happened and said some things that were unfair to him. Do I want the guys to know? Hell no. Do I want that at the expense of Beck feeling like shit?

I mean, I don’t think anything I say could make that happen, but I still feel like a dick anyway.

I down the rest of my beer and slide out of the booth to make my way back to the bar. It’s not like I can apologize, but at least buying him a drink might make me feel a little less like shit. I can’t afford to treat everyone here, but one isn’t going to kill me.

The bartender slides both drinks over as someone takes the spot to my left. I don’t even need to look to know it’s Beck. His expensive aftershave gives him away. I fight back my smile and nudge one of the drinks over.

“Topher,” he gasps. “Are you trying to get me drunk?”

“Just take the damn thing.”

“It’s poisoned, isn’t it? I didn’t realize you wanted to be captain that bad.”

“Or maybe I wanted to buy you a drink, so I bought you a drink.”

He cocks his head. “That doesn’t sound right.” Beck reaches over, but I snatch his hand before he can touch me. He starts to laugh. “Sure, holding my hand in the middle of the bar is much less suspicious than letting me touch your forehead.”

I drop his hand and quickly dart a look back to the guys. I’m being a dick again, I know I am, but if they haven’t shut up about the bite thinking it came from some random chick, what if they knew it came from Beck?

“You’re giving me ‘fuck me’ eyes again,” Beck taunts.

“What?”

“You know how that glare does it for me.”

He’s not bothering to keep his voice down, but none of our teammates are around and the people close to us aren’t paying attention. I relax a little. “Practice must be painful for you, then.”

“Very. Don’t think I missed the way you couldn’t take your eyes off me earlier.”

“I was just waiting for you to fuck up.”