Face Offs & Cheap Shots (CU Hockey 2)

And that makes me crazy scared. Exclusive might sound like a relationship, but that’s not what this is. I don’t know why I’m struggling to remember that right now.

“All right.” I drain the rest of my coffee. “Let’s get back.”

We drop our shit in the trash and leave. I know I’m gonna regret drinking tomorrow, but as of right now, I’m hovering in the happy place between buzzed and sober.

“I was waiting at your room, you know,” Beck says.

“Tonight?”

“Yeah, that’s where I was. As soon as Baby fell asleep, I snuck out. I’ve been hanging out to see—for it all day.”

I laugh. “You just like me playing with your ass.”

“Totally the reason.”

“So …” I quickly check ahead of us, but the dark path is empty. I reach down and grab his ass. “Are you going to let me in there?”

He stops walking. “You want to fuck me?”

I don’t know why the question makes me so nervous. “Is that something you’d do?”

“Would you?”

I don’t know how to answer that. The thought of holding Beck down and sliding into his tight ass turns me on probably more than anything we’ve done before. But him on top of me? A flash of him behind me, powerful thrusts hitting my ass as his big arms surround me … Huh. Okay. That’s kind of … hot.

“You’re scared.” Beck cocks his head. “I get it. I mean, we’ve both topped chicks before, that’s old news. But while you might be the BJ king, I bet I’m a total power bottom.” He leans in and drops his voice. “It’ll be too hard for you to compete with.”

“You think you’ll take dick better than me?” I’m smiling as I advance on him, and Beck backs up easily until he’s pressed against one of the huge tree trunks lining the side of the path.

“Come on, Topher, we both know I will.”

I press my body against his. Maybe if I hadn’t been drinking, I’d be a bit more careful, but campus barely has anyone around even during the day at the moment. “Should we test that theory out?”

“Not tonight.”

“Why?”

“Because after your little show, you know Cohen’s going to be waiting for me to get back with the gossip. Also, you’re still drunk.”

He’s right. I hate that he’s right.

“Besides.” He grabs my hands and slides them over his ass. “I know how much you want this. If you think I’m not going to make you work for it, you don’t know me at all.”

And yet, I kinda guessed something like this was coming. Maybe I don’t know Beck the way people expect you to know the person you’re sleeping with, but I know his quirks, his personality. I know how he moves on the ice and how he reacts when he’s disappointed.

And I know, no matter how much he pisses me off and pokes at all my buttons, he’s got my back.

That’s why, even though I know I’m not getting sex tonight, I duck my head and kiss him. Soft and slow, I take my time and let myself experience what it’s like to kiss him without my system being overridden with need.

When we finally break apart and finish the walk back to our dorms, I want to hold his hand.

I don’t.

Instead I quickly kiss him before the elevator drops me off on my floor, and then I head to my room, already looking forward to seeing him tomorrow.

18

Beck

As suspected, Cohen’s waiting for me when I get back.

While talking to my sister who’s in her skimpy pajamas.

“Baby, inside. Now.”

She smiles at my teammate. “Bye.”

I growl.

She moves faster.

Cohen’s gaze follows my sister’s ass, so I step in front of him, and he shakes it off. “What was up with Jacobs?”

“His usual contempt for me. It was nothing. He’s sleeping it off now.”

Cohen looks like he doesn’t believe me, but I don’t give him a chance to question it.

I go into my room and close the door behind me.

“What was wrong with your friend?” Baby asks from where she lies in my bed.

“Nothin’. I basically stole his captain spot from him, so he’s pissed. Though, he’s always mad at me, so it doesn’t make much difference.” I flop back onto my pillow and blanket on the floor.

“What an asshole.”

“He’s not, actually. He’s …” Smart, mature, self-made. Take your pick. “He hates the Beckett name and what we stand for.”

“Oh, so you have that in common.”

“It makes sense for him to resent me. I haven’t exactly helped my case over the last three years. Throwing money around like it means nothing when he’s here on a scholarship.”

“Money, or lack of it, doesn’t give him a right to be an asshole though.”

“No, I think that just adds to it. I push all of his buttons on purpose. He hates that I’m never serious and don’t think things through.”