Egotistical Puckboy (Puckboys 1)

The only thing I can hear is low murmurs of conversation and our coaches discussing the game plan for tomorrow.

When I glance back at Ezra, he’s still watching me, only his gaze has dropped now. He’s taking in my long torso and spread thighs. I let them fall open wider to mess with him, but I can’t deny loving the way he looks at me.

I pull out my phone and type out a text to him one-handed.

Me: You look like you’re going to come in your pants.

He snickers as he reads the message. Then pointedly looks at where the outline of my cock is clearly starting to chub up.

Ezra: Hey, you promised last night you’d take care of these needs. Wanna join the Mile High club?

Me: No chance. You need to learn to be patient.

Ezra: Going back on your promise already? That’s cool, I know of a great gay bar in Arizona …

The growl that leaves me is completely unintentional. And Ezra looks delighted. His tongue swipes over his lips as he types out another message.

Ezra: I’ll never forget the monster dick I got there last time.

I pluck his phone from his hand. “And that’s enough from you,” I whisper to make sure we’re not overheard. The row in front of us is clear, and Diedrich looks like he’s nodding off behind us.

Ezra swoons dramatically. “The way he held me down and made me choke …”

“If you think I’m going to get jealous, you’re going to have to try a bit harder than that.” The last time Ezra was in Arizona, we weren’t hooking up, so I don’t really care what he got up to then.

“I thought about him last night while I was on my knees for—”

“Don’t.” The word comes out louder and harsher than I meant, and Kosik tilts his head from up the aisle toward us. I smile at him until he turns around again.

“Not jealous.” Ezra winks. “Got it.”

“You sure think a lot of yourself,” I say, voice pitched low again.

“I mean …” He shrugs. “If you were this awesome, you’d understand.”

“It really is a surprise your skates can hold up the weight of your head.”

“Which one?”

I laugh despite myself. “You’re really … something.”

“That’s almost a compliment, coming from you.”

“You know, I think it might be.”

This time when we lock eyes, some of the smug cockiness has melted away, and I get a glimpse of the real Ezra underneath. Not that cocky isn’t Ezra—it’s not really an act with him—but there’s something more there too.

“Can I ask you something?” he says.

“Can’t guarantee I’ll answer, but shoot.”

“Why did you sleep with me that first time back in Philly?”

“Don’t make me give you more compliments. I’ll never survive it.” The truth is, he’s hot. I’ve always found him hot. That’s part of the reason why I notice all the dumb shit he does. And then when he was in my apartment, goading me to have sex with him … what was I meant to do when I had Ezra Palaszczuk at my mercy?

“Fine, then. Do you regret it?”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to say yes. Just one word. So easy to get out, but for some reason. It won’t come. Instead, I give him something like the truth. “Not as much as I should.”

He hums. “Yeah. Me neither.”

A moment of comfortable silence falls between us, which quickly turns uncomfortable. I’m not used to anything other than tension between us, so this … whatever it is, doesn’t sit right.

“Though I guess that’s easy to say when I blew my load less than twelve hours ago,” I say to fill the stifling quiet.

Ezra groans. “Twelve hours is forever.”

“Well, I hate to point out that you’re going to be waiting longer than that. We’re at the arena this afternoon, and Coach won’t let us out the night before a game.”

“Fuck.” Ezra relaxes back into his chair. “Why couldn’t they have roomed us together?”

“Probably a good thing. I don’t imagine our team would appreciate losing games because we’ve been up all night.”

“Oooh, as soon as we’re back home, we’re trying that.”

“Hmm, maybe.” I don’t have an apartment yet, and I’m not so sure I want to go to Ezra’s. It’s a good thing I don’t need to worry about that for a while because after Arizona, we still have Vegas and then Colorado to go.

“I wasn’t lying when I said I’ll be difficult to keep satisfied. You might as well move in with me now.”

“Can I ask you something?” I throw back at him.

“Umm. You know what, I take my question back. Let’s pretend like that never happened.”

“Ezra …”

“Fine. Same answer as you though. If I don’t like it, I’m not answering.”

“Fair.” I tap my foot as I try to think of how to say this. “Why do you do it? Not the sleeping around part—that’s whatever. But why do you draw so much attention to it?”