Face Offs & Cheap Shots (CU Hockey Book 2)

“Geez,” I taunt. “Here I was thinking I’d actually get some practice in.”

Beck’s eyes widen a second before he flops back on my bed. Thank fuck for research. When I was questioning my feelings for Grant last year, I might have fallen down a rabbit hole of researching gay sex, hoping it would give me an answer and to see if I’d even be into it. I didn’t get what I was looking for, but I’m grateful for it now.

It would be a total lie to say I’m not proud of myself, because holy hell I rocked Beck’s world. That shit gives me some serious bragging rights. And while it might not have lasted long, I think my experiment has well and truly been conducted. I like dick in my mouth. And my hand. And, well, in general.

I lick one of Beck’s balls and am rewarded with his rough, lust-drenched laugh. He twitches away from me and crawls backward over my bed until he rests on the pillows.

This is … different. I eye him warily as I stand, but instead of him picking up on the time to get dressed vibes I’m giving off, he tucks his hands behind his head.

“What are you looking so smug for?” I ask.

“Is that a question? You drained my balls.”

“Yeah, I thought the aim of the game was to last the longest, not set a record for quickest release.”

“You totally cheated.”

“Cheated?”

“Yeah, you never told me there was a magic button up there.”

He’s ridiculous.

“Your prostate, you mean? Please tell me this isn’t a new concept to you.”

Beck shakes his head. “I know what a prostate is. I just never realized it was a … a cum trigger.”

“A trigger?”

“You touched that thing and I exploded. Total cheat move.”

He’s such a dramatic idiot. “It feels as good when you’re jerking off too.”

“Where the hell did you learn that?”

“Porn.” I step closer and look down at him making himself comfortable in my bed. “I know it’s hard for you to admit this, but I won.”

“Nope. We bet on blowjobs. Obviously, you’re going to win when you bring extra ammunition.”

Despite Beck’s protests, he doesn’t look disappointed.

“What were you saying earlier?” I’m enjoying this way too much. “Jacobs, you’re the best I’ve ever had.”

“Pretty sure that wasn’t it.”

I shrug and sit on the side of my bed. “Actions speak louder than words. What was that, one minute? Less?”

“Do over.”

I peek back at him. “What?”

Beck grabs my arm and pulls me against him. I go reluctantly, not sure of exactly what’s happening when I fall back against my pillows and Beck rolls onto his side to see me better. He’s got one arm tucked under his head which draws my gaze to his impressive bicep. “It’s clear we’re not done with each other.”

“I’m gonna stop you there. I get that you’re hooked on my mad skills, but I might need to share this newfound gift around. Wouldn’t want to keep it from the world.”

“Fuck that,” Beck says. “We need practice before we unleash these talents.”

I force back my smile. “Maybe you do. I’d give it a five outta ten.”

“Five?” He blinks at me. “Five?”

Somehow I hold back my laughter. “Eh.”

“Eh?” He slings an arm around my waist and drags me closer. “Now you’re being an asshole.”

“I guess you’ll have to practice some more.”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“Hell, next time you might even hit a big ol’ six.”

Beck laughs and settles down, chin propped on my pec. His skin is warm against mine. It gives me the perfect view over his shoulder to his sexy, round ass and the grooves that run down the sides of his cheeks.

“You really like my butt, huh?”

I reach down and grab a handful, squeezing it as tight as I can. “It’s fine, I guess.”

Beck nudges me, and I nudge him back. We wrestle on my tiny bed for a minute before I slam him back against the mattress and press my weight against him. Beck’s laughter dies, and a smile splits my face.

I quickly swallow it down.

With Beck under me, his blue eyes bright and a look of … that can’t be awe or, shit, affection. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

“Wait.” I blink and sit back. “What’s happening here?”

Beck watches me. “Feeling allergic?”

“No …” I pause, not sure why I suddenly feel so unsettled. All the dick wasn’t enough to do it, but for some reason joking around and hanging out is? I’m so confused.

“Let me guess …” His voice is dryer than I’ve ever heard it. “I got off, so now I should get out.”

“It’s not—”

“Whatever, I get it.” But he doesn’t make a move to leave. He lies back and tucks his hands behind his head again. “We’re teammates fucking around. Having our big, gay college experience together.”

“Well … yeah.” I mean, that is all this is. Right?

“Good. We both know what’s up, you can quit your freak-out now.”

“You think I’m freaking out?”

“You’re definitely freaking out. You might suck cock better than me, but I’m better at handling the gay stuff than you.”

I scoff. “I’m not freaking about sleeping with a dude, jackass.”

“Then what’s up with you?” He pats the place beside him. “Come tell Beck all about it.”

“Why haven’t you left yet?”

Anger flashes across his face. “Okay, okay. Shit.” He tries to get up, but I stop him.

“No, no.” I shift closer. “I’m not kicking you out. I’m curious why you haven’t left yet. I thought you would have run right out of here like last night.”

His gaze immediately darts away from me. “Do you know we’ve literally eaten each other’s cum, but … I don’t know a whole lot about you. Like, you said you’re a farm boy. I never knew that.”

“I never told you. I don’t talk too much about myself to anyone except Grant.”

“Grant. Who you’ve never slept with.”

I give him a flat look. “Ever.”

“Ever. Right.”

“Seriously, nothing happened.”

“But you wanted it to?”

This time I can’t look at him. The truth is, I really don’t know. “I was pretty confused. And yeah, he’s attractive and we’re close, but …” The end of sophomore year is when I started picturing the possibility of us hooking up, but none of those fantasies came anywhere close to how things are with Beck. Grant … intrigued me. Beck sets my fucking blood on fire.

“But?”

“Never mind.”

“Yes, I have an excellent reputation for letting things slide.”

I shove him playfully, and okay, maybe I don’t totally hate this. “Okay, you wanna play the ‘get friendly’ game. Let’s do it.”

“Heads up though, I’m a way better friend than you.”

“Gotta be better than me at something I suppose.” I sound so serious and sincere it takes everything in me not to laugh at his surprise.

His expression slowly melts into a smile. “I like this playful side of you, Topher.”

I awkwardly lie back down, and we turn to face each other.

“Let’s start easy,” I say. “What does TJ stand for? I don’t think I’ve heard your first name … ever.”

Beck laughs. “No way. I’m taking that shit to my grave.”

Well, that gets my attention. “Are you saying it’s worse than Topher?”

“I’m saying it doesn’t matter, because you’ll never hear it. On every document in this school, my name is TJ.”

Surely he has to realize it’s now my life mission to figure it out. “Uh-huh. So what can I ask?”

“Favorite food? Beef jerky. Favorite sport? Hockey, duh.”

“What do you wanna do after college?”

Apparently I’ve found another thing that shuts him up because Beck closes his mouth fast. “Your turn. What do you want to do after college? Follow Grant into the NHL?”

I rub my mouth. “I … I dunno.” It’s not like I haven’t thought about it. Playing for an NHL team, my whole life surrounded by hockey and all the money that comes with it. “The NHL has a lot of uncertainty, and even making it that far is a slim shot. I can’t afford to wait around in the AHL for someone to decide I’m good enough—”

“You are good enough.”

His words bring a little burst of pride. “Thanks. But it’s not even about that. I mean, there are too many variables. Too much travel. I need to be close to home. My break from the farm was college, and once I graduate, I’m going back to that, along with a real job to help pay for shit around the farm so my parents don’t lose it.”

Beck frowns. “You’re saying if you were offered an NHL contract, you wouldn’t take it? Do you know how much money NHL players make?”

“Do you know how much AHL players make? If we’re being realistic, that’s the most I could hope for. I’m good at hockey, but I’ll never be one of the greats. I’m not egotistical enough to believe otherwise. Grant had scout interest by this point. I’ve barely had any nibbles.”

“Yeah, but that dude was insane. Hockey was his entire life.”

“True. Which brings me to another point. I love hockey, and it’s given me so many opportunities I wouldn’t have normally had, but it’s not my everything. It was my ticket to a stable future. Professional hockey is not stable for players who are only good.”

“Huh. Interesting. Here I was thinking you were only about hockey. Even to the point of sacrificing fun for it.”

I glare at him.

He ignores it. “What else, then? What’s your major?”

“I’m doing a double degree in physiotherapy and health sciences. Figured a position as a PT would be more stable.”

“That sounds … fun.”

I sigh. “This is what I mean. Not everything in life can be fun. I’m the oldest of four kids, and while the idea of a farm boy might be hot to you, it’s a rough life. Some years we’d make a decent profit, other years there was barely money to cover utilities. I don’t want that life, but I can’t abandon my family.”

Beck contemplates that with a look on his face I can’t decipher. Then, slowly, he forces a smile he clearly doesn’t feel. “Some days, I do dumb shit to shake my life up a bit. Whenever things start to feel boring, I … it’s like I can’t control the urge to find something that makes me feel alive again.”

“Like starting a food fight?” I deadpan.

A real laugh jumps from him. “Hey, that was freshman year. I was a dumb kid then.”

“Someone got hot sauce in my eye. It burned for like two days straight.”

“Aw, you big baby. Need me to kiss it better?”

I’m about to tell him to fuck off when his lips press against my eyelid. And against all my better judgment, against years of hating the guy, something softens inside me. “And … I guess that’s what this is, right? Something to make you feel alive again.”

I’m not sure why he’s so surprised I’ve called him on it, when that’s what most of our relationship has been, right up until that kiss.

I cut him off before he can throw some bullshit reasoning at me. “Glad I could help out.”

His hand runs down my chest, my abs, and comes to a rest over my cock. “Haven’t heard any complaints from you so far.”

I push my hips forward as my dick decides it’s done resting. It starts to lengthen in his hand as Beck slowly strokes along the shaft. “Gonna get some more practice in?”

“New toys to play with.” His smile is wicked as he makes a show of sucking on his finger. “Better set a timer.”