Graham scowled. Which, unfortunately, did not make him any less attractive.
From his short blond hair, full lips and cleft jaw to his broad shoulders and chest, and solid quads, he was too tempting for Thad to ignore. Too tempting to not feel a pulse of want every time Thad looked at him. Especially when he was a couple of drinks in and feeling a little reckless, like he was at the moment.
“I think I’ll manage,” Graham said.
“Be careful not to kiss any of your other buddies this summer,” Thad said mockingly. “They might not be as understanding about it as I was.”
Or, maybe they would. Hockey was pretty queer these days.
But the barbed remark had hit its mark and the color drained from Graham’s face as he sputtered, “It wasone kiss!”
“And you broke up with your girlfriend immediately after,” Thad reminded him. He was refusing to think about Graham immediately dating another woman after that, another pretty blonde.
“I felt guilty for kissing someone else! It was the right thing to do,” Graham argued.
“Or I’mthatgood.” Thad smirked. “I mean, you claimed to be straight and yet …”
“Iamstraight,” Graham protested.
“Good for you,” Thad said with a snort. “I’m not. And, hey, you know what? I think I’ll get out of here. Go hook up with the guy who’s been sending me pics all night.”
“Go for it,” Graham said, jutting out his jaw. “It’s not like I care.”
“No?” Thad grabbed Graham’s shoulder and hip, spinning him and pressing him against the rough brick wall of the pub. He rested his forearm against the wall, drinking in the hitch in Graham’s breathing as he leaned in. He dragged his nose up the side of Graham’s throat andfeltas much as heard the reflexive swallow.
Dizzy from the scent of his body, Thad pressed a soft kiss to Graham’s stubbled jaw. “You really don’t want me?”
Graham shivered, his hand closing on Thad’s shoulder, fingers biting in. He let out a ragged breath but just when Thad thought Graham might grab him and pull him in for a kiss, he let out a soft, rough sound and pushed him away.
Thad stumbled back and by the time he righted himself, Graham was pacing between the tables, frowning.
“I don’t fucking know what I want,” he said roughly and he sounded so … soconflictedThad regretted he’d pushed him. Regretted he’d never learned to leave well enough alone.
Regretted he was good at knowing how to get under people’s skin and that he always,alwayshad to push people to their breaking point. It was like a compulsion.
A habit as hard to shake as smoking.
“Maybe I do want you,” Graham said softly. So softly Thad had to strain to hear him. “But I—I think I let that distract me at the end of this season. I didn’t—I didn’t focus the way I needed to. If I’d have played better, we might have?—”
“We’d still have gotten knocked out too early,” Thad pointed out with a tired sigh. “We didn’t have the depth this season or the luck and we both know it.”
“But maybe I could have … you never know. It’s the playoffs.Anythingcan happen.”
“Maybe,” Thad agreed.
Graham closed his eyes, his handsome face twisting. “I can’t do this, Thad. I can’t … I can’t be thinking about you when I’m trying to stick to the plan and focus on hockey.”
Thad stepped forward, realizing Graham was actually shaking now, his whole body shivering with these fine tremors like he was holding himself together through great force of will.
Shit. This was a bigger deal than he’d realized.
Graham opened his eyes, his expression still conflicted but determined.
“Okay.” Thad held up his hands and stepped away, putting space between their bodies. “Okay. Have a good summer then, I guess.”
The words felt entirely inadequate, but apparently they were enough because Graham let out a huge, relieved-sounding breath. “Yeah, you too.”
“Thanks.” Thad smiled tightly. “See you in the fall.”
