Intrigued, I do as I’m told while Connor opens his bag and reaches inside. He pulls out a polished mahogany box that has the five colorful intertwining rings of the Olympic emblem inlaid on both sides. He hands it to me. The top is made of glass and sitting inside is my medal, gleaming gold. The same color as Connor’s hair.
I open the box and run my fingers over it, feeling the texture, and reading the words, OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES, MILAN. I look up at him. “How did you get this?”
Connor smiles at me, his eyes glistening. “Coach Chris had it. He asked me to give it to you.”
I swallow around the lump in my throat. When I was escorted off the ice and out of the building I figured mine was going to be considered forfeit. At the time I didn’t care, as all I wanted was to get back to Connor. In truth, I haven’t had much time to think about it since. Going to the Olympics was a dream of mine as a kid when watching the US team with Connor’s father win it years ago. Then, when the league ruled that NHL players couldn’t go to the Olympics before my career even started, I had to forget the dream was even possible. After the NHL let us all compete for ourcountries once again, I’d started dreaming again, and now, holding this medal, I realize how much this actually means. Not only to me, but to the hockey community worldwide as well. The past three weeks of chasing after it has been a whirlwind of knocking everyone out of our path to victory. And here it is, finally in my hands.
I look at my dad and hand it to him. “I bet you never thought we’d ever have our hands on one of these.”
“You’d be wrong,” he says as he does the exact same thing I did, running his fingers across the medal’s cool surface. He closes the lid and hands it back to me, then pats my shoulder. He lets his hand linger there. I can hear him swallow. “You did good, son.”
“Thanks,” I say, leaning against him slightly. “You did too.”
TWENTY-FOUR
Connor
I come out of the bathroom after brushing my teeth to catch Gavin changing the sheets. He wasn’t joking about a mattress on the floor. I start helping him, but he waves me off and finishes, looking a little embarrassed.
“I promise it’s comfortable,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck. “I mean, there’s no seam down the center of it for one of us to fall through, but it’s nice.”
“Any bed with you is perfect,” I say and climb in.
Okay. Wow. He wasn’t kidding. This mattress feels like a cloud.
He gets in on the other side and scootches close to me. He remains on his side, propping his head up with one hand, then places his other hand on my stomach, rubbing his palm around and across my abs in smooth motions. It feels so good that I sigh and close my eyes.
“You don’t have to live here if you come play for the Blizzards,” he says. “I know this place is a dump.”
I sigh and let myself relax more under his ministrations. Opening one eye to look at him, I say, “We should keep themattress. This is nicer than the one I have at home.”
“My one splurge.” He lets out a shy laugh. One I didn’t think he was capable of. I realize that this is probably the most vulnerable I’ve ever seen Gavin, and it’s in his home. It makes me sad.
I turn to face him. His hand slides around my waist and settles on my lower back. He continues the circling motions of his palm there. “You told me about your place in Alaska—why haven’t you done that here?”
“I told you. That place is for my dad, even if he’ll never live there. It doesn’t count.”
“Okay,” I say and place my hand on his chest. “Then that’s even more reason why you should make yourself a home here.”
He shrugs one shoulder, then slides his hand up my back to start making those same circling motions across my shoulder blades. “We’re on the road so much during the season, and then I’m in Alaska during the summer?—”
“Staying at your dad’s place.” I risk teasing him. It pays off as I’m rewarded with another smile. Still shy, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I like it. It’s strange seeing Gavin like this, but it endears him to me more. It’s a side he keeps very hidden.
“Right, my dad’s place.” He stills his hand and yanks me closer, bringing us chest to chest. I can no longer see his face as clearly, and I think that’s by design. He nuzzles his nose into the hair at the side of my neck. “I never had a reason to make where I live presentable. It’s not like I was ever going to invite anybody here for the few days a week I might be in town.”
“Didn’t you ever want someplace nice to come home to?”
He pulls away from my neck and brings his hand to cup my face, tilting it so I can look at him again. “I grew up dirt poor. I don’t need much. It’s more important to me to have someone nice to come home to.”
He kisses me long and slowly before I can say anything back. When he pulls away, I get my chance. “What about someone to come home with?”
“Even better,” he says, grinning against my lips. He kisses meagain and I can feel his cock growing in his briefs between us. His hips press it firmly against me as he quietly moans into our kiss.
“Your dad,” I whisper as his length slots itself next to mine, which has decided to join the party.
“I can be quiet if you can,” he whispers into my ear before he nibbles it.
“You know I can’t.”
