I chuckle. “Oh, right. Can’t have your boyfriend going without coffee. He might escape.”
Dante tucks a paper grocery bag under his arm, packed full of chips and sweets. “Speaking of which, where’s your partner? For real? No bullshit.”
“Have you tried—I don’t know—texting him?” I ask, heavy with sarcasm.
“Yep.” Desi bites off a piece of oatmeal cookie. “Only a dozen times.”
“I’m sure he’ll be here soon.” I shrug, the movement causing sharp pain to shoot down my spine, and I wince. “Or maybe he doesn’t want to see you.”
Aurora tosses me a glare. “That’s what you get for being mean.” She grabs a bag, circles the island, and snags my T-shirt. “Let’s go. You’re going to bed.”
I take the bag from her and peek inside to find fancy water, fruit, cheese, and prosciutto. Looks like we’re having a picnic in bed. “Only if you’re coming with me.”
Chapter 19
Ethan
We enter the hotel room in Toronto, and my traitorous cock immediately perks up. I clench my jaw.Haven’t you done enough?
I’m supposed to be punishing Jax, but I can’t recall precisely what for. My gaze shifts to the man in question. He’s already gazing at me with a smug smirk. Oh yeah, that’s right—he was being manipulative, taunting me with his best friend.
I scoff and turn away, placing my luggage on the bed farthest from the door.
He follows and sets his bag beside mine. He toes off his sneakers, drapes his jacket over the back of a chair, and removes his shirt.
Trying to stay strong—because all I want is to cuddle the little shit, who’s now shirtless, displaying my marks—I toss his duffel onto the other bed. “You’re sleeping over there.”
I decided making him choke on my cock wasn’t a punishment, not to Jax, so I’m going in a different direction.
“Seriously?” He throws his hands in the air. “I might as well leave. Sleeping separately from me and denying me your affection is not a punishment; it’s abuse, legit emotional abuse.”
A threatandan accusation all rolled into one; he knows how to hit me, and I lose my temper. “Who told you that? Google? Certainly not a psychiatrist.”
He stares pointedly until guilt flushes my face, forcing me to glance away.Me and my fucking mouth.
Awkward silence fills the room. I unzip my baggage and begin unpacking as he does the same.
I hang my suit then stop. You know what? No, I’m not in the wrong here. “It’s funny how you keep track of everyone else’s abuse but your own.”
About to pull off his sweatpants, fingers on the waistband, he hesitates. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“Your level of possessiveness—if I can’t have you, no one else can—is astonishing. You’re willing to jeopardize my entire career, all I have, because you’re not getting enough attention.”
“All you have?” Brows raised, he presses his lips together and slowly nods. “Wow, Coach. Did you take a giant leap back in time?”
“That’s not what I meant.” I drop my bags on the floor, desperate to get into bed, and loosen my tie. “I meant besides us—you and Aurora.”
Honestly, it was a slip of the tongue. I’m struggling, grabbing at anything to keep from falling to my knees for Jackson O’Reilly, the captain of my team. It sounds silly, even shallow, but that’s exactly who he is—to everyone else. I’m his coach, he’s my player, and no matter how much I try to fight it, he affects me wholly. Tonight’s clusterfuck of a game proved that, along with his inability to keep his hands to himself.
He retrieves his shirt from the floor and yanks it over his head. “I’ll get my own room or crash with someone. I’ll keep my distance. That way, your reputation as a hard-ass straight guy remains intact.”
“I am straight.” There I go again. The words fly out of my mouth, a knee-jerk reaction, and I’m not even sure they’re true.
“Hilarious,” he deadpans. “Did you forget I sucked your cock? And you liked it?”
“That’syou.” I jut my chin. “You’re the only man I’m attracted to.” I pause then correct myself. “You’re the only man I’veeverbeen attracted to.”
“Good to know you’re at least attracted to me.”
