“Quinn.” Eren placed his hands on Quinn’s shoulders, gripping them in a comforting way. “Jesus Christ, stop overthinking things. Watching you worry to the point of tripping over yourself is painful.”
Quinn sighed because that’s how he felt about it, too; in pain.
“I’m going on a date with August,” said Quinn, his pulse skipping the moment he spoke the words. “Will you be okay to watch the girls on your own while I’m gone?”
Eren grinned and gave his shoulders one more squeeze before pulling away. “You bet. Have fun on your date and let me know how it goes.”
Quinn had to give Eren props for being such a good sport when it came to his and August’s situationship. He knew Eren was apprehensive because of what it could mean for the team chemistry if things went sideways, but Quinn appreciated his understanding.
“I’m sure hearing about me eating food at an expensive restaurant won’t be that thrilling,” said Quinn. “But if he comes up with anything better than that, I’ll share it with you.”
Eren’s expression turned wary, and he awkwardly forced a laugh. “Yeah, Gusty seems like the kind of guy who will totally default to something basic, but at least it’s an effort?”
Quinn could agree with that.
“Hold down the fort,” said Quinn, saluting Eren before he left the bedroom.
They had booked a family suite at the hotel they were staying at, which meant Quinn and Eren got their own rooms, and the girls got to bunk together in the last one. The main section had a kitchen and living room with a big TV, and there was even a hot tub on the balcony, but Quinn couldn’t imagine they would spend a lot of time there.
The girls had becomeobsessedwith hockey now that they were in lessons, and that meant they would use most of their time in Toronto to go to the rink or public skating areas.
Quinn was nervous about leaving Eren on his own to watch Alara and Emira, not because he was an incompetent father, but because the girls had selective hearing, and they were fast. They had grown into a new habit of bolting whenever they saw something that caught their eye, and lately, that waseverything.
But Eren said he could handle it, so Quinn took out his phone and sent August a text, asking for his room number.
Two minutes later, he stepped out of the elevator and walked up to a door with the number 808. Quinn knocked to be polite, jumping when it swung open before he could pull his hand away, revealing August’s smirking face.
“Hey,” he said, dragging his icy gaze over Quinn’s body in a way that had heat curling in his stomach. “I’m not fucking up the routine you and Callahan have going for his kids, am I?”
Quinn shook his head. “He’s got it covered. They’ll probably watch a hockey game, eat sweets all night, and pass out in a sugar coma while I’m gone.”
August chuckled and ducked back into the room to grab his coat. Quinn was very aware of the fact that Niko wasn’t rooming with him.
August caught on to his unsubtle peeking and laughed. “Neeks is staying at Fraser and Killinger’s place while we’re here. I’m technically supposed to be too, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to pay for my room to have some…privacy.”
Quinn’s eyebrow slowly drifted upward while listening to August’s explanation. “You boys are having a sleepover? How cute.”
August’s cheeks immediately went red, and Quinn couldn’t help but think how pretty the colour looked on him.
He needed to get a hold on his filthy thoughts before he said fuck the date and shoved August back in the room. But Quinn hadn’t brought his equipment, and hewascurious to see what August had planned, so he decided to behave himself.
August must have read something in his expression because he was suddenly fumbling to put his coat on, and his ears were beginning to turn red.
Quinn stood grinning as he watched it unfold, feeling a sense of pride while August became more and more flustered as he shoved his arms into the sleeves. It was comical to think that a man as large as August could be so timid, but that was the part of him that appealed to Quinn the most.
All that muscle and strength honed in a brutal contact sport—and still, one word from Quinn could put August on his knees.
That kind of power was exhilarating, and even better than the control was the hazy look August had shown him while giving his control away.
“Stop looking at me like that,” August said gruffly, shoving his hands into his pockets.
Quinn curled his lips into a half-smirk. “Looking at you like what?”
August shuffled, shoulders hunching defensively. “Like you want to eat me.”
They were standing in the hallway of a busy hotel room, and someone could interrupt them at any moment, but Quinn still found himself prowling toward August until the giant man scurried backward and bumped into the wall.
“If I wanted to eat you, would you let me?” Quinn purred, fingers reaching out to fiddle with the opening of August’s coat.
