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It just so happened that the hottest man he had ever seen was standing in front of him.
“That would be the… Blue Moon Over Brooklyn?” “Yeah. All the names here are kinda dumb.” The man pointed a long finger at Kip’s name tag. “I like your name.” Kip glanced at his own name on the tag, as if he didn’t know what it said. Like an idiot.
“Oh my god! You are mad crushing on him right now! You went home last night and Google-image-searched Scott Hunter, didn’t you?” “No!” Yes. “Whatever. You are such a fanboy. So cute.”
He smiled at Kip, whose mouth went dry. He turned on the blender before he could say something stupid like, What do your abs taste like?
Kip wanted to die. He had just been flirting with Scott fucking Hunter and now Scott was going to leave forever because what the hell, Grady? “Thanks again, Kip,” Scott said. He was kinder than Kip deserved. But, when he got to the door, Scott stopped and turned. “Would you like to go to the game tonight?”
“I can’t believe we’re here. I can’t believe we’re using Scott Hunter’s tickets!” “It’s a weird date, though. You’re here with a woman, and he’s at work.”
“As if. And besides—” he lowered his voice to a whisper, leaning in “—we don’t know that Hunter is…on my team.” “Don’t we?” “No! I mean… I get hints that maybe…” “Like how we’re sitting in his personal seats because he personally gave you his personal tickets when he visited you at work for the third time this week?”
He would certainly never give them a hint that he was interested in men. Scott had gotten good at concealing that fact; he’d had years of practice, after all. But there was something about Kip.
Obviously he was good-looking (he’s fucking gorgeous, Scott, come on), with those dimples and those eyes. At the game last night, Scott had finally gotten a glimpse of Kip when he wasn’t wearing a ball cap and apron. He’d like to get a much closer look sometime. Jesus.
It had just been a terrible effort by the whole team, and it should have been an easy win. Coach Murdock had already made them feel ashamed of themselves. He’d walked into the room, shook his head, and walked out—worse than being screamed at.
He sighed and took a sip of coffee that was far too hot. The pain brought him down to earth. If you put half as much energy into finding an actual, realistic boyfriend as you do into fantasizing about a superstar millionaire who probably isn’t even interested in men, let alone you…
Scott spent the rest of the evening chatting with different people, but he kept scanning the room for Kip. Their eyes met a couple of times. The first time, Scott quickly looked away, embarrassed. The second time, though, he let his gaze linger, and he was rewarded with an adorable grin from Kip that caused Scott’s stomach to flip. Oh no, Hunter. You are in trouble.
“Are you asking me to come get a burger with you?” Scott was absurdly terrified. But goddamn, he wanted this. “Yes.”
“It’s just nice. Doing this.” “Hanging out with someone?” “With you.” Kip was speechless. And Scott looked absolutely tortured. His eyes were pleading with Kip to understand him. To not make him spell it out. “Oh,” is what Kip finally said.
“Is this…okay?” Scott asked. “I’m sorry if I’m… I don’t do this very often.” “It’s really fucking okay,” Kip said, stepping toward Scott and placing one hand on his ridiculous bicep. “Let me take care of you. You can just be Scott from Rochester tonight, all right?” Scott looked at him with so much gratitude, it was heartbreaking.
“Yeah,” Scott said with a shy smile. “Is that okay? It’s…it’s what I’ve been thinking about the most.” Kip made a mental note to stop making assumptions about the preferred sexual positions of giant, muscular star athletes. “Fuck yes, it’s definitely okay.”
He stroked two slick fingers over Scott’s hole, and the NHL all-star whimpered.
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“You sure you want me to stay?” “Definitely.” The way Scott said it was so warm. So affectionate. Kip’s heart fluttered. Uh-oh. One night, Grady. Don’t go getting stupid. Appreciate what you’ve been given here.
Scott strode over to Kip and kissed him. He held his face in his hands and tried to show him what he was feeling, since he couldn’t tell him. Kip seemed to hear him, because he kissed back just as fervently,
After the door closed, Scott threw himself back against a wall, cursing how fucking hard this was. It wasn’t just being gay, or being famous. It was both of those things combined and knowing that it wasn’t possible to openly be who he was in his line of work.
Maybe this would be a turning point for Kip Grady. A gala invitation. A possible job opportunity. A new…friend.
“Big plans for the day off?” Kip was trying to be as subtle as possible, which wasn’t very subtle at all. “I was thinking about staying home. Maybe watching a movie.” He sounded casual, but Scott’s gaze was threatening to melt Kip on the spot. “Sounds like a good plan.”
“Oh. My. God!” Maria exclaimed. “What?” “What? What the hell, Grady? Are you guys engaged or what?” “I don’t know what you’re—” “You need to tell me what I just witnessed.”
Kip spotted the bruise on Scott’s arm and brushed his fingers over it. “That must have hurt.” “I’ve had worse.” “I’ll make it better.” Kip laid soft, open-mouthed kisses over the purple skin. It was cheesy and dumb and Scott loved it.
When Kip opened his eyes, they were hooded, sex-drunk, and his cheeks were flushed. He was the sexiest thing Scott had ever seen. “Jesus, no wonder you’re the team captain,” Kip drawled. “You’re a great motivator.”
“Like I said, I’ve never dated anyone,” Scott said. “I’ve never… I thought I didn’t need to. That I could maybe live without that.” Kip heard the past tense in what Scott was saying. “And now?” Scott exhaled. “I don’t know. I feel like…maybe I hadn’t met the right person yet, you know?” Holy shit. “I’m just saying,” Scott said, “I don’t think it’s the smoothies.”
“You deserve better than that, Kip.” Kip laughed, because seriously? “I can settle for you.”
Kip loved how sweet and shy Scott could be, but right now he was fucking Kip like the star athlete he was.
“Your choice, Hunter.” Scott looked away and actually blushed a little. “It’s kind of hot when you call me that,” he said, “but it’s really going to fuck me up when I’m hearing it on the ice.”
It was always a big deal when New York played Boston. Boston had their own star center, a hotshot Russian named Ilya Rozanov. He was cocky, brash, flashy…everything Scott wasn’t. And the fans loved him.
“Oh my god!” Elena exclaimed. “It’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow!” “I know…” “Are you going out?” “No! No…we’re not going anywhere. We, y’know…can’t.” She rejoined him on the couch. “Are you sure you want this, Kip? I know he’s him, but he comes with a lot of baggage.”
“No, I love them. They’re… I love them, Kip. I’m going to wear them all the time when I’m away and I’ll think of you. Thank you.” Kip looked relieved and delighted, and Scott kissed him, because how could he not? It might sound silly, but having these socks would help him a lot when he was away from Kip.
“You’re so beautiful, Kip. I’ve never…” Kip waited. “I’ve never wanted anyone like this before. I’ve had, I don’t know, crushes. I’ve been attracted to men, of course. Hooked up with men. But you… I’m breaking all my rules with you.”
“Before I forget,” Kip said, “I want to thank you for a lovely evening.” Scott laughed and kissed him again.
“Man, how much do you think it cost to make that dumb movie?” Scott didn’t answer. Upon closer inspection, Scott Hunter was, in fact, asleep in his lap.
In that moment, Scott could imagine all of it. Being with Kip. Living with him. Going to bed and waking up together. Preparing meals and going to restaurants and traveling together. Not hiding anymore, just being happy and complete with a man he…cared about. Being brave enough to let the world know who he really was.
“You’re going to play on Wednesday?” Kip looked horrified. “Yes.” “Are all hockey players stubborn idiots?” “Pretty much.”
Elena stood and crossed the room. “I can’t wait to meet him,” she said, and kissed Kip’s cheek. “You’re not going to give him one of your scary talks, are you?” “Of course not. I just think it’s fair to warn him that if he hurts you, it will be detrimental to his career. Because he’ll be dead.”
“Not yet. You guys need to be a lot stealthier if you’re going to fool anyone.” “What are you talking about? I’m fine. Has he looked yet?” “No. But if he does come over here—Okay, he sees you.” “How can you tell?” “Because he just lit up like the goddamn sun. Jesus. You guys are doomed.”
“Wish I coulda danced with you there,” Scott said. “S’okay.” “It’s not. I wanted to show you off. The most gorgeous man in the room was with me and I couldn’t even tell anyone.”
In a move that surprised both of them, Scott hoisted Kip off the ground, holding him firmly as Kip wrapped strong legs around him. Scott carried him to the bedroom this way, as if Kip were half the size he actually was.
Scott smiled. He looked up at Kip, and he knew. He knew for sure. Scott Hunter was in love.
He was in love. There was no question. He was head over heels in love with Scott Hunter. It was absurd, but it was real.
“I, uh,” he started. His face was pure anguish. He didn’t have his suitcase. He must have gone to the car and come back. “I was thinking… Planes, y’know? And anything can happen…” “Scott?” “I love you,” he said. “I just wanted to say that. Before I left.”
“I just… I thought I was the only one who felt that way.”
They both watched as Scott moved like lightning toward the net. Kip held his breath. Everything was slow motion as Scott let off his shot. It floated over the goalie’s shoulder, pretty as anything.
“Nice hotel?” Kip asked. “It’s all right.” “You’re not even a little turned on right now, are you?” “I’m nervous! I said!” “All right,” Kip sighed, then smiled. “You’re adorable, you know that?”
“I can’t believe this was the same man who was giving me orders over the phone the other night. Where’d that guy go?” “He’s here! He’s here. Just…” Scott closed his eyes and let out a long breath. “Just talk to me.” “Okay. You been wearing those blue socks?” “Yeah, like every day. I’ve been washing them in the sink.”
“I miss the little freckles on your shoulders. I miss your perfect nipples and your belly button.” Kip actually giggled. “You’re weird. Keep going.”
