The Long Game (Game Changers, #6)

by Rachel Reid

This book is for the Shane and Ilya fans. Thanks for making this happen.

<3

Suddenly, Ilya was right beside him, drenched in sweat, T-shirt balled up in one fist. Ilya winked at him before speeding past him like a cartoon character. Shane grunted in frustration and tried to catch up, but Ilya’s long legs and seemingly superhuman stamina were making it impossible.

“Fuck,” he wheezed, “you.” Ilya flopped onto his back, shaking with laughter. He mopped at his forehead with the damp shirt he was holding. “I almost let you win.”

“Liar.” “The view was not bad. From behind. Almost worth staying there.”

Shane didn’t know how his boyfriend was able to speak in full sentences. “Shut up.” “I ...

“You smoke.” “Almost never.” “You had a cigarette last night.” “How do you know?” “I have a nose.” Ilya booped the tip of Shane’s nose. “A cute one.”

Shane tried to glare at him, but he couldn’t keep it up. Not when Ilya was smiling at him like that.

His hair was longer than it had ever been too. He’d grown it out during the playoffs, and Ilya had protested when Shane had suggested it was time to get it cut. He’d let Shane shave his terrible, patchy excuse for a playoff beard, though.

Ilya traced the hem of one leg of the shorts where it was pulled tight against Shane’s thigh. “I think your dick would rip right through these if you got hard.” Oh wow. Yikes.

Without warning, Ilya grabbed him and rolled them both until Shane was on his back, Ilya stretched out on top of him, grinning down at him.

Shane shoved at his sweaty chest. “You’re disgusting.” “We are both disgusting.” Ilya dipped his head and kissed him, quickly.

“You’re just full of energy,” Shane grumbled, taking his hand and allowing himself to be hauled up. “I can think of ways to use it up,” Ilya said.

Ilya had signed with Shane’s agent last year, after parting ways with the Russian agent he’d had since he’d been a teenager. He’d wanted a Canadian agent, and Shane couldn’t recommend Farah Jalali highly enough. On top of being a great agent, she’d been nothing but supportive when Shane had told her he was gay two years ago.

Ilya shrugged easily. “She probably knows already.” The panic alarm that lived inside Shane started blaring. “Why would she?” “We are together at your cottage. You are gay. I am hot.”

Ilya was gazing at him with a mixture of fondness and exasperation.

Shane trailed off, momentarily distracted by Ilya’s low-slung shorts and bare torso.

“We have something we want to tell you.” “I’m all ears.” Shane met Ilya’s gaze. Ilya rested a hand on Shane’s knee and squeezed.

Well, now they knew how easy it would be for someone to put two and two together if they knew the truth about Ilya’s sexuality.

“We are together,” Ilya said, in case she didn’t. “Sorry,” Shane said. “I know this is going to be complicated for you.” “Don’t apologize. I love you guys, and I’m happy for you.”

May I ask how long you’ve been together?” Shane and Ilya shared a smile, then Ilya said, “A long time. Years.”

“Not to ask a stupid question, but it’s serious?” “Very,” Ilya said. Shane’s heart flipped the way it always did when Ilya made it clear how much Shane meant to him.

Whatever happens, it definitely won’t be boring!” “I wouldn’t mind boring,” Shane mumbled. “Shane loves boring,” Ilya said.

As soon as their call with Farah ended, Ilya pinned Shane on the mattress, holding his wrists and kissing him breathless. “That went okay,” Shane said between kisses. “Was great. I told you.”

Shane loved Ilya so much it physically hurt to contain it some days. He didn’t want to be a gay icon, or deal with any of the attention they would get from the hockey world—both good and bad—if they ever disclosed their relationship, but he wished he could love Ilya openly without dealing with any of that.

Which meant another decade of hiding, probably. But Shane would do it. He would do anything for Ilya. He’d told him, once, that he was willing to play the long game when it came to their relationship and he’d meant it.

“Why are you getting sad?” Ilya asked. Shane blinked at him. “Sorry. Nothing.” He kissed him quickly. “I love you.”

Ilya gazed at his mother while he waited, knowing that this wouldn’t last. He would wake up, she would disappear. But still he wanted her to meet Shane.

“No,” Ilya said. “Wait. He will be here.” An annoying bird started chirping loudly nearby, and Ilya gripped his mother’s hand more tightly. “Just...wait. Don’t go.” Everything dissolved.

He rolled to his back and exhaled loudly, trying to release the vortex of feelings that the dreams always churned up inside him. The joy of seeing his mother again, the heartbreak of realizing it wasn’t real, and the frustration of Shane not moving fast enough.

Of not caring enough. It was this last emotion that Ilya needed to shake off most of all, because it was ridiculous. Shane cared. Shane cared enough that he’d suggested naming their charity after Ilya’s mother.

He combed his fingers through the long strands at the back of Shane’s head. Ilya liked it long; he’d liked the way it matched Shane’s transformation when they were alone together by the lake, relaxed and even a bit silly.

As Ilya had gotten to know Shane’s parents better, he’d been surprised to learn that Shane—the most determined overachiever Ilya had ever met—was the slacker in the family.

“I’m just...” Whatever Shane was going to say dissolved into a frustrated sigh. Ilya grabbed the back of Shane’s chair and pulled him away from the table and his laptop. He crouched in front of him, resting his folded arms on Shane’s knees. “You are just being you.”

Ilya was excited about the camps—he’d enjoyed them last year—but he didn’t like how quickly Shane had reverted to his usual, uptight self.

These weeks could have been spent at the cottage, laughing together in the kitchen, dunking each other underwater in the lake, and enjoying unhurried, indulgent s...

Ilya could be sitting on the dock there right now, his feet dangling in the cool water with Shane’s head in his lap. But these c...

The worry didn’t leave Shane’s eyes, but his voice was soft when he said, “What if someone figures us out?”

“We are good at protecting this thing,” Ilya said. “We have been doing it for years. And we did it last year.”

“Barely! Ryan Price fucking walked in on us kissing! What if that happens again?” Ilya grinned. “A...

Shane played with a curl of hair near Ilya’s ear. “No kissing,” he said sternly. “Not even behind closed doors, okay? Not until we get home.”

“Yes, no problem. I barely even like you.” Ilya’s words were undermined by the way he was pressing his cheek into Shane’s palm.

Shane tugged hard on the curl he’d been gently twisting. “He’s my best friend.” “I thought I was your best friend.” “Hayden’s my best friend that I don’t kiss,” Shane clarified. “Too bad for Hayden.”

Shane removed his reading glasses, then raked his gaze over Ilya’s body. “You’re unfairly handsome in the mornings, you know that?” Ilya grinned. “Tell me in Russian.”

Shane’s nose scrunched up in concentration. “Um...ty ochen’ krasiv?” Ilya’s heart fluttered the way it always did when Shane attempted Russian. “Close enough.”

“No. Tell me how I could have said it better,” Shane insisted. Instead, Ilya kissed him, slow and lazy with Shane’s pal...

“I’m serious about the no kissing today. And don’t, like, be sexy.” “Impossible.” “You know what I mean. No innuendo.”

“Innu-what? Is this a sex thing?” “No flirting. No, y’know, trying to get me all turned on or whatever. Be professional.”

Ilya stepped close to him. “I do not have to try to get you all turn...

Shane’s lips parted and he shifted his stance, just slightly. Then he blinked and said, “That. Exactly that. D...

Ilya trailed a fingertip down Shane’s cheek. “Why? Are y...