Common Goal (Game Changers, #4)

by Rachel Reid

“I like your glasses.” Kyle laughed. “As in you want to buy a pair for yourself, or as in you want to see me wearing nothing but them?” Before Eric could respond, Kyle quickly said, “Sorry. That was too much.”

“I lost my mind when I saw him kissing Kip on television. It was on the big screen at work and I nearly dropped a whole tray of glasses.”

“It was brave as fuck. It meant a lot, y’know? The vibe in the bar that night, after he did that? It was like we all won the Stanley Cup. It was a party for sure.”

but older men...” Kyle bit his lip. “They make me feel powerful. Like I’m irresistible and they would do anything to please me.”

He wanted to please Kyle. He wanted to spoil him rotten and have Kyle reward him for it however he chose to. He wanted this stunning young man to conquer him and leave Eric gasping for more.

He wanted to make sure Eric’s first time would be enjoyable. That it would be with someone patient and sweet and good. Someone who understood how important this was.

“You know you’re not any less bisexual if you never hook up with a man, right? Your sexuality is still completely valid and real, whether you have sex with one gender, multiple genders, or no one at all.”

“Happy anniversary, darling.”

He wanted to be good at pleasuring a man. At pleasuring Kyle.

“Right. So they want the staff to be diverse. I wouldn’t even be the only gay guy, because they have Ryan Price helping out.” “I keep forgetting he’s gay.” “I heard he has a great boyfriend. A musician. I’m happy for him.” “That’s good to hear.”

Rozanov and Hollander. The two rivals’ names still sounded weird next to each other. “Who knew Rozanov had such a big heart?” Eric said. Scott smiled. “I had a hunch. I think he might secretly be a big softy.”

Kyle: Yes. Why are you making fun of my name, dickbag? Eric laughed, then wrote, Sorry, Neil. It’s a lovely name. Kyle: I’m named after my grandfather. Wow. Kyle was going deep on this character.

Eric wondered if Scott’s shyness about sex carried to the bedroom, or if he was secretly a sex god. Okay. That right there was proof that Eric needed this scheduled platonic sex session. He should definitely not be thinking about his best friend, and captain’s, sexual personality.

“Lesson one, Eric: you are never under any obligation to do anything. If you invite someone over for sex and then change your mind, you can do that. Always.”

Although, if someone gets you off and they aren’t a complete fucking jerk, it is considered bad manners to leave them hanging. But it’s still your choice. And if they are a complete fucking jerk, then let them walk out of here with aching balls, I say.”

Eric kissed his way back up to the tip, then wrapped his lips around the head and silently prayed to anyone who was listening that he wasn’t about to give Kyle the worst blowjob in history.

He wanted Eric to get this shutout. He wanted Eric to invite him over to celebrate tonight. The possibility that Kyle might get to again have this man—the same man who was right now being loudly adored by an arena full of excited fans—was exhilarating.

He suddenly understood why Kip had been sexually obsessed with Scott for almost three years now. This was heady fucking stuff.

Kip studied him, frowning. “What’s going on with you two?” “Nothing.” “Because I did the secret dating thing with an NHL star and it wasn’t—” “I’m not dating him,” Kyle said truthfully, though he wished it were a lie. “We’re just friends. Like you wanted us to be.”

Kyle smiled. “I like that you’re turning this into a game of strip poker.”

“I wish that toy was me,” he said, daringly. He didn’t want to pressure Eric, but his head was full of awesome dirty thoughts and he wanted to share them. “I’d love to feel that thick cock of yours inside me. Fuck, I’ll bet you’d tear me apart with that thing.”

He could hold Kyle down and just pound into him.

If he thought he’d felt like a dirty old man before...

Kid. Tommy was the same age as Kyle. The thought made Eric’s stomach clench. What the fuck had he been thinking?

“I’m—” Eric cut himself off. “I want to be friends, Kyle. I like you.” “We are friends,” Kyle assured him. “We can be the kind of friends who don’t have sex. I’ve heard some friendships work that way. Seems weird, but I’m willing to try.”

It was annoying how much Kyle wanted some assurance that Eric would want to continue to...spend time with him. Even if it wasn’t sex, Kyle would love to go for another walk. Another meal. Visit another gallery. It was rare for Kyle to want to spend this much time with someone, but if he had his way, he’d stay for the rest of the day, and all night.

Eric answered by bringing their lips together. The kiss was soft and sweet, and Kyle regretted asking for it. It was too tender. Too heartbreaking.

Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander were sitting across from each other, and kept catching each other’s eye and smiling. There was a mutual fondness there that Eric still couldn’t quite believe. They were such famous rivals but, he supposed, they were also human beings who were more than their hockey skills. Obviously they had found things to like about each other and had become good friends.

Eric wasn’t sure if he should share personal information with Rozanov or not, but something told him to trust him. “Not that it matters, really, but I’m bisexual. I mean, it seems like you already guessed that, but if you want that kind of rep at your camps...” Rozanov’s face lit up. “Bisexual! This is great. Did you fuck that blond teenager yet?” “He’s not a—” Eric bit his tongue. “He’s twenty-five.” “Twenty-five was a long time ago for you. Do you remember twenty-five?”

“Look. They’re showing your ugly fiancé.” Scott’s absurdly handsome face, with its square jaw and vivid blue eyes, filled the screen.

“He kissed me! I swear. Like, I kissed his cheek, but then he totally went for it.” “Holy shit. Then what happened?” “Nothing. We kissed. And then I offered to help him with any other...firsts.”

Then a few days later, he invited me to his place for dinner. And...we had educational sex after.” “Educational sex?” “Extremely hot educational sex. And then we did it a few more times.”

He did not like the way Kip was grinning at him. “What?” “You are so into him.”

“He laughed at my jokes and asked me questions. Guys! He asked me questions! About myself!” She grabbed a throw pillow and hugged it to herself. “Wait. And listened to your answers?” Kyle asked. “He asked follow-up questions. It was legit the best date I’ve ever been on. Except for the part where it wasn’t really a date.”

“Eric. If you have feelings for him, you should find out if he shares them.” “And what if he doesn’t?” Kyle asked, instead of denying the feelings he knew he had for Eric. “Then at least you tried. Because what if he does?”

“Is there no one...else...you might like to spend tomorrow with?” Scott asked casually. “Are you asking if I’m seeing someone?” “Well...”

“It’s not fair of me to pretend these hookups don’t mean anything to me when they mean a lot.”

Eric considered Scott’s sensible suggestion, then shook his head. “I can’t. Even if he wants a relationship with me, it isn’t fair to him.” Scott took a sip of water, then said, “You know, I thought the same thing about Kip once. At first because of the sneaking around, and then because of the attention I knew we’d get as a couple. But eventually I realized it wasn’t my decision to make. Kip deserved a say, and so does Kyle. He’s young, but he’s not a kid.”

There was silence, and then someone—Prentice, it sounded like—said, “You’re only forty-one?” Everyone laughed, and that opened the floodgates. “I thought you were at least sixty.” “Goalies didn’t even wear masks when you were a rookie.” “My grandpa grew up watching you.”

When was the last time Eric had wanted anything as much as he wanted Kyle?

“Where would you go?” Eric asked, hoping to derail this dangerous line of thinking. “If you could travel anywhere?” “Anywhere. Everywhere. I want to see it all, but I’ve been looking at Greece lately. Maybe do a language course there.” “Sounds nice.” “I want to hike on the Pelion Peninsula.” “And follow in the footsteps of Achilles?” Kyle grinned. “Exactly. Maybe find a handsome centaur who wants to teach me a few things.” “Is that what you’re into? Horses?” “Nope. Just intelligent older men with thick cocks.” Eric was sure the hike down the mountain wouldn’t be improved by having an erection. “Behave,” he scolded.

He wanted to fall in love with him because he knew it wouldn’t take much. Just permission.

“No,” Kyle interrupted, fury welling inside him. “If you’re telling me that you have real feelings for me—that you want more—but you think the age difference is too much, then you can stop right now.”

“I know. I don’t think. I know how I feel about you. I want to be with you Eric.

It would be a bigger shock if he introduced Kyle as his boyfriend, but he was starting to not care about shocking people.

The truth was that he couldn’t stop thinking about Kyle’s fierce declaration: You’re perfect for me.

And when he thought about the rest of his life, all he knew was that he wanted Kyle in it.

He needed to be fearless, one more time. This time with no masks, and no armor. He needed to go to Kyle with his heart in his hands and apologize for not giving him a chance. For not giving them a chance. And god, he hoped he wasn’t too late.

“I could have told you how I really feel. That I have loved every moment we’ve spent together, whether it’s having sex or just talking. That I want to have more of those moments. Years of them.”

“Anywhere you like,” Eric said. It was true. Kyle could suggest the city dump and Eric would follow him happily.