Chapter Twelve

RILEY THOUGHT he was prepared for the onslaught of the Kennedy family, but he totally wasn’t.

It shouldn’t have been a surprise, though. He always felt that he had Ethan kind of figured out and knew what to expect—or was accustomed to his behaviors. Like getting to know a shooter on the ice, or learning what asinine tricks his stupid teammates were going to try in practice to get a shoot-out move nailed down. Ethan threw him for a loop more often than not, and Riley didn’t think there was any way to prepare himself for a holiday with the Kennedy clan.

But his teammates still scored on him (except for Ethan, and Bennett Halley, because Riley didn’t like him), and Riley had no idea what it must be like to have someone miss you as much as the Kennedys clearly missed Ethan. And Ethan looked so happy as they hugged him and asked him a thousand questions all at once. Happy in a way Riley didn’t understand but wished that he did.

He went from passive observer to participant when Ethan’s mom turned to him and said with a bright smile, “And you must be Riley. Look at you! What a gorgeous young man you are. So tall.” Before Riley could hold his hand out to shake hers, Maura Kennedy had wrapped him up in a fierce hug. “We are so glad you came home with Ethan. And that you didn’t let him drive.”

Riley remembered his manners and hugged her back. “Thank you, Ms. Kennedy, for having me.”

“Oh, none of this Ms. Kennedy stuff, Riley. You just call me Maura. Brittany. Stop showing your brother that mermaid tattoo and say hello to Ethan’s friend. Riley, this is my daughter Brittany.” She hooked her arm through Riley’s as they turned toward Ethan’s sister.

“It’s a siren, Ma. I told you. Not a mermaid. Hi,” Brittany Kennedy said as she turned Ethan’s smile on him—and oh wow. She was Ethan with tits, which was a completely disrespectful thing Riley would not say out loud. Ethan and Britt looked alike. They were the same height and had the same eyes. But it was more than that. She was as boisterous as her brother. Her laugh was loud, and she couldn’t stand still either. “Call me Britt.”

She was also really hot, covered in tattoos with her blue black hair rolled up in the front, making her look like a pinup girl from the sixties. And she was wearing bright red lipstick and matching cat-eye glasses.

Riley had a mental image of Brittany Kennedy and Zoe Mays making out. It was a very, very nice mental image, and he was sad that he couldn’t share it with Ethan. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you, Britt. Ethan talks about you a lot.”

“Yeah?” Britt beamed at her brother. “Everything he learned about fighting, by the way, he learned from me,” Britt said as she flung herself at Ethan again. “Tell him, big brother.”

“Oh yeah.” He looked at Riley over his sister’s head. “I let her win,” he whispered, and then his sister punched him in the stomach.

“My God. Children, this is an airport. What will Riley think of us?” Maura waved her hand. “Ethan, stop encouraging your sister to be violent. She’s in a customer-service profession.” Maura beamed. “I’ve got an artist for a daughter, a professional athlete for a son, and soon my youngest is going to be a scientist going to the moon. Kelsey, come here and meet Riley.”

Kelsey Kennedy was tall, with Maura’s auburn hair and striking green eyes. Even dressed casually with her hair up in a ponytail, she was pretty enough to be a model. “Hi,” she said, a little more shyly than her mom and her sister. “We’re so loud. I’m sorry.”

Riley laughed. He definitely liked her. “It’s okay. I live with Ethan, so I’m used to it.”

As they waited for the luggage, Riley was content to watch them and occasionally answer questions about Wyoming, Florida, being a goalie, and being tall.

“Your family doesn’t mind you coming here for Christmas?” Kelsey asked, looking skeptical. “Ethan said they were going on vacation and you couldn’t go because of your schedule. But Ethan told me my hamster went on vacation when I was eight, because Britt locked it in the Barbie Dream House to pretend it was a monster movie.”

“That wasn’t me,” Britt told her sister. “It was Ethan.”

“What? It was not. Britt made me put it in there because she was afraid of it.”

Kelsey laughed. “Afraid of a hamster and she sticks people with needles all day.”

“It doesn’t stick you, Kels, I’ve told you that a million times. How you understand all that math shit—Ma, calm down. Riley’s on a hockey team. I’m sure he’s heard worse language.”

“Not said in front of someone’s mother.” Maura raised an eyebrow at her oldest daughter. “Help your brother with his bags.”

“There better be a present for me in there is all I’m saying,” Britt groused, but of course Ethan wouldn’t let his sister carry his bag. He shouldered it and told her he brought her a lump of coal.

Getting to the Kennedy’s house was another adventure. They didn’t have a car, so they took the subway and a series of busses and hauled their luggage with them. Riley had been to New York before for hockey and on a few family trips, but they weren’t in any neighborhood he was familiar with.

And Riley couldn’t put into words how he felt witnessing the obvious affection the Kennedy family had for each other. It became clear to Riley why three was Ethan’s number and why his family meant so much to him. Ethan might play hockey for the Sea Storm, but they were his real team.

The Kennedys’ apartment was small, but Riley thought it was the coziest place he’d ever seen. At home his parents had a decorator who went through and redesigned Riley’s bedroom suite every few years. It went from cars to some kind of monster theme to a generic, vaguely boyish navy blue and maroon color scheme. The designer must have noticed his New Jersey Devil’s poster, because the last one was red and black.

If there was a theme to the Kennedys’ apartment, it was cheerful chaos. It wasn’t untidy or cluttered. Just lived in.

There were pictures in mismatched frames on the walls, showing the Kennedy clan growing up together in no particular order. Riley was fascinated, and he wanted to look at every single picture, especially the ones of Ethan as a kid. In every one that included his sisters, Ethan looked as fierce as he did when he threw off his gloves. Maybe more.

Riley’s favorite was a picture of the three Kennedy kids with Santa. Britt was crying, mouth open in a wail and her little face covered in tears. Kelsey, a toddler, was on Ethan’s knee and was also screaming. Ethan had one arm around his sobbing sister Britt, and the other wrapped protectively around Kelsey. He wasn’t looking at the camera, but was instead glaring up at Santa like it was his fault his sisters were upset.

“My son,” Maura said. She walked over, handed Riley a beer, and shook her head. “It’s a good thing the photographer didn’t give them any props for that photograph. Ethan would have brained Santa with it.” She looked at the picture and smiled fondly. “Some brothers would yell at their siblings for screaming and getting them on Santa’s naughty list. Not Ethan. He just yelled at Santa for making his sisters cry. He could, and I quote, ‘forget the toys, fat man. We don’t want them anyway.’”

Riley took the beer and grinned at Ethan, who was drinking one of his own. “Sure. Now she laughs at that.” Ethan pointed at his mom with the bottle. “It wasn’t funny when it happened.”

“I didn’t want him saying those kinds of things to people,” Maura said and laughed. “I insisted he write an apology in his letter to Santa that year.”

“And Britt threatened to set me on fire if I didn’t,” Ethan muttered. From the kitchen Britt called him a snitch.

“He apologized for calling him fat,” Maura said and shook her head. “He said it wasn’t Santa’s fault everyone left him cookies, and he insisted on putting some celery out on Christmas Eve.”

“I didn’t know you even knew what celery looked like,” Riley teased. “I’m surprised you didn’t leave him Pepsi.”

“Riley drinks coconut water,” Ethan retorted, though that made no sense, whatsoever.

“Out of a coconut?” Kelsey brightened. “That’s cool.”

“Out of a juice box, idiot,” Ethan said, and hit her lightly on the head.

“Coconut water isn’t juice, though,” said Kelsey.

“Wow. Thanks, Marie Curie.” Ethan rolled his eyes. “And stop making fun of me before I tell Ma you’re drinking Britt’s beer.”

“It’s Christmas,” Maura Kennedy said serenely. “Have one of your own, Kelsey. You are my only child who makes the honor roll. Do you have siblings, Riley?”

Riley wasn’t expecting to be drawn into the conversation and to suddenly have everyone’s attention on him. He cleared his throat. “Yeah. I have an older brother and a younger sister.”

“Are they horrible like mine?” Kelsey sipped her beer. It didn’t look like she really wanted it. She probably enjoyed sneaking it more than drinking it. Proving she might be quiet, but she was still a Kennedy.

“They’re nothing like yours. Nope,” Riley said, and if he sounded a little sad, he hoped no one noticed.

“Well, you can share mine if you want,” Ethan said as he walked over to stand by him. He put a hand on Riley’s shoulder, meaning he definitely noticed. And that meant—

Oh, no.

“Ethan,” Riley said, just as Ethan drew breath and opened his mouth. Riley just knew he was going to tell everyone they were dating. Riley couldn’t let him do that, though. Not until he knew that it wouldn’t fuck up anything for Ethan, because, while Riley knew his family was important to Ethan, it was another thing to see it firsthand.

“Yeah?” Ethan turned toward him, all fierce-eyed and chin lifted, with his hand on Riley’s shoulder. Riley felt like they were taking a picture with Santa.

“Can you show me where to put my stuff?”

Ethan blinked at him and then shrugged. “Sure. But this is pretty much the whole place. Are you staying over, Britt?”

“Christmas Eve and Christmas. Yeah. But I have to work tomorrow. You guys are gonna come visit. Right?” She looked expectantly at her brother. “You can see the shop in person. And Riley, you look like you need a tattoo.”

Riley nodded. “I do. I think. I don’t know what to get, though.”

He was able to distract Ethan from making any announcements, and that was a relief. Dinner was as loud and boisterous as Riley expected, and he and Ethan ended up doing the dishes afterward, while the girls did their nails. Britt left a few hours later, and Maura kissed her son on the top of the head on her way to bed. “I’m so glad you’re home, sweetie. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without you.”

Ethan muttered something, but he looked happy. Kelsey brought out some extra blankets and then headed to her room when Ethan assured her that he and Riley would be fine on the floor.

They threw the blankets and pillows down in front of the sofa, and Ethan apologized for not having a bed to sleep on. Finally Riley half rolled on top of him and kissed him soundly.

“Stop,” he said firmly. “The floor is fine. It’s good for my back. And even if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t care.”

“Shut up,” Ethan said, sounding embarrassed as he kissed him back. That took their attention for a good five minutes, until Ethan murmured, “We should probably stop. Except now that I said that, I don’t want to.”

“I’m so shocked,” Riley moved to his side so he was facing Ethan, and he pulled him closer. They went back to kissing, and they both reached down at the same time for each other’s dick. That made them both laugh, though quietly.

“Remember when we didn’t do this part?” Ethan asked. “To each other, I mean.”

“Mmmhmm,” Riley murmured and kissed him a little harder. His hand—which had found its way into Ethan’s shorts and onto his cock—tightened a bit and started to move slowly up and down.

“We have to hurry,” Ethan said, palming Riley’s cock roughly.

“Why?”

“Seriously?” Ethan rubbed harder, and Riley’s eyes nearly crossed from how good it felt. “It’s like you can’t remember where you are.”

Riley wasn’t sure he could forget where he was, but he didn’t say that. He reached down to still Ethan’s hand. “You’re getting off first,” Riley said firmly, and mouthed at Ethan’s neck. “Don’t argue.” Riley bit him on the shoulder, palmed Ethan’s cock, and rubbed his balls with the heel of his hand.

Ethan went all boneless under Riley, and his muscles relaxed. He wasn’t coiled taut like a spring anymore. But he never gave it up that easy, and despite the need to be quiet, he didn’t do so then either. “I keep thinking about what you said. What you want.”

Heat washed over Riley, because he knew Ethan was talking about that night Riley had texted him he wanted to fuck him. Riley hadn’t mentioned it since then, but he still wanted to. Badly. “Do you?” Riley tightened his hand again and trapped Ethan’s legs with one of his own.

“Do you?” Ethan turned his head and pressed his face into Riley’s shoulder.

“Yeah,” Riley answered, his voice barely above a whisper. He wanted it right then, wanted to pin Ethan down and fuck him. He didn’t care that it was a bad idea, that Ethan’s sister was asleep in the other room, or that he didn’t even know what he was doing. He just wanted to do it. “I think about it a lot.”

Ethan made a loud noise. “I want to let you.” He pushed a little frantically at Riley’s shoulder. “I want to want to let you. Does that—do you—”

“Shh,” Riley hissed. As badly as he wanted it, that wasn’t the right time. “I know.”

“It’s not that I don’t—”

“I know,” Riley said and then clapped his hand over Ethan’s mouth. “I know. Okay? Be quiet.” He took his hand off, but Ethan looked like he was going to say something anyway, so Riley covered his mouth again. “I can’t make you be quiet and suck you off at the same time.”

“You like it when I’m noisy,” Ethan said as he settled under Riley. He relaxed and slid one hand into Riley’s hair. Riley kissed and bit his way down Ethan’s chest and finally took Ethan’s cock in his mouth.

Ethan tugged on Riley’s hair when he was about to come, just like he always did. But Riley didn’t pull off. He just kept sucking him. It was a little stuffy under the blankets, but he didn’t mind. It was kind of like wearing his mask, only sucking cock instead of stopping pucks.

“Riles,” Ethan whispered. “Hey. Riley. Riley.”

Riley didn’t stop. He liked how Ethan tried not to shove his cock down Riley’s throat, but did it anyway—like he always did. Riley rubbed a hand over Ethan’s stomach and let him fuck his throat. Ethan came with a muffled noise, and Riley peeked up to see that Ethan had pulled a pillow over his face.

It was weird but not bad. Not as awkward as spitting and definitely not as messy as finishing Ethan off with his hand. They weren’t their blankets, after all.

Ethan lay prone on his back with his chest heaving. He said something Riley couldn’t make out. “What was that?” he asked, working his way out from under the blankets. Ethan said it again, but Riley still couldn’t hear him.

“Take the pillow off your face,” Riley admonished, and pulled it away. “Now try.”

“I said, I need a cigarette,” Ethan leaned up on his elbows for a few seconds. Then he pushed Riley onto his back and was all over him like a warm blanket—a warm blanket with a hot, wicked mouth. “Fuck my throat. I like that,” Ethan whispered. That got Riley so hot for it that he had to muffle a moan and bite his wrist.

Riley got his hand on the back of Ethan’s neck and let himself do it once. He held Ethan there for a few seconds of mind-numbing pleasure. Then he pushed him back none too gently. Ethan growled and tried to do it again, and Riley couldn’t believe he was fighting off a guy who wanted to deep-throat his cock.

Fighting with Ethan in bed made Riley crazy. He got to the edge so fast he barely managed to shove Ethan’s shoulder in warning. But Ethan didn’t pull off, because Riley hadn’t, and Riley was glad because it felt great to come in Ethan’s mouth.

They shifted around to pull their shorts up and rearrange the blankets, and then it seemed like a very natural thing to move toward each other, limbs tangling without much thought or effort.

“Hey, Riles?”

Riley sighed. Ethan never could just go to sleep when they were finished. He wanted a conversation and a cigarette. But Riley was all relaxed and wanted to sleep. “You are so not smoking right now.”

“I’m always smoking, Riley.” Ethan gave him a smug grin. “Smoking hot,” he said, and he laughed when Riley groaned and hit him in the arm.

Ethan elbowed him in the side, and Riley laughed. “I’m glad you’re here. And not just for sex.”

“Me too,” said Riley. They looked at each other silently, and Riley came dangerously close to saying something he maybe shouldn’t. So instead, he said, “Speaking of smoking, I guess I shouldn’t tell you about how your sister Britt is—”

Ethan made an angry noise, sat up, and playfully pummeled Riley with his fists. “No. You should not say that, or I will smother you with my pillow.”

“Ethan?”

Ethan’s eyes widened at the sound of Kelsey’s voice. “Uh. Yeah, Kels?”

“Everything okay?”

“Sure.” Ethan cleared his throat. “Just, uh… fighting Riley for the covers. He’s too tall.”

“Uh-huh,” Kelsey said, then giggled. Riley would bet his private jet Kelsey had already figured out they were together. “Can I get some water?”

“Yeah. Sure,” Ethan said. He nonchalantly lay back down and pulled the covers. “Why couldn’t you?”

Kelsey sighed as she padded into the kitchen. “Sorry my brother’s an idiot, Riley.”

“It’s okay,” Riley said. He settled down with his hands behind his head. He couldn’t remember ever being as happy as he was right then—two days before Christmas and sleeping on the floor. With Ethan, his boyfriend, who Riley realized he was stupid in love with—even though he stole all the covers.