Kip moved like lightning. Sure enough, there was Scott, filling the doorway of their modest little Bay Ridge home.
“Scott?” Kip said.
“Hi,” Scott said shyly.
Mom looked between them. “Well. I suppose you’d better come in.”
“Thank you,” Scott said. He stepped in and Kip’s mother closed the door behind him.
“Scott?” Kip said again.
“Yeah, sorry for just dropping in like this,” Scott said. “I got your address from Elena. I thought—I thought we could maybe go for a walk.”
“A walk?”
“Yeah.”
They stared at each other stupidly until Mom said, “Well, get your shoes on! Honestly, Kip!”
Scott grinned, which made Kip smile.
Dad appeared. “Ah.” He stuck out his hand. “George Grady,” he said. “Nice to meet you.”
“Scott,” Scott said, shaking his hand.
“Yes,” Dad said.
“Scott, this is my mom, Margaret.”
“Hello,” Mom said, bewildered.
“Scott is my...friend,” Kip said, “if you’re wondering why he’s here.”
“Actually,” Scott said, “I’m his boyfriend.”
Kip was stunned, but he smiled at Scott. “Yeah,” he confirmed, “we’re, um...together.”
“Oh my lord!” his mother said, her hands clasped together over her mouth. “Oh, Scott, you have chosen so well!”
They all laughed, and Scott smiled affectionately at Kip. “I know it, ma’am.”
“Ma’am!” Mom exclaimed. “Oh, I like him!”
“I’m sorry,” Scott said, “were you having dinner? I should have called first. It smells delicious in here, though.”
“It’s fine,” Kip said, still dumbfounded.
“Have you eaten, Scott?” Mom asked. “It’s just meat loaf, but you’re welcome to join us.”
Scott looked at Kip. “If it’s no trouble.”
“No trouble at all! Come on in,” Mom said. She squeezed Kip’s arm excitedly as she passed him.
“Um,” Kip said, “maybe we should...talk. First. For a moment. Upstairs?”
“Yeah,” Scott said, “all right.”
“We’ll be right there, Mom,” Kip called out. “Scott and I just need to talk for a minute.”
He felt giddy and oddly nervous. He gestured for Scott to follow him, and they climbed the narrow stairway to the second floor.
When they got inside Kip’s bedroom, he closed the door behind them and turned, ready to hear whatever the reason was that had brought Scott here. “What—”
That was all that Kip got out before Scott was on him, crowding him against the door and kissing him hungrily. Kip grabbed whatever he could—Scott’s T-shirt, his neck, his arms, his hair—and kissed back. He loved the feel of Scott’s soft beard against his face.
Scott picked him up so Kip’s legs were straddling his waist. He carried him over to the wooden desk that had sat in Kip’s bedroom since he was six years old, and sat him on it. He spread his legs and kissed him harder, pressing Kip back against his bookshelf.
Kip felt hot everywhere. He couldn’t get enough of Scott’s mouth or hands. And, yeah, maybe he was getting a little too turned on, considering they were in his childhood bedroom, but this was fucking hot.
“Fuck, Scott,” he managed when they finally broke apart. “What’s going on?”
“I can’t lose you,” Scott said, kissing him again. “I can’t.”
“Okay.”
They kissed some more, and Scott’s thumbs slid up the insides of Kip’s thighs. Kip decided to do the responsible thing.
“We can’t,” he panted. “We have to stop. Holy shit. My parents are waiting for us. Fuck.”
“I know.” Scott let out a breath and stepped back. They both had very obvious erections, which would be awkward to take to the dinner table.
“Let’s sit for a minute,” Kip said. “Just...talk to me.”
They sat together on Kip’s bed, and Scott said, “I like your room.”
Kip glanced around at the familiar—and embarrassingly juvenile—décor of his bedroom. He still had his grade school spelling bee and academic awards on a shelf above his desk. And that wasn’t a humiliating thing for your NHL superstar boyfriend to see.
“It’s pretty glamorous, yeah,” he joked.
“It’s very...you. I like it.” Scott took Kip’s hand. He let their clasped hands rest on the bed between them. “I told some of my teammates.”
“You did?”
“Yes. I told my three closest friends on the team.”
“What did you tell them, exactly?”
“That I’m gay. That I’m seeing someone. That his name is Kip. That he’s wonderful.”
Kip blushed and smiled. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“What did they say?”
“They were great. Maybe a little surprised. But great. Encouraging.”
“Good! That’s awesome, Scott!”
“It is, yeah. And I’m going to go public after the playoffs. As soon as possible.”
“Wow. That’s...wow.”
“I don’t want to wait anymore,” Scott said, turning slightly toward Kip and brushing his fingers over his cheek. “I’d make the announcement right now if it wouldn’t distract the team. I want to be with you in the way that you deserve. In the way that we both deserve.”
And now Kip was tearing up. “Me too.”
They kissed, softer and more tenderly than before.
“Will you come to my place tonight?” Scott asked.
“Yes,” Kip breathed. There was nothing in the world he wanted more.
They joined Kip’s parents a few minutes later, and if they had heard the two men crashing into each other upstairs, they didn’t let on. There was already a place set for Scott, with a plate that was heaping with food. Kip’s plate looked like it had been topped up a bit too.
“Thank you for having me,” Scott said. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“We’re very honored to have you.” Mom was very obviously bursting with pride. “We’re big fans, you know.”
“I’m a Scouts fan,” Dad said, “but I can make an exception.”
Scott smiled. “I grew up a Buffalo fan. I consider myself an Admirals fan these days, though.”
Everyone laughed and Kip beamed. It was thrilling and surreal, having Scott sitting here at his family’s table. Watching his parents laugh at his dry humor. The same dry humor that Kip loved so much.
“This is delicious,” Scott said. “I can see where Kip gets his cooking skills.”
“He’s cooked for you?” Mom asked, delighted. “That’s nice to hear. So how long have you two been seeing each other, then?”
Kip wasn’t sure how to answer her. “Since, um...”
“We met in January,” Scott said. “I met him at his work, actually. I wanted a smoothie, and, well—”
“January! Christopher Grady! This has been going on since January and you haven’t told us?”
“We needed to keep it a secret,” Kip protested. “Scott’s not... You know.”
“I’m, um—” Scott started, “I’ve decided to come out. Publicly. Soon.”
“Oh,” Kip’s mother said. “Goodness.”
“That will be a pretty big deal,” Dad said.
Scott nodded. “Believe me, I know. And I didn’t want to... I don’t want Kip to be dragged into anything he’s not ready for, but—”
“I’m ready,” Kip said. “Anything that happens, I’m ready.”
Scott gave him a small, grateful smile. “I’m in love with your son, ma’am. I don’t care who knows it anymore.”
Kip blushed because sheesh.
Now his mother was crying.
“Oh, honey,” she said, “I’m so happy for you. Both of you.”
Kip smiled at Scott. “Me too.”
* * *
Scott didn’t even wait for them to get to his apartment. As soon as they stepped into the elevator, he had his mouth on Kip’s. Every cell in his body screamed with raw, violent need. He wanted this man all the time, and he wasn’t interested in hiding that anymore.
The second they were inside the apartment, jackets and shirts were shed and strewn about the floor. Scott tried to walk toward the bedroom, but Kip pulled them back together and then they were kissing each other wildly against a wall. When Scott took a step back to suggest they leave the front hall, Kip started unfastening Scott’s belt.
“God, Kip.” Scott loved that Kip was as fevered as he was. He helped Kip strip him down to his briefs.
“Bedroom,” he finally managed to say. “Please. Wanna do this right. Been thinking about this for days.”
Kip nodded, mouth wet and bruised and slack, and fuck, Scott wanted those lips wrapped around his cock. He wanted everything.
Kip toed off his own sneakers and followed Scott to his bedroom. It would be their bedroom soon, if Scott had anything to say about it.
When they were in the bedroom, Kip slid a hand down inside Scott’s briefs, gripping his ass. His other hand played with one of Scott’s nipples while he kissed his neck.
Scott closed his eyes and tilted his head back. He reached behind and grabbed onto Kip’s ass, pulling them tighter together so he could feel Kip’s hard cock dig into him.
Kip hummed and moved his hand around to cup Scott through his briefs. Kip’s hand made contact with his aching cock, and Scott cried out in a way that was embarrassingly needy.
Kip fondled him through the fabric for a while, then hooked his thumbs into the waistband and pulled the underwear down. He sat Scott on the end of bed, and dropped to his knees on the floor.
“Fuck,” Scott whispered. “Yes.”
Kip wet his lips and kept his eyes locked with Scott’s as he swirled his tongue over the head of Scott’s swollen cock. He flicked his tongue against the slit, lapping up the precome that was already beading there. It was all so slow and deliberate, it was absolutely destroying Scott in the best way.
“Fucking love you so much, Kip,” he babbled. “Couldn’t do it. Couldn’t stop thinking about you. So scared I was gonna lose you. I need you. I need you. Fuck!”
Kip had swallowed most of his cock and was bobbing his head, still slowly, but it was enough. It was more than enough. Scott was on fire, everywhere. He gripped the mattress and watched Kip’s gorgeous mouth take his cock, in awe of how hard he worked to make Scott feel incredible.
There was so much Scott wanted. He wanted to come and he wanted to get Kip all worked up until Scott was ready to go again. He wanted to fuck Kip and make him come and then cuddle the hell out of him.
“So good, Kip. So fucking good. Shit... I’m gonna...”
The orgasm ripped through him and he came down Kip’s throat. Kip took it all, humming his approval after he swallowed. Scott gazed at him, dumbstruck, as Kip slid his beautiful lips off. I can’t lose him. Not ever.
“Not gonna lose me,” Kip said. Shit, Scott must have said that out loud.
Kip rose off his knees and climbed onto his lap, causing Scott to topple backward. Kip fell on top of him and kissed him. “Can’t believe you told your teammates,” he said. “And you told them about me?”
“Yup. Showed them a picture, even.”
“Shit. Really?”
“Mm. Wanted to make ’em jealous.”
Kip laughed and his nose wrinkled—it was so cute. Scott kissed him.
He rolled over, flipping them both so Kip was on his back. He kissed his way down Kip’s body, lingering at all his favorite spots.
Kip watched him, grinning, with his hands behind his head. “So what’s next?” he asked playfully.
“I’m going to fuck you,” Scott said, matter-of-factly.
“So soon?”
“Mm... Just give me a minute.” He kissed Kip’s belly, and Kip giggled.
“Your beard tickles,” he said. “I like it, though. It’s sexy.”
“Does it make me look like a hot lumberjack?”
“You remember that?” Kip laughed. “Man, I was trying to be smooth. Didn’t actually think there was a chance with you, but I had to at least let you know that I might be interested.”
“It worked,” Scott said, crawling back up to meet Kip’s lips. “Couldn’t stop thinking about you after you said that.”
“Glad I said it, then.”
They kissed and it was sweet and tender.
“I think it might be your turn,” Scott murmured.
“Mm. Yes, please.”
Scott reached for the lube that he kept in his nightstand and shuffled down the bed. He wrapped a slicked-up hand around Kip’s cock and stroked him as he watched his face change. The flirty little grin melted into a slack-jawed, blissful expression.
“I wanted you from the moment I laid eyes on you, you know that?” Scott said wistfully.
“Really? Wasn’t I asleep or something?”
“I thought you said you weren’t sleeping? Just resting your eyes?”
“I wasn’t. I, ah, just closed my eyes for a second. But I opened them, and I didn’t know who you were. Just thought you were really fucking hot.”
“And when you found out who I was, what did you think?”
“That there was no way I had a chance with you.”
Scott slicked up his fingers and started to gently work Kip open. Kip gasped at the first press of Scott’s fingers against his hole.
“When I came back the second time,” Scott said, “I thought maybe... I thought I caught you looking at me.”
“You definitely did.”
“And the third time,” Scott said, slowly pushing a finger inside, “when you were alone... I came up with a dumb excuse to stay. I don’t even know why. I just wanted to look at you.”
“God,” Kip said, his body squirming on the mattress. “Should have sat in your lap right then and kissed you.”
Scott’s stomach flipped, imagining it.
“What would you have done,” Kip asked, “if I had done that?”
“I don’t know. I would have been so...shocked. I don’t think I would have been very smooth. But...”
“But?”
“I’ll bet I would have kissed you back. At least for a second. I wouldn’t have been able to help it.”
“And then?”
“Then I probably would have run out of there.”
Kip closed his eyes and sighed as Scott added a second finger. “You would have come back.”
“Yeah,” Scott said softly. “I would have.”
“You invited me to that game. I still wouldn’t let myself believe that I had a shot with you.”
“I loved seeing you in the crowd.”
“I was fucking obsessed with you for a couple of weeks there,” Kip confessed. “I, uh... I jerked off a few times. Thinking of you.”
Fuck. Scott’s dick started to fill again. “What did you think about?”
“Imagined what it would be like to—” His words were cut off when Scott curled his fingers to stroke his prostate. “Ah, fuck. So good, Scott.”
“This what you imagined?” Scott asked, bolder as he became more aroused. “Or was it what I’m about to do? Burying myself inside you, fucking you as hard as I want because you can take it?”
“Yes.” Kip’s voice was high and wild. “Imagined you fucking me against a wall. Fuck, maybe at work. I don’t know. Just wanted to feel how strong you are.”
Scott sucked in a breath. “I thought of you too. On the road, when I didn’t even really know you. I wanted your dick in my mouth. I imagined what you’d sound like when you came. I imagined kissing your beautiful mouth. I wanted so much... Fuck. Okay.”
He opened a condom and got himself ready, then grabbed one of Kip’s legs and put his ankle on his shoulder and entered him as quickly as he dared.
Kip cried out, arched his back, and reached out for him. Scott leaned forward enough that Kip could touch his face and shoulders. Then he pulled back and rammed back into him.
“Yes! God, please,” Kip cried. “Just like that, sweetheart. So good.”
Scott fucked him hard and fast, and Kip gazed at him with so much love in his eyes.
“So good, Scott,” Kip said again. “So fucking good. Love you so much.”
Tears prickled Scott’s eyes, which was ridiculous. He felt so good and Kip was so wonderful and he was so happy...
“Touch yourself,” he said, slowing down a little. “Show me what you used to do when you thought about me.”
Kip grinned and started stroking himself. “Still do, sweetheart,” he said. “Can’t tell you how many times this week I did this.”
“I wanna come,” Kip said, head rolling back on the pillow. “I’m so close.”
“Wanna see it. Gonna fuck you right through it.”
“Yes, oh fuck. Yeah, Scott. Fuck, I’m—”
“Come for me, baby. Come on. Show me.”
“Ah! Ah, fuck,” Kip cried, trembling and clenching around Scott’s dick. He slowed his hand as he came. The white strands fell on his stomach. Then Scott sped up his thrusts, suddenly desperate to come.
Kip was still clenching hard around him, and Scott was right on the edge, so fucking close. Just needed that push...
“Come on me, Hunter. Come on. Mess me up.”
Scott growled and pulled out and tore off the condom, barely in time to let his own release fall over Kip.
“Oh my god,” he panted, staring at the mess they’d both made on Kip’s stomach. “So fucking hot, Kip. I love you.”
“I love you. You’re amazing. Come here.” Kip pulled him down and kissed him.
They got cleaned up, and Scott made good on his promise to himself to cuddle Kip to death.
Kip settled into Scott’s arms and rested his head on his chest.
“You’re so comfy,” Kip murmured.
“Move in with me,” Scott blurted out. Oh god. He hadn’t meant to say that at all. Not so soon.
“What?”
“Move in with me,” he said again. “I want you to live here, not just stay over. I want this to be our home.”
Kip lifted his head. “You serious?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t say anything for a minute.
“Please,” Scott said, bracing himself for Kip’s rejection.
“Okay,” Kip said softly.
Scott beamed. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. I... Are you sure, though?”
“I’m very sure. I want to share everything with you, Kip. I want to do this for real.”
“All right then.”
Scott was giddy. “I can’t wait! I’ll set up one of the spare rooms as an office for you so you can study and do your work. I’ll get some bookshelves installed. How soon can you move in?”
Kip laughed. “I don’t know. Anytime, I guess. It’s not like I have much stuff to move.”
“We can decorate the place. Together. It’s always been kind of sparse.”
“I’d love that.”
The more Scott thought about it, the more excited he got. “We could have people over,” he said quietly. “Friends. I’ve never... I don’t really do that ever.”
“We could,” Kip agreed. “That would be nice.” He shifted so he was propped up on an elbow, looking up at Scott. “You sure you’re ready for what’s next?”
“Yes,” Scott said. “Are you?”
“Absolutely,” Kip said.