With his shoulder holding up the wall and surrounded by reporters, Maksim watched Marshall give his after-game speech. While dressed in a business suit, with this hair still wet from his shower, Marshall looked downright lickable. When his boss had demanded his presence at tonight’s home game against New Orleans, Maksim had scoffed but shown up. After all, it was his job to go where told, and he always had the best seats. After his last encounter with Marshall, holed up inside a bathroom stall, Maksim had sworn off the man. Now here Marshall was—on Maksim’s New York home turf. Fuck, Maksim couldn’t stop staring.

When Marshall stepped off stage, Maksim’s feet moved in his direction. The man was immediately swarmed by reporters, and his coach stood at his side. Maksim couldn’t stop heading his way. As if he felt Maksim’s presence, Marshall’s head turned his way. Heat flashed in the man’s gaze before he quickly masked it. A smile that felt wicked, even to Maksim, pulled at the corners of his mouth. The way the crowd parted, easing Maksim’s path, made him wonder if they’d been meant to see each other tonight.

“Mr. Frost.”

Before Marshall responded, Coach Weeks who everyone lovingly called Coach, cut in. “I hope you’re not here expecting to lure Marshall away. He’s under contract.”

He wasn’t, but because he was a shark and damn good at his job, Maksim couldn’t let the comment pass. “Contracts can be broken for the right number, but I’m here as a friend of Marshall’s brother.”

Coach brightened. “How is my son-in-law?”

Fuck. Maksim had forgotten for a crucial second that Coach was Gavin’s father. “He’s great. Last time I saw him, he still had that newlywed glow.”

It surprised the fuck out of Maksim how proud Coach looked. He expected the man to deny any ties to a gay son and his husband, but Coach beamed with pride. “You noticed that too, huh? I was over there last weekend.” He tapped his chest. “I got to meet Mara King while I was there,” he said, pitching his voice low as if it somehow hid his excitement over meeting such a huge Hollywood actress.

Maksim held on to his smile, hoping he looked impressed. “That’s wonderful. If you can spare Marshall, I’d love to steal him away, and play catch up.”

Coach’s smile somehow brightened. “Sure. We’re done for the night. As long as he’s on time for our flight back tomorrow, he’s free to do as he pleases until then.”

Maksim switched his attention Marshall’s way. “What do you say? I’d love to tell Michael I kept my word about showing you my town.”

“How can I turn that down?” Marshall asked, sounding polite. There was no missing the glint in the man’s eyes. It was the first time since they’d met when Maksim felt as if he stood a chance with Marshall.

He had to take a breath to calm his heartrate before meeting Coach’s gaze again. “It was nice seeing you again.”

“You too,” Coach said, already focused on someone in the media.

Maksim stole his chance to slip away with Marshall on his heels. They managed to dodge any lingering reporters as they headed for Maksim’s car. When they reached Maksim’s Audi R8, Marshall’s steps slowed.

He eyed Maksim’s blue baby. “This is nice.” He flashed Maksim a boyish grin. “Okay, so I’m about to offend the shit out of you.”

Maksim shrugged as he opened the driver side door. “Offend away.”

Marshall waited to keep his promise until he sat in the passenger seat. “I didn’t think talent scouts made R8 money.”

An unexpected burst of laughter escaped Maksim. “They don’t, and I’m not offended. Nice to meet you, Marshall Frost. I am Maksim Petrov of Petrov Energy Corp., the leading source of solar energy in the five largest cities of Russia. It’s my father’s company. Also, I am VP of Cyrillic Scouting Inc.”

Throughout his speech, Marshall’s expression never wavered. His mouth stayed lifted in one corner and his gaze remained locked on Maksim’s lips. Finally, he met Maksim’s stare and nearly blasted Maksim from the car with the heat in his eyes. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Petrov. I’m no one, but I’d still love to go home with you.”

“You’re far from being no one,” Maksim said, shifting the car into drive. He would take Marshall home. Right now, before the man changed his mind again.

Maksim’s apartment had nothing on Marshall’s house, but apartments in New York were outrageous and hard to come by. Still, he had a nice corner penthouse with an amazing view and enough space for a single man living alone. He gave Marshall the grand tour, saving his bedroom for last. Marshall’s stare never wavered from Maksim. Maksim’s heartbeat sounded loud in his ears with each step closer to the bed. If anyone had ever made him feel more desired, he couldn’t recall it. Marshall’s eyes ate him alive. They shone bright with barely suppressed lust. It took every ounce of Maksim’s control to move slow.

As they crossed the threshold into Maksim’s bedroom, his lights flared to life before dimming to the perfect mood lighting. He never kept it bright in his bedroom. Maksim cast a quick look around his room, trying to see things through a guest’s eyes. His huge bed was the focal point of the room, draped in black. It was funny Maksim hadn’t noticed that before. He never brought anyone here. Maksim was the type to go home with other people or grab a quick tumble where he could. This was his private space. If someone got crazy or clingy, he didn’t want them to know where he lived. Marshall was different. Maksim didn’t know why.

“This place suits you.”

Maksim didn’t acknowledge Marshall’s statement. Instead, he wrapped his arms around the man’s waist from behind and unbuttoned his jacket before working it over his shoulders and letting it slide to the floor. “Tell me what you want,” Maksim demanded. He was over playing nice. He kissed Marshall’s shoulder and slid the buttons loose on his shirt while awaiting the man’s response.

Thankfully, Marshall didn’t play dumb or back down. “To be inside you.”

Damn, Marshall sounded turned on. Unfortunately, Maksim was rarely a bottom and never to someone as flighty as Marshall. He tsked. “See, the thing is, you bang a lot of women, and I’m not sure that qualifies you to fuck me.”

“I don’t get fucked, so I guess we’re at an impasse.” Marshall’s tone didn’t leave any room for argument.

An evil smile tugged at Maksim’s lips. “Hmmm, you could pass a little skills test,” Maksim offered. He didn’t doubt that if Marshall wasn’t so turned on, he’d be gone already. He moved to the nightstand before Marshall came down from his high and walked away. Maksim came back with lube, condoms, and a masturbator shaped like an ass. Marshall eyed the objects as Maksim tossed them on the bed. “Prove yourself,” Maksim taunted.

“Are you being serious?”

“It’s not that hard, man child,” Maksim taunted. “Every time you step out onto that field on Sunday, you have to prove yourself to eighty thousand screaming fans and millions of TV viewers. You’ve just stepped onto my playing field. Prove yourself.” Since Marshall didn’t look ready to run, and his tone hadn’t lost any heat, Maksim didn’t stop pushing. “You say you don’t take dick and I don’t take it from anyone who can’t use it, let’s do this. Unless you don’t want me, that is,” Maksim tacked on. It was a calculated risk. Marshall could still run.

A roar of triumph rang through Maksim’s head when Marshall slid his belt loose and stripped. Marshall had an amazing body. The perfect quarterback body—one that could take a hit and stay upright. Maksim ate the man alive with his gaze, watching as Marshall suited up and lubed the toy. Marshall held his stare as he fingered the hole of the soft-rubber ass. Maksim’s dick twitched, as if trying to get closer to Marshall. His heart raced and his mouth went dry. Marshall taunted him with what he could have. The man took his time, never blushing or backing down as he positioned the toy at the edge of the bed, set one knee on the mattress, and pushed his way inside.

Every muscle in Maksim’s body tensed, as if it was his ass getting penetrated.

Maksim closed the distance between them, shedding his clothes as he went. His lips collided with the spot between Marshall’s shoulder blades before he knew which move he’d make next. He needed to taste the sweat glistening on the man’s skin. Maksim needed to feel the way man’s hips moved as he slowly pumped inside the toy. He skimmed his hands along Marshall’s body, savoring the way the man’s muscles moved in the heat of passion. When Marshall moaned and his breath quickened, Maksim grabbed a condom and lubed up. He was a man who knew how to get his way.

Maksim started slow, massaging Marshall’s ass cheeks. When Marshall didn’t balk, Maksim skimmed the man’s crack, pausing to toy with his asshole. Marshall leaned into Maksim’s touch, as if silently asking for more. Maksim wouldn’t go further without hearing the words. Still, he swiped his erection across Marshall’s asshole, teasing them both while lubing the man’s ass.

“Tell me you don’t want me.” Even Maksim heard the lust dripping from his every word.

Marshall’s pants got louder. He fucked the toy while trying to get closer to Maksim’s cock, but he didn’t respond.

Maksim didn’t back down. “If you want this dick, you have to say it.”

A loud gasp filled the air, and Maksim knew Marshall was close. “I want you inside me,” Marshall groaned.

He needed Marshall too badly to ask for more. Maksim pushed his way inside and quickly retreated. Sweat broke out across his forehead. If anyone had ever fucked Marshall, it didn’t feel like it, and Maksim wasn’t used to being gentle. A sound came deep from Marshall’s chest and Maksim knew the window was closing to get inside Marshall while he was too distracted to feel the pain.

“Jesus, please?” Marshall begged, proving exactly how turned on he really was.

Maksim swiped more lube up Marshall’s crack and impaled the man. The air left Maksim’s lungs. He held still to keep from coming right then. Marshall was so hot and tight, Maksim saw stars. Then, Marshall exploded. His powerful orgasm milked at Maksim’s cock. Maksim threw his head back and tried breathing through the pleasure, but nothing helped slow the rising ecstasy inside him. He pumped against Marshall’s ass, riding out the waves as the most intense orgasm he’d ever experienced rocked him to his core. Maksim had known Marshall would be amazing, but nothing could’ve prepared him for this.

As they collapsed into a heap on the bed, Maksim held tighter to Marshall than necessary, but he couldn’t stop. Marshall might get away if he did.

“I thought you were toying with me when you said no one fucks you,” Maksim said between harsh breaths.

Marshall shook his head while gasping for air.

Maksim felt like a total ass for the way he’d handled things now that he realized the truth—Marshall had been one hundred percent honest about not messing with men. “Lots of men play games with me,” he admitted, hoping to explain.

Marshall rolled in his arms and met Maksim’s gaze, as if hanging on his every word.

Maksim gave him the truth. “They hope they’ll win me, and I’ll advance their careers. I am thinking I should apologize to you.”

To his surprise, Marshall kissed him. It was light, at first. Their lips barely brushed. Then Marshall opened his mouth over Maksim’s bottom lip and heat exploded through their kiss. Maksim found himself sprawled across Marshall, pinning the man to the bed as their tongues fought for supremacy. The heavy sensation in Maksim’s chest was new. He tried not looking too closely at it. His mind shied away from what that feeling might mean. Right now, he had a sexy man in his bed. He had a good feeling they could be friends, and it had been an amazing night. Maksim was content with that.

* * *

Marshall was the same guy Maksim described. Trent had suggested Marshall get to know Maksim, in case he lost his position next season. It was no wonder Maksim couldn’t trust anyone to be honest. Even he had failed. He was torn. Marshall knew in his heart he hadn’t invited Maksim home that first time because of what the man did for a living. He also knew he hadn’t let the man fuck him and he hadn’t kissed Maksim because he wanted the man’s connections. Yet there was still a niggling voice at the back of his mind saying he wasn’t any better than anyone else Maksim had ever met. But he wanted to be. It was frightening how badly he immediately wanted to be special to Maksim. It was a fruitless hope. Maksim had made it more than clear that he didn’t do strings. The knowledge held all Marshall’s confessions at bay. There’d never be any reason for him to admit Maksim wasn’t only the first man to fuck him, but he was also only the second man to kiss him. Years ago, he’d fucked a guy while overseas for a class trip—a man who didn’t know Marshall and never would, but he’d never let the guy kiss him. In high school, he’d kissed Gavin, a moment that had almost ruined his brother’s life.

Now, Marshall stuck with women while imagining himself with men. His career meant too much to him to lose it. Football locker rooms didn’t care to entertain a gay man. In his heart, Marshall knew he was gay. It just didn’t matter. He had too much to lose and nothing to gain. Maksim offered him kisses and more with no threat of altering Marshall’s life. That didn’t explain why Marshall’s chest hurt each time Maksim’s tongue brushed his. That had more to do with the way the man made him realize how much he’d lost to his career.

Maksim’s fingers brushed through Marshall’s hair. His kiss softened. “Stay the night with me,” Maksim cajoled against Marshall’s lips. “I promise no one will find out you were here.”

He didn’t need to think it over. Marshall nodded and deepened their kiss once more. The last thing he wanted was to leave Maksim’s bed. He didn’t want to face what he’d done or how it would transform his life. As much as Marshall wanted to believe nothing had changed, he knew better. The pressure sitting on his chest screamed nothing would ever be the same again.