Crush (Hard Hit #5) (5 page)

“Andrei tells me you had a bat with you when he found you.”

“It wasn’t meant for Gannon,” Orlando said, being honest. “Seb would’ve wanted me to take out this new man.”

Kieran sighed and his features softened. “We have to get off this ride, Orlando. There’s nothing you or anyone can do to Gannon more torturous than what he does to himself.”

Orlando stopped himself from taking that challenge by force of will alone. “So this was what? An intervention?”

“Yes,” Kieran said without an ounce of guilt. “I suggest you take it to heart.”

Orlando didn’t believe for one second that it was a suggestion at all. Kieran wouldn’t play with him next time.

Chapter 3

One month later…

All Orlando wanted was to watch the final hockey game of the season and maybe drink some beer and eat a few wings while the Blue Fires stomped the Red Zones’ asses. Five minutes in, he knew it wouldn’t happen, thanks to hair plug, capped teeth, and too much cologne sitting to his right. The instant Orlando’s ass touched the barstool, smoozer had slid in beside him.

“I’m Charlie.”

Orlando dipped his chin, letting dude know he’d heard. No way was he giving up his name.

“You got a name?”

Goddamn
. What a dumbass. Releasing an inner sigh, Orlando gave in. “It’s Orlando.”

“I’ve been there. It was nice.”

Jesus. Make it stop
. “I’ve heard.”

“What do you do for a living, Orlando?”

“I’m an EMT.”

One. Two. Three
. “I was in an ambulance one. Cost me a fortune.”

“Sorry to hear that,” Orlando said, resetting the timer in his head.
One. Two. Three.

“Of course, if my paramedic had looked like you, I wouldn’t have complained about the bill.”

Called it.
It was the same bullshit every time… expect that one time.
That’s an admirable job.
Andrei’s words rang in Orlando’s ears, making him wish for a different life. Orlando’s eyes locked on the TV hanging behind the bar, shutting out the dude who wouldn’t let up. A familiar image appeared on the screen. Orlando froze with his beer half raised to his lips. It was as if his thoughts had conjured Andrei from thin air. The few days’ worth of growth had turned into a full beard, but the perfect angles and eerie gray eyes were the same. Orlando’s gaze dropped to the words scrolling beneath the photo.

“Andrei Kuznetsov starting for the Red Zones in his final game with the team.”

He was on his feet before Andrei’s image disappeared. He’d told Andrei he would find him. Now, it was on.

*

They’d pulled out the win in Andrei’s last game. It was a bittersweet victory, especially since Alex had lost. Andrei bit back a chuckle at the thought. The knowledge that he’d never play the game he loved again was a surreal feeling and brought back his sobriety with a resounding crash. It almost didn’t seem true. He tried not looking at the situation too closely. If he did, Andrei might fall into a pit of depression he’d never recover from. He’d gotten more playing years than most. Not to mention, he was moving into another sport’s related profession. What more could he ask for?

Andrei glanced around the table at his closest friends, some new and some old, but he tried hard to cling to a sense of hope. But as he watched Kieran and Henley talking in low tones in their bubble, Alex and Gannon stealing kisses when they thought no one was watching, and Noah texting someone else, Andrei felt nothing.

It was always that way for him. No matter how hard he tried to fit in or feel normal, it never happened. For the most part, he’d given up trying years ago. Every now and then, he reached out, making the effort once more only to recall why he didn’t do it.

As one, everyone’s gaze moved to the spot over his shoulder. Since they’d reserved the private room inside the hotel’s bar, Andrei assumed their waitress had returned. That is, until warm breath tainted with beer brushed across his ear.

“I told you I’d find you.”

“Jesus Christ,” Alex groaned beside him. “You’re like herpes.”

“Orlando,” Andrei said before lifting his Crown and Coke to his lips, attempting to hide his surprise. Snagging a chair, Orlando pulled it close to Andrei’s side, ignoring Alex’s protest. That got Noah’s attention. He held his hand out for Orlando.

“Hey, man. I’m Noah.”

A low chuckle left Orlando’s lips, causing chill bumps to roll down Andrei’s spine. “Is this the same Noah you tried to share me with?” Orlando asked Andrei without bothering with further explanation. He knew Andrei would understand.

“One in the same,” Andrei said, feeling numb.

Noah’s brow furrowed as Orlando accepted his outstretched hand. “I don’t follow.”

Andrei watched the entire scene play out with a growing sense of dread, especially as a wicked smile spread across Orlando’s face.

“I’m the sexy chocolate he had tied to the bed, who was moaning in pleasure while the two of you chatted on the phone.” Orlando added a wink, as if this sort of thing happened to everyone every day of the week. Andrei stifled a groan. To his surprise, a smile exploded across Noah’s face.

“I thought that was a joke. Do you have a name besides ‘Sexy Chocolate’?”

“It’s Orlando.”

“Nice to meet you, Orlando,” Noah said before looking past him and focusing on Andrei. “I guess I know now why you didn’t want to come in that night, even after that mind blowing kiss.”

Andrei couldn’t hold back his groan this time. This shit was bad.

“You kissed him?” Orlando’s accusing tone couldn’t be missed. Andrei swiped his hand across his eyes.

“This shit cannot be happening.”

Obviously recognizing Andrei’s predicament, Alex tried coming to his rescue. Unfortunately, he’d been drinking and must not have thought it through. “It was just a kiss,” Alex said, waving his hand as if wiping the incident away. “That’s nothing. I’ve kissed Henley, and look where we are now.”

Andrei barely stopped himself from banging his head on the table.

“What?” Gannon growled, sounding like someone Andrei had never met before.

Alex tried backpedaling. “I didn’t even know you then, baby.”

Kieran’s eyes glittered with anger, fascinating Andrei. He couldn’t decide if it was directed at Orlando’s presence or Henley. Then he spoke, clearing away any doubt. “I’ll deal with you later,” Kieran said, sounding deadly as he eyed Henley.

“I still can’t believe you said it had nothing to do with getting a piece of ass, and you crawled back into bed with me afterward,” Orlando said, doing an admirable job of sounding hurt.

“Seriously, this can’t be happening,” Andrei repeated, incapable of stopping.

“Jesus,” Noah said, sounding irritated and pulling Andrei’s attention his way. Moving to his feet, Noah snagged the front of Orlando’s shirt, catching the man by surprise long enough to cover Orlando’s mouth with his. Andrei’s jaw dropped as he watched Orlando accept the full-on, tongue-and-all kiss. It didn’t last long, but enough time passed for Andrei to contemplate all the ways he would unman Noah if the dude didn’t stop touching his property.

That thought stopped all others. What in the hell was wrong with him? Noah pulled away, whispering something for Orlando’s ears alone before straightening away. He swiped at his bottom lip as Orlando stared at him, dazed.

“There. Now, everyone’s been kissed,” Noah said, sounding smug.

“Technically, that solved nothing, but whatever,” Gannon grumbled, still sounding hurt and making Andrei feel like shit. Alex never would’ve spoken up if he’d hadn’t been trying to come to Andrei’s rescue.

Noah took a step in Gannon’s direction, as if he meant to make another point. Alex threw his hand up, stopping him. His face hardened, but his eyes were crazed in a way Andrei had never seen in Alex before.

“I’ll fucking kill you if you touch Gannon. No lie. Like dead. Right here. Right now. I’m not fucking kidding.”

He wasn’t. If Noah took one more step, Alex would slaughter the man with a room full of witnesses. It was obvious Noah knew it was true too. He held his hands up, showing his surrender.

“Just trying to help, man, but whatever.” He switched his attention to Andrei. “Congrats on your retirement. I think I’ll head out, and leave you to all...” He motioned between Andrei and Orlando as if searching for the right term before giving up, and simply saying, “Whatever this is.”

Andrei stood. “I’ll walk you out.” Maybe then he could think of some way to explain. Noah’s face hardened and Andrei knew it wouldn’t happen.

“No need.”

Andrei sighed, unsure if it was in aggravation or relief. He waited until Noah cleared the door before turning his temper Orlando’s way. He grabbed the collar of Orlando’s shirt, hauling him to his feet before sparing a glance for the rest of the table. Alex had Gannon by the back of the head, holding him in place, while showing him how a real man kissed. Kieran and Henley were gathering their things.

“Please excuse me while I take care of this,” Andrei growled at the room in general. Kieran waved off his claim.

“Taking care of this mess will take time. I think we’ll head home. Congratulations, once again, on your retirement.”

Andrei nodded, accepting his felicitations before dipping his chin in Alex and Gannon’s direction. “Please pass along my apologies when they come up for air.” Without waiting for Kieran’s agreement, Andrei headed for the door, towing Orlando along as he went. Enraged didn’t even begin to cover his current mood. Luckily, Andrei’s room wasn’t far away. The instant he hauled an oddly silent Orlando inside his room, he slammed the man’s back against the inside of the closed door. With his hands locked on the other man’s shirt, Andrei went nose to nose with him.

“How dare you come here.”

Orlando didn’t try to defend himself. His unfocused gaze, slightly parted lips, and heaving chest said the man was feeling an entirely different emotion than fear or anger. The inch separating them disappeared, eaten away by unadulterated desire. No way would he allow the expression on Orlando’s face be due to Noah. It had damn well better be him filling Orlando’s head.

Unlike their last kiss, Andrei held nothing back. Lips, tongue, and teeth, Andrei went after Orlando, using everything he had. It wasn’t enough. He wanted to consume him. His mouth moved to Orlando’s throat.

“What did Noah whisper to you?”

Orlando’s knowing laughter pissed him off even more. Andrei sank his teeth into the tender flesh of Orlando’s throat until he drew a gasp of pain.

“Don’t fuck with me, Orlando. Is this what you came here for?” he asked, palming the man’s ass and hauling him forward until they were pressed erection to erection.

“Yes,” Orlando breathed as Andrei bit into his shoulder.

“I won’t be gentle,” Andrei promised.

Orlando whimpered.

“This will never be love,” Andrei added, needing Orlando to understand his place. Orlando ignored him, trying to pull Andrei’s mouth back to his. Andrei stopped him, and held his gaze. “I’m serious, Orlando. Don’t feel me.”

With dazed eyes, Orlando nodded. It was all the permission Andrei needed to succumb to temptation. This time when their lips met, he knew exactly where they were headed. Every time he’d thought of Orlando since the last time they’d seen each other rose to the surface, reminding him of the longing Andrei had done his best to suppress. Orlando tore at him, trying to bite him while pulling at his clothes. Andrei’s cock ached. When Orlando’s palm finally connected with Andrei’s erection, skin on skin, Andrei sucked in a lungful of air. The way his lungs burned made him realize he’d been holding his breath, anticipating. He also understood in that moment what it was about Orlando that tempted him against all good sense. Together, they were explosive. It was like they were both dormant unless they were together. Each one was simply waiting for the other to awaken him.

Andrei had never felt more alive. He tugged and pushed at Orlando’s clothes, determined to learn how it felt to have the other man’s nude body against his. Their mouths barely parted even as they stripped away every stitch separating them. Orlando’s hands were everywhere — massaging.

There was no slowing down. Andrei’s hunger was too great. As their bare skin collided, the last thread of Andrei’s patience snapped. Lifting Orlando off his feet, Andrei moved across the room and tossed him facedown onto the bed. Without giving Orlando time to recover, he pressed his lips to the center of Orlando’s spine. A drop of pre-cum leaked from Andrei’s dick, rolling down his length as Orlando cried out at the simple touch.

“Don’t move,” Andrei ordered as he moved away to grab a condom. As he rolled the lubricated sheath over his erection, Andrei ate up the vision of Orlando spread across his bed, waiting. Shaved head, brown body, and sleek muscles coated in a fine sheen of sweat just begging for Andrei to have his way. His balls grew heavy at the thought of all he could do. Positioning himself between Orlando’s legs, he pulled the other man’s hips toward him, swiping his cock across his asshole, enjoying the sensation of Orlando’s puckered strawberry stroking the sensitive head of his dick. Incapable of taking another second of this torture, Andrei surged forward, burying his dick in Orlando.