Off Her Game (23 page)

Leo knelt by the fireplace to put another log on. Watching the glow of the fire made his face warm, a sharp contrast to the biting, cold snow falling outside.
He knew Garrett was behind him even before he sat down on the rug. His whole body was attuned to him, the fine hairs on his body standing on end. Garrett’s hands rested on his shoulders. After ten years, there shouldn’t be this awkwardness he felt around his best friend.
“You all right?” Garrett’s voice was like a purr across his body. His muscles relaxed. Years of taking his aggression and resentment out on the ice vanished in light of that single touch.
“I’m good.” His breath shuddered on the exhale.
How long had it been since he’d been so close to Garrett? It was since before Brianna. Ten years? Eleven? They’d not dated long before getting married.
Leo had stepped aside, let Garrett have the fantasy life he so deserved. The hockey community was not as forgiving of his bisexual nature anyway, and they liked infidelity even less.
“Liar,” Garrett replied softly, his breath hot on Leo’s neck.
“What are you doing, Garrett?” He didn’t turn toward the man, because seeing him would have done him in. He’d made the choice long ago to let Garrett go.
“Remembering what I want,” the other man replied. Leo groaned when Garrett’s lips touched his neck, a war brewing within him between what his body wanted and what his mind could handle.
He wanted Garrett as soon as the couple had walked through the door. But he didn’t want to hurt Brianna. He respected her too much for that.
“We can’t do this, Garrett. Brianna—”
“Brianna knows,” his best friend replied. Leo frowned and tried to move away. She knew, and she was okay with this? What exactly had Garrett told his wife?
Garrett palmed Leo’s cheek and turned him until they were face to face. Leo’s heart pounded, his breathing shallow. Garrett leaned forward and took his mouth, no hesitancy, no restraint. He would have let him keep going, pressing on, but Garrett broke the kiss, like they had all the time in the world. His arms trembled as he leaned away from Garrett.
“This isn’t right, Garrett,” he whispered. “Even if Brianna knows…”
“It is right. Brianna wants this, too. I’m hoping you’ll realize that this week.” Garrett pressed his lips to Leo’s briefly before standing. What did that mean? Was he saying that he wanted it to be like old times, with the woman in the middle? It seemed that was the only way he and Garrett would ever be together now. Did he dare even ask the man what he was thinking?
Leo stared at him. He wanted that man more than he’d ever wanted another human being, ever. He wanted him to speak so his voice could sink into his blood and his bones, to memorize every inch of his face, from his bright eyes down to the dimples on his cheeks.
He stood up carefully, still shaking like crazy, and stumbled over to the kitchen bar. He picked up the glass of wine he’d left there and downed it in one sip. When he looked back at Garrett, the man’s eyes were focused on his mouth, following his tongue as he swiped it across his lips. His eyes were hot and filled with desire. Oh, this is not how he’d expected to spend the first night with his best friends this year.
“Brianna knows about this?” Leo asked, his voice stronger than he’d thought it would be. He waited for his friend’s nod before asking, “What did she say?”
“Why? Do you really want to know if my wife is okay with this,” Garrett approached him, and leaned into Leo’s ear, “or do you want to know if she’s interested in you?”