Iron Cross: The Dartmouth Cobras #6 (41 page)

“Well, this is an interesting way to take a loss.” Shero stepped over Hunt, arching a brow at Ramos, who looked ready to follow through with his threat. Shero smiled when Ramos inclined his head and went to sit with Luke. “You are passionate about the game, and I appreciate that, but remember these men are your teammates. You have two days before the next game in Philly. Please try not to break one another before then.”

With that, Shero walked out of the locker room.

Callahan took his place, looking them over before holding out his hand to Hunt and pulling him to his feet. “Go to the hotel, all of you. I don’t care what you do tonight, but if any of you are in public, I better not hear about any of this shit happening. You fucking embarrassed yourselves, and not out there. Right here. Just because the public doesn’t see it doesn’t make it all right.” He glared at Hunt. “We need to talk, boy.”

After Callahan and Hunt disappeared into the coach’s office, Tyler scowled at his bag. Kicked it because he was pissed and wasn’t sure what else to do. “I didn’t fucking do nothin’. ‘We’ embarrassed ourselves?”

“We are a team, Ty.” Raif sat beside Tyler and bumped his shoulder with his own. “The game is over. We have two days.”

“Yeah.” Tyler still couldn’t believe they’d lost this one. And he couldn’t figure out what he’d done wrong. “Guess we should get rested up and ready for the next one.”

“Tomorrow, yes.” Raif took hold of the back of Tyler’s neck. Whispered in his ear, “But you won’t get much rest tonight.”

* * * *

The bus the team took back to the Marriott hotel was stuck in the crawling New York City traffic for over an hour, and the ride wasn’t a pleasant one. Players who weren’t completely silent snapped at one another, and the trainers who tried to keep the peace looked absolutely fed up by the time they exited the bus. Raif hesitated in the lobby as the crowd broke in two, some of the men headed straight to the bar, Demyan and Carter among them. He could exert his control over Tyler and order him straight up to the room, but this had to be Tyler’s choice. Raif wouldn’t fault the young man needing to unwind with his friends after the pressure of the game. And disappointment from the loss.

Already halfway across the lobby, clearly not having noticed Raif slowing to give him the option to stay, Tyler spun around. His lips slanted in a mischievous smile as he undid his tie. Then a few buttons of his white dress shirt. “I’m so fucking worn out from the game, I need to get out of this suit and into a bed.” He put the end of the tie in his mouth and Raif couldn’t help but stare at those soft lips toying with the material between them. Tyler let the material fall, calling out, “I’ll see you guys in the morning!”

Over at the bar, Demyan threw back a shot and gave Tyler the middle finger. Hunt pulled up a stool beside him, and Raif observed Cam observing Demyan from a table near the back. The team’s new watchdog also kept a close eye on Zach, who was sitting alone at a corner table. Zach isolating himself bothered Raif, but there was nothing he could do to improve that situation. His friend was safe. That had to be enough.

Carter, meanwhile, was in a heated conversation with Ramos and didn’t seem to have heard Tyler. And Raif wasn’t too concerned about the rest of the team. He returned his focus to Tyler, with his shirt now untucked, and decided he had his answer.

And a very impatient sub.
I should get him out of the lobby before his teasing becomes indecent.

Riding on the elevator with a crowd consisting of White, Richards, and Pischlar would not have been an issue, but a family of four joined them at the last minute, forcing Raif to keep his distance. The young boy was wearing a Rangers ball cap and he immediately recognized the men. The mother, who was holding a tiny, fussing infant, tried to get her son off the elevator at their stop. He protested, sitting right between the doors to keep them from closing.

“Daddy, tell her who they are! I
need
their autographs!”

Pischlar took off the pale gold and black Cobra hat he was wearing and pulled a pen out of the pocket of his light gray jacket. “You’ve got it, kid. But if we give you this, you have to swear you’ll be good for your mom and dad.”

The hat was handed around, each player signing it before White put it on the boy’s head.

His father gave them all a grateful look as his son bounced to his feet and ran after his mother. “Thanks. And good game. Hope to see you guys make the
playoff.”

Tyler shook the man’s hand. “We plan on it.”

A few floors later they all got off, Pischlar and White going to their separate rooms, Richards disappearing into the one he likely shared with one of the veterans. Raif walked with Tyler, key card in hand, blood pumping to his dick in anticipation of finally getting him alone.

He opened the door and let Tyler in first, giving himself a moment in the hall to put a stranglehold on his libido. He wanted nothing more than to go into the room and ravish his boy, but the very thing that had made him second-guess getting involved with Tyler at all was more of an issue now than ever. Tyler had been with two women, had experimented more than most men his age, but Raif still considered him a virgin in the only way that mattered tonight. And he would treat him with the same care he would any lover, male or female, who was giving a part of themselves they’d given no other.

Not that Raif had much experience in dealing with virgins. He’d never been a woman’s first, but he had been one man’s. Zach’s.

And Raif had made a mess of that. He’d been young. Selfish. Not that the sex hadn’t been incredible, but he wanted so much more with Tyler. He wanted to give him a night they’d both remember, with no regrets.

He went into the room, smiling and shaking his head as he spotted Tyler’s shirt on the floor. Shoes and socks scattered carelessly. Then his pants. Raif half expected Tyler to be kneeling by the bed, waiting for his command. Being submissive gave Tyler a way to skip the uncertainty, but he should have known his boy wouldn’t take the easy way out.

Tyler stood in the center of the room, watching Raif, his tongue wetting his bottom lip, his gaze drinking Raif in like a man dying of thirst with a tall glass of water just out of reach. He took a step forward, his eyes searching Raif’s. His submissive side kept him from being too bold.

Which suited Raif just fine. He closed the distance between them, catching Tyler’s face in his hands and pressing their lips together. He loved the way Tyler opened to him, not passive, but letting him take the lead. He gave Raif his tongue, moaning as Raif palmed his ass and ground against him. The material of Tyler’s black boxers irritated Raif to no end, so he shoved them down, deepening his kiss as he squeezed the soft, warm flesh.

Raif felt Tyler tense as he spread his ass cheeks. Keeping a hold on him, Raif met Tyler’s eyes. “This isn’t a scene. All you have to say is no.”

“I don’t want to say no. I want this.” Tyler took a deep breath. His whole body shook hard. “I…if it’s not a scene, can I have a drink?”

Smart of his boy to focus on how the rules would not apply. Raif considered for a moment, then nodded. “You may have two. Not so much that I feel that I am taking advantage of you, but enough to help you relax.” He kissed Tyler again and felt tension ebb from the wiry muscles pressed up against him. “Sit on the bed. I’ll see what our options are.”

He waited for Tyler to do as he’d instructed, then went to the minibar to grab a few small bottles of liquor. Tequila and rum. He almost dropped the bottles as a flash of Zach tipping a much bigger bottle of tequila to his lips came to him. Together they’d finished off the bottle, along with most of a twelve-pack of beer. Not a drink or two to reduce inhibitions, but an excess to completely eliminate fear of the forbidden. Blame any regrets on the alcohol.

Tonight, there will be no regrets. I already know what Tyler means to me.

Unlike with Zach, he hadn’t waited to figure it out until it was too late.

Raif uncapped one of the bottles, tipping it to his lips as he handed Tyler the others. The way Tyler licked his lips after gulping back the rum made Raif want to throw caution to the wind. Tyler wasn’t innocent. Or fragile. He’d made it clear he wanted everything Raif could give him.

But he was not much older than Zach had been. Or Raif himself when they’d put their friendship and their careers on the line for the first time. Back then they’d both have been overlooked by the draft for being interested in other men. Now, no league would dare judge a man for his preferences. Things had changed.

Raif had changed. He opened another bottle, holding it to Tyler’s lips, forcing him to swallow fast even as half the tequila spilled over his lips. He tossed the bottle and licked the moisture from Tyler’s chin, from his mouth. The alcohol didn’t take long to bring a flush to Tyler’s lips, but his eyes were clear, determination glowing though the pale blue. There was nothing angelic about the man who tugged at Raif’s belt. Nothing innocent as he pulled Raif over him and blindly undid the belt, and Raif’s pants, so he could take hold of his dick. Raif rose up on his elbows, his hands in Tyler’s hair as he thrust into the firm grip on his dick.

“I wasn’t sure how long you’d make me wait.” Tyler slid his hand over Raif’s dick, shifting restlessly beneath him. “Wasn’t sure I could focus on the game, but I did. I gave it my all.”

“You did. I couldn’t ask for more.” Raif wasn’t sure why Tyler’s boxers were still between them, but he wasted no time shoving them down the rest of the way and kicking them aside. “There will be other games.”

“Yeah, but this one’s over and I’m not thinking about playing anymore. It was damn hard not to let everyone know how bad I wanted you.”

“You weren’t exactly subtle in the lobby. I’d rather you not start stripping in public.”

“You liked it.” Tyler opened his hand enough to press his dick against Raif’s so they slid together in his loose hold. “I think you worry too much.”

Raif sucked on Tyler’s bottom lip before letting out a breathless laugh. “Did you see the marks those little girls left on Zach?”

“Don’t talk about him, Raif. Not now.” There was pain in Tyler’s eyes as his movements faltered. Such an offhand comment, but Tyler was aware of what Zach had been to Raif.

And he needed assurance that he didn’t come second to anyone. Raif wished his boy didn’t have any reason to worry, but at
the very least he could reassure him that Zach wasn’t a threat. Hopefully, Tyler would never know of the other person in their life who put everything he was so sure of at risk. Laura was Chicklet’s concern at the moment. Tyler was Raif’s to care for.

“He is my past, Ty. A friend, nothing more.” Raif framed Tyler’s jaw with a hand as their gazes locked. “I won’t mention him again.”

“Good.” Tyler huffed out a breath and brought both his hands up to curve them around the back of Raif’s neck. “I don’t want to think about how this is gonna be anymore. Even if it hurts, I need…I need to have this with you. I keep wondering if you don’t think I can take it.”

“You don’t like pain, Ty. I can’t promise not to hurt you, but I will try.” Raif pushed up off the bed and quickly went to his suitcase. Finding condoms and lube dimmed the spontaneous rush, but in truth, they’d been planning for this moment for days. Tempting and teasing, always knowing where they would end up. Raif was already hard, painfully so, and putting on the condom gave him the time to compose himself.

He knelt on the bed, watching Tyler’s face as he poured the lube in the palm of his hand. Some men preferred to be taken facedown, as though being fucked while they were on their knees was more masculine. The position offered easier access, but Raif wanted to see Tyler’s face, needed his expression, if not his words, to tell him if the pain was too much. Submissiveness was a beautiful thing, but could be so easily abused.

Raif knelt between Tyler’s spread thighs. Laid over him, kissing him even as he pushed his slick fingers deep into his body. “You tense up with every thrust. Don’t do that when you feel me pushing against you.”

“Okay.” Tyler panted, the effort he made not to buck up against Raif’s fingers so very obvious. “But I need you to just do it.”

“Shh. Feel me.” Raif withdrew his fingers and pressed the head of his dick against Tyler. “Trust me, it won’t be unbearable.” Slow pressure, more lube. He ran his hand over the sweat-slicked flesh of Tyler’s stomach, his chest, soothing him with touch and words. “But there’s no need to rush. You’re so fucking hot. So tight. I will take my time stretching you, and you will feel every inch of me inside you.”

Tyler went still. He was still much too tight, and his shudder worried Raif. But then he closed his eyes and relaxed. “I want to feel you. All of you. Tell me I got nothing to be afraid of.”

Not a promise Raif should make, but as the head of his dick slid past the snug entrance of Tyler’s body, he was ready to offer the world. The twinge of pain in Tyler’s face stabbed him right in the center of his chest, but he held still and spoke against Tyler’s lips. “You have nothing to be afraid of.  But I will stop if you ask.”

“No. Don’t hold back.”

“I’m not sure I can.”

“Don’t.” Tyler lifted his hips, taking Raif in deeper. “Please don’t.”

Raif felt the give in the muscles gripping him. The restless shifting as Tyler absorbed the sensation. Could see he wanted more.