Breaking through the Bond (Espen Jetties #2)

28. King

28

KING

Part of our training this off-season was with a figure skater turned hockey coach. Morgan had won multiple figure skating championship titles before changing her career path to focus on hockey players. She was very sought after, residing in Devon’s home state of Minnesota. Lucky for us, she was friends with Devon’s mom. One call, a hefty payment, and Morgan was in New Jersey to coach us for a bit.

Hockey wasn’t new to her. Morgan’s brother, Mason, played for one of the teams the Jetties played often in New Hampshire. Her brother was a defenseman and a great one at that. Currently, he was in Canada with his wife’s family, spending the off-season up there. Morgan had already spent time with him training before coming here.

The rink we were training at was closer to Devon than it was to our condo, but that was fine with me. Since Devon drove to us for the weight training it was only fair that we drove closer to him for this.

It felt good being on the ice. The strain of my muscles, the sweat pouring down my back. Morgan didn’t go easy on us, not that we expected her to. We had to stay in shape and improve our speed, footwork, and agility.

In our sport, we had to stay on top of our game. Just because we won the Cup last season didn’t mean we could slack off now. If anything, we had to work harder, push ourselves more to prove we were still the best. Maybe we could get another run at the Cup this upcoming season.

“You did good today,” Morgan said when we were finished, each of us sitting down, getting something to drink, our skates still on. “Tomorrow, I have something new for you to try. We’ll see how it goes.”

“Looking forward to it,” Hayes said then took another swallow. I couldn’t help but watch his throat work the liquid down.

The door to the rink opened, drawing our attention. Lincoln, Devon’s boyfriend, came in and waved. He hung back by the door to wait for Devon. He must have had the day off.

We thanked Morgan and trudged our sweaty asses to the locker room. We rented out the space for a block of hours each day, so we were the only ones here outside of the people who worked at the rink.

Luckily, the showers were in great shape so none of us had to drive home gross. I couldn’t help sneaking glances at Hayes while we were cleaning up. I had to remind myself we weren’t alone in here and this was also not the time.

We had seen Jamie every day this week. Monday for dinner. Tuesday, we went over to his place so Hayes and Jamie could game. I didn’t get to blow them but it was all I could think about while they played. Wednesday, we went over and swam for a bit then had a late dinner. Tonight, I wasn’t sure what we were doing yet.

Hayes and I slept in the same bed at night, both holding on to each other. We talked a bit. Felt like something was missing or someone in this case. We didn’t do anything sexual, though I wanted to. I had a hell of an imagination when it came to picturing Jamie and Hayes in bed with me. I didn’t care whose bed we were in, as long as it was all three of us.

Jamie and Hayes were getting closer as the days went on. I loved witnessing it. They grew more comfortable with one another. They smiled more. And not once did I feel like I was a third wheel, even when they were playing video games. Because they both knew I loved them. That I was waiting for when they were ready.

Hayes and I had built our friendship over years. Jamie and I fell into bed together the first night we met and ended up there on more occasions. But it wasn’t just the sex with Jamie. Our connection was evident from the start. This was the time Hayes and Jamie needed to bond. To discover if there was something more than friendship between them. I knew they were friends. It was easy to see watching them.

When they didn’t think I was paying attention, I saw looks they gave one another. Hayes would yell at the giant screen in Jamie’s game room while Jamie smiled at him with appreciation. I could tell he enjoyed playing with Hayes. And Hayes was a sucker for their connection. He told me he wanted something serious, and I could see it in Hayes’s eyes. The more he desired Jamie. And me. Because he wasn’t slick enough to give me long glances without me noticing.

I didn’t think I’d like it, this slow build. Not that I knew how long it would build for. We could all go to bed together this weekend then it wouldn’t be slow at all. Watching them though, I saw it bloom. Fuck, I was getting sappy.

“What are you grinning about?” Devon said as I walked to the lockers with the towel around my waist.

“He’s probably fantasizing about me sucking his dick,” Hayes said when he came in behind me.

I froze. Devon’s eyes went wide. And it took Hayes a few beats of my heart to realize what he just said. We always joked in the locker room but never had Hayes said something like that.

“What?” he asked, stopping by my side, looking between Devon and me.

“Think about what you said—” I bit my tongue before I called him baby. It was becoming habit. Easily slipping from my lips.

Hayes’s eyes widened. “I… um… what I meant to say was—”

“You want to suck King’s dick?” Devon asked.

A lovely shade of red crept up Hayes’s neck to his face. The fluorescent lighting did nothing to hide it. “Shit.”

I couldn’t help it. I busted out laughing. It was only the three of us here. No one would hear this conversation and we both trusted Devon implicitly. He already knew Hayes had feelings for me. After he left Devon and Lincoln’s that night with Jamie, we didn’t talk about anything again with Devon. And Devon wasn’t the type to pry. Now it looked like we were going to spill to our friend.

“Well, my dick is a work of art,” I said.

Hayes blushed even more. It was adorable. “King,” he groaned.

“Yeah, baby?” This time I didn’t hold it back. Fuck it. It was only Devon.

Devon dropped down onto the bench, still in nothing but a towel. “You two need to speak. You know I don’t go digging into your lives, but you brought this up, not me.”

Hayes motioned with his hand for me to talk while he went to his bag and dug out his clothes.

“Hayes and I are together. He hasn’t sucked my dick yet, but we’re working up to that.”

“Jesus,” I heard him mutter.

“What about Jamie?” Devon asked.

“We’re with him too.”

“Wait, what?”

“The three of us are together. We’re trying and hoping it works.” I shrugged. “I’m not sure if it will but so far, so good.”

“Wow, King. You went from zero to a hundred. How are you not freaking out?”

“Fuck you, asshole.” There was no anger in my words. “I can commit. I’ve been putting up with Hayes for years.”

Hayes snorted. “Right. Like you’ve been a dream to live with.”

“Hey! I take offense to that.”

He pulled on his boxer briefs and shorts, keeping his towel in place until he was dressed. Stepping over, he put one hand on my shoulder and lightly brushed his lips against my cheek. I tried to chase them, but he pulled away. “You know I love you. Flaws and all.”

“I can’t believe you can say something so sweet to me then point out that I have flaws. I’m perfect, thank you very much.”

Devon chuckled. “You two are cute together.”

I slung my arm over Hayes’s shoulders and grinned. “We are, aren’t we?”

But we were missing someone. Hayes and I felt it every time we parted ways with Jamie at night. Neither of us wanted to push him. We wanted him to make the next move on his own terms. Hayes worried if we did push him, he might go in the opposite direction. So, Jamie was leading this thing between us, even though he probably didn’t realize it.

The intimacy was something I missed terribly. I loved being in bed with Jamie. He knew just how to work me over until I was begging for release. And I knew the same for him. I wanted him. And Hayes. With Hayes it was like I only had gotten a taste and needed more. Craved it from both of them.

“I’m glad you’re happy,” Devon said. “You’re two of my closest friends and I want nothing more than to see you like this. Smiling, clearly in love. It’s a great thing.”

Dropping my arm from Hayes, I walked over and pulled Devon into a hug, not caring that we were both shirtless. “You’re sappy like me, D. It’s fantastic.”

A throat cleared behind us. I turned and saw Lincoln standing there with a quirk to his lips. “Am I interrupting something?”

“Depends,” I said. “Do you want to get in the middle of this?” I motioned between Devon and me.

“I’m good. Dev is enough for me, but thanks for the offer.”

“It was an empty one,” Hayes cut in, pulling me by my arm back to his side, a slight frown on his face.

I looked into those brown eyes I loved so much. “Are you jealous, baby?” Seeing him get like this was a huge turn-on. That reminded me. I needed to get dressed before I sprung wood in front of Devon and Lincoln.

Hayes rolled his eyes, but I knew the truth. He went back to getting dressed and I grabbed my bag to do the same.

“What did I miss?” Lincoln asked Devon. “I thought you’d be out sooner, so I came looking for you.”

“Hayes and King are fucking and Jamie is their third,” Devon replied.

“I didn’t see that coming. I can see how it could work though.”

“Hayes went from no dick to two. I guess it’s like when he plays. Always giving it his all.”

I laughed. “Good analogy.”

“I’m right here, you know?” Hayes grumbled.

Reaching up, I pinched his cheek. He quickly pulled away, scowling at me. “We know you are,” I said in my best lovey-dovey voice. “You’re too handsome to miss.”

“Asshole.”

“Ready?” Lincoln asked Devon.

“Yeah.” He was fully dressed and lifting his bag. “We’re having lunch with Noah and his wife.”

Even though he was from Sweden, Noah didn’t travel there for the off-season. His wife had family in New York, so he liked to stay here where they weren’t too far away.

She would move with him wherever he went if he were traded. He liked giving her as much time near her family as he could. Not that any of us thought he was in danger of leaving the team, but we never knew what could happen.

Devon and Lincoln left, and I was standing in the locker room as cold dread poured over me. I couldn’t believe I never thought of it before.

“King?” Hayes asked gently as he moved to stand in front of me. “Are you okay?”

“What happens if one of us gets traded?”

His eyebrows furrowed. “Why are you thinking about that?”

“What if it happens?”

Bringing his hands up, he cupped either side of my neck. “Neither of us are going to be traded anytime soon. Kasper, all of management, they don’t have issues with either one of us. Our performance on the ice is great. There’s no reason to think we’re going anywhere.”

“We need to train harder, Hayes. Make sure neither of us leaves.”

“All right, calm down.”

“I’m calm.” I wasn’t. My heart was racing as fast as my thoughts.

“King, look at me.”

My eyes snapped to his. I hadn’t realized I was staring off into the distance.

“We can’t let ourselves get consumed by the what-ifs. We’ll go crazy, especially given what we do for a living. If everything works out with Jamie and down the road one of us gets traded, we’ll figure it out.”

“But we could be split up. One of us could leave.”

“And we’d make it work. I’m not in this out of convenience, King. You have to know that.”

“I do but now that the thought is in my head, I can’t help but worry.”

“I love you. And if I have to love you from another state then I’ll do just that. I can’t worry about it now though. We have enough on our plates. One step at a time, okay? There’s no use in worrying about something that isn’t happening.”

I’d always loved playing hockey. It was like the sport ran through my veins. Yet to think about that very thing I enjoyed so much pulling me apart from Hayes, I couldn’t handle it. Years we’d lived together. I wasn’t sure why I never thought about one of us getting traded before. There was more on the line now. That was why. Hayes wasn’t only my best friend anymore.

And I couldn’t forget about Jamie. He was taking a chance on both of us. The last thing I wanted was for anything to jeopardize that. Thinking about leaving him sent a sharp pain through my chest. Everything was new and just getting started.

“King,” Hayes said, pulling me to the present.

I blew out a breath. “You’re right.” I finished getting dressed and gathered my things.

This relationship with Hayes and Jamie meant so much to me. We’d figure it out if something happened. Because thinking about not being with them was unfathomable to me at this point, even if we weren’t a solid unit yet. I knew we were on our way. This was going to work out. It had to.