Pucking Wild (Thin Ice #11)

Chapter Two

Hugo liked blue eyes. One gorgeous set had followed him the entire weekend. As the owner of the perfect stare headed his way, Hugo tried to look unaffected. He had wondered how long it would take Barrett’s brother to approach him. His heated glances had nearly singed Hugo’s skin more than once throughout the weekend.

“Hi.”

Hugo dipped his chin. “Hey. ”

His new friend held out his hand. “I’m Barrett’s brother, Tavey.”

They shook hands. “I figured. You look just like him. I’m Hugo. Storm and I are on the same team.”

“I figured,” Tavey said, mimicking Hugo’s earlier tone.

Hugo snorted. “What gave me away?”

Tavey dropped his chin and swept his gaze down Hugo’s body before meeting his stare again. He didn’t hide his interest. “You’re about that size.”

Hugo never stopped smiling. The guy was shameless. “Tavey, huh? That’s a name.”

“It’s Tavelin, after my great-grandfather, but everyone calls me Tavey.”

That made sense. “So, Tavey,” Hugo said, dragging out the words. “This is a hell of a party and house. What’s your dad do anyhow?”

Tavey visibly hesitated. It was obvious he didn’t want to talk about his dad. “Shipping. Import export. That kind of stuff.”

Hugo nodded. “He must be well known and good at it.”

Tavey shrugged. “Everyone has their talent.”

Hugo nodded again. His gaze swept the crowd, hoping to look uninterested. Tavey looked like the kind of guy who won men too easily.

“What’s your talent, Hugo?” Tavey’s voice dripped with innuendo.

Hugo’s gaze slid back his way. He found it hard to believe Tavey knew nothing about him. That wasn’t ego. He literally played with the guy’s new brother-in-law. “You must not follow hockey.”

Tavey shook his head. “Not at all.”

A bright smile exploded across Hugo’s face. “How are you living here in Canada and not a hockey fan?”

“Lucky, I guess.” The small smile lingering on Tavey’s sexy lips was hard to resist.

“I suppose even if you were a fan, you’d probably follow your home team. I’m a center for the Chuckers. Or is that not what you meant?”

Tavey brought his drink to his lips, as if bored by the conversation. “Sure.”

Hugo held his stare. He would be damned if he bored anyone. “Oh. I kind of hoped you meant sexually.”

Tavey’s eyebrows rose. It was obvious his response shocked him. “And if I had meant it that way?”

A huge grin snapped to Hugo’s lips. “How much time have you got?”

“That’s a hell of a boast.”

Hugo laughed. He loved someone not afraid to play. “There’s only one way for you to find out.”

Tavey hid a devilish smile behind another sip of whiskey. Suddenly, he passed the glass to Hugo. “Finish this and then count to five. Upstairs. Third door on the left. I’ll be waiting.”

Because it kept making small smiles play on Tavey’s lips, Hugo couldn’t stop drawing patterns on Tavey’s thigh with his finger. It made the flight go by a little faster while he daydreamed about that first night together. He knew he probably bugged the shit out of the guy with all his touching, but Hugo could be a big kid. When he got bored with that, he unlocked his phone and leaned Tavey’s way.

“Say, go Chuckers.” Hugo stuck out his tongue and snapped a pic of them together. He stared at the image. Hugo looked like the goofball he was while Tavey smiled like a normal human. They looked happy together. He uploaded the picture to all his social media accounts and hashtagged it “Toronto bound.”

“What do you want to do first? I never get to spend much time anywhere I travel.”

“I’ll have to check in with Dad before I do anything. I never know when he’ll have some random errand for me. But afterward, I thought we’d visit my favorite pizza place in Toronto. Grandpa Tony’s Pizza. ”

“Mmm. Pizza. Sounds good. Should I go find a hotel while you talk to your dad? I can hire a car or whatever.”

“You’ll stay with me.”

Hugo wasn’t sure how he felt about that. While he wanted to spend this trip with Tavey—that was the point of coming—Tavey still lived with his parents. He hated pointing out the obvious, but this trip was all about having Tavey’s full attention. “Don’t you live with your parents?”

A sharp bark of laughter burst from Tavey. “You stayed at my parents’ place for my brother’s wedding. My parents won’t even notice you’re there.”

That was probably true. Tavey’s dad was someone important. Hugo didn’t fully understand what the guy did, but his house was fucking massive. He had thrown a weekend-long party for Barrett and Storm’s wedding, where everyone had stayed under the man’s roof. Since Hugo played hockey with Storm, the entire team had been invited. Even with so many guests, the house hadn’t been crowded. The likelihood of crossing paths with Tavey’s parents was probably slim to none.

“All right.” Hugo pasted on his most suggestive look. “Will I have a room close enough to yours to sneak into your bed?”

Tavey’s eyes burned with the promise of hot nights. “You’ll share my bed.”

Good. That was what Hugo wanted. He just hadn’t wanted to assume. “I’m in.” Several days of Tavey’s undivided attention sounded like sexual heaven.

The plane began its descent. A hint of nervousness struck. Hugo didn’t truly know what he hoped to gain or lose from this trip. His career was in New Orleans. Tavey’s life was in Canada. Not that any of that mattered. He didn’t want a relationship… right? Fuck. Tavey really messed with his head. Hugo couldn’t recall why he had wanted this beyond his inability to walk away from the amazing sex. Maybe he wasted their time. He only had so much off season. Hugo should probably be back home, playing the dutiful son and visiting family. Instead, he was with this guy he couldn’t shake.

The plane landed safely. Hugo gathered his bags. Tavey helped. All Tavey had was one small overnight bag. It was beyond obvious he had only intended to show up for a booty call and go home. This was crazy. Hugo didn’t mean anything to Tavey. As Hugo dragged his carryon from the overhead compartment, their gazes met.

A breathtaking smile touched Tavey’s lips. “I’m glad you came.”

Goddamn it. That one admission made everything okay. “Me too.”

They would have the best time together.

By the time they got home, Hugo settled into Tavey’s room, and Tavey met with his dad, Tavey was starved. He chose his Nissan GT-R to drive them back to Toronto. Tavey enjoyed watching Hugo try to get his huge body in and out of the small sports car.

“This experience has broken me from any of those occasional dreams of owning a car like this. It’s beautiful, though.”

“Thanks. ”

Hugo cleared his throat. “That was a lot of cars in that massive garage.”

“My dad is a collector.” Fuck. This was honestly one reason he always went to Hugo. His lifestyle, coupled with a million other things, was unexplainable to someone like Hugo. Hugo wasn’t like Tavey’s brother- and sisters-in-law. They had been raised here and practically lived in their home growing up. Hugo was an outsider. He wouldn’t understand. This was also another reason he jumped from bed to bed. Unlike Travis and Barrett. In fact, unlike most people in his family, Tavey hadn’t met “the one” his first time and never looked away. It was almost a joke in their family. They were obsessive bastards. They pursued the perfect partner and then stayed faithful for life. Not Tavey. He had fucked the first willing person and hadn’t stopped since. Tavey had given his brothers a lot of grief over the years for not playing the field the way he had. Truthfully, he was jealous. He couldn’t seem to find what they had. When his brothers looked at their spouses, sparks crackled in the air. Tavey wanted that. He just didn’t think it was meant for him. Tavey enjoyed variety too much.

He parked behind Grandpa Tony’s, and they headed inside through the kitchen. People greeted him with smiles and one-arm hugs. Tavey introduced Hugo to everyone before being rushed to the best table. As much as Tavey hadn’t wanted to draw that much attention to the way he would be treated throughout their dinner, Grandpa Tony would have been insulted without a proper greeting.

Unfortunately, Hugo looked a little too curious as they sat across from each other. “Is this place owned by your actual grandfather or something? ”

Tavey forced a laugh. “No. Just family friends. They have the best pizza in town, though. I didn’t just bring you here because I know the owner.”

Hugo nodded. “It’s cool even if you had. I’m down to meet your friends.”

A pitcher of beer and water appeared at their table.

A huge smile exploded across Hugo’s face. Of course, the guy was always all smiles. “Wow. Now that’s service.”

Tavey nodded. “I hope you trust me. They’ll just bring my usual without asking.”

Hugo shrugged. “I’m good, as long as it’s enough to feed this enormous body and appetite.”

A smirk immediately stretched Tavey’s lips. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get your fill. I know you have a big… appetite.”

Hugo’s smile made everything worthwhile. “Everything is sexual with you.”

“Only because you make it that way.”

Hugo poured a beer for him. “Fair.” He poured water for himself.

Tavey swapped their glasses. “I’m driving. You’re on vacation. Enjoy yourself.” Tavey’s phone buzzed. “Excuse me.” He dug out his phone and checked the face. If his dad needed anything, Tavey would have to take care of it.

Barrett: You’re with one of Storm’s teammates.

It wasn’t a question. Tavey didn’t understand why it mattered.

Tavey: Yeah. How did you know that?

Barrett : Hugo uploaded a picture of you two together. Storm saw it.

Tavey : We met at the wedding. He’s a lot of fun.

Barrett: Dad will die if two of his sons move to the U.S. He won’t have it.

Tavey suppressed a snort.

Tavey: When have I ever been serious about anyone?

Barrett: That’s not better. Storm has to play hockey with this guy. At least for five more years, anyhow.

Tavey: I’m not that un-serious. It’ll be fine.

Barrett: It had better be. If Storm is unhappy, I’ll make sure everyone is.

Tavey shook his head and put his phone away. “My brother,” he explained. “He saw that picture you posted. I think he’s worried I’ll crush your heart and then Storm will be stuck still playing with you. ”

To his surprise, Hugo didn’t laugh. His usual smile also didn’t make an appearance. “Don’t worry over it. I would never blame Storm for any hard feelings toward you. That’s childish bullshit.”

Of course, their pizza chose that moment to arrive. In a way, Tavey supposed he was grateful. The food’s arrival gave him time to hide his shock. Did Hugo feel something for him? There was no way. He had been there last night when Hugo had been seconds away from fucking someone else. There was just no way at all.

Hugo’s feet brushed his beneath the table. Tavey’s gaze snapped to his, making Tavey realize he had been staring into space, freaking the fuck out. Hugo’s mouth lifted in one corner in a sweet self-deprecating smile and Tavey… melted. He had no other way to describe the sudden warmth in his chest that spread through the rest of his body. For fuck’s sake. Tavey saw it now. There was a reason he kept showing up everywhere Hugo went, stopping him from being with anyone else. Tavey felt something too.