Eye on the Ball

by Shelley Munro

  Eagerness made his stomach flip. The thrill of the hunt. When he wanted something badly enough he could exercise patience. Hunter thought about his time with Leon and grinned while he threaded the tie under his collar. He knotted it by instinct and sat to lace his boots. Fully dressed, he stood and grabbed his gear bag.

  The assistant coach caught him at the door. “Where are you going?”

  “Just wanted to say hi to a friend.”

  “Attendance at the dinner is compulsory,” he said. “The bus leaves in half an hour.”

  “No prob,” Hunter said. “I’ll be there.” He strolled from the dressing room and turned toward the Melbourne team’s dressing room.

  “Blair.”

  Hunter’s head jerked up as Leon pushed away from the wall. He stared at Leon, wanting to grab him and kiss him until the other man responded. He took half a step before the deep laughter and ribbing coming from the dressing room he’d just left jolted sense into him. Damn.

  “Do you have plans for tonight?”

  “I have to go to a sponsor’s dinner.”

  Leon sent him a long look, as if he were trying to decide if Hunter was speaking the truth. “And later?”

  “What’s changed?”

  “If you don’t want to have anything to do with me, tell me.”

  “Are you going to go weird on me again?”

  Leon’s snort acknowledged his past behavior. “I can’t promise, but I’ll do my best.”

  Hunter glanced both left and right before reaching out to squeeze Leon’s shoulder. “It’s a date.”

  “My place.” Leon handed him a slip of paper. “Or would you prefer to meet at the club?”

  “Your place is fine. I’ll get there as soon as I can leave the dinner.”

  Leon nodded. “You played a good game.”

  “Thanks.” Pleasure suffused Hunter, the compliment meaning more than the coach’s grudging words.

  “I doubt they’ll leave you on the bench for the next game.”

  “I wish I could be as sure.” Hunter noticed several of his teammates leave the dressing room to head for the bus. He turned his gaze back to Leon, a blast of pleasure hitting him when he noted the banked lust in Leon’s eyes. “I’d better go. See you later.”

  The dinner took forever, and even worse, he’d ended up sitting next to one of the sponsor’s wives. The blatant flirtation and under-the-table groping got old fast.

  “Come back to our place for some drinks,” the woman whispered in his ear.

  Hello. I’m not a piece of meat. He bit back the words, seeking a neutral smile instead. “Thanks, but I have a date.”

  It wasn’t the first time his pretty face attracted attention for the wrong reasons. People judged him on his looks, which pissed him off. Thank goodness Leon hadn’t treated him like a himbo.

  “Will I know her?”

  “I don’t think so,” Hunter said, flashing a smile to take the edge off his abrupt answer. He turned to the man on his left and struck up a conversation. Half an hour later, he was free.

  Hunter strode from the hotel foyer and jumped into a waiting cab. It took twenty minutes until the cab pulled up outside a sprawling bungalow set amongst several mature trees. Not the apartment he’d expected. He paid the fare and headed for the front door, a spring of exhilaration in his step. The door flew open before he could pound on it.

  “You’re here.”

  Hunter cocked his head, giving his grin full rein. “I said I’d come.”

  “Part of me didn’t want you to keep your word.” Leon stood aside to let Hunter enter.

  “Why?” Hunter took in the furnishings and surroundings of what appeared to be a comfortable family home. “You didn’t tell me about the rugby either.”

  “Because…I haven’t had…I didn’t think—”

  “You have a guilty conscience. Are you married?” Hunter went with bluntness. While he liked Leon, he wasn’t going to get stuck in the middle of a triangle.

  “What? No! You…we… I wouldn’t fuck you if I was married. I’m gay, dammit.”

  Hunter didn’t bother to hide his pleasure at the announcement. “Good to know. What’s the problem then?”

  “There was someone else.” Leon’s broad shoulders slumped. “He died.”

  “We need a drink.” He grasped Leon’s arm. “Which way?”

  Leon seemed to snap from his painful memories. “This way.”

  Hunter followed and found himself in a large, open-plan room with a kitchen at the far end and a dining area, which gave way to a lounge with two settees and a plush Oriental rug. As he’d noted earlier this was a home, not a temporary residence. The mystery deepened.

  “What do you want to drink?”

  “Do you have a beer?”

  Leon pulled a bottle from the fridge and handed it over. Hunter twisted off the top without taking his gaze off Leon. The man’s features settled into a tortured mask as if he struggled with emotions too weighty for him to bear.

  Hunter wandered over to one of the settees, and Leon joined him, a glass of whisky in hand. When Leon didn’t ask him to sit, Hunter took the initiative and parked his butt. Leon dropped down beside him, staring moodily into the depths of his glass. Was he going to say anything else? This wasn’t turning out as he’d hoped.

  “Jason and I…we’d been together for four years. He wore my collar, meant everything to me.”

  Hell, a collar was a big deal. “Tell me what happened.” After his visit to the club, Hunter had done some research, and now things made more sense. Jason had been Leon’s sub as well as his lover.

  “Jason…” Leon cleared his throat, his hand gripping his glass so tight Hunter wondered if it would stand the strain. “I’d been away with the team in South Africa for three weeks, and I was glad to be home. I had Jason tied with rope. Everything was okay until he used his safe word. It shocked the hell out of me because he’d never done that before. I untied him, and he said his head ached. He felt like throwing up.”

  When Leon stalled, Hunter moved closer and placed his hand on Leon’s knee. Leon started, his gaze widening when he focused on Hunter.

  “Sorry,” he muttered. “I…fuck. I knew it was a bad idea inviting you here.”

  “We don’t have to do anything,” Hunter said, pushing aside his disappointment. “We’re two acquaintances having a drink together.”

  Leon jumped to his feet, whisky splashing over the edge of the glass onto the carpet. “Fuck.” He thumped his glass down on a wooden coffee table, looking like a hunted man intent on escape. His tanned throat worked in a swallow. “We thought Jason had one of his migraines. I asked if he wanted to see a doctor, but he said he’d try to sleep, that a rest in a darkened room would help.” Tears made his eyes shiny. Most men would have hidden their emotion, but Leon was so caught up in the past, he didn’t notice tears streaming down his cheeks.

  Hunter set his beer aside and stood. He hesitated before deciding to risk rejection. Closing the distance between them, he wrapped his arms around Leon and hugged him. The man didn’t fight, but stood stiff like a tree trunk in his embrace. It was clear he needed to talk, yet Hunter wasn’t sure he wanted to hear about Jason. He had no hope of fighting a ghost. Knuckle head! This wasn’t about him. He took a deep breath and pressed a soft kiss to Leon’s neck. “What happened?”

  The tension in Leon dispersed a fraction, and he clung to Hunter.

  “Jason said he felt better. He had a light meal and half an hour later, he collapsed. I called emergency services.” Leon shuddered and rested his damp cheek against Hunter’s. “It was too late. A blood vessel burst in his brain. I should’ve made him go to the hospital straightaway.”

  Bloody hell. Leon carried around a shitload of guilt on his broad shoulders. His hands curled around Leon’s shoulders, hugging him harder. For long moments Hunter held him, offering sympathy in the only way he could. Finally, Leon pulled back. A tinge of pink entered his cheeks and he turned away to pick up his whisky.r />
  “What did the doctors say?”

  “They said there was nothing they could have done to save him.” Leon still refused to risk a glance in his direction and probably wished Hunter would leave. Not gonna happen.

  “Why don’t you believe them? Why are you determined to make yourself suffer? Jason wouldn’t want you to feel guilty.”

  Leon whirled on him, fury etched into his face. “What the hell do you know?”

  Instinct had Hunter backing up. Too late. Leon’s right fist struck out, grazing his cheek, knocking him against the wall. Hunter hit with a thump, his skull colliding with the window frame. His legs buckled and his arse hit the floor.

  “Hunter.” Leon was at Hunter’s side in seconds. “Sorry, man. Shit, I didn’t mean to hit you. Are you okay?”

  Hunter took stock. His head wasn’t too bad. He struggled to his feet, Leon grabbing his upper arm to help hoist him up. “I’ll live.”

  “Damn, I’ve made your cheek bleed. I shouldn’t have hit you. I…I…”

  “It’s okay. I prodded your temper.” Yes! Leon had called him Hunter instead of trying to distance him by using his surname.

  “Do you have a headache?”

  “Nah, my head’s hard as a brick. Just ask Coach. He doesn’t think I have a brain in there either.”

  “Prick,” Leon muttered. “Sit. Wait there while I get a cloth.”

  Once Leon disappeared, Hunter fingered his cheek. Hurt like a bitch, but if it helped Leon get past his guilt he’d take one for the team.

  Leon reappeared with a cloth and a bowl of water. He wiped Hunter’s cheekbone and checked the bump on his skull. After patting his cheek dry, Leon dabbed on something that kicked as bad as it smelled.

  “Ow!”

  “Don’t be a baby. What time do you need to back at the hotel?”

  “The bus leaves at seven-thirty in the morning.”

  “What about packing?”

  “Not much to pack. It’ll take five minutes, tops.”

  “Come to bed.” Leon grimaced. “That is, if you trust me not to hurt you.”

  “As much as I like the idea, I’m not up to anything acrobatic. The mind is willing but after the game the body ain’t.”

  Leon huffed out a sound that was almost a laugh. “Let me take care of you. I’ll set the alarm and make sure you’re at the bus in time.”

  Hunter didn’t have to think hard. “I’m all yours.”

  Leon took Hunter’s arm and escorted him down a passage.

  Hunter peered into the rooms they passed. “What’s that room?”

  “Our…my playroom. I haven’t used since Jason—” He broke off abruptly. “This is my bedroom.”

  Once again, Leon took control, automatically assuming Hunter would follow his direction. Hunter realized he didn’t mind Leon’s orders. In fact he sorta liked them. Interesting.

  “Let me undress you,” Leon said.

  Again, it wasn’t a suggestion.

  Hunter stood while Leon kneeled in front of him to unlace his boots. He tugged both boots and Hunter’s socks off and set them aside.

  “Now the rest.” Leon’s expression didn’t betray his mood. His hands held steady when he unfastened Hunter’s tie.

  “What did you have in mind this evening?”

  Leon’s gaze zapped to his. “Before I made an idiot out of myself, I’d thought I restrain you and flog your backside.”

  The blunt reply took Hunter by surprise. “For real?”

  “It’s not something I’d joke about. That’s the way I’m wired. Do you want to change your mind?”

  “I’m not a sub.” Yet the visual picture entering his mind, tantalized with its possibilities.

  Leon considered his reply. “Doesn’t matter anyway. I live in Melbourne and you live in New Zealand. It’s not as if we could be anything more than casual.”

  All true. A sense of disappointment swirled through Hunter. Even if they could maintain a long-distance relationship, they were both frequently away from home with rugby duties.

  Leon continued undressing him, sliding buttons from holes, and soon he was naked. Leon took his hand and led him over to the king-size bed. After pulling back the covers, he urged Hunter onto the bed and stepped away.

  “Don’t go.”

  Leon started undressing, folding each article of clothing before he removed the next. “I have no intention of leaving you.”

  Seconds later, he slid in beside Hunter. “Let me make you feel good.” Leon added a seductive kiss to his plea, caressing his neck, his mouth and face until Hunter was ready to do anything, agree to anything just to keep the hum of pleasure running through his body. Aware of the one-sided nature of their embrace, Hunter reached for him, but Leon batted his hands away. “Leave your hands by your sides. I’ll do the work.”

  “I want to touch you.”

  “Later.”

  Hunter gave a mental shrug unsure of why he was arguing. Leon wanted to get him off. Score! He relaxed into the mattress.

  “Close your eyes. Take deep breaths.”

  “You got another kinky side I don’t know about yet? You get off on having sex with people who are asleep?”

  Leon cracked an unexpected smile, and Hunter’s breath caught. While no one could ever call Leon handsome, the upward curve of his lips made him memorable. “I tell you what. If you give me another smile, I’ll follow your orders without complaints.”

  Leon’s brows drew together, negating the remnants of his grin. “I’m the one in charge.”

  “You are, but give me a smile anyway.” He didn’t know why this was important to him. He stared at Leon, waiting.

  Leon shook his head, but the corners of his mouth twitched. Hunter stared at Leon’s mouth. It quirked before flaring into a full-out grin.

  “That’s what I’m talking about.”

  “Idiot. Close your eyes.”

  Wholly satisfied, Hunter shut his eyes, but his muscles remained tense. The gentle touches started straightaway, some barely there and so soft, he wondered if they were his imagination. Others held more substance. A trail of fingers along his ribs. The slight dampness from Leon’s tongue as he licked around one of his nipples. Gradually he relaxed, letting Leon soothe him with his touch.

  “You have a beautiful body. You train hard.”

  “Every day. I have to in order to keep ahead of the younger blokes coming through.”

  “You’ve got bruises.” Leon traced an area on his side, and Hunter was aware of a twinge of pain.

  “Your Melbourne boys don’t muck around when they tackle.”

  “I’ll rub some arnica on for you later.”

  Hunter started to say no, but it was too much effort. Each of Leon’s touches fired his blood or maybe it was his mind getting off on the way Leon was taking care of him. Slowly, Hunter’s cock filled, growing harder when Leon worked down his body.

  “You’ve got another bruise down here.”

  “Hmm.”

  Hunter floated, aware yet comfortable. Maybe it was lightheadedness. There sure as hell wasn’t any blood left in his brain.

  Finally, Leon reached his most important bit. A huff of warm air wafted down his shaft. A finger stroked across the crown of his cock. His heart gave three hard thumps.

  “Feels good.”

  “No more talking.”

  Okay. He could lay there like a rock. Leon’s hot mouth closed around the tip of his dick, and he couldn’t hold back his moan of pleasure. No one had ever treated him with such unselfish care. No one had ever wanted to. Leon fingered his balls, licked the length of his shaft, his hands continually stroking and massaging. His tongue dipped into Hunter’s slit, lapping up his pre-come. Hunter hissed when Leon caught his sweet spot. Gradually Leon increased his attentions, taking him deep into his mouth, sucking and licking. Pure pleasure rippled through Hunter. So bloody good. His balls grew tighter, the sensations sharper until he couldn’t take it any longer. His hands clenched the cotton sheet, sweet tension
firing his veins. With a harsh cry, he exploded into the back of Leon’s throat.

  Long seconds later Leon licked him clean while Hunter watched the portion of Leon’s face he could see, his emotions shooting from pleasure to gratitude to puzzlement. He wanted to ask questions, but he knew he wouldn’t receive the answers he sought tonight.

  Leon released him and sat back on his heels. “I’ll get the arnica.”

  Hunter couldn’t find the energy to argue. His gaze followed Leon until he disappeared. Maybe next time? Casual hookups were all he could have because rugby meant everything to him, yet he was clear about Leon. He wanted to see him again. It wouldn’t be easy because they traveled a lot during rugby season. Physical exhaustion hit him then, the aches and pains he’d alluded to earlier creeping into the fringes of his mind. Pretty normal for the aftermath of a hard rugby game. The trouble was, his body didn’t recover as it had during his early twenties.

  The next thing Hunter knew was an alarm going off. The sheets rustled and the warmth searing his back moved. He blinked at the unfamiliar surroundings, puzzled until he saw Leon.

  “Hey.” Hunter’s voice emerged in a gritty croak.

  “You need to move if you want to catch your bus. Come on.” Leon held out his hand. “We have time for a coffee if we shower together.”

  Hunter stumbled after Leon, waking properly by the time he reached the en suite. “You have a great house.”

  “I’m thinking of selling.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Too many memories.” Surprise etched into Leon’s face at the disclosure. He didn’t say anything else but reached in to switch on the water. He gripped Hunter’s shoulders, gave him a quick kiss and pushed him under the water before Hunter could return the sentiment.

  “Ow, that’s cold.”

  “It’ll be warm soon.” Leon joined him, giving Hunter the first real good look at his body.

  “I’m not the only one who trains.”

  “After Jason…I needed to do something to fill my time. I’m a personal trainer in my spare time.”

  Hunter rubbed their bodies together. “Do we have time for a quickie?”

  “Not if you want to pack your gear. Another time, okay?”