“Nope. Can’t do it.” Carter twisted away from Demyan, pointing at his jaw as he approached Ian. “Right here. Don’t hold back.”
Should I? Ian didn’t have any siblings, but he could imagine seeing them naked would be fucked up. Not this bad, but if it would keep Carter from being mad at him, he’d try to help him erase the memory.
Punching him before a game wouldn’t be the best way to accomplish that though. He looked around at the other guys. Maybe Carter just needed another image to replace the one of his sister?
“Hey, Richards, you were cool stripping?” Ian grinned when Richards gave a hesitant nod. “Get naked so Carter can picture you instead of his sister.”
“Dude!” Carter slapped his hand over his face. Then laughed and looked between his fingers at the rookie. “Actually, that’s not a horrible idea.”
“So not happening.” Richards frowned, folding his arms over his chest. “I promised someone I wouldn’t do that anymore.”
A few feet away, Hunt had gotten very interested in his sneakers. Vanek was on his phone, smiling as he spoke softly. Not very helpful.
The last man, the youngest member of the team, Heath Ladd, looked around at them. Then shrugged.
“I’ll take one for the team.” Ladd pulled his snug white tank top over his head. Tossed it aside, smirking when Hunt stared at him, lips parted. “See something you like, goalie?”
Hunt snapped his mouth shut, gave Ladd the finger, then spun around as Ladd started to work his shorts down his hips.
He slammed right into Mason, whose eyes were blazing with rage.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Mason grabbed Ladd’s shirt off the floor and tossed it to him, turning to Carter as though he knew the mouthpiece had to be responsible for the insanity. “If this is some twisted hazing ritual, I will fucking report you to team management. This boy is my responsibility. Whatever games you’re playing, keep him out of it.”
“I’m not…I didn’t…I just…” Carter pressed his lips together, his face paling as his gaze fell on someone just past Mason.
Ramos.
Things had just gotten so much worse.
And it was all Ian’s fault. He swallowed as Ramos folded his arms over his chest, his eyes narrowed.
Ian could just imagine how Carter felt. If Shawn had looked at him like that, he’d feel like dirt. He’d always liked when Shawn was happy with him, but now that they were exploring the lifestyle, it meant even more.
He cleared his throat. “Look, Carter wasn’t doing anything—well, the asshole shouldn’t have taken my phone.” He gave Carter a pointed look. The man wasn’t completely innocent. “But he saw his sister naked. And he don’t hate me, which is cool. So I was trying to help him.”
“At which point did Ladd getting naked come in?” Mason stood close to Ladd’s side, like he needed to protect the kid.
Ian lifted his shoulders. “Well…Richards wouldn’t take his clothes off. Ladd was being helpful?”
“For fuck’s sakes.” Mason groaned and shook his head. He put a hand on Ladd’s shoulder. “They are a very bad influence. Keep your distance.”
Ladd pulled his shirt back on. Then he glanced over his shoulder at Mason. “I appreciate all you’ve done, mate. I really do. But I haven’t needed a father in a long time.”
At that, the young rookie walked away from his mentor. Mason fisted his hands at his sides, mumbling something under his breath before following.
In the meanwhile, Carter was coming up with every possible excuse in the world to explain himself to Ramos. Repeating one in particular over and over. “Temporary brain damage. She was naked. Naked! And I feel dirty seeing that. Not a good dirty. My first suggestion was for White to knock me out, but he refused. He’s a cruel man.” Carter rubbed his eyes with his fingers. “Did I mention my sister was naked?”
“You did.” Ramos’s lips quirked, like he was trying very hard not to laugh. “May I ask why you took his phone?”
“Because I thought he was looking at something hot, and I’m stupid.” Carter frowned at Ian. “You could have warned me.”
“I didn’t know she was your sister.” Damn, now Ian felt bad again. “I…umm, I didn’t use her or anything. She’s staying at my place and we’re seeing where this goes. I didn’t realize how…innocent she was.”
Carter’s brow furrowed. “She’s at your place? I thought she was at Chicklet’s.”
“She was, and if I was smarter, I would have made the connection. But I didn’t. And she was probably saving herself for a better guy, but…I’ll treat her good.”
“Saving…?” Carter shook his head. “Dude, what are you talking about?”
“Ian thinks your sister was a virgin.” Shawn joined them, his lips in a hard, thin line. “Don’t ever question how smart you are, Bruiser. Some people are manipulative, and you’re too straightforward to see it. That’s on them. If I had figured out the girl you were with was Carter’s sister, our conversation would have been much different.”
Ian’s cheeks heated. He knew Shawn hated it when he called himself stupid, but how could he not? Carter’s sister had just had a baby. One she’d let Callahan and Perron and their woman, Oriana, adopt. He hadn’t remembered her name. Or paid much attention when people talked about her. It was none of his business.
Well, it hadn’t been.
He wrapped his arms around himself, thinking back on when he’d been with Sam. On what she’d actually said. She hadn’t actually claimed to be a virgin. Hadn’t denied it either. She’d just wanted to be held.
To not feel used.
“She never said she was…“ Damn it, this was personal. He needed to talk to Sam. Not Carter. Not the team. Not even Pisch. “Look, I didn’t mean for this to blow up. Carter, I mean it. I’ll be good to her. I’m glad I got to know her without knowing who she was, but now that I do…it doesn’t change anything. You know where she is. She’s safe.”
Carter moved away from Ramos, his expression the most serious Ian had ever seen it. “White, I’m not worried about her. I’m worried about you. You’re my friend, and I don’t want you getting mixed up in her mess. She…she’s got a lot of issues.”
“So do I.” Ian could feel Shawn staring at him, and it pissed him off for some reason. He didn’t want Shawn, or Carter, or anyone to think he couldn’t manage on his own. Yeah, he needed to talk to Sam. Clear things up. But that was between him and her. He hadn’t had a say when Shawn fucked Richards in the kitchen. He’d questioned everything about their relationship. Their friendship.
With Sam, he’d been able to forget.
Maybe she’d needed the same from him. Some time to forget all the fucked up shit.
He had no idea what would happen next.
But he wanted to find out. He wouldn’t turn his back on her because of what anyone else thought. Just like he wouldn’t give up on Shawn because he was ‘Easy’. Because commitment was his damn kryptonite.
When the other men headed to the locker room, Shawn stayed, his expression hard, like he wanted to say more, but wasn’t sure he should.
Ian decided to make it easier on him. “I love you, but we’re open, right? I don’t get a say about who you play with. And I’ve accepted that.”
“Ian—”
“No, let me finish. You’re in control when I’m with you. That’s what we’ve agreed on. What I need.” He took a deep breath. He didn’t like closing off a part of his life from Shawn, but he had to. He couldn’t deal with Shawn doing his thing without having something of his own. “As a friend, if I can still talk to you, that would be great. But if you can’t separate being my Dom, and the man I can talk to without judgment, without restrictions, then consider this a hard limit. She’s in my life. You don’t get a say.”
Shawn dropped his gaze. His jaw tensed slightly then he nodded. “You can talk to me about anything. That will never change.”
“Good.” The vise Ian had felt clamped around his chest, tightening more and more as he tried to figur
e out how to make this work, just snapped, relieving all the pressure. He ran a hand through his hair, grateful Shawn was still here for him. That he still had his best friend. “I kinda wish Carter had punched me. How fucked up is it that the first naughty picture she sends me, her brother sees?”
“That is messed up.” Shawn’s lips curved slightly. “Can I see?”
His first instinct was to say ‘yes’, but Sam might get pissed if the pic she sent got passed around.
“I’ll ask if she minds.” He needed to reply anyway, so she didn’t wonder if he’d gotten the picture.
He pulled out his phone.
Ian: I guess there are clean towels now? Lol
A long pause. Then her writing back.
Sam: That’s all you’ve got to say? I’m insulted.
Ian: Sorry, was trying to keep things light. Your brother saw the picture.
Sam: Luke???
Ian: Yeah
Nothing for a very long time. Ian chewed the inside of his cheek, hoping she hadn’t decided to pack up and leave.
Maybe he should let her know he wasn’t mad?
Ian: I didn’t mean for him to see… Sorry? It was HOT.
Another long pause. He felt Shawn close to him, not trying to see the texts, but somehow offering silent support, which was good.
Finally, Sam answered.
Sam: I had a baby. I get it if you hate me now. And if Luke told you I steal, I swear, I didn’t take any of your stuff. I’ll leave. I won’t ever bother you again.
Carter hadn’t said anything that bad about his sister. From what he had said, Ian wondered if her having had a kid was the only thing against her. Which was stupid. She was young. If she wasn’t ready to raise a child, that was none of Ian’s business.
It did explain why it had hurt her when they’d had sex. Callahan had mentioned his new kid not that long ago. Perron was all distracted about leaving his son. She must be going through a lot too, having given up a child.
No way would Ian let her believe he hated her.
Ian: I wish I had known. I would have been more careful. I don’t hate you at all. Are you okay there alone? I still feel bad leaving.
He could tell right away she was typing her reply.
Sam: How did I get so lucky? I love your place. I’m good. You having fun with your man? Is he the only one on the team you’re fucking? Because I might get into hockey if I know who’s getting it on.
She was a very naughty girl. He wondered what she would have thought of Ladd all ready to strip.
For her brother.
Yeah…not as sexy.
Ian: He wants to see your picture.
Sam: Show him.
Scrolling back to the picture, Ian held out the phone for Shawn. He watched Shawn’s face as the other man stared at the picture.
When Shawn handed back the phone, Ian had no idea what to make of his expression.
Or what Shawn asked him to text back to Sam before he walked away.
Ian: He said to tell you: Very nice. Challenge accepted. Not sure what he’s talking about, but I gotta go. Game’s about to start.
A brief pause. Then a smiley face.
Sam: This is gonna be fun.
Oh good, she’s not pissed. Ian grinned, typing in his last text for the night.
Ian: Heading onto the ice. Thanks for doing the laundry. Do I get more pics?
Sam: That and more. Give your man a kiss for me, sexy!
Snorting, Ian headed over and pressed a light kiss on Shawn’s cheek. “That’s from her. I think you’re going to like her. She’s cute and funny and she doesn’t blink at different stuff. Exactly the kind of girl that fits, right?”
“Right.” Shawn’s smile looked a bit tired. Maybe he hadn’t gotten a good nap. Ian would have to make sure he’d get plenty of sleep tonight. But at least his smile never faded. “I look forward to meeting her, Bärchen. She seems to know exactly what she’s getting into.”
She really did, didn’t she? A damn relief, right there. He walked to the locker room with Shawn, ready to play the fucking game. Out there on the ice, he always knew what was going on.
Out here? Well, he had Pisch. And now Sam.
They were both smart. And the whole ‘open’ thing made more sense to them than it did to him.
Which meant he had absolutely nothing to worry about.
Chapter 15
Fucked. I’m fucked, game over.
Sam paced from Ian’s kitchen, to his living room, then back, wondering if she could make it any cleaner. She’d never been a neat freak, and Ian didn’t seem like one either, but she’d hoped coming home to a spotless house would make him happy.
Which was even more important after the texts they’d just exchanged.
That he hadn’t told her to get the fuck out of his house, out of his life, freakin’ shocked her. He’d actually been really nice. He was a nice guy.
Just nice? You’re going to a lot of trouble for ‘nice’.
Well, the fact that he was sexy, and fun, and the first guy she’d ever imagined spending more than a few hours fucking didn’t hurt. Yeah, there had been other guys she’d hoped would want more, but deep down, she’d always known that she was just an easy lay.
With Ian, she knew she could be more.
But he was gonna be hard to hold on to. There was something in the tone of his messages, in the way he’d talked about the guy he was with, that told her she had some serious competition.
‘Challenge accepted’.
Hell, the man hadn’t even met her, and he already saw right through her. They both knew she wasn’t good enough for Ian. And her attempts to snag Ian’s interest were transparent as hell.
One night together and she was sending nude selfies.
Lame, much?
Worse, her brother had seen it. Which had made her want to curl up in a ball and disappear forever. At least she’d managed to play off light and happy, and Ian had been awesome.
There was a wet spot on the kitchen table. She grabbed a rag and scrubbed at it, well aware that her obsession with cleaning Ian’s house wasn’t gonna change a damn thing. He and his man might be in an open relationship, but if the guy saw her as a threat, he’d tighten the leash.
Speaking of leashes…
Taking out her phone, she went back to the website she’d come across earlier while checking out the team to see if she could find anything interesting. Hard as she tried, she couldn’t get into hockey, but she would do her best to show some support. Be a good girlfriend to Ian.
He fucked you once. You’re not his girlfriend, dummy.
Not yet, but she was staying in his damn apartment while he was gone. She had a foot—maybe even half her leg—in the door.
Anyway, the website was full of naked pictures of the guys, stories by chicks who claimed to have fucked them—some had, since they were in the pictures with different guys, naked with their tits and pussies fuzzed out, the player of the night fast asleep behind them—and blogs speculating about every aspect of the player’s lives.
Most of the blogs were kinda boring. One, posted just a few days ago, listed all the reasons ‘Our God Sloan’ should name his new son ‘Sloan Jr.’.
These chicks were obsessed, but a few of them seemed to know the men well. Beyond a brief hook up. One post had talked about going to an exclusive club where the players got kinky. The girl and her friend had taken a photo with Ian before heading in. A simple, metal sign in front of the club read ‘Blades & Ice’.
Puck Goddess—the girl’s blogging name—admitted she hadn’t been there long, but she’d gotten an eye full. Guys from the team fucking their tied up girlfriends or wives. Whips being used. All kinds of props and toys and moaning and begging…
Sounded hot.
Sam had read some pretty kinky books, so she knew what BDSM was. If Ian had taken those girls, he must be into it, right?
No way was his man a sub. They probably shared chicks, taking turns being the man in charge.
&nb
sp; Which meant, if she could become a good submissive, Ian would want her that much more. She was already cleaning for him. Dressing up in a cute little apron and nothing else wouldn’t be too bad. She wouldn’t mind being spanked when she was naughty, and being gagged and tied up, waiting on her knees for whatever erotic games he wanted to play…
She wrinkled her nose, not loving the idea of the kneeling part.
You’ve got standards? Now?
Swiping off the website, she dropped onto the simple gray armchair in the living room and sighed. Ian was probably used to experienced submissives. What did she really have to offer? She knew books weren’t the real thing, but even the stuff that did seem real, she’d never done.
But maybe she knew someone that had? Someone who knew enough to give her some tips?
“My naughty, possessive angel. Do you know how much trouble you’re in?”
Sam sat up and grinned. This was perfect! Chicklet had a submissive. Actually, she had two! She would be able to tell Sam exactly how to make Ian happy. She’d seemed pleased with Sam’s choice of him, so she wouldn’t mind, right?
Finding Chicklet’s number on her phone, Sam pressed send. Her whole body shook with excitement as she waited for Chicklet to answer.
Only, she didn’t
Damn it! Sam almost threw her phone, but checked herself. She couldn’t afford to replace it. And she was supposed to be an adult. Adults didn’t throw fits because nothing ever fucking went the way they planned.
She jumped as her phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Sweetie, why in the world are you calling during the game?” Chicklet sounded irritated.
Were the Cobras losing again? The team had some good guys, including her brother, but with the last two losses, Sam was starting to think they must suck.
“I’m sorry. I can call later.”
“First period just ended, it’s fine.” Chicklet’s tone softened. “Are you all right at White’s by yourself? You know you’re welcome here.”
“I’m good, I just…I need your advice.” Talking over the phone about this was weird. It was too personal. Sam loved the freedom of staying at Ian’s place, but she was lonely already. “Would it be weird if I come over for a bit?”
Line Brawl: The Dartmouth Cobras #8 Page 17
