Rocking Thin Ice

by Z. Allora

  He held out his hand to Drake. “Lick it. Use your tongue and get my palm wet.”

  Drake flicked his talented tongue over Blaze’s palm.

  Closing his fist around Drake’s cock, Blaze gave him a long, slow stroke.

  Drake twined his legs around Blaze’s waist, whimpered, and pulled Blaze into him. He rocked into Blaze’s thrust. “Want you in deep.”

  Blaze nailed Drake’s prostate with precision again and again, impaling him with pleasure.

  Gasping, Drake came all over his chest and Blaze’s hand.

  Blaze stroked him through his orgasm.

  That was it. Blaze teetered on the precipice of need and just short of bliss.

  Drake still moaned. Being with Drake was all too much.

  His belly tensed. Sliding in deep, he threw back his head and groaned, “Drake.”

  Orgasm knocked through him with almost painful contractions. His body quivered on top of Drake. Endless waves coursed through him until he crashed down and held the man he loved. This was everything he’d never had.

  Stupid happiness at having shared this with Drake knocked him sideways. Kissing the tip of Drake’s nose, he pulled out and rolled off him. “Hate that.”

  Drake grimaced. “Yup.”

  Blaze stood and tossed the condom in the bathroom trash can. He gathered his shorts and threw them, along with his T-shirt, into his laundry bag.

  “So, um, Blaze?”

  “Yeah?” Blaze slipped the towel out from under Drake and wiped him down. After dropping the terry cloth to the floor, he tugged the bedding from under Drake and covered him. He slipped between the sheets himself.

  “Um, Blaze, are we done with the bullshit? Or are you taking the train to Regretsville?” Drake’s smile held worry, which drained the funny out of the attempted joke.

  “I’m taking the express train to Sleepytown.” Blaze read in Drake’s expression that wasn’t enough reassurance, or really any at all. “The only regret I have is not doing that with you sooner.”

  “Sooner?”

  “Like the second I met you.”

  Drake snorted. “So you don’t think it ruined everything?”

  “No, but a lot has happened today. There’s a bunch to figure out. We can start fresh tomorrow, right?”

  “Yeah, I guess.” Drake sighed and rolled into him.

  “Oh, let me see if I can get us a late checkout.” Blaze made the call and confirmed, “We have until tomorrow at two o’clock.”

  Drake wrapped him in a sleepy embrace, becoming the big spoon, and whispered, “Just so you know, I want to be your new safe haven. I know I’m tempting the fates by admitting that aloud again, but I want to make this work with you.”

  Blaze didn’t respond—not because agreeing would tempt fate, but because he didn’t see how this was going to work.

  Chapter 16

  THANK FUCK, Drake was glad when Blaze blinked his eyes open. Usually he rose before dawn, but today he had slept until 5:00 a.m. Finally, they could discuss the future… their future. “Good morning.”

  Blaze gave him a quick kiss, and then he must have caught sight of the clock. “Why are you up so early?”

  Dare Drake admit he hadn’t slept much? He’d showered, worked on the lyrics that seemed to flow, and tried not to obsess. He’d always give Blaze the truth. “I’ve been up since three.”

  “Aw, you only got like two hours of sleep.” Blaze kissed his cheek.

  That bit of affection gave him the courage he needed to spit out, “Well, we’ve got a lot to talk about.”

  He jumped to his feet, hit the prepped coffee maker, followed Blaze into the bathroom, and brushed his teeth.

  Blaze used the toilet, washed his hands, and also brushed his teeth. Both of them returned to the bedroom, and as they started pulling out clothing to wear, Blaze began the conversation with “Okay, let’s talk. I thought you knew about the band or I would have told you.”

  Drake shook his head. “I don’t know how I avoided the information. Maybe I didn’t want to know. I didn’t want our magical bubble to burst.”

  “Ha, sweet talker. Though you must be excited about being back in the band,” Blaze said over his shoulder as he grabbed a pair of sweatpants and slipped them on.

  Drake enjoyed how the sweats did nothing to hide the perfection of Blaze’s ass as he padded to the gray round leather couch and sat shirtless among all the decorative pillows.

  He pulled on a pair of his own sweats. “Well, I haven’t accepted the band’s offer yet.”

  Blaze stared at him. “Oh? I thought you’d have done that immediately.”

  He handed Blaze the tea he’d made him. “I ran plain water through the machine so you won’t have old coffee taste mixed with your tea.”

  “Thanks for doing that, and the tea. But you will tell the band yes, right?” Blaze asked as he finger combed his hair, like the answer was a foregone conclusion.

  Drake hid his surprise by popping in the little pod of coffee and watching the hot ambrosia pour into his cup. “I don’t know. It’s one of the decisions we need to make.”

  “We?” Blaze choked on his tea.

  Drake collapsed into the chair, and though he half expected to see the Blaze-relationship backpedal, it still frustrated him. “Yeah, we. Problem?”

  Blaze shook his head. “Well, I mean… um, you know. You shouldn’t make your career decisions based on me.”

  “I was under the impression you wanted to make us work. Aren’t we going to try?” He’d feared this. Almost all previous interactions suggested Blaze would run.

  “Yes. But you should make your decision on what you want. This is your second chance. Hell, you barely had your first chance. I don’t want us to take that from you.” Blaze pointed at him.

  One of the things his father had drilled into Drake was that the most important decision a person makes is who to spend their life with. If you make the right choice, everything else falls into place from there. Drake expected he’d need to fight for what he desired and was ready to make compromises to follow through with what was happening between them.

  Though Taylor’s lesson in timing came to mind. At times, picking the right time made the difference between getting the answer you prayed for and getting a rejection. Right now, telling Blaze that Drake wanted him to be the center of his everything would be the worst timing ever.

  Maybe for some people this would’ve been quick, but Drake knew what he wanted. He’d be patient. “Okay, changing gears. What do you want?”

  Blaze’s head dropped back against the sofa. He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. “I don’t know. But I do know I’m tired of missing out on life.”

  “Tell me what you mean?” Drake knew what he meant, but he wanted Blaze to talk his feelings and thoughts out to eliminate any confusion or assumptions.

  “I’ve been skating seven days a week, training six out of the seven, since I was eight years old. I do weights, run, stretch, take ballet classes, my whole focus has been to be a better skater… and for what?”

  Drake shrugged. “Gold medals, fame, and fortune.”

  Blaze snorted. “I don’t know, maybe I want to try living my life for a little bit without a crazy training schedule.”

  “What?” Drake couldn’t imagine Blaze not skating.

  Blaze paced to the window and opened the heavy silverish gray drape, letting in the brightening sky. “In order to achieve what I have, I’d given up a lot.”

  “I know, your list has some really basic things on it.” Drake would make sure they did everything on the list.

  Blaze toyed with the drapery. “I’m embarrassed to say the actual list we’ve been working down is much longer than that. I don’t know, maybe I want more of a real life. Do you know last night was the first fireworks show I’ve seen in person? I’m always asleep too early.”

  Drake wasn’t surprised.

  Blaze paced. “Even taking this driving trip with you has been astonishing and educational. I�
�ve seen so many things I never even knew existed.”

  “Yeah, that art fair in Chicago was pretty cool.” Drake had made his mom and Blaze each a painted silk scarf.

  Blaze sighed. “I’ve never taken the time to do an art fair or a farmers’ market, even though Safe Haven has a bunch of them. There’s so much more I haven’t even experienced, because I’ve never been out of the rink for that long.”

  Drake rubbed his eyes as they adjusted to the brightness. “But what are you saying? I can’t imagine you not skating.”

  “I’d still skate. I might not be training for the Olympics as hard. It’s four years away. I could take some time off, and I’d have time to get back into competition form and qualify….”

  Drake’s gears turned quickly. Instead of thinking or biding his time, he spewed an idea, a fantasy really, that had been half-formed. “If I went on tour with the band, would you go with me?”

  Blaze laughed but turned to stare at him. “What, as your personal groupie?”

  “No, as my boyfriend.” That could work. Why wouldn’t it? Summer’s fiancé joined them often enough.

  Shaking his head, Blaze gasped. “I’d feel like—”

  “That you’d be living your life and seeing the world with your boyfriend?” Drake finished quickly.

  Blaze paced back to the sofa with his arms folded over his chest. “How would the band take that?”

  Not a no. Fuck, yeah! That was not a no. “As long as being with you doesn’t interfere with the band, why would they care?”

  “Well, I think you need to find out.” Blaze gave a dismissive gesture, like Drake wasn’t serious.

  Resisting the fist pump, Drake snatched his cell and typed out a text. Any issue if Blaze Parker hangs out on the tour with me? I’ll cover any additional expenses. He hit Send.

  Blaze stared at him with a tilted head. “Um, what did you do?”

  “Asked.” His phone started vibrating.

  Swallowing hard, Blaze asked, “Don’t you want to, you know, take some time and think about it?”

  Drake chuckled. “I’m crystal clear on what I want.”

  His cell buzzed.

  Heart pounding, Drake glanced at his screen.

  “It’s Summer.” Her text didn’t surprise him, considering she refused to let the tour bus stop at any anti-LGBTQIA fast-food chains. She claimed with pride her gold-star membership of never ever eating at chick-a-fuck was hers until death.

  “What did she say?” Blaze sat on the bed next to Drake and bit his thumbnail.

  Drake read the text out loud: “Does this mean you’re in? If so, then I’ve got no issue. I’d appreciate having an ice skating diva who understands me.”

  His phone buzzed again and again.

  “Amanda, she’s the drummer, and her brother, Artano, who plays second guitar, texted, Arty and I don’t give a shit. You do you, man. Jessie, the bass player, wrote, As long as he’s not terrible, I’m good. I guess somebody named Sandy replaced Dixon the Dickhead, and they said they’re good.” Drake turned to Blaze.

  Blaze wrung his hands.

  Drake’s phone buzzed again. He held up the phone and showed Blaze Summer’s next text of So, you in?

  He texted back, I’ll get back to you asap, and turned the phone so Blaze could read it.

  Blaze stared at him with his mouth open, but Drake gave him a go-ahead nod.

  When Blaze didn’t say anything, Drake clarified in case Blaze needed the summary, “I’d say the band has no issue with you joining us.”

  Blaze looked out of the window for a minute and then grabbed his cell phone. “Let me call Luke.”

  Maybe Drake should leave the room, but he wanted the information too desperately to make his feet move.

  Drake stopped himself from rocking on the bed as descriptions of Ice’s latest doggy adventure and the wedding were exchanged. Finally Blaze cleared his throat. “What would you think if I decided to ease up on my training for the next year or two?”

  “Why?” Luke’s shocked question could be heard throughout the room.

  “Maybe I want a life. You know, sleep late, see the world, follow a band…. Yes, of course Midnight Shadow…. Ha! I doubt the federation would beg me for anything.”

  Holy shit, Blaze was really considering joining him.

  Blaze wandered around the room without looking in Drake’s direction. “Yeah, my fans would miss me, but I could do some exhibitions and make sure to post my adventures. It worked well on this road trip. Anna and her spies were all over my ass every time I was on the ice.”

  Nodding, he did a tight loop in front of the window. The sunlight made the lighter brown shades in his hair sparkle. Not for the first time, Drake’s breath caught at how beautiful Blaze looked.

  “I’ve been thinking about it since I stepped off the Olympic podium.” Blaze continued pacing.

  Finally Blaze glanced over his shoulder and grinned at Drake. “Luke, you’re right. Thanks. Yeah, I know. I do too. A lot.”

  Drake’s heart did a Bonaly. That had to be good news, right? Or was it bad? Did Luke convince him not to take time off?

  Snorting, Blaze shook his head at whatever Luke said and responded, “I will.” He ended the call.

  Staring at Blaze, Drake tried to read his mind but failed. “What did he say?”

  Blaze’s lips twitched. “He still wants the first invite to the wedding. Idiot! But he thought taking a break might be good for me. Anna may have a different opinion, but… I want to take time off to live a little.”

  “Does that mean you’ll tour with me?”

  Blaze bit his lower lip and nodded.

  “Whoop!” Drake picked him up in a twirling hug.

  Laughing, Blaze wrapped his legs around Drake. “You’re silly.”

  “I’m thrilled, excited, happy, and fine, so if you want to throw in silly that’s good with me. I’ll take care of everything. I’ve got some money saved—”

  “You will not use your money on me. I’ve got investments, money in the bank, in my retirement account, and I’ve got several influencer deals happening. I’ve got plenty of money for day-to-day and long-term.”

  Drake stared at him. Wait, weren’t skaters broke? “Money in your retirement?”

  “Of course. Skaters don’t make a ton of money, but if they’re smart, they save and invest what they make, since our careers are relatively short. Also my parents had life insurance, so I have that as well as the influencer money—”

  “What do you mean, ‘influencer’?”

  “Anna got me hooked into a social media influencer company. I already blog, do videos, post pictures, and have a brand. If there’s a product I believe in, I let the company know I’m interested, or sometimes the social media company contacts me with things I might want to support and promote. My fans react and usually take my recommendations, purchasing the items I recommend.”

  “So you’re paid for saying, ‘Try this’?” Sounded too easy.

  Blaze wrapped his arms around Drake’s neck. “Yeah. It’s a type of advertising, and it can pay reasonably well.”

  “Which is why you have a retirement account and I don’t.”

  “Luke can help you set one up.” Blaze licked his neck.

  “I’d like that…. Mmmmm, what are you doing?”

  “I thought we could enjoy our late checkout.” Blaze stopped sucking on Drake’s neck long enough to answer and then went right back to teasing Drake to distraction.

  Drake glanced at the clock. They did have hours before they needed to leave. He pressed a kiss on Blaze’s delicate wrist. “What do you have in mind?”

  “I want you to fuck me,” Blaze declared.

  “I thought you didn’t—”

  “I don’t bottom, but I want to try. Just like all the other things on my list…. I mean, unless you don’t want to top.” Blaze dropped backward, put his hands on the bed, and did a walkover, landing right in the middle of the bed, on his front.

  “Um, no. I can. I wan
t to if you want me to.” It couldn’t be much different than fucking a girl, right? He’d had ass sex with one of the girls Brenda arranged. Same things applied—be careful, use lots of lube—though with Blaze, he’d want to find his prostate.

  Drake could do this.

  Blaze pulled off his sweats and reached toward the nightstand. His asscheeks were really…. Drake was positive they’d gotten even better than the vid clips Drake had enjoyed as a teen.

  He accepted the bottle of lube and a condom. With this view, he had to ask, “Um, can I do something?”

  Smirking over his shoulder while he wiggled his ass, Blaze purred, “I’m hoping you can.”

  Laughing released his tension. Drake shook his head. “No, I mean, I’ve always wanted to do something to your ass.”

  “Again, I’d hope so. That’s the whole point.” Blaze batted his eyelashes, flirting adorably, and shimmied his ass side to side.

  Drake pushed off his sweats, and his dick was already erect and totally ready to participate in his all-time favorite fantasy. He gave his cock a slow stroke, trying to pacify it.

  “Mmmmm, that looks good.” Blaze stared over his shoulder.

  “Want some?” Geez, that sounded stupid.

  “Yeah, I think so. Though you’re not going to be pissy if I don’t like it, are you?” Blaze asked like he was concerned.

  “Never. You tell me, and I’ll stop immediately.” Drake rolled on the condom and smothered slick all over his dick.

  “How do you want me?” Blaze bit his bottom lip and glanced over his shoulder again, this time with more uncertainty than he usually showed.

  “Just as you are.” Drake couldn’t imagine a better image, other than Blaze fucking him or sucking him or Drake sucking— Calm the fuck down!

  Blaze sighed and rested his head on the pillow.

  “Mmmm, so beautiful. No crash pads for you.” Drake patted the ass of his teen fantasies. It wasn’t the first time, but rubbing and touching his ass was always a cherished pleasure. Right under the skin were strong muscles, and to feel them under his hands was mind-blowing.

  “Never in competition. Mmmm, practicing new moves, I have.” Blaze’s body went limp.