Boarding Call

Beau nodded, pulling on his shirt. “I won’t let you down,” he said.

Cash smiled, a small, tight thing that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I know you won’t,” he said.

They walked to the arena together, the rest of the team already on the bus. Beau could feel the excitement building in his chest, the adrenaline starting to pump through his veins. He was ready for this, ready to prove to everyone that he was back, that he was still the player he’d always been.

The game was a blur of speed and skill, the Mavericks and their opponents evenly matched. Beau played with a ferocity he hadn’t felt in months, his body responding to his every command. He could feel Cash’s eyes on him from the bench, watching his every move, and it filled him with a sense of pride and determination.

With just seconds left on the clock, the score tied, Beau saw his chance. The puck slid free from a scrum in front of the net, and he lunged for it, his stick outstretched. He felt the impact as he knocked it into the goal, the red light flashing, the crowd roaring in his ears.

He’d done it. He’d scored the winning goal.

The team erupted in celebration, swarming him on the ice. Beau felt their hands on his shoulders, their cheers in his ears, and he laughed, the sound bubbling up from his chest. He looked up at the bench, his eyes finding Cash’s in the crowd.

Cash was smiling, a wide, genuine thing that lit up his whole face. He nodded at Beau, a silent congratulations, and Beau felt his heart swell in his chest.

In the locker room after the game, the celebration continued. Beau’s teammates surrounded him, clapping him on the back, ruffling his hair. He grinned, accepting their praise, basking in the glow of their victory.

But his eyes kept straying to Cash, who stood off to the side, watching the festivities with a small smile on his face. Beau felt a pull towards him, a desire to be near him, to share this moment with him.

He extricated himself from the crowd and made his way over to Cash. “Hey,” he said, his voice low and rough.

Cash looked up at him, his gray eyes warm. “Hey yourself,” he said. “Hell of a game, Brick.”

Beau grinned. “Thanks to you,” he said.

Cash shook his head. “You did this,” he said. “All of it. I just helped a little.”

Beau took a step closer, his pulse racing. “You did more than that,” he said. “You believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. You pushed me, you encouraged me, you never let me give up.”

Cash’s eyes softened. “I knew you could do it,” he said. “I always knew.”

Beau reached out, his hand brushing against Cash’s arm. “Come back to my room with me,” he murmured. “Please.”

Cash hesitated for a moment, his eyes searching Beau’s face. Then he nodded, a small, almost imperceptible thing. “Okay,” he said.

They slipped out of the locker room unnoticed, the rest of the team still celebrating their victory. Beau’s heart raced as they walked down the hall to his room, his fingers fumbling slightly as he unlocked the door.

Inside, he turned to face Cash, his breath hitching. Cash stood just inside the door, his eyes dark with desire, his chest rising and falling with each breath.

Beau crossed the room in two strides, pulling Cash into his arms. Their lips met in a fervent kiss, all the pent-up longing and desire of the past few weeks igniting between them. Beau groaned into the kiss, his hands fisting in Cash’s shirt, pulling him closer.

Cash responded with equal passion, his arms wrapping around Beau’s neck, his tongue sliding into his mouth. They kissed until they were both breathless, until Beau’s head was spinning and his heart was pounding in his chest.

When they finally broke apart, Beau rested his forehead against Cash’s, his eyes closed. “I’ve wanted to do that for so long,” he murmured.

Cash laughed softly, his breath a caress on Beau’s skin. “Me too,” he said.

Beau pulled back slightly, his hand coming up to cup Cash’s face. “Stay with me tonight,” he said.

Cash nodded, his eyes never leaving Beau’s. “Yes,” he said.

They undressed each other slowly, taking their time, savoring each touch and caress. Beau’s hands shook as he unbuttoned Cash’s shirt, revealing the smooth, muscular chest beneath. He leaned in, pressing a kiss to Cash’s collarbone, feeling the shiver that ran through his body.

Cash’s hands were just as eager, just as reverent, as they slid over Beau’s skin. He traced the lines of Beau’s tattoos, the scars from old injuries, the muscles that rippled beneath his touch. He kissed his way down Beau’s chest, his lips grazing his nipples, his tongue dipping into his navel.

They fell back onto the bed, their bodies fitting together like puzzle pieces. Beau gasped as Cash’s hand wrapped around his cock, stroking him with a firm, sure touch. He bucked into the touch, his hips moving of their own accord, his breath coming in harsh pants.

Cash’s lips found his again, swallowing his moans, his gasps. They kissed until they were both breathless, until Beau’s head was spinning and his heart was pounding in his chest.

When they finally broke apart, Beau reached for the lube and condoms he’d stashed in the nightstand, his hands shaking a little. Cash took them from him, tearing open the foil packet with his teeth, rolling the condom onto Beau’s cock with a steady hand.

Beau groaned at the touch, his eyes rolling back in his head. He reached for Cash, pulling him closer, his hands sliding down to grip his ass. Cash straddled his hips, his eyes dark with desire, his chest rising and falling with each breath.

They moved together slowly at first, savoring each thrust and slide. Beau’s hands roamed over Cash’s body, memorizing every inch of his skin, every curve of his muscles. He kissed his way down Cash’s neck, his chest, his stomach, worshipping him with his lips and tongue.

Cash moved above him, his hips rolling, his breath coming in soft gasps. He looked down at Beau, his eyes dark with desire, his lips parted. “Beau,” he breathed. “God, Beau.”

Beau groaned, his hands gripping Cash’s hips, pulling him down harder onto his cock. They moved together faster now, their bodies slapping together, their breath mingling.

Beau could feel his orgasm building, his balls tightening, his cock throbbing inside Cash’s tight heat. He reached between them, his hand wrapping around Cash’s cock, stroking him in time with his thrusts.

Cash threw his head back, his eyes closing, his mouth falling open. “Beau,” he gasped. “I’m close.”

Beau stroked him faster, his hips slamming into Cash’s ass. “Come for me,” he growled. “Come on my cock.”

Cash shuddered above him, his body tensing, his cock pulsing in Beau’s hand. He came with a shout, his come spilling over Beau’s fist, his ass clenching around Beau’s cock.

The sight of Cash coming undone above him sent Beau over the edge. He thrust into Cash one final time, his cock throbbing, his come filling the condom. He groaned, long and low, his body shuddering with the force of his release.

They collapsed together onto the bed, their skin damp with sweat, their breath coming in harsh pants. Beau wrapped his arms around Cash, pulling him close, burying his face in the crook of his neck.

They lay like that for a long time, just holding each other, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking. Beau felt a sense of peace wash over him, a contentment he hadn’t felt in months. He had everything he wanted, everything he needed, right here in his arms.

Cash stirred beside him, his hand coming up to stroke Beau’s hair. “That was…” he started, then trailed off, shaking his head.

Beau laughed softly, his breath stirring the hairs on Cash’s neck. “Yeah,” he said. “It was.”

They fell silent again, just holding each other, enjoying the quiet closeness of the moment. Beau felt his eyes growing heavy, his body relaxing into the mattress.

But just before he drifted off, Cash’s voice cut through the silence. “What happens now?” he asked, his voice soft and tentative.

Beau opened his eyes, looking up at Cash. “What do you mean?” he asked.

Cash bit his lip, his eyes troubled. “I mean, what happens with us? With this?” He gestured between them. “We can’t exactly be open about it, can we? Not with the team, not with the playoffs coming up.”

Beau felt a flicker of unease in his chest. He hadn’t thought that far ahead, hadn’t considered the implications of what they’d just done. “I don’t know,” he said honestly. “I guess we’ll have to figure it out as we go.”