Page 50 of Crossed Sticks

“Good. Thanks for the awesome blow job, Harp.”

“My pleasure. Thank you for playing the game with me.” I hesitated, but there was a lot to be said for honesty. “I’ve always wanted to do that kind of role play. It was even more fun than I expected.”

“You’ve never played like that before?”

I shook my head.

He broke into a wide grin. “Oh, baby, I love role play. Get ready for a wild ride.”

After a shower, we decided it was too late to go out, so we ordered Thai and settled in for a night ofElden Ring. We sat side by side on the couch, controllers in hand, while I started a new game.

Before we started playing, he set his controller on the coffee table. “I need to tell you about something I do besides playing lacrosse.”

I hit pause and turned to him. “You have time for something else?”

“It’s not exactly a choice. Professional lacrosse players don’t make much money, at least compared to other sports. Most of us have to hustle to make ends meet, at least in the early years.”

Luca drove a nice car and always dressed well, so I’d never thought much about his financial situation. Ever since the Barracudas renewed my contract, I pulled in around three million a year, and that number hadn’t been affected by the trade. “I had no idea some pro athletes had second jobs,” I said.

He shrugged. “There’s talk about upping our salaries, but it hasn’t happened yet. If I didn’t have my second gig, I’d definitely need a part-time job.”

After five years with the Steamrollers, he’d still need another job? I made a mental note to do some research. “Whatisyour other gig?”

“I… uh…” He gave a nervous chuckle. “I have an endorsement deal advertising lax equipment. It’s a good deal. Honestly, I make a lot more from that than I do from playing.”

“Who’s it with?”

“Finley Sports Gear. You ever heard of them?”

“Who hasn’t heard of Finley? My old teammate Mark Sakamoto has a deal with them. He models for their hockey ads, and I think he makes quite a bit. What do you do?”

“I model, too. That’s where I went this afternoon, to a photo shoot.”

“Oh. I thought that was connected with your team.” My mind raced while I tried to put things together. Luca looked like a cover model, so it made sense he worked for Finley. He just…Oh shit.“Hold on a fucking minute.”

I grabbed my iPad from the side table and foundSports in Action, a magazine I read regularly. After I searched for “Finley,” I tapped on one of the results and yelled, “Holy shit. Itisyou.” I showed him an ad featuring a picture of Luca in a locker room, dressed only in lacrosse shorts. “This is hot as fuck. I love your ads, Luca. I’m a big fan, but somehow, I didn’t put two and two together. No wonder you looked so familiar the night we met.”

A smile worked its way across his lips. “You like the ads, huh?”

“They’re hot as shit. I love them.”

His face relaxed. “Thank God. I was afraid you’d think it was weird.”

“I’m only sorry I didn’t realize it sooner.” I laughed. “God, I’ve had a fan crush on this guy for a long time. Now, I find out he’s you. Finley’s Man of Lacrosse fucked me silly last night and stuck his dick down my throat a few minutes ago. How crazy is that?” I sounded a bit manic, but it isn’t every day you find out the guy you’re dating is one of the hottest models in sports.

He snorted. “Are you saying you only like me because I model and have a nice dick?”

“No.” I put on a snarky grin. “It’s because you’re a great guy, you model, and you have afantasticdick.”

“I guess that’s a little better.”

As much as I’d have enjoyed chirping him about his gig, I was too excited. “Who knows how many people jerk off to those pictures? Not to mention being pissed off by how they neverquiteshow your dick even when you’re obviously naked. In fact, I’ve been one of those people. And now…” I whooped and pumped my hand in the air. “I’ve got the real thing.”

We laughed more, and then he bounced his eyebrows. “I’m really glad you like me and my dick. Want it again?”

“What the fuck? You’re older than I am, and you can already get it up? I need a little more time.”

He leaned in for a quick kiss. “I need more time before I can go again. Just wanted to get on your dance card for later.”

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