Page 80 of Ricochet

Between all the penalties dished out, the other team was awarded a power play in which they made a goal and tied the score. Without having Stone out on the ice for the entire third period, they scored another and beat us two to one.

Stone is still fuming when we get back to the hotel, heading straight up to our room without stopping for dinner. I decide to pick us both something up to eat. I might still be furious with him, but I’m starving. I’m sure he is too after that ridiculous fucking fight.

Taking our sandwiches packed in to-go containers up to the second floor, I unlock the door to our room and step inside.

Stone is sitting at the foot of the bed we haven’t claimed as ours. He’s bent over with his head in his hands.

“I’ll sleep here,” he says, voice muffled as he speaks into his lap.

Setting the bag with our food on the desk, I lean my back against it and cross my arms. “Why?” I ask, if only because I need to hear his answer.

“Because I know you’re pissed at me.” He lifts his head. Maybe it’s just the dim light in the room, but I swear I can still see a hint of the demon I got a peek at on the ice. “But I can’t change who I am, Callum.”

“I’ll be honest with you. I tried to look at things from your perspective. That was a pretty hard fucking hit.” When his jaw ticks, I quickly add, “I’mfine. But, yeah, if someone pulled that shit on you, I might’ve retaliated too. But you…you fucking lost your shit, Stone. That wasn’t okay.”

Stone stands and crosses the room. As he crowds me against the desk, he places his hands on the edge on either side of me, leaning in close. “I told you I can’t change that part of me.”

“How are you even still allowed to play hockey with fucking anger issues like that?”

“I’ve never lost my head like that before.”

I arch a brow. “Never?”

“I’ve always been at least a little protective over my teammates. But when it comes to you…” He shakes his head. “I’ve never felt as protective over anyone else before. Close. But never like this.”

“I don’t need you protecting me like that during games. Not when it fucks everything up. Not when you could be kicked off the team. You’re the one who told me how important it is to you that we make it to the championship. Has that just gone out the window now?”

He sighs. “No. I’ll…I won’t lose my head like that again.”

“I can take a hit, Stone. I can take a lot more than you think I can.”

“That’s not—”

“Shut the fuck up.”

His eyes widen.

I straighten, forcing him to remove his hands from the desk and straighten too. “I don’t need you protecting me on that level out on the ice. And I don’t need you protecting me from yourself either.”

Because, yeah, it’s been slowly irritating me more and more with how careful he’s been with me these last couple weeks. I appreciated it at first, but I know he’s still holding back.

Like I’m fucking fragile.

Again, he sighs. “Callum…”

Taking a step forward, I get in his face for the second time tonight. “Do I need to give you a demonstration?”

His lips part; his eyes darken. The corner of his mouth twitches. “I’ll admit I’m intrigued.”

Reaching up and grasping a fistful of his hair, I tug him down until he’s forced to fall to his knees. He’s almost immediately panting, staring up at me with a mix of surprise and raw desire. A sense of power shoots right through my veins.

“Take my cock out.”

As his hands fly to the button of my jeans, he leans forward, mouthing my hardening cock through the fabric. I groan and grind myself against his face.

When he has my pants undone, he yanks them down until my erection bobs in front of his face. He licks up my length, and for a moment, I’m tempted to let him take control back. However, when his hand wraps around me, I take hold of his wrist and pull him off.

“Did I say you could touch?” I ask, narrowing my eyes down at him.

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