Checking It Twice

Samantha Wayland
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Also by Samantha Wayland

Destiny Calls
With Grace
Hat Trick Book One: Fair Play
Hat Trick Book Two: Two Man Advantage
Hat Trick Book Three: End Game
Crashing the Net
Home & Away
Out of Her League
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Checking It Twice
Copyright © 2015 Samantha Wayland

Published by Loch Awe Press

P.O. Box 5481
Wayland, MA 01778

ISBN 978-1-940839-12-7

Edited by Meghan Miller

Cover Art by Caitlin Fry

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents

either are a product of the author imagination or are used fictitiously,
and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business
establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be
reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without
written permission from the publisher, Loch Awe Press, PO Box 5481,
Wayland, MA 01778.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this
copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned,
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or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright
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purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not
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Dedication

For Stephanie—my writing buddy, cheerleader, and fellow hockey

nut. I’m pretty sure the last three books wouldn’t have happened
without you, so this is long overdue.

Acknowledgements

As noted above, a special shout out must go to Stephanie Kay, who

has kicked my ass and cheered me on through the last few books. A big
thank you also (always) to Victoria Morgan, who sticks by me even
when I write about stuff that makes her blush.
A huge round of applause to my spectacular editor, Meghan Miller,
who is still putting up with me after all these years. And to Caitlin Fry,
who has taken in stride my sudden (and hopefully temporary) need to
give all kinds of weird input on my covers. And to Cindy, for being the
keenest proofreader I could ever have hoped for!
And lastly, as always, my love and gratitude to my family. Nine books
in and they still think this is as fun as I do. How’d I get so lucky?

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Chapter One

It was a sad state of affairs when the idea of dumping a couple

gallons of lube on some unsuspecting rookie’s head no longer gave a
man a thrill.
The rest of the guys in the locker room cracked up as the newest
Moncton Ice Cat wiped the stream of gunk from his eyes and grinned at
all of them. He seemed genuinely pleased with the attention.
It wasn’t that Alexei wasn’t satisfied with his efforts to welcome the
new guy—lubrication style—but if someone else volunteered to step up
and take over torturing the newbies, Alexei wouldn’t object. He had
other things he wanted to focus on.
He watched their newest right wing leave a slick trail across the
floor on the way to his locker, smiling when Mike stepped aside to let
him pass with a wide margin. Mike caught Alexei’s eye, and, like always,
something tightened in Alexei’s chest, squeezing in response to the soft
affection in Mike’s smile as he quirked an eyebrow.
That. That was what made Alexei happy these days.
Alexei remembered pulling this same prank on Mike when he’d first
shown up in Moncton, more than four years ago. Mike hadn’t taken it
quite as well, though he’d faked it for all he was worth. Alexei had seen
through that façade, though. Had seen right into Mike and been drawn
to him from the first instant.
A lot had changed since then, but not that. There was never a time
Alexei hadn’t been drawn to Mike. Falling in love with him had been
easy. Admitting it had been a little harder, but done long ago.
With a last lingering look, Mike turned for the showers.
Alexei startled when someone bumped into him from behind.
“You going to clean this up, Belov?” Callum, one of the team’s
owners, asked with a pointed look at the congealing puddle by the door.
Anyone who didn’t know Callum would have thought he was pissed.
Alexei knew better.
He grinned. “I already paid the cleaning crew double their daily rate.
In cash.”
“You better have,” Callum said sternly, but there was no mistaking
the twinkle in his eyes. Eyes that widened with alarm when his
husband, Rupert, stepped through the door and directly into the
puddle.
The squawking that ensued? Now, that was funny.
“God damn it, Alexei,” Rupert shouted above the laughter echoing
through the room.
“It’s not my fault you always forget when the new guys are showing
up,” Alexei said.
Rupert sighed and frowned at the men laughing at him. He planted
his hands on his hips and glared. “Laugh it up, guys. I’ll trade every last
one of you to Newfoundland by the New Year.” As the team’s manager,
he could do it.
Some of the younger players looked alarmed for the ten seconds it
took for Rupert’s frown to crack into a smile. He tried, and failed, to
turn a severe look on Alexei. “You’re paying to have these shoes
cleaned.”
“Yes, boss.”
Rupert rolled his eyes, gingerly stepping out of the puddle.
“Good game tonight. Congratulations on your third shutout this
season,” Callum said while he waited for Rupert to shake off his foot—
which wasn’t helping—and join them.
“Thanks,” Alexei said, trying not to rub his hip too obviously. By the
look Callum gave him, he wasn’t succeeding. “I’m glad we get to go into
the holiday break with that game.”
Rupert nodded, casting a furtive glance around the room. “Speaking
of the holidays, did you—”
“Shhhh…” Alexei hissed quietly.
“I know,” Rupert said even more quietly. “But did you—?”
“Yes,” Alexei whispered furiously.
“So, tonight?” Callum asked, his eyes lighting up.
Alexei recalled what he had planned for that night and couldn’t help
his slow smile. “No, not tonight.”
Callum and Rupert cast each other amused and slightly alarmed
looks. Rupert arched an eyebrow at Alexei. “Now I know why you
wanted to know if we’d be out this evening.”
Alexei shrugged innocently. He wasn’t even going to give details—
not that Rupert or Callum would ever ask—and he wasn’t sure if
anything would happen anyway.
“Forget about that. I want to know when you’re going to do it,”
Callum pressed.
Alexei was perfectly aware Callum wasn’t referring to his little
surprise for Mike that night, but another gift altogether. “I don’t know.
Not Christmas Eve Eve or whatever tonight is called.”
“But Christmas?” Rupert asked, so enthusiastically he sounded as if
the gift were for him.
Alexei frowned and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “In Russia, the big
holiday for gifts is New Year’s Day. Maybe I’ll wait until then.”
This had the desired impact. Rupert looked like he might die if he
had to wait that long. Callum didn’t look much better. Alexei could
barely hold in his laughter.
“But that’s more than a week away,” Rupert whined.
Alexei did laugh now. “You sound like Oliver.”
Rupert’s expression made it clear what he thought of the
comparison to his five-year-old brother, whom Rupert and Callum were
raising.
Before Alexei could tease him further, Callum cleared his throat
loudly. And really fucking obviously.
Alexei refused to turn around. He had no doubt Mike was coming
out of the shower room. He cast a baleful look at his ridiculous friends
and their innocent expressions.

Mike stared into his locker until he was sure he could contain his
grin, then calmly went about the business of getting dressed and ready
to head out. If Alexei didn’t hurry up, he’d be left behind. They’d played
a good game that night, and Mike was tired and really looking forward
to getting home.
The schedule had worked out well this year—their last game before
the Christmas break was not only at home, but against Erik Larsson’s
team. This meant that they finally had a chance to have Erik, their
friend and Alexei’s ex, over for dinner. Usually they were lucky if they
managed to sneak in a drink together before Erik or they were on the
road again.
Mike wasn’t going to leave their guest lingering in the hallway
outside their locker room all afternoon just because Alexei was
gossiping about Christmas presents with Rupert and Callum.
Mike had to bite his lips to keep from laughing when another bout of
furious whispering broke out on the other side of the room.
He’d seen the three of them standing with their heads together from
the shower room and purposely hung back, hoping they’d wrap it up
before the rest of the team started to wonder what the hell Mike was
doing. He had no desire to ruin any surprises he had coming his way.
In fact, he had a big one of his own up his sleeve. It was going to be
an interesting Christmas.
Glancing down at his bag, Mike checked that the front pocket was
still zipped shut. As security measures went, it wasn’t great, but he
knew that Alexei wouldn’t find it there.
Mike didn’t want Alexei to have any clue of what Mike had gotten
him until he opened it on Christmas morning. He wished that was
because Alexei was going to be so delighted, but Mike didn’t have any
such delusions. There was a very real chance Alexei would balk when
he saw Mike’s gift. And Mike was fully prepared to out-stubborn him
about it.
Alexei might not want to admit it, but Mike knew in his heart this
was a perfect gift for Alexei. And once he was done arguing about it and
Mike got his way, Alexei was going to love it.
By the time Mike was fully dressed, Alexei was just stripping off the
last of his gear. Mike peeked out the door when one of the guys left,
shouting “Merry Christmas” as he went. Erik hovered just outside in the
hallway.
Mike went over to Alexei’s stall. “Erik’s already waiting.”
No one would think anything of it—how close he was, or that they
spoke quietly. Everyone knew they were best friends. And most knew
they lived together—though they likely assumed Mike had his own
room. As far as Mike and Alexei knew, no one had figured out that they
had been lovers for years. Though, as Mike caught Tim eyeing them, he
did wonder if there were some who were starting to suspect.
It was remarkable how little that bothered Mike.
Callum and Rupert were gay, and so far out of the closet that their
wedding had appeared in People Magazine. For the most part, though,
their coming out hadn’t caused nearly as much of a stir within the team
or the league as Mike would have predicted beforehand.
Of course, that didn’t mean he and Alexei could come out. Or would.
Being players was different than being an owner, like Callum, or even
the manager, like Rupert.
“I’ll be ready in ten minutes,” Alexei promised, grabbing his stuff for
the shower. He stopped to look at Mike carefully. “Are you okay keeping
him company until I’m done?”
Mike smiled. He and Erik hadn’t exactly gotten off on the right foot
when they’d first met a few years back. They’d both logged quite a few
minutes in the penalty box that night thanks to Erik attempting to get
Alexei’s attention, and Mike making it very, very clear that Alexei was
no longer on the market.
“Sure, I can hang with your ex for a while. Maybe we’ll trade stories,”
Mike said quietly, but with a mischievous wink.
Alexei rolled his eyes. “If you didn’t share them all when you got
drunk together last season, I don’t think they’re going to come out now.”
“We’ll see,” Mike murmured, bumping Alexei’s shoulder on his way
to the door. “You might want to hurry up, just in case,” he called back a
moment before the door shut.
Erik gave him a curious look. “Should I ask?”
Mike shook his head and pulled Erik in for a quick hug. “Probably
not.”
For all that Alexei had been playing it cool, he somehow managed to
get his ass out to the hallway in under seven minutes. Mike didn’t even
try to hide his laughter.
Alexei didn’t really have anything to worry about. Mike liked Erik
just fine, and now that Erik had made it clear he respected their
relationships and boundaries, Mike had no beef with him. That Erik had
been dumb enough to walk away from Alexei made Mike almost feel
sorry for him.
But then, that was to Mike’s benefit in the end, so he also felt
grateful Erik was that stupid. Mike couldn’t stand going even a few days
without seeing Alexei. The idea of leaving him forever made his
stomach hurt.
The ride home was quick with Alexei driving. Mike sat in the back
seat of the huge pick-up and let Erik ride shotgun, mostly so Erik got a
good view as they pulled up before the huge rolling doors to what
appeared to be a slightly run-down, unassuming warehouse. With a
press of a button, the doors parted before them.
“What the fuck is this place?” Erik whispered in awe.
“Home,” Mike said with a smile.
Alexei parked inside the huge, empty first floor and Mike jumped
from the truck and grabbed their bags. He noticed that Callum’s car
wasn’t there, and wondered where their neighbors had gone off to for
the night.
Shrugging, he led Erik to the elevator, chatting about how Alexei had
bought the building years ago and the plans they had in the works. He
knew he was being a dork, talking about it so enthusiastically, but he
loved giving tours of their unusual space. He shamelessly let his pride in
Alexei’s cleverness and their combined hard work show while their
guest looked around in wonder.
He continued the tour when they got to the fourth floor, waving at
Callum and Rupert’s door before leading Erik to theirs, the only other
unit on the floor.
He threw open the door with enough of a flourish that Alexei smiled,
his hand warm and comforting at the small of Mike’s back.
“You’re showing off,” Alexei admonished, though Mike could see he
didn’t really mean it as a rebuke.
“I am. I can’t help it.”
Alexei moved in closer, subtly pinning Mike to the doorframe while
Erik moved into the apartment and exclaimed over the high ceilings
and brightly lit kitchen.
A shiver worked down Mike’s spine.
“You aren’t worried about Erik, are you?” Alexei asked quietly.
For a moment, Mike was far too distracted by the press of Alexei’s
hips to parse what he’d just said. Then it clicked.
“God, no,” he said, his lips brushing Alexei’s ear. “I’m not showing off
because I feel threatened. I’m showing off because I love our home. I’m
proud of it. And you.”
Alexei pressed just a little closer. “Good,” he murmured, then
captured Mike’s lips in a kiss.

For a long moment, Alexei lost himself in the taste and texture of
Mike’s lips. He might have stood there all night if he hadn’t been subtly
nudged back.
He arched an eyebrow at Mike, surprised. Normally, Alexei decided
when these things began and ended.
Mike cast a pointed look toward the kitchen. When Alexei turned his
head, he found Erik watching them.
A lick of nerves tickled down Alexei’s spine, along with a frisson of
anticipation. This could work, but he had to convince Mike first.
“Come,” he said brusquely, easing away from Mike a little. “Finish
showing Erik around while I get us some beers.”
Mike slid out from between Alexei and the door, his hand lingering
on Alexei’s hip as he went. Alexei smiled, perfectly attuned to all the
subtle signs that Mike was aroused and how he tried to hide it.
Alexei grabbed the promised beverages, giving Mike time to finish
the tour and show Erik to the couch, and himself a moment to press one
of the bottles to his face, cooling his cheeks before going into the living
room.
“Erik, if you’re okay here for a minute, Mike and I will go drop our
bags in the bedroom and get changed.”
Mike looked at Alexei, his expression passive and accepting, and
didn’t ask why the hell he had to change out of his perfectly acceptable
clothing.
Alexei fought to keep his expression bland and his dick down as he
turned and walked away. Mike silently grabbed their bags and followed
him into the bedroom, closing the door behind them.
“Come here, Michael,” Alexei said in a low voice, watching Mike’s
cheeks warm to pink. Mike didn’t hesitate, coming to stand so close,
Alexei had to tilt Mike’s chin up to see into his face.
Without a word, Alexei reached out and pulled open his bedside
table drawer, his eyes never leaving Mike’s. He saw how Mike’s pupils
dilated, how pink turned to red, high on Mike’s cheekbones. Alexei
needed only to stroke his fingers over a few items in the drawer before
pulling out the brand-new toy he’d purchased just for this occasion.
Mike’s eyes flicked to look at Alexei’s hand, widened, then came
back to Alexei’s and stayed steady.
“Is this okay?” Alexei asked.
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?” Because Alexei liked to be in charge, but he needed
to be sure he was operating within Mike’s comfort zone. Or, really, only
making Mike uncomfortable in ways that Mike enjoyed, a favorite
pastime for them both.
“Yes.”
Alexei smiled. “Turn around and put your hands on the bed.”
Mike did, instantly. Alexei indulged himself, running his hand down
the long, strong line of Mike’s back, rubbing the one sore spot that had
been plaguing Mike all season until the tension eased from Mike’s
shoulders. Then Alexei knelt, reached around to open Mike’s jeans, and
tugged them and his boxer briefs down to his hips.
“Now, Michael, you have to be silent.”
Mike sucked in a deep breath and nodded quickly, possibly not even
aware of how he arched his back, canting his ass toward Alexei.
There was no way Alexei could stop himself from biting it. Hard.
Mike whimpered, a happy sound that forced Alexei to press the heel
of his palm to his own dick and take a deep, shuddering breath through
the teeth still clamped around all that tempting muscle and skin.
He released his bite and watched the blood rush to fill in each dent
his teeth had left behind. He gently ran his hand over the mark.
“It will be faded before our next game,” he promised Mike softly.
“I don’t care.”
Alexei pressed a gentle kiss to the mark and stood. Mike should care.
They both should. And yet, apparently, they didn’t. What did that mean
about how hard they worked to keep this secret?
Alexei poured lube over his finger and put away the question for
now. It wasn’t one they were going to answer tonight. Tonight they
were going to have a lovely dinner with a friend who knew not only that
they were lovers, but was intimately familiar with Alexei’s brand of
loving.
With that in mind, he slipped the tip of one finger over Mike’s tight
hole, circling only once before pushing in. Mike’s hands curled into the
comforter so he could push back, taking Alexei’s thick digit until the
third knuckle was lodged against his body. Mike’s head dropped,
hanging between his shoulders, his breathing already fast and speeding
up more when Alexei tucked the second in right next to the first.
“We must be quick. I don’t want to leave Erik waiting too long,”
Alexei said, smiling when Mike pushed back against his fingers and
rolled his hips.
Alexei could feel the strength of the muscles clamping down on him,
but also how they gave, softening to his touch and the pressure Mike
was creating with each swivel of his body.
Alexei knew all the cues Mike’s body could offer, and Mike knew
Alexei would be looking for them.
The third finger drew a tiny, almost inaudible moan from Mike’s
throat. The stretched muscles clamped and fluttered around Alexei’s
fingers, trying to accommodate how quickly he was opening Mike up. It
wasn’t until they’d settled, still tight but no longer reacting to his every
movement, that Alexei withdrew his hand and slicked up the heavy
black butt plug he’d selected earlier. It was different than any of the
others they’d played with in the past, the neck wider. The stretch would
be constant and big. Mike was going to love it.
He didn’t have to ask if Mike was ready. He could see it in the way
Mike settled against the bed, widening his legs as much as the clothing
bunched around his hips would allow. Could hear it in Mike’s long, slow
exhalation.
Alexei pressed the tip of the plug against Mike’s hole and started to
push. Erik had been on his own too long as it was, but Alexei wasn’t
going to hurry.
Mike, however, was done waiting. He shifted backwards and twisted
his hips, seating himself on the plug Alexei held in a firm grip.
“Jesus Christ, Michael.”
Mike lifted himself slowly to stand and Alexei reached out to steady
him, running his hands over his ribs and holding his waist when he
turned to face Alexei.
“I didn’t want to be rude,” Mike explained, his voice like gravel, his
tone utterly sincere.
Alexei huffed out a laugh and helped him tug his clothing back into
place. He slipped his hand into Mike’s jeans before he could fasten the
button, pressing where he knew the skin still smarted from the bite,
then nudging the plug once.
Mike gasped and gripped Alexei’s arms, his legs wobbling beneath
him.
“You going to be able to manage this?” Alexei asked, more curious
than concerned. Mike knew very, very well that he was never to put
himself at risk or do anything he didn’t want to do.
“I want it.”
“Want what?”
“I want to sit and have a pleasant dinner with your ex, and be this
excruciatingly aware of what he’s missing. To know that you give me the
best fucking Christmas presents and that, even better, the moment he
leaves, you’ll pull this thing out of me and do…god, I don’t even know
what. And I don’t care, because I know I’ll love it and I want do to
whatever you want.”
Alexei smiled and didn’t correct Mike’s assumptions. It was close
enough to the truth, anyway, and Alexei was looking forward to teasing
Mike with the rest.
OceanofPDF.com
Chapter Two

Dinner that night proved…challenging. Mike was gung-ho and

helpful when he and Alexei returned to the kitchen to start making
dinner, busying himself with setting out appetizers while Alexei worked
on prepping the meal.
No one commented on the fact that Mike and Alexei had gone to the
bedroom to change and come back fifteen minutes later in the exact
same clothes. Though Erik’s smirk would seem to indicate that fact
hadn’t escaped his notice.
Mike told himself to pretend it was just another night at home. It
wasn’t easy. He knew, at least, that he wasn’t walking funny. Much. He
and Alexei had played this particular game enough times that he was
getting pretty good at not walking as if he felt like he had a giant knot in
his ass, even when he did. If he wiggled a little when no one was
looking, gasping at the jolts that fired off, then no one needed to know.
Except Alexei, who always seemed to catch him at it. And, well,
maybe he wasn’t as discreet as he thought, given the strange look on
Erik’s face all through their meal. But Erik couldn’t possibly know why
Mike was being weird. Erik had never been into the kinkier games,
according to Alexei. There had to be another reason Erik kept watching
Mike so closely, his eyes tracing over Mike’s face, studying the color
Mike knew was on his cheeks.
At one point Mike went to refill the water pitcher and thought he
caught Erik checking out his junk, but it was so quick, he decided he
must have been imagining it. It was hard enough to focus on the tasks
before him without worrying about that.
As soon as dinner was over, they moved to the living room. Alexei
sat right next to Mike on the sofa, while Erik took the deep armchair
across from them. They sipped their coffees and chatted about their
teams, the league, and the latest player gossip. Mike tried to pay
attention, but he was faced with the dual challenge of finding a
comfortable way to sit that didn’t make it obvious how fucking good it
felt to shift his weight, and the constant distraction of Alexei’s hand as it
traveled in a slow path up and down his thigh.
The heat in Mike’s face told him his blush had deepened, and he
fought to keep his breathing slow and even.
When Alexei’s hand travelled even higher on the next pass, Mike
squirmed, a small, almost pained noise escaping his throat as the plug
glanced off his prostate.
It was safe to say he was no longer fooling anyone. Alexei kept the
conversation going, and Erik played along, but even as their guest
chatted with Alexei, his eyes were on Mike. Mike was so absorbed by
what was happening to, and in, his body, it took him a while to notice
what was happening to Erik’s. When he finally pulled his head together
enough to pay proper attention to their visitor, he was struck by the
high color in Erik’s cheeks. And the way he, too, was shifting in his seat.
In fact, he looked as turned on as Mike felt.
Erik was probably trying to be subtle when he adjusted himself, but
Mike’s eyes were drawn to the movement of Erik’s hand. Mike blinked,
wondering if he was having some sort of strange, arousal-induced
hallucination. He had to be imagining just how…much…there was going
on down there in Erik’s pants.
He jumped, then gasped, when Alexei’s hand tucked between his
thighs and nudged up against his balls. His already partially hard dick
went rigid.
“You okay, Michael?”
Michael.
Alexei only ever called him that when things turned intimate. When
they were having sex, or dancing around some prelude to it, or
snuggled up afterwards. When Alexei was in charge.
Mike looked at Alexei, who caught his gaze and held it. Waiting.
It took Mike’s brain, swimming in endorphins, a moment to recall
Alexei had asked him a question. “Yes, I’m okay.”
“Good,” Alexei said gently, squeezing Mike’s thigh.
Mike glanced at Erik, then back at Alexei. His heart rate doubled as
he figured out where this was going. He was pretty sure that this was
turning into a threesome thing. Scratch that, he was pretty sure that
Alexei had arranged a threesome. With Erik. Alexei’s ex-boyfriend.
What Mike wasn’t at all sure about was how he felt about that.
The concept of a threesome wasn’t a new one for them. Alexei had
made such arrangements in the past, a few times. And, god knew, Mike
had loved every minute of those experiences. One particularly
memorable Valentine’s Day gift had involved visiting a sweet, slender
man in Montreal who’d had the finest bones in his wrists. And fist. And
knew just what to do with them.
Mike shuddered and glanced at Erik again, who stared back, silent
and unmoving. Mike’s eyes darted to Erik’s lap, stalling when he saw
how Erik’s thick fingers were curled over his jeans, cupping his…
That couldn’t all be his cock. Seriously.
Arousal curled up Mike’s spine. He bit his cheek to keep from asking
Alexei’s permission to fall to his knees and crawl between Erik’s legs.
Just to look. To see.
He racked his brain, trying to remember if Alexei had ever
mentioned Erik being particularly blessed in the dick department.
There might have been a throw-away comment here or there. But there
was also the more telling fact—one that Mike had never really
considered the significance of before—that Alexei had never let Erik
fuck him.
Mike was a shameless size queen, but Alexei most certainly was not.
He liked a finger or two, sometimes even three or Mike’s cock. But he
wasn’t like Mike. He didn’t crave the stretch. The burn and triumph of
forcing his body to accept something that filled him completely, until he
could barely breathe for how good it felt.
And, well, it was Christmas.
Mike looked at Alexei and waited.

Alexei saw how Mike stared at him, patiently waiting for Alexei’s
word, whatever that might be.
It was moments like these that Alexei was more keenly aware than
ever that he would give Mike anything.
The sun. The moon. Erik.
“Michael,” he said carefully, trying to strike the right balance
between being in command and making it very clear that Mike was the
one with all the choices right now. He could see just a hint of hesitation
in Mike’s expression, and they would go no further unless whatever
concerns Mike had were put to rest. He pulled one of Mike’s hands into
his lap and pressed it to the top of his thigh, laying his own hand over it.
He needed the connection. He needed Mike to feel connected to him.
“I’d like to show you something.”
Mike cocked his head. “Okay.”
Alexei turned to Erik, dropping his voice to one of pure command.
He and Erik had already negotiated this thoroughly. “Take it out.”
Erik unzipped his jeans and shoved them down, then curled his
fingers around his enormous cock, holding it up for their inspection as
he drew his fist down the considerable length and girth.
Alexei carefully kept the delight off his face. Erik might actually be
bigger than he remembered.
“Wow,” Mike whispered almost reverently.
Erik released his grip and let his cock fall to his thigh with a thump.
Alexei rolled his eyes. Show off.
Mike swallowed hard, his hand clamped painfully around Alexei’s
thigh.
“Do you remember, Michael,” Alexei began slowly, amused by Mike’s
inability to look away from Erik’s lap, “the first time I fucked you? Do
you remember what you told me?”
Mike shook his head.
“I commented that I wasn’t as big as some of your toys,” Alexei
reminded him, smiling at the memory, well aware that Erik was even
larger than most of those toys, “and you said I was better because I
could move of my own volition.”
Mike nodded, smiling a little, too. “I do remember that.”
“Erik can do that, too.”
“Move of his own volition?” Mike asked vaguely.
“No. Of mine.”
Mike turned to look at him, his pupils blown so wide his blue eyes
were almost entirely black. Erik started stroking himself again in
Alexei’s peripheral vision. He could hear Erik breathing faster.
Any sign of hesitation was lost from Mike’s expression, subsumed by
the desire Alexei could read a thousand ways in Mike’s expression and
posture. But that didn’t mean there wasn’t still room for regret, once it
was over.
He cupped Mike’s cheek. “Michael, I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Mike said immediately.
Alexei smiled and ran his thumb along Mike’s cheekbone. Alexei
wondered if decades from now, he’d stop wondering how he got so
fucking lucky. “And I know that my history with Erik is probably on your
mind.” Mike nodded once. “So, Erik will not touch me. And I won’t touch
him, unless it’s to help him fuck you properly. Just the way you want.”
Mike’s lips parted and he sucked in a huge breath, but his gaze
remained fixed on Alexei as he nodded.
Erik sat forward, eagerly, but Alexei lifted a hand to still him and
continued to study Mike. He and Mike both knew that wasn’t enough.
Mike pressed his cheek into Alexei’s palm and smile. “Yes,” he said in
a clear, calm voice.
Any remaining tension bled from Alexei’s shoulders.
Alexei turned to Erik and lifted one eyebrow. “Strip.”
Erik stood and yanked at his clothes, baring himself within seconds.
Mike’s grip on Alexei’s thigh didn’t loosen one iota as Erik’s lean, long
limbs came into view. Somehow all that whipcord strength only seemed
to emphasize the length and breadth of his cock, making it incongruous.
Anyone looking at Erik would expect him to be long and thin all over,
but he was most decidedly not.
His cock hung between his legs, too heavy to lift like a lot of guys’
would when fully erect. He was cut, the thick, pink head exposed and
remarkably tempting. Alexei wouldn’t be the one to indulge in that
temptation, though.
He shoved the coffee table to the side with his foot, clearing a path
between the couch and Erik. Erik didn’t move, though. He knew better.
The look he sent Alexei reminded him of how hard he’d chafed against
Alexei’s desire to be in charge when they were together. Back then, Erik
had agreed to it, freely—just as he had tonight—but he’d never really
settled into it.
Alexei wondered how he hadn’t seen that at the time as clearly as he
did now. He’d thought it was normal. Now, he looked at how Mike held
himself still, staring and obviously eager, but waiting for Alexei to say or
do something. To tell him what to do. And looking so fucking content
with it.
Alexei would give him anything he wanted. To a degree he found
almost frightening—until moments like this that reminded him they
were perfect for each other, and he was the luckiest son of a bitch ever.
He touched Mike’s cheek, bringing his face around to look at Alexei,
and kissed him. In that instant, Erik was gone. His giant cock was
forgotten. It was only them. Mike shifted, leaning closer and groaning as
their tongue tangled and the plug in his ass no doubt shifted in
interesting ways.
Mike’s breathing sped up, his grip on Alexei’s leg bruising.
Alexei pulled back. “You can touch him, if you want,” he said to Mike.
Mike immediately slid to his knees, then paused to look back at
Alexei.
“Yes, your mouth, too.”
Erik shifted, swaying on his feet slightly before settling with his feet
planted further apart, as if bracing for a hit. Alexei almost laughed. Erik
had no fucking idea.
Mike crawled to Erik, stopping just a few inches away to stare at
Erik’s cock and licking his lips in contemplation.
Erik looked at Alexei, his eyes pleading, but Alexei shook his head
once. If Mike wanted to stare for an hour, he could. It was his time to
play.
Erik was so busy shooting daggers at Alexei, he jumped when a hand
wrapped about his thick shaft and tugged experimentally.
Alexei smirked at how both Erik and Mike’s eyes widened comically.
Mike looked up at Erik. “Dude, you’re huge.”
Erik smiled. “Yes,” he said without a whiff of self-consciousness or
humility.
Alexei rolled his eyes again. Erik could be insufferably arrogant,
even if in this case, he had cause. He wasn’t fooling Alexei with his
nonchalant response, though. Alexei could see how Erik’s jaw flexed, his
hands digging into the upholstery. Erik was wound tighter than a
spring.
He wasn’t the only one, either. Alexei decided to take a little mercy
on them all. His own cock was aching in his jeans from being mildly
turned on all through dinner, and fully erect since Mike fell to his knees.
He could only imagine how Mike’s cock must feel.
“Michael,” Alexei said in a smooth voice.
Mike looked at him over his shoulder, his eyes bright and his lips
wet from licking them. Now Alexei slid to his knees, inexorably drawn
to Mike. He knee-walked closer, until he could thread his knees between
Mike’s and wrap his hands around Mike’s hips. Then he sat back on his
heels and drew Mike onto his lap.
Mike gasped and ground against Alexei, his chin tipped up and
mouth open as he jammed the plug into himself and worked it there.
“Do you want to taste him?” he murmured into Mike’s ear.
Beyond words, Mike nodded quickly and Alexei shot Erik a stern
look. “Feed him your cock.” When Erik grabbed his dick and leaned
forward, Alexei stilled him with one hand on his thigh. “Just the tip.”
Erik brushed the head of his cock against Mike’s lips and Mike’s
tongue came out, as if to receive the unholiest of communions. It curled
around the shiny, dark-pink skin, tracing the crown gently before
pulling it into his mouth.
Erik groaned, long and loud, his hands flailing at this sides, looking
for something to grab onto. He knew he wasn’t allowed to touch Mike or
Alexei without permission.
“Clasp your hands behind your back, Erik,” Alexei said firmly. Erik
actually listened, his hips canting forward in the process.
Mike moaned and took a few inches of the shaft into his mouth, his
chin dropping and lips stretching to accommodate Erik’s girth.
Erik swayed before them.
“Michael, I’m going to hold Erik’s thighs to help him stay still for you,
okay?” Alexei asked quietly.
Mike was in no position to give verbal agreement, but he grabbed
Alexei’s hands and placed them on Erik, making his consent clear
enough.
“If you want him to move, that’s okay, too,” Alexei added in a low
whisper.
Mike whimpered around Erik’s shaft, but didn’t indicate anything
else, so Alexei just braced Erik and let Mike set the pace.
Soon his head was bobbing, his whole body leaning into each plunge
to take more of Erik’s cock into his mouth, each retreat planting him
more firmly in Alexei’s lap and ending with a small, shaky circle of his
hips. His hands gripped Alexei’s thighs, reassuring Alexei that Mike
would be able to get Alexei’s attention and tap out if needed.
Erik’s mouth hung open as he sucked in great lungfuls of air,
apparently transfixed by the sight of his cock disappearing into Mike’s
mouth. Alexei couldn’t blame him. It was a fairly hypnotizing sight.
Mike had managed to take in maybe half of Erik’s length before he
gagged and retreated quickly.
Alexei let go on one of Erik’s legs and threaded his fingers into
Mike’s hair. “You can do better than that, Michael.”
He watched carefully, gauging Mike’s reaction, smiling when Mike
immediately plunged again, his head tipped back further. Alexei
tightened his grip on Mike’s head and gently urged him forward. Mike’s
hands never left Alexei’s thighs, never once giving any indication he
might tap out, as Alexei tipped him forward and Erik’s thick shaft
lodged in the back of Mike’s throat.
Mike swallowed once, his eyes fluttering closed and his cheeks
heating to scarlet. Alexei eased him back immediately.
“Again?”
Mike’s only answer was to lean forward, eagerly, and lift his chin
higher.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Erik said in a ragged voice above them, his
abdominal muscles clenching tight as he stared down at them with
wide, wild eyes. Alexei wondered if Erik recognized he’d said that in
Swedish.
But mostly he concentrated on easing Mike forward, this time lifting
his hips to keep their hips grinding together, to keep working the plug
in Mike’s ass while his throat was filled with Erik’s cock.
Tears leaked from Mike’s eyes, but Alexei wasn’t concerned. In fact,
he was elated. Mike looked like he was in heaven.
He swallowed again, several times, and pulled a string of curses
from Erik that ended with a guttural growl. Alexei was so fixated on
Mike and his pleasure, he was surprised when a hand tapped his on
Erik’s thigh.
Alexei sat back immediately, pulling Mike with him. The moment
Erik’s cock slipped free of Mike’s mouth, Mike let out a needy,
disappointed sound.
Erik swore again.
“Michael, Erik needed to take a break,” Alexei explained while
checking Erik over to be sure he wasn’t somehow hurt. A steady stream
of precome pearled on the head of Erik’s cock before dripping off. Mike
caught each drop on his tongue without touching Erik.
Alexei looked up at Erik. “Too close?” he guessed.
“Yes.”
Erik had been given strict orders not to come until and unless Alexei
told him to. It was a command he’d often ignored in the past.
“Thank you,” Alexei said, acknowledging how hard Erik was trying.
Erik looked a little bewildered. “I don’t want to disappoint him,” he
admitted quietly.
Alexei pressed his face to the pounding pulse in Mike’s throat and
smiled. It was somehow sweet and reassuring that he wasn’t the only
one who Mike could do this to.
He pulled the soft skin against his lips between his teeth and sucked,
knowing it would make Mike squirm in his lap. Alexei’s cock was so
hard that he was a little worried it was going to be damaged
permanently if he didn’t get it out of his jeans soon.
Releasing his bite with a soft pop, he brushed his cheek along Mike’s
until they were both staring at Erik’s cock from an inch away, Mike’s
tongue still darting out to catch drops of precome, licking them directly
from the skin. Erik’s dick twitched and swayed with each contact.
“What do you want to do now, Michael?”
“I want him to fuck me.”

OceanofPDF.com
Chapter Three

Mike sat in Alexei’s lap, staring at Erik’s honestly ginormous dick,

and waited for Alexei to tell him what to do next. It was almost
impossible not to rub his ass against Alexei’s legs, so he didn’t bother
trying to hold still. He figured not outright bouncing up and down on
the plug was restraint enough.
He wasn’t even a little bit concerned about his request for Erik to
fuck him. He was pretty sure that was the whole point of this thing, and
even if it weren’t, Alexei would tell him what to do. Mike knew that
whatever Alexei did want would be nothing short of mind-blowing.
Alexei’s arms curled around his waist and he leaned back. When
Alexei spoke, Mike could feel the vibrations from his voice through his
back where it was pressed to Alexei’s chest.
“Erik, sit down.”
Erik did. Immediately. But he also sent Alexei a questioning look,
clearly trying to figure out what was going to happen next. Mike almost
shook his head. Erik should trust Alexei. After all the time they were
together, he should know Alexei would take good care of them both.
The more Mike got to know Erik, the more Alexei and Erik’s break-
up made sense. And not just like this. It was obvious Erik would never
understand Alexei. And could never appreciate the joy that could be
found in just giving himself over.
“Michael,” Alexei said against his cheek. “Let’s get you undressed.”
Mike nodded and stood gingerly. The moment he was steady on his
feet, he stripped off his shirt while Alexei went to work opening his
jeans. Mike shoved them down and kicked off his shoes and socks
quickly.
Alexei then rose and stripped down, too. Mike watched him, saw
how he overbalanced to protect his hips while lifting his legs, and
wondered how he could feel so much love, so much affection, and so
annoyed at the same time. The stubborn man would not admit his hips
now hurt constantly during the hockey season.
Mike reached out and drew his hand down the length of Alexei’s
erection, pleased to feel the proof of how affected Alexei was by all this,
too. Sometimes Alexei did things purely for Mike’s benefit, which was
fine. Fucking great, really. But Mike preferred it when they both got off
on whatever they were doing. He wanted tonight to be like that.
Alexei kissed him, once, and it was fierce and far too brief. Then he
looked Erik over, appraisingly, and nodded once.
“Michael, Erik likes your mouth too much,” he said, sounding
regretful. Mike was pleased to hear it, though. “But I think you should
spend more time getting to know him while I get you ready.”
Mike nodded, shivering with anticipation for the “getting ready”
part, but knew to wait for the rest of whatever Alexei was going to say.
There would be rules. Limits. Mike wanted those. He didn’t want to have
to decide what was right.
“You can put your mouth on him, but you can’t put him in your
mouth. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
Alexei smiled and ran a hand down Mike’s back as he knelt between
Erik’s knees. Erik spread his legs until his thighs pressed to the arms of
the chair, his tongue caught between his teeth as he stared down at
Mike hungrily.
Alexei left the room, but Mike knew he’d be back soon.
He rested his cheek against the inside of one of Erik’s thighs and
stared up at his cock, resting on his stomach. Mike’s ass clenched at the
thought of all of that being inside of him. He wanted that.
Nuzzling his face to the coarse hair and smooth skin, he worked his
way up Erik’s thigh, switching to the other when it became too difficult
to move because of his own broad shoulders and the limitation of the
chair’s arms. When he came to a stop, just a few inches shy of Erik’s
balls, Erik groaned. Mike sucked warm skin into his mouth and drew
blood to the surface, shifting with Erik when he squirmed in the seat. It
wasn’t until a foot struck Mike’s shoulder that he pulled away and
realized Erik had hooked his knee over the arm of the chair, opening
himself to Mike.
“Sorry,” Erik gasped, his foot swinging away.
Mike smiled and ran his hands up both Erik’s thighs until they
framed his cock and balls, his thumbs pressing into the meat of Erik’s
ass. He pulled the cheeks apart and gently rubbed the swirl of tight
muscles around Erik’s hole while he bent to mouth the length of Erik’s
shaft.
Erik, apparently, was loud when he was really turned on. Mike had
been too busy trying to inhale his cock earlier to really notice, but now
he could hear the gasps and pleas and even grunts of pleasure as Mike
teased him mercilessly.
Erik wasn’t loud enough, though, to mask the unmistakable sound of
a cap clicking open behind Mike.
Mike lifted his ass in the air, putting his arms on top of Erik’s thighs
to support and stabilize himself while he licked over Erik’s tight sac,
teasing each ball into his mouth to massage with his tongue and lips
before releasing it to start all over again on the other side. He buried his
nose in the coarse hair around the base of the shaft and inhaled,
reveling in the scent of musk and sweat.
He shuddered when Alexei’s hand brushed over his ass. He’d been
so distracted by the bounty before him, he’d almost forgotten about the
plug. Not now, though. Not when Alexei curled his fingers around the
base and tugged, opening Mike up before pushing it back in again.
Mike moaned his approval as Alexei began to fuck the plug in and
out of him. Long, firm strokes that sent chills up Mike’s spine each time
his ass stretched to accommodate the full breadth of it, then clenched
closed around the narrow neck, then stretched again as Alexei twisted
it from his body. He panted against Erik’s belly, his cheek pressed to his
shaft, his breath gusting over the head.
Erik squirmed beneath him, his other leg hooking over the other
arm of the chair. Mike leaned back to appreciate the view, sucking in a
deep breath when Alexei forced the plug back into his ass and ground it
up into him. His eyes fluttered closed and for a moment, all he could do
was ride the waves of sensation streaking through his body.
God, that was good. And he was getting close. Too close.
He needed a distraction. Immediately.
As much as he wanted to stay right where he was, he forced himself
to tip forward again. He nuzzled along Erik’s shaft and licked at the
head of his cock, reminding himself to breathe as best he could while
Alexei continued to torment him with the plug.
The taste of precome exploded over his tongue, telling him he wasn’t
the only one enjoying what Alexei was doing to him. He focused there,
on that taste, gasping against the sensitive skin when Alexei tugged the
plug from him one last time and it landed with a thud next to his leg.
Mike glanced down to see the towel Alexei had spread over the rug
around him. When had that happened?
He discarded that trivial concern when two fingers slipped into his
body, testing the already well-used muscles of his anus. The third finger
barely registered, Mike was so open. So ready.
He didn’t bother to tell Alexei to hurry. It wouldn’t do any good, and
it might just make him slow down. Mike contented himself with
torturing Erik as best he could within the limits set by Alexei. He tickled
his tongue behind Erik’s balls, testing the seam of skin there, and Erik
slid further down the chair, forcing himself against Mike’s tongue in a
blatant invitation for Mike to go further.
Mike moved back to Erik’s shaft, almost smiling at Erik’s
disappointed whine. Mike liked to rim Alexei, and god knew he loved it
when Alexei rimmed him, but that wasn’t something they shared with
other people. That was just between them, and that’s how Mike liked it.
He moaned against Erik’s shaft when Alexei spread his fingers,
stretching him wide. His legs shook, his cock dripping on the towel, and
he shoved himself back against that delicious pressure. He thought
about reaching down to grab his dick to try to force back the building
need fueled by the anticipation of getting Erik into him at last. The
thought was lost, along with any others, when Alexei pinched the fresh
bite mark on Mike’s right cheek.
He keened, high and needy.
Alexei leaned in close and whispered in his ear. “He’s big, Mike.”
“I noticed,” Mike gasped between pants.
“How much do you want to feel it?”
Mike considered his answer, knowing Alexei wouldn’t accept
anything less than the truth, but too far gone into his own head to be
able to know what that was without giving it some concerted thought.
Once he had, though, he knew what he wanted.
“I want to feel it. A lot. I want it to be like Montreal.”
Alexei’s hand slipped away and he stood. “Come,” he said, putting a
gentle hand under Mike’s arm and helping him to stand.
Mike’s legs felt like Jell-O, but he managed to stay upright with
Alexei’s help. Erik, apparently, was on his own.
“Follow us,” Alexei said as he grabbed the towel, and whatever was
wrapped up in it, and turned toward the kitchen.
Mike had thought they might use the couch, or the coffee table, but
of course, Alexei knew better. They would have been too low, and made
it harder for Erik to thrust as hard as Mike would want him to. Need
him to.
Mike shivered as he stood in the middle of the kitchen, Erik standing
a few feet away as they both watched Alexei carefully clean off the long
rectangular table at which they’d just eaten dinner. Alexei laid the towel
across the head of the table and set two chairs by the legs on either
side.
Alexei then hopped up on the table, his ass perched on the towel and
at the very edge of the hard, flat surface. He planted his feet on the
chairs, which were far enough apart that his legs were spread almost
impossibly wide.
“Goalies,” Erik muttered behind Mike.
Mike smiled and held Alexei’s gaze.
“Come here, Michael.”
Mike went to stand between Alexei’s legs, his hands resting on
Alexei’s thighs as he smiled down at his amazing, generous boyfriend.
“Will this be okay for you?” Alexei asked.
“Yes.”
Alexei looked over Mike’s shoulder. “Erik, come here.” Mike felt the
heat radiating from Erik a moment before his cock brushed Mike’s ass
and a hand landed on his hip. “You’re going to fuck Michael now, exactly
as I tell you to. Is that okay?”
Alexei’s eyes narrowed on Erik and Mike could guess from the small
movements behind him that Erik was nodding.
“We use our words, Erik. The right words, unless you don’t want to
do this. Then you can go.”
With a great sigh, Erik finally said, “Yes, Alexei. I want to do this. I
consent.”
Mike arched an eyebrow, wondering if Alexei would do anything
about Erik’s sass, but Alexei just smiled and pulled Mike closer. His kiss
was gentle, his tongue slipping between Mike’s lips for just a taste
before he retreated and skimmed his lips along Mike’s cheekbone.
When Alexei’s mouth brushed Mike’s ear, he whispered, in Russian,
“There are so many reasons I love you, my perfect boy. He’s but a pale
shadow in your light, and not worth my time. This is about you and
what you want.”
Mike shivered again, his eyes slipping closed as he pressed his cheek
to Alexei’s and slid his arms around his ribs, cherishing his warmth, his
steady presence, his generosity.
“I love you, too,” Mike said in Russian.
Alexei kissed him just behind the ear, nuzzling him for a moment,
then lay back on the table. Mike knew that at least a quarter of that
bright smile was because of Mike’s horrible accent, but another half or
more was because Mike’s attempts to learn Russian delighted Alexei.
Alexei nudged Mike to the side and held out a hand. “Erik, for you.”
Erik took the bottle of lube and condom from Alexei, and Mike was
careful to remain out of the line of sight so that Alexei could watch Erik
put the condom on. They wouldn’t be here at all if Alexei didn’t trust
Erik with his, but Mike knew Alexei had to be certain, had to see that
Mike would be completely safe.
Mike wondered if there was something wrong with him that
something that should have been kind of hot—and maybe a little kinky
—just warmed him and made his heart hurt with how much he loved his
boyfriend.
Maybe that was obvious in his smile as he looked down at Alexei, the
tenderness reflected in Alexei’s eyes as he towed Mike closer again.
Mike sighed as their erections slid together and he bent over and
planted his hands on the table on either side of Alexei’s shoulders.
Alexei kept tugging him closer and Mike happily lay down on top of
him, capturing his mouth in a long, hot kiss. He could do this for hours.
Days, even. Alexei’s tongue twined with his, his hands smoothing over
Mike’s shoulders and down his back, rubbing over his spine and hips,
warming him and easing the tension from his muscles.
Mike gasped, though, when Alexei’s fingers dug into his ass cheeks
and pulled them apart. Mike spread his feet, planting them more firmly
on the floor.
Erik didn’t need any more prompting than that. Almost immediately,
two fingers slipped into Mike’s ass.
“I’m ready,” he groaned, way beyond wanting more preparation. He
was ready. Now.
“Shhhh…” Alexei murmured against his lips. “Erik insisted he should
know how you felt, how tight you were. He’s only being careful,
Michael.”
Mike could see how a guy hung like Erik would have to set some
rules for himself, when it came to new lovers. He tried to be patient, but
the feeling of Erik gently testing his already lax muscles, tugging against
his rim before opening him up with both his thumbs, was making him
crazy. His knees shook and he locked them, leaning more of his weight
onto Alexei’s chest. Alexei still had his hands full of Mike’s ass, so Mike
took advantage and dragged his palms down Alexei’s ribs. Nibbled
along his jaw and sucked his earlobe between his lips.
Alexei shifted beneath him and they both hissed, their cocks
bumping and sliding between their bodies.
“Please, Erik,” Mike begged, his voice hoarse.
Erik’s hands left him, almost immediately replaced by a blunt, wide
pressure against his hole that Mike could guess was Erik’s cock. It felt…
big. Bigger even than Mike had been expecting.
Which was fucking fantastic.
When Erik didn’t move, didn’t press forward, Mike groaned with
frustration.
“I’m ready, Alexei,” Erik said.
Mike swallowed an exasperated sigh. Apparently the damn man
could play by the rules when it suited him.
Alexei’s grip changed, and now it was his fingers pulling Mike’s rim
wide. Mike arched his back into the pressure, his neck stretched, chin
high, as he hovered there, waiting for what came next.
“Push,” said Alexei, and Mike had no idea if Alexei was speaking to
him or to Erik, but they both responded. Mike bore down as Erik thrust
forward and stretched Mike open, tight muscles he’d been sure were
loose enough burning as his body fought to reject Erik’s cock even as he
rejoiced in the desire to accept it.
He’d had this cock in his mouth. Against his lips. He’d thought he’d
known exactly how big it was, but it felt bigger, harder, and heavier as
the head pushed against him and Alexei’s fingers pulled him open.
He whimpered, a needy sound torn from his throat. He’d had toys
this big in him. And a fist, once. But this was different. He could feel the
heat of the blood rushing beneath Erik’s skin, hear the desperate edge
to the noises Erik made, and knew he was as turned on as Mike.
The stretch in his ass was so consuming, he couldn’t even respond to
the feeling of Alexei’s body rubbing along his cock as Mike writhed
against him. All Mike wanted, all he cared about, was getting Erik inside
him.
The head popped past his rim and he shuddered hard. Goddamn,
that was fucking perfect.
Alexei and Erik both chuckled. Apparently, he’d said that out loud.
“Push,” Alexei said again, and this time Mike knew it wasn’t for him.
He was beyond that kind of control anyway. All he could do was dig his
fingers into Alexei’s arms and hold the fuck on as Erik slowly sank
further, opening him up and dragging along his inner walls. Mike’s
knees almost buckled when that big, fat head brushed over his prostate
and kept going, the shaft then skimming over it with a constant
pressure that made Mike’s head spin.
Fuck. That was—it was—he felt a flair of panic. He wasn’t going to
last long. Goddamn it. He couldn’t…
“Michael, look at me.”
Mike’s eyelids felt heavy as he dragged them open and stared down
into Alexei’s face. Whatever Alexei saw made his concerned expression
morph into a smirk. “That good?” he asked teasingly.
Mike swallowed hard but still couldn’t speak. He nodded.
“Don’t come,” Alexei said sternly.
Mike whimpered again. Hearing that, as always, didn’t help. Judging
by the twinkle in Alexei’s eyes, he knew it, too.
“Erik,” Alexei said, almost conversationally. “You should fuck Michael
now.”
Erik grunted, his hips kicking and seating his cock to the hilt. Mike’s
eyes drifted closed again and he sucked a deep breath in through his
nose.
“Now, Erik.”
Mike thought he was ready, but he still cried out as Erik slowly
withdrew, dragging that insanely wide and fucking wonderful shaft
over his prostate, the head bouncing off it for an added jolt.
Mike shifted his feet to steady himself and clung to Alexei as he
drowned in the sensations storming him. He heard the rude squelch of
lube as Erik added more slick, felt it drip down his perineum and over
his balls, but none of it detracted from the amazing feeling of being so
full as Erik thrust back in. The stretch was awesome. The drag of skin
on skin. The burn and ache of his rim. It was exactly what he wanted.
A Christmas fucking miracle.
That might have been out loud, too, but Alexei stopped the stupid
shit from pouring from his mouth by capturing it in a kiss. Mike hadn’t
even realized Alexei had let go of Mike’s ass until his hands wrapped
around his jaw and cheeks and held him steady as Erik’s thrusts picked
up speed and force.
Mike kissed Alexei back, furiously, incapable of stopping the noises
being forced up from his chest with every thrust. His body slid over
Alexei’s, sweat easing the friction between them, his cock gliding along
the crease between Alexei’s hip and thigh, otherwise forgotten. Which
was for the best, since it would take almost nothing to set him off.
Alexei tore his mouth away. “Spread your legs further,” he coaxed,
and Mike obeyed, his feet skittering across the floor. Alexei’s hand
pressed to his back. “Tilt your ass higher.”
Mike did that, too, and howled as the full power of Erik’s thrust
nailed the head of his cock against Mike’s prostate like a pile-driver.

“Harder, Erik,” Alexei barked, his ears ringing from Mike’s cries.
Erik listened. Alexei wasn’t sure whose demands Erik was
responding to, but it got the job done.
Soon Mike was panting against Alexei’s neck, his fingers bruising
Alexei’s arms, his vocabulary honed down to just one word. Over and
over.
“Please.”
Alexei wanted to give his boy what he wanted, but he thought Mike
would like it even better, enjoy it even more, if he waited just a little
longer.
Also, Alexei was fucking dying to come, too. He raised his feet and
planted his heels on the edge of the table, clamping Mike’s ribs in his
thighs and rolling his hips up to thrust his cock against Mike’s
trembling abs.
Alexei’s hips jerked harder, faster, but it wasn’t fucking enough. He
thrust so hard his ass lifted off the table, the muscles in his thighs
burning, and that was better. More friction, and Erik’s ever-more-
powerful thrusts moving them both.
Heat pooled at the base of his spine, tightening the muscles in his
ass and thighs, which shook as he continued to thrust. He was about to
reach down with one hand when Mike beat him too it, shoving his arm
between them and curling his fingers around Alexei’s aching cock.
Alexei came with a shout, his thighs squeezing Mike as he bucked up
against him and spilled onto his own belly. Shockwaves of pleasure
washed over him, whiting out his brain while Mike rocked above him
from Erik’s relentless fucking.
Alexei collapsed back onto the table. When he could manage to
control his own limbs again, he pressed his hand low on Mike’s back
and brushed his lips against Mike’s ear. “My boy,” he whispered in
hoarse Russian, knowing that Mike would be able to translate this much
without effort. “Is this what you wanted?”
“Yes,” he gasped.
“Are you close?”
Mike’s only response was to whimper.
Alexei smiled. “Come.”
Mike growled, his back arching as he shoved himself back on Erik’s
cock. Erik almost stumbled, grabbing Alexei’s hips and driving forward
until the three of them were slammed together. Alexei didn’t need to
hear Mike’s howls of pleasure to imagine how that felt, to be so full and
stretched so wide.
Mike’s hands convulsed around his arms once, then his entire body
went rigid and warmth spread across Alexei’s belly.
Erik gasped. “Alexei, please.”
Alexei jolted, a little ashamed of himself for forgetting about Erik. He
just hadn’t been able to think about anything but Mike.
“Yes, Erik. You, too.”
Mike groaned when Erik continued to thrust into him. Alexei’s head
felt light just thinking about how sensitive Mike must be. How sore.
Erik shouted something in Swedish, too garbled for Alexei to
decipher, and curled over Mike, his shoulders bowed and head hanging
down as he shook, his hips grinding into Mike as he came.
Alexei lay on the table, still panting, as Mike slowly lifted his head
and blinked down at him. Erik’s hands left Alexei’s hips and
disappeared behind Mike a moment before Mike’s eyes widened, his
mouth dropping open. Erik slowly moved away, then stumbled toward
the bathroom with a hand holding the condom in place.
Alexei brushed a hand over Mike’s face, pushing his damp hair back
from his forehead. “How do you feel?”
Mike smiled, though Alexei could see how wobbly it was. “Great,” he
said.
Alexei slowly sat up, pushing Mike upright with him, before
dropping his feet off the table and wincing as pain shot up his legs.
Mike’s hands went to his hips, offering warmth and pressure and relief.
Alexei grumbled. “I’m not too old to have good sex.”
A grin flashed on Mike’s face. “Obviously not.”
“I will never be too old for good sex,” he said firmly, to clarify.
“I should hope not,” Mike said before kissing Alexei gently. Alexei
leaned up, tracing his tongue over Mike’s lips, intent on proving his
point, but then Mike wavered on his feet.
Alexei caught him with an arm around his waist. “Come, let’s get you
to bed.”
“I should see Erik out,” Mike protested immediately.
Alexei laughed. “I’m sure he’ll understand. You can make it up to him
the next time we see him.”
Mike was docile, more so than usual, even, as Alexei led him to their
bedroom. Alexei quickly wiped them down and tucked Mike into bed.
Mike’s eyes were already closing by the time Alexei pulled the covers up
to his shoulders. He bent to kiss Mike’s cheek.
“I’ll be back in a moment.”
Mike murmured into the pillow and smiled. Alexei called for a cab
and pulled on his robe before going back out to the kitchen.
Erik met him wearing his clothes, his jacket, and a terribly smug
smile Alexei chose to ignore.
“Thank you,” he said earnestly.
“I think that’s my line,” Erik said with a chuckle.
Alexei hugged him. “We’re playing you again next month. Let’s make
time to get together.”
“Like this? Or—”
“No. Not then. And maybe not again, ever,” Alexei said honestly.
“Mike and I have to talk before any plans are made in that direction.”
“Of course.” Erik appeared to think about what he wanted to say for
a moment. “For what it’s worth,” he began hesitantly, “I’m glad we broke
up if it means you get to be with Mike. He’s perfect for you, isn’t he?”
He was, Alexei thought, in far more ways than Erik would ever see
or understand. He smiled gratefully and chose to ignore Erik’s
insinuation that he had, at some point, regretted dumping Alexei’s ass
four years ago.
Alexei’s phone chimed and he looked down at it. “Your cab is here.”
“Not going to drive me to my hotel?” Erik asked, pretending to be
put out.
Alexei opened the door. “No. Mike needs me.” And you don’t come
close to outranking that. “Do you need help with the elevator?”
“Nah, I got it,” Erik said with a good-natured smile and a last quick
hug. “You go take care of your boy.”
Alexei arched an eyebrow, but said nothing about Erik’s choice of
words. Erik didn’t speak Russian, though, so it had to be a lucky guess.
Alexei waited in the hall until the elevator closed before hurrying back
to the bedroom. He stripped off his robe and climbed into bed, pulling
Mike close until he lay boneless over Alexei’s chest.
“Is Erik okay?” Mike murmured against his throat.
“Yes.” Alexei said as he ran his hand down Mike’s ribs and over his
hip. Mike scooted closer, curling an arm around Alexei’s torso and
hitching one leg up over his hips.
Alexei smiled. He knew what Mike was asking for.
He kissed Mike gently and teased two fingers over his swollen rim.
Mike shivered, quietly humming his pleasure. Alexei could only imagine
how sore and sensitive the entire area was as he gathered what little
lube was left after his clean up.
When Mike squirmed, as if trying to get even closer, Alexei pressed
his fingers through the tight, hot ring of muscles.
“Oh god.”
“Good?”
“Yesss,” Mike hissed.
Alexei was fairly impressed to feel Mike’s cock start to harden
against his hip. He began to plunge his fingers in and out of Mike’s poor,
abused hole.
Mike let out a huge sigh. “Thank you.”
“For this?” Alexei asked with a smile, tugging at Mike’s rim and
making him shudder.
“No. Well, yes,” he said, and Alexei could feel Mike’s smile against his
skin. “But also for tonight. Best Christmas present ever.”
Alexei’s hand froze until Mike mewled in protest. He resumed
thrusting into Mike, teasing his rim with a third finger. Mike hitched his
leg higher, opening himself up in an invitation Alexei had no intention
of refusing. It was a tight fit.
Mike gasped, but it was a happy sound.
“Michael,” Alexei asked curiously. “What exactly do you think was
your Christmas present?”
Mike hummed contentedly. “You know,” he said softly, though it
sounded a little bit like a question.
Alexei chuckled and didn’t bother to clarify.

OceanofPDF.com
Chapter Four

Mike woke up with a start, sprawled out across the bed on his
stomach. He would have thought it was just a bad dream that caused
him to wake if Alexei hadn’t bolted upright in bed beside him.
Someone pounded on the door at the same moment that Mike’s
phone started to buzz on the nightstand.
Alexei put a hand on Mike’s back before he jumped from the bed and
tugged on his robe. “You stay here. I’ll go see what’s going on.”
There were only so many people who knew where they lived, let
alone how to get to their door, so Mike wasn’t worried, per se. Though it
wasn’t like any of those people to beat down their door at—Mike
reached for his phone—six o’clock in the morning. And on Christmas
Eve—a day off—no less.
Mike was alarmed to see he’d already missed two calls from Rupert
and three from Callum. He didn’t bother to call either of them back,
though, as he could just make out Rupert’s voice through the bedroom
door.
He sounded worked up about something.
Mike dropped his head back onto the pillow and gave himself a
couple minutes to wake up properly while he waited for Alexei to
return. He’d been looking forward to having a long, lazy morning in bed,
and was still holding out hope that it would be possible.
When Alexei came swinging through the bedroom door, already
shrugging out of his robe on the way to the bathroom, that hope was
extinguished.
“What’s up?” Mike called after him.
“I’m not sure,” Alexei admitted, his voice echoing against the tiles a
moment before the shower turned on. He immediately returned to the
bedroom, steam billowing out the door behind him. “Gabriel called,
apparently, and Rupert and Callum need to go to Pathways. They asked
if we could hang out with the boys until they get back.”
Mike lifted his head from the pillow. “Is everything okay?” The
Pathways Center was a local family and youth shelter and community
center, and Gabriel its director. Mike and Alexei, along with Rupert and
Callum and more and more of the Ice Cats organization, volunteered
there often and knew the center, and its staff, well.
“Yes. I think so. Rupert seemed excited, at least, but I have no idea
what about. I just agreed we’d get over there in the next half hour. We
can make the kids breakfast.”
Dreams of sleeping in and lazing in bed with Alexei gone, Mike
nodded his agreement and jumped to his feet. He immediately swayed
and reached for the bed post, but Alexei caught him first.
“Woah,” Alexei said, wrapping his arms around Mike. “You okay?”
Mike huffed out a laugh. “Yeah,” he said, a slow smile forming, “I’m
great.”
He’d woken up aware that his ass was sore, his rim hot and swollen.
But he hadn’t realized his legs would still shake, or that the heat would
spread through him like this.
His cock twitched, filling, as he stood still and took stock of myriad
aches and pains and delicious little pleasures.
Alexei glanced down, saw Mike’s erection, and arched one eyebrow.
Mike grinned. Goddamn, he felt awesome.
“Come,” Alexei said. With a steadying hand on Mike’s back, Alexei led
him into the steamy bathroom and into the shower. The hot water felt
fantastic, and Mike stepped directly under the spray, letting it pour over
his head and splash onto Alexei as he wrapped his arms around Mike’s
waist and curled his hand around Mike’s cock.
From there, it didn’t take long. Just long enough for Alexei to thrust
two fingers into Mike’s aching hole and tap his prostate while stroking
his fist along Mike’s shaft. It was quick enough, in fact, to leave time for
Mike to drop to his knees and show Alexei how very, very much Mike
appreciated his Christmas gift from the night before.
As soon as they were done cleaning up, they pulled on some clothes
and started out of the apartment. Alexei stopped Mike with a hand on
his arm. “Do you want some cream?” Alexei asked, referring to the
special ointment they kept for those time Mike needed to be able to
play hockey—or do anything else—without the twinges from his ass.
Mike smiled. “No.”
Today, he wanted to feel every second of it and savor his gift.

They let themselves into Rupert and Callum’s apartment to find the
usual chaos unfolding around them. Rupert was in the kitchen on the
phone, pouring a cup of coffee, while his husband, Callum, was coming
out of their bedroom with his head lost in the sweater he was pulling
on. Their eldest, Christian, reached him just in time to prevent Callum
from walking directly into a wall.
Christian rolled his eyes with the despair for a parent only a thirteen
year old could manage.
Callum’s head popped through the neck hole. “Oh, hey, guys. Thanks
for coming over so quickly.”
“No problem,” Mike said, peering over the back of the couch. As he’d
suspected, Oliver was curled up under a blanket, zoning out with
Curious George on the TV. At five years old, he was getting a little old for
the show, but it was still his favorite for when he was half asleep or
stressed out. Mike studied his little face for a moment and determined
this was the former.
“Oliver,” he said, brushing his hand over the mop of dark, silky hair
poking out of the blankets, “are you still going to help me later?”
Oliver smiled up at him. “I will, if you still need my help.”
“I do,” Mike promised. He just had to figure out when he was going
to convince Alexei to go out and do the last of his holiday shopping now
that their plans had been put into a bit of a tailspin. Mike needed Alexei
gone long enough to wrap the last of his gifts, a task Mike had promised
Oliver he could help with.
Mike glanced over at the enormous tree in the corner of the living
room and smiled. It had all of Rupert and Callum’s, and Mike and
Alexei’s, ornaments this year. With the travel schedule what it was, and
Rupert and Callum’s invitation to spend Christmas here with them,
Mike and Alexei hadn’t bothered to get a tree this year, opting instead to
share one with the family across the hall.
Their family.
Mike startled when Rupert ran up and hugged him. “Thank you so
much for being here,” Rupert said, far more earnestly than last-minute
childcare duties—which they did all the time—seemed to warrant.
“Always,” Mike said automatically, because he had no idea what
Rupert’s deal was this morning and because it was true.
“Come on, duchess,” Callum said patiently from the door.
Rupert grinned at all of them, kissed the boys goodbye, and flew out
of the apartment.
Alexei and Mike shared a long look. What the hell was that?
Alexei shrugged and went back to making breakfast.

Alexei smirked as he walked back into Rupert and Callum’s

apartment later that morning, amused by Oliver and Mike dashing to
the tree to tuck a pile of newly-wrapped gifts in amongst the others
already stacked there. He winked at Mike over Oliver’s head, then
pretended to be oblivious when Oliver turned to squint up at him
suspiciously.
He’d been practicing his perfectly innocent face all the way home
from his shopping expedition. He and Mike would be busy that night
assembling their big gift to Christian and Oliver and their fathers. Alexei
was still torn about whether it was enough of a gift to give Rupert and
Callum, but he was stumped on what else they could give two men who
had become like brothers to them over the past year.
It was a tricky year for Christmas present all around, for Alexei. He
was pretty sure he’d gotten the perfect gift for Mike. As certain as he
felt, he still had bouts of nerves. But watching Mike run his hands
through Oliver’s hair and smiling at Christian, the huge tree glowing
behind him, the nerves weren’t anywhere to be found.
Mike came over to where he hovered in the doorway still and kissed
him hello. “How’d it go?”
Alexei grimaced, recalling the past two hours. “Remind me to never,
ever put off shopping until Christmas Eve again. It would take an
honest-to-god Christmas miracle to get me to go back into a store again
today.”
Mike laughed and kissed him again, perhaps thinking that would
soothe Alexei’s ragged nerves.
And, actually, it worked.
Alexei and Mike both cocked their heads when they felt the
vibrations from the elevator through the floor. Rupert and Callum, after
disappearing for several hours, were apparently home.
Alexei wondered what they could possibly have been up to. They’d
answered his texts with enough vague non-answers to make Alexei
suspect they had a surprise in store.
Nothing could have prepared him for what that surprise was.
Mike opened the door to the apartment when the lift came to a stop,
and the boys turned to look as Rupert came through the door with a
huge grin on his face, followed closely by Callum carrying a small
bundle of blankets. He was grinning, too.
He stopped and then carefully turned the bundle so they could all
see what was tucked inside.
A baby.
Alexei’s heart stopped as tiny blue eyes stared vaguely at all of them.
Christian shot to his feet from the couch.
Oliver ran to Callum. “Who is that?”
Callum crouched down so Oliver could see the baby better, and they
all leaned in. Mike’s hand slipped into Alexei’s, and he jolted when
Christian ran into him in order to peer over his shoulder. He hadn’t
been aware he’d stopped breathing when his eyes had locked onto that
perfect little face.
“This,” Callum said, putting his arm around Oliver’s shoulder and
pulling him closer, “is Eleanor.”
Christian slid past Alexei and knelt in the middle of their little circle.
Callum slipped the baby—Eleanor—into Christian’s arms, careful to
support her until he was certain Christian had her safely tucked close.
Christian looked down at the little girl like he’d never seen anything
like her. Or anything so beautiful. “Is she ours?” he asked with wonder
in his voice.
Rupert leaned against Alexei and let out a damp chuckle. Alexei
immediately wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
“She’s going to stay with us,” Rupert explained.
“Forever?” Oliver asked, hopeful.
Callum looked up at his husband, and Alexei wasn’t surprised to see
Oliver wasn’t the only one practically radiating hope.
“We’re not sure,” Rupert admitted slowly. “Eleanor’s mother was
staying at Pathways, but sometime last night she disappeared. Gabriel
called us because we’re registered foster parents, and he knows” —
Rupert swallowed heavily— “that we would want to take care of her if
her mother couldn’t.”
Christian and Oliver both nodded, as if this were obvious.
“Just like you did when my mom left me,” Oliver said in a perfectly
matter-of-fact voice.
Callum pulled the little boy closer. “Yeah, Ollie. Just like that.”
“What if she comes back?” Oliver asked, and it was clear he was
worried.
“She might,” Callum admitted, “but we told Gabriel that if she did, we
would welcome her here, too. Even if it’s just to visit.”
“Like I do with my dad now?” Christian asked. He’d seen his father a
handful of times since he’d successfully managed sobriety for six
months straight. Christian had refused at first, but agreed to it after his
father had signed away custody permanently to Rupert and Callum.
Though he still wouldn’t go without one of his new fathers, Mike, or
Alexei with him.
“Maybe like that,” Callum said, though it was clear he didn’t really
know what was going to happen. “It’s a little different than with your
father. Eleanor’s mother is very young.” He looked at Christian and
frowned. “Not much older than you. She’s fourteen.”
“Oh, no,” whispered Mike. “That’s…did she have somewhere to go?”
“Gabriel is trying to figure that out. Her parents, apparently, are not
an option.”
For a moment no one said anything. Of the six—now seven, Alexei
supposed—of them, only Callum shared a close relationship with his
biological parents. The rest of them had built a family with each other. A
family, it seemed, that had more than enough room in their hearts for
one more.
Oliver stroked the tuft of hair on Eleanor’s head, and she was so tiny
that even his little hand looked large by comparison. Alexei experienced
a wave of protectiveness so fierce, it felt like panic.
She was so small. So vulnerable. And all she had was them. Which,
actually, was pretty fucking great. But there was work to be done.
“She needs a crib,” he said, out of nowhere. Eleanor startled, her face
scrunching up for a moment. Everyone seemed to hold her breath until
she settled back to gazing curiously at Christian.
Callum laughed quietly. “She needs a lot more than that,” he said, his
voice low. He stood and went back out into the hallway, returning with a
grocery sack and tattered backpack. “All we have is formula and the few
things Eleanor’s mother left behind.”
Christian went to stand up and Rupert reached to steady him and
Eleanor. When Christian looked alarmed, Alexei acted without thinking.
He plucked Eleanor from his arms and held her in his hands.
Literally.
She fit into his hands. With room to spare.
Mike hooked his chin over Alexei’s shoulder and ran a finger down
Eleanor’s cheek. “She’s beautiful.”
Alexei thought that if his biology had been different, he might have
ovulated on the spot. The pang of longing was sharper than any he’d
felt. Before, he’d known, vaguely, that he wanted to have children one
day. He knew Mike did, too. Now that went from vague hope for the
future to something that felt a lot more like the plan.
He was also never more certain that he’d got Mike the right gift for
Christmas.
“We need to go shopping,” Rupert said with a resigned sigh. “Can
you hang around here a bit longer while we do that?”
“No,” Alexei said firmly, his voice quiet. Everyone looked surprised.
He huffed and tipped Eleanor up onto his shoulder. “I mean, no, Mike
and I will do it. You stay here and get Eleanor as settled as you can.
We’ll get everything you need.”
“But—”
“No, Alexei’s right,” Mike said quickly. “You stay here. Maybe start
clearing out the office? We’ll take care of the rest.”
Alexei ran his hands over Eleanor’s back in slow circles and thought
about facing the crowds in the stores again. That wouldn’t be nearly as
hard as giving Eleanor to someone else to hold when it was no longer
his turn.
Or not making a total fool of himself when Mike took her, and all he
could do was rock on his feet and smile down at her with such absolute
happiness on his face.
By the time he and Mike had assembled a list, made up a plan of
action, and were ready to go, Callum and Rupert were shooting them
amused and pitying looks.
Rupert plucked Eleanor from Alexei’s arms. “Thank you,” he said, a
grin forming. “You know, Alexei, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you speak
so softly. I wasn’t sure you could.”
“Shut up,” Alexei murmured, pretending to be annoyed. The fact that
he said it so quietly only made Rupert grin more.
Mike laughed as he opened the door and held it. “Come on, big guy.
We’ve got credit cards to burn.”
Alexei cast one last look at Eleanor and stepped into the hallway.
“Don’t go crazy, you two,” Rupert called behind them. He tucked
Eleanor against his chest, his cheek pressed to the top of her head.
“This could only be temporary.” He barely managed to choke out that
reminder.
Alexei nodded and closed the door behind them.
Mike looked at the door for a long moment, then at Alexei. “That
poor baby. No one should have to be without their family on Christmas.”
Alexei towed Mike into a long hug. “I know, my love.”
Three hours later, Mike staggered onto the elevator with the last of
their purchases. He would defy anyone, ever, to execute a more
precision shopping trip. And on Christmas Eve, no less. He and Alexei
had gone to three stores and come back with the bed of Alexei’s pick-up
stuffed with supplies and surprises. Now it was all loaded into the lift,
along with him and Alexei—who was on his phone again.
Mike couldn’t imagine who he was texting now. It had made sense to
send Rupert and Callum pictures and questions as they went through
the stores, since most of these decisions really were up to them, but
now they were home and going to see them in about two minutes.
Couldn’t whatever else Alexei wanted to tell them wait?
Mike shook his head at his boyfriend—not that Alexei noticed—and
tried to decide what they would tackle first once they were unloaded.
Maybe the crib. No, the bassinette. The saleswoman and Callum’s mom
had both assured them that for the next few weeks, at least, Eleanor
would probably need to sleep in Rupert and Callum’s room. It would
make late-night feedings and diaper changes easier.
Maybe the changing table after that. Oh, and they had to get the tub
set up and see if it would fit in the sink. And clean the bottles and—
The lift jerked to a stop and Mike heaved the doors open with a
rueful smile at himself. It was going to be a busy day.
He led the way to Rupert and Callum’s apartment, his attention
focused on squeezing the huge bag of bedding and clothes through the
door with him. It wasn’t until he was standing in the foyer that he
noticed the normally chaotic apartment was silent.
He looked up, alarmed, and for a moment stood silent, gaping, and
wondered if he was seeing things.
“Hi, Mike,” his sister Jayne said cheerfully, as if it were perfectly
normal for her to be standing in the middle of Rupert and Callum’s
living room with Eleanor in her arms. She turned and passed the baby
off to Callum, though, when it became clear Mike was having a hard
time processing what he was seeing.
Mike dropped the bag he held, its contents scattering into the
hallway. “What? How—you—”
He gave up trying to say anything sensible and lurched toward her.
She met him halfway, both of them dancing over baby stuff to avoid
stepping on it, and jumped into his arms.
Mike hugged her so tight she squeaked.
“Merry Christmas,” she said, almost strangling him back.
Mike spun her around, stopping when he caught sight of Alexei
hovering in the doorway, smiling fondly at them both.
“Thank you,” Mike said in Russian, his voice rough. He had no doubt
this had been Alexei’s doing.
“You’re welcome, my love,” he said back.
Jayne pushed at his shoulder and he let her feet drop back onto the
floor. “What are you two saying? And when did you learn Russian?” she
asked, poking at Mike’s stomach.
“Mike said thank you and Alexei said you’re welcome and called
Mike one of those gross names they call each other,” Oliver supplied
helpfully.
Alexei and Mike laughed. Rupert looked stunned as he stood rocking
Eleanor slowly. “Wait. When did you learn Russian, Oliver?”
“Alexei has been teaching me and Mike. We practice together
sometimes.”
“Huh,” Rupert said with crooked smile for Alexei. Alexei’s cheeks
went pink.
Mike turned back to Jayne. “I can’t believe you’re here. You said you
had to spend Christmas in Toronto. I sent your gifts there!”
Jayne pointed under the tree. “And now they’re here. Thank god you
didn’t send me anything really big, or I would have had to pay Air
Canada for extra luggage.”
“So you’re staying? For Christmas?”
Jayne rolled her eyes. “Of course I am. I have to be back in three
days, but you’re stuck with me until then.”
“Wow, that’s…wow. I’m so happy to see you,” Mike said fervently,
hugging his sister again. They hadn’t spent a holiday together in four
years. In fact, they’d hardly gotten to see each other at all since he’d
come out to his parents. He hadn’t been home once since then.
Which reminded him. He hated to ask, but… “What about Mom and
Dad?”
“What about them?”
“Didn’t you want to spend Christmas with them?”
“Honestly? No. I haven’t wanted to for years. I couldn’t afford the
flight anyway, and they didn’t offer to fly me home, unlike your darling
boyfriend over there.”
Mike looked at Alexei again, feeling a twinge of guilt when he saw
Alexei and Callum were dragging in all the boxes and bags from the
elevator. “He did?”
“He gave me a choice. Here or home. I guess it’s pretty obvious
which I chose.”
Mike left his sister and went to Alexei, pulling the bags from his
hands and dropping them to the floor before he kissed him. Alexei’s
arms circled him immediately.
“There are children present!” Rupert called from the kitchen, though
he didn’t seem particularly bothered, based on how his voice shook
with laughter.
Mike drew back and smiled down at Alexei. “Thank you. Best
Christmas present ever.”
Alexei just rolled his eyes and chuckled.

Alexei flopped face first onto their bed at approximately ass o’clock
in the morning. The mattress shook as Mike landed next to him.
“Oh my god,” Mike groaned into the bedding. “I didn’t think we’d
ever get it all done.”
Alexei would have chuckled, but he didn’t have the energy left to do
it. “I almost cried when Jayne went to bed,” he admitted.
“You’re the one that insisted we didn’t need her help and that she
should get some rest.”
“I’m a good host.”
Mike rolled his face across the comforter so that he could look at
Alexei. His smile caused that chest-tightening thing in Alexei again.
“You’re amazing,” Mike said, his voice warm. “Thank you for bringing
Jayne here. And for all my other Christmas presents.”
Now Alexei did chuckle, since he hadn’t actually given Mike any of
his Christmas gifts yet. Jayne coming to Christmas was as it should be,
not a gift. It was what Mike wanted. And the whole thing with Erik had
just been dumb luck, as far as timing went. It could have happened in
March, if that’s when they had found the time.
Rather than tell Mike any of this, Alexei just reached out and ran his
hand through Mike’s hair, cupping the back of his head to tug him
closer.
Mike groaned with the effort, but dragged himself the last foot
closer until their mouths met.
There were so many things Alexei wanted. All the time. Always. But
his body just wasn’t going to cooperate tonight. He hurt all over, but his
knees, in particular, were going to take days to forgive him, which was
bad. Hockey goalies’ knees and hips were precious, and Alexei’s didn’t
have a lot of mileage left in them.
Not that he regretted abusing them today. He was happy to have
assembled the crib, then the bouncy seat, and the swing and the
bassinette and the changing table. While he’d done that, Mike had
either helped him or helped the others move the contents of the office
into storage or a corner of the dining room. It was going to be cramped,
but this way Rupert and Callum still had a place to work.
Jayne had spent that time opening all the other packages and
separating them into piles. Then she’d gone to the store to get special
laundry detergent that was safe for babies—who knew?—and run all
the clothes and blankets through the wash.
And, of course, everyone’s work took longer than it should have,
because not one of them could resist taking turns holding Eleanor. They
also all made a point of spending time with Oliver and Christian, neither
of whom seemed any less fascinated with Eleanor than the grown-ups.
Once they’d had dinner and the kids had gone to sleep, Mike, Alexei,
and Jayne had said their goodnights and gone back to their apartment.
They’d hovered around the door, giggling like children, until after five
minutes, Alexei had grabbed a six-pack and they’d snuck down the fire
stairs to the first floor.
That’s when the real work had begun.
They’d swept out a large area in the corner of the unfinished
concrete floor they’d been using as garage space, then washed it
thoroughly, all the while talking. Mike had put music on in his car and
left the doors open so they’d have something to fill the silences, but
there hadn’t been any. Mike and Jayne had caught up on mutual friends
and family and Alexei had listened in, happy to get to know Mike’s sister
better. They’d spent time together in the past, but this time felt
different. Now she was on her own, no longer beholden to her parents
for tuition or anything else. And the first thing she’d done was elect to
spend the holidays with them. With Mike.
Alexei knew Mike missed his family in some ways, especially around
the holidays, and the smile on his face, the smile in his eyes, made Alexei
happy, too.
Once the floor had been perfectly clean, Alexei had caught Jayne
yawning and sent her off to bed. Then he and Mike had crawled around
with cans of paint until Alexei’s back was throbbing and his knees were
screaming at him to get up.
Putting up the basketball hoop to complete the half court was pretty
easy after that. Even better was coming upstairs to find Jayne had
finished cleaning up the pots and pans he’d left soaking from dinner
with Erik the night before.
Alexei pulled back from kissing Mike. “Your sister is pretty great.”
Mike made a sour face. “Can we not talk about my sister while I’m
getting an erection?”
Alexei laughed and swatted Mike on the ass. “Come on, then. Get up!
Let’s get ready for bed.”
Mike groaned but managed to lever himself off the mattress,
reaching down to pull Alexei up after him. They shuffled around the
room, stripping off filthy work clothes, brushing their teeth, and
climbing in and out of the shower quickly, their bodies brushing here
and there but both of them too tired to do anything about it.
Alexei sighed as he slipped into bed, the sheets cool and heavenly.
Mike crawled in, too, and they met in the middle for a long, gentle kiss.
Alexei would have sworn, ten seconds ago, that he was too tired to do
anything. But then Mike wriggled closer and hummed against his lips,
and Alexei’s body was just programmed to respond.
He drew the front of Mike’s boxer briefs down, tucking the
waistband beneath his balls and lifting his growing erection between
their bellies. Alexei wriggled his pajama pants down until his own cock
was freed, and then curled his hand around both their shafts.
Mike gasped against his lips, his hips jerking in a little circle as
Alexei slowly drew his hand up the length of their shafts, letting them
shift and roll against one another. It should have been too dry, but
Mike’s skin felt like silk against his, his rigid shaft creating the perfect
friction.
On his next pass, Alexei collected the precome gathering on the
heads of their cocks with a swipe of his thumb. His hips worked against
Mike’s gently, their lips clinging and tongues tangling in a long, languid
dance.
He knew when Mike was close, the motion of his hips going jerky
and uncoordinated. He smiled against Mike’s lips and kept up the slow
pace, making them both a little crazy with its relentless rhythm. Mike’s
fingers dug into Alexei’s biceps, his legs moving restlessly over the
sheets.
Alexei kissed him harder, deeper, but his hand remained at the same
maddeningly even pace. Mike whined, deep in his throat, and kissed
Alexei back.
Alexei rolled over Mike, pressing Mike’s back to the mattress and
their hips together. A shiver worked its way down Alexei’s spine, as it
always did when Mike was so pliant, so easy for him. Mike was several
inches taller and more than fifteen pounds heavier than Alexei, but he
gave himself over without thought.
Alexei tugged harder, faster, their cocks slipping through his fist, his
breath hitching against Mike’s lips. He felt the heat pooling at the base
of his spine, the tension drawing his balls up tight.
He planted his knees more firmly on the bed and whispered against
Mike’s lips.
“Come now, Michael.”
Mike arched beneath him, his body even more thoroughly
programmed than Alexei’s, finely tuned to respond to the sound of
Alexei’s voice. To those words, in particular.
Mike sucked in a deep, shaky breath, and Alexei sealed Mike’s lips
with his own before Mike could shout and wake his sister. Mike shook,
the hot pulses of his orgasm coating Alexei’s fingers, slicking them both,
until Alexei shuddered and let himself fall over the edge.
Alexei came back to himself some time later, slightly appalled to
realize he may have passed from blissed-out-orgasm to half-asleep,
lying on top of Mike with his hand trapped between their bodies. Mike
gave him a sleepy smile and a gentle kiss to his lips.
“I thought I was going to have to wake you up,” he teased.
Alexei grunted and dragged himself off Mike, hating to leave all that
warmth. He made quick work of collecting a warm washcloth from the
bathroom and cleaning them both up. The moment he slid back under
the covers, Mike rolled half on top of him, his head on Alexei’s shoulder,
his nose tucked to Alexei’s neck.
“I love you,” he murmured.
“I love you, too.”
“Thank you for bringing Jayne here. That really is the best Christmas
present ever.”
Alexei smiled and ran his hand through Mike’s hair, the other
trailing down Mike’s back. “I thought Erik’s dick was the best Christmas
present ever.”
Mike hummed and Alexei could feel how Mike’s ass clenched just
thinking about it, the muscles shifting under Alexei’s palm.
Alexei chuckled.
“Shut up,” Mike murmured affectionately.

OceanofPDF.com
Chapter Five

Mike woke with his face still plastered to Alexei’s chest. He didn’t
think either of them had moved an inch since they’d passed out
together the night before. He squinted at the light hitting his eyes, his
brain too slow to realize that it was coming from the hallway until the
sound of a throat being cleared reached him.
He glanced over his shoulder to find his sister standing in the
doorway, a hand over her eyes. “I’m sorry to intrude,” she said,
smirking.
Alexei muttered in his sleep and pulled Mike closer.
Mike ran a soothing hand down Alexei’s ribs. “You can open your
eyes, Jayne,” he said. “I mean, unless the sight of our bare, manly chests
will traumatize you.”
She dropped her hand, probably to be sure he could see how hard
she was rolling her eyes. She did blink at Alexei’s broad shoulders for a
moment, though.
It was Mike’s turn to smirk. “Did you need something?”
Jayne waggled her phone back and forth at him. “Have you heard
your phones going off like it’s…well, like it’s Christmas?”
Mike chuckled and reached for the bedside table. Alexei’s arm
encircled his waist and tried to pull him back down but Mike managed
to snag his cell in his fingertips. There was a series of messages, starting
at six-thirty that morning, from Christian. He opened them.
Come over now?
Please?
Oliver says hurry up.
Hello??? Wake up! You can’t sleep late on Christmas!!!!
WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP
Ugh you guys are the worst.
Mike grinned at his phone and poked Alexei in the side. Alexei
groaned and kept his eyes stubbornly shut. Mike wasn’t buying it, but
he let Alexei pretend.
“I’ll get this big lug up. You can go over now, if you want.”
Jayne just shook her head. “I’ll wait. But hurry up!”
It took considerable poking and prodding to get Alexei out of bed.
Mike frowned as he watched Alexei limp to the bathroom, cursing
himself for letting Alexei do all that work on the basketball court. The
boys were going to love it, but it wasn’t worth this.
Then again, no one could have anticipated how much work they
would put into getting little Eleanor settled.
Eleanor.
Mike threw on his pajamas and tossed a t-shirt for Alexei on the bed
before dashing out to find his sister fidgeting by the door. She looked
about as eager as he expected Oliver to be when they got across the
hall. He laughed at her and pulled out all the treats they were bringing
over this morning. Because, as if they hadn’t been busy enough, Alexei
had spent the day before yesterday baking until they’d had to leave for
the game.
Mike was just stacking the last of the boxes when Alexei’s arms
curled around his waist from behind and soft lips pressed to the nape of
his neck.
“Thank you, Michael,” he said softly, then left him to stand there
stupidly for a moment.
Michael? It was his name, of course, but reserved for special
moments. Mike looked over at Alexei and blinked at the warm, happy
smile he received in return.
Alexei was acting weird. Not that his boyfriend wasn’t always loving
and tactile, but this seemed…different. More, somehow.
Shrugging to himself, he followed Alexei and Jayne across the hall,
distracted from his thoughts the moment they entered the chaos that
was Rupert and Callum’s home. Oliver squealed with joy to see them,
“finally”. Mike pointed out that it was, in fact, only seven in the morning,
but Oliver wasn’t having it.
As far as five year olds were concerned, that was like noon when it
came to Christmas.
Rupert and Callum, both of whom looked like they’d been hit by a
truck, hugged them hello and tried to shoo them into the living room to
get settled. Alexei ignored them, taking over the kitchen and barking
out demands for requests while Jayne snuggled Eleanor and Mike got
Eleanor’s new fathers settled on the couch.
“Long night?” he asked with a pitying smile.
“Yes, very. We hardly slept,” Callum said, rubbing his hand over his
eyes. Then he looked at Rupert, and they smiled at each other like it had
been the best night of their lives.
“Ugh. You guys are so gross,” Christian said as he flopped down
beside his dads and snuggled up under Callum’s arm.
Mike secretly agreed, but he thought that kind of gross was
awesome, so who was he to judge?
“Are we ready?” Oliver demanded from in front of the tree, his hands
on his hips and his expression making it perfectly clear he couldn’t
believe how slow they were all being.
Alexei came over and passed around coffee, orange juice, and slices
of coffee cake. As soon as he’d made sure everyone was going to be
properly fed, he dropped onto the couch next to Mike and tugged the
blanket over their legs. Mike leaned against his chest and settled in.
The Morrison family had a tradition where the youngest person
present for Christmas morning had to be “the elf”, so it fell to Oliver to
pick out the gifts, read the tags, and hand them out, one gift to each
person at a time.
Last year he’d looked supremely scandalized that his having learned
to read meant he had to work on Christmas morning, but then he’d
learned that this also meant he got to go first, and suddenly he’d been
on board with the plan.
Mike was on board with it the moment he’d realized he’d get to
spend all of Christmas morning curled up on the couch with Alexei. This
year it was even better, with Jayne up on his other side, their shoulders
bumping when they shared a joke or laughed at something the kids did.
He was touched to see that Rupert and Callum and the boys had all
picked out gifts for Jayne, and he could see she was, too.
“You have really nice friends,” she said.
“Not friends,” Mike explained. “Family.”
“I hope I’m still counted among that number.”
Alexei leaned over Mike. “Of course you are.”
“Of course you are,” Rupert repeated as he stepped over their legs en
route to the coffee maker.
He and Callum really did look as though they’d pulled an all-nighter.
Mike decided his and Alexei’s spontaneous additional Christmas gift
should be enforced naptime later. For the dads, at least, if not the kids.
As soon as it came time to open the “big presents”, Mike said exactly
that. Callum and Rupert looked so grateful, it was kind of pathetic. Mike
was glad he and Alexei would be here to help them get used to having a
newborn in the house. He looked at how Alexei smiled down at Eleanor,
tucked into the crook of his elbow, and hoped that someday Rupert and
Callum would be able to return the favor.
Though, Mike thought as he shifted against the couch cushions, still
able to feel some of the effects of their night with Erik, maybe not right
away. They still had some adventures to go on first, and were enjoying
being family to these children now.
He snapped out of his reverie when Alexei shifted against him and
stood. “Are you all ready for Mike’s and my big gift?” he asked.
“You mean the naps aren’t the big gift?” Callum asked.
“We have many big gifts for you this year,” Alexei promised, and
Mike looked at him curiously, since as far as he knew, there was only the
basketball court.
Which, unsurprisingly, the boys were absolutely ecstatic over as
soon as they reached the first floor.
Christian ran to the rack and grabbed a ball, then showed Oliver
how to dribble while the adults watched on, clinging to their coffee
mugs and smiling at the boys’ excited jabbering.
“Thank you,” Callum said, throwing his arm around Mike’s
shoulders.
“It’s meant to be for all of you, but I know it’s really more for the
boys.”
“I’ll enjoy it, too,” Callum promised. “When I’m not about to fall
asleep on my feet.”
“We have another gift for you and Rupert,” Alexei said, surprising no
one more than Mike. “One that I think you’ll get more use out of.”
Mike wondered what the heck he was talking about.
“We were going to build more apartments on the third floor,” Alexei
began, and Mike started to smile, immediately guessing where his
brilliant boyfriend was going. “But now I think instead, we should put a
staircase in your unit and build you and your growing family another
floor.”
“What?” Rupert asked, clearly stunned. Mike was a little alarmed to
see tears forming in his wide eyes.
Jesus Christ, the poor guy clearly needed some sleep. It was a nice
gift, an awesome one, even, but really.
Alexei continued quickly. “We can move your bedrooms downstairs
and add a few more,” he said, then eyed the boys and Eleanor. “Maybe
five total? ...Or six?” he asked when he saw how Callum smirked.
“We can convert Christian’s room back into an office. And what is
now Eleanor’s room would be the perfect place to put the staircase,”
Mike said, throwing out ideas as quickly as they came to him. He stared
off into the middle distance, rearranging the rooms in his head. He was
already excited to get started on the project. “And you can convert the
master bedroom into a guest suite, Callum, so that your parents don’t
have to navigate the stairs or bother with the elevator when they visit.”
Alexei grinned at Mike, and Mike smiled helplessly back. Until, that
is, Rupert gave out a hiccupping breath that was almost a sob.
Callum pulled Rupert in close, holding him against his chest, and
smiled apologetically. “Rupert sat up half the night rocking Eleanor,
worrying about what it will mean if we get to keep her.” He rubbed his
hand up and down Rupert’s back soothingly. “He thought we’d have to
move.”
“Oh,” Mike said, his heart dropping. “But, of course, if you want to
move, we—”
“No!” Rupert’s head came up and he smiled ruefully as they all got a
look at his red-rimmed eyes. “No, I don’t want to move. I mean, unless
you move with us.”
Alexei laughed. “Then, perhaps, staying here will be easier. We’ll
make sure you have all the room you need.”
Mike shrugged. “We won’t build out the second floor underneath
you, either. Just in case you need bedrooms seven through ten.”
Rupert actually blanched at that, but Callum just smiled. He was one
of seven children, and clearly he liked that idea just fine. Before Mike
could tease Rupert about it, though, Oliver managed to get a basket and
Christian let out a great whoop.
While the others were distracted by the kids, Mike hugged Alexei
tight and whispered, “You’re brilliant.”
Alexei squeezed him back. “How would you feel if we didn’t build
out the space below our apartment either? In case we need the space
later.”
Mike jerked back and looked at Alexei, his heart knocking against
his ribs. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Alexei said, his voice gruff.
Mike couldn’t stop smiling. That seemed to be sufficient answer for
Alexei.
Once the boys had burnt off some energy, they all trooped back
upstairs to open the rest of the presents. Rupert and Callum gave the
boys a trip to Disney World with their Mimi and Grandpa Morrison,
which set them off cheering and jumping around again. At this rate,
Mike figured, everyone would be napping after lunch.
At last all the gifts had been opened, and all that was left under the
tree was the envelope Mike had hidden amongst the piles of boxes
while Alexei had been out the night before. Oliver picked it up and held
it out to Alexei.
“It’s for you.”
“It is?” Alexei said, taking it from Oliver and looking puzzled when
he saw Mike’s handwriting on the front. He looked over at Mike.
“Another gift?”
It was sweet that Alexei honestly thought that all Mike had gotten
him was some new socks and a nail gun. They usually did at least one
bigger gift, but Mike knew Alexei would be fine if Mike didn’t do
anything else.
But Mike had. And he really, really hoped Alexei would be fine with
that, too.

Alexei looked down at the envelope in his hand, curious, until Mike
jumped to his feet and stood in front of the tree.
“Go ahead and open it,” Mike said with a smile.
Alexei studied Mike’s narrowed gaze, the twitch of his hands, and
wondered why Mike would possibly be nervous.
More than a little curious now, Alexei tore into the envelope. At first
he didn’t understand what he was seeing, though he recognized the
majestic building in the picture, of course. Everyone in Moscow knew
the Hotel Metropol—even Alexei, who hadn’t seen it in almost twenty
years.
Then Alexei shuffled the papers and two plane tickets landed on top.
Alexei slowly rose to his feet, his heart lodged somewhere in his
throat, stealing his voice.
Mike stepped closer, hovering in front of Alexei. “I know you’ve said
you’d never go back, but—”
Alexei shook his head, because he couldn’t believe Mike had done
this. He reached out and curled his hand around Mike’s arm, trying to
find the right words to express everything he was feeling. Mike frowned
down at the papers now clutched in Alexei’s hand.
“We don’t have to go if you really don’t want to, of course,” Mike said
quietly. “But I called the Russian consulate in Montreal, and they said
there would be no issues getting a visa, even though you renounced
your Russian citizenship when you became a Canadian citizen, and I
know we’ll have to be careful because of those awful laws, but…” Mike
finally looked at Alexei. “I want to see where you grew up. I want to eat
the food, and hear the music, and I want to see where you fell and
scraped your knee as a kid, and go to the museums you always talk
about. I want to sit in the park and play chess and hear what it sounds
like to be surrounded by people speaking your language. I want to take
you home.”
Alexei blinked furiously against the stinging in his eyes. This man,
who had barely been more than a boy when they’d first met, who had
terrified him with his unique mixture of fierce independence and a
soul-deep need for submission, had become everything.
“You are my home, Michael,” Alexei said, his voice gruff. “But I will
show you all those places. I want you to see them, too.”
Mike blinked, a smile blooming on his face. “So this is okay?”
“Of course it’s okay,” Alexei said, giving in and kissing Mike softly.
“This is the best Christmas present ever.”
Mike laughed, but it was kind of damp. Alexei pulled him in close,
holding him tightly enough that it was difficult for either of them to
breathe.
What the hell had he ever done to deserve this man?
Alexei had no idea. But he did know, he never, ever, wanted to lose
him. And there was no way in hell he was waiting for the New Year to
make sure Mike knew it.
“Michael, I still have one more gift to give you, too.”
“You do?” Mike asked, clearly surprised but pleased.
Mike’s smile fell, replaced by wide-eyed shock, when Alexei dropped
to one knee before him. Alexei passed the paperwork he still clutched
over to Oliver, then tucked his hand into his pocket, taking one of Mike’s
hands in his other.
“Michael, until I met you, I thought I knew what love was, but I was
wrong. You are my heart, my best friend, my partner in business and in
life. There is no one I would rather spend my life with, play hockey with,
argue with, or grow old with.”
He pulled his hand from his pocket and presented the two rings
threaded over his index finger. Mike reached out with a shaking hand to
brush his finger over them both, tears rolling down his cheeks.
“Will you do me the honor of being my husband?” Alexei asked, his
voice little more than a scratch.
“Oh my god, yes.”
Everyone whooped, but Alexei could look only at Mike as he slowly
rose to his feet. Mike grabbed his elbows and steadied him when his
hips and knees protested, a grin on his face. As soon as Alexei was
stable, Mike took the rings and slid one onto Alexei’s finger, then the
other onto his own.
Alexei kissed him, once, fiercely, then gathered him into a hug. Mike
buried his face against Alexei’s neck and clung, and Alexei could feel
how he shook, felt the tears on his neck.
A moment before their family piled on top of them, he pressed his
lips to Mike’s ear and whispered, “And you thought I gave you Erik’s dick
for Christmas.”
Mike’s snort was muffled by Alexei’s shoulder and then they were
both laughing, perhaps a little hysterically, as they accepted hugs and
kisses and congratulations from the people they loved most.

OceanofPDF.com
About the Author

Samantha Wayland has three great loves in life; her family, writing
books, and hockey. She is often found apologizing to the first for how
much time and attention is taken up by the latter two, but they forgive
her because they are awesome and she clearly doesn’t deserve them.
Sam lives with her family—of both the two and four-legged variety
—outside of Boston. She is a wicked passionate New Englander (born
and raised) who has been known to wax rhapsodic about the Maine
Coast, the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont, and the sensible
way in which her local brethren don’t see a need for directional signals
(blinkahs!). When she’s not locked away in her home office, she can
generally be found tucked in the corner of the local Thai place with
other socially-starved authors and an adult beverage.
Her favorite things include mango martinis, tiny Chihuahuas with
big attitude problems, and the Oxford comma.
Sam loves to hear from readers. Email her at
[email protected] or find her on Facebook or Twitter
(@samwayland).
OceanofPDF.com
Also by Samantha Wayland

With Grace

A man yearning to explore his sexual tastes but afraid to turn up the
heat, the woman who loves him but is hungry for more spice…and the
chef who craves them both.

When Grace, Philip and Mark find a mobster's flash drive full of
incriminating information, they are quickly embroiled in a dangerous
situation. They stay together for safety, but proximity ignites the sparks
they've long been fighting to ignore.

When three friends dare to succumb to their appetites, they find the
perfect recipe for love.

Destiny Calls

Patrick didn't think it would be a big deal to kiss Brandon, his best
friend and fellow police officer. Hell, they'd done crazier things to
escape a bar fight. But then he had no way of knowing just how hot it
would be.

Destiny Matthews is not a woman who is afraid to ask for what she
wants, and when she sees her two best friends kissing, she knows just
what she's going to ask for. Before she can convince Patrick that he's not
as straight as he likes to protest, Brandon is attacked by an unknown
enemy.
While they fight to protect each other's lives, they prove time and
again that they're even better at protecting their own hearts.

Fair Play
Hat Trick Book One

Savannah Morrison is the new athletic trainer for the Moncton Ice
Cats, a professional hockey team in the wilds of New Brunswick. It’s a
good thing she’s got plenty of knowledge and grit, because as the only
woman trainer in the league, she has to work twice as hard to win the
players’ respect. The last thing on earth she would do is date one of
them.

Twelve year hockey veteran Garrick LeBlanc isn’t ready to hang up

his skates, particularly since he hasn’t figured out what the hell he’s
planning to do next. He needs the new trainer to keep him fit to play,
and she’s got the skills to do it. Too bad he lost his mind and hit on her
the day they met. Now she hates his guts and he’s made an art of
ignoring her.

When the team is put up for sale, Garrick and Savannah have to
work together to save their jobs and their team. Somewhere along the
way, they discover Garrick isn’t just a hockey player, Savannah isn’t only
passionate about her work, and just maybe they’ve got more in
common than they thought.

Two Man Advantage

Hat Trick Book Two
Rhian is working his way up the ranks of professional hockey, with
the dream of making it to the NHL getting closer every day. He’s doing it
alone—no family, no friends—and that’s the way he likes it. Then he
arrives in New Brunswick, and meets the Moncton Ice Cats. Suddenly,
he’s got friends—and even something that might be an honest-to-god
crush.

Garrick is lonely and counting the days until his last season with the
Ice Cats is over and he can move to Boston. When his girlfriend suggests
he take a lover—as long that lover is a man and Garrick tells her all
about it—he laughs it off. But damned if his buddy Rhian doesn’t take
on the starring role in his fantasies. Good thing Rhian is way too young
—and straight—for what Garrick has in mind.

Rhian takes a chance when Garrick’s increasingly confusing signals

start making sense, and soon discovers he’s bitten off more than he can
chew. Sex with strangers is simple. Sex with his best friend?
Complicated.

End Game
Hat Trick Book Three

Garrick LeBlanc never intended to fall in love with two people, but
he has, and now he has to figure out what to do about it. He wants to
make them happy, but is afraid he’s doing just the opposite. To make
matters worse, he’s trapped in New Brunswick until the end of the
hockey season, while his lovers are both in Boston.

Savannah Morrison has no one but herself to blame for practically

shoving her lover into the arms of another man. After all, it was her idea
that Garrick take a lover while they are separated for the season. She
loves Garrick with all her heart, but how the hell is she going to share
him with Rhian?

Rhian Savage used to have such a simple life. Now he’s in love, his
dreams of skating on an NHL team are coming true, and he keeps
spotting a strangely familiar face in the crowds. To top it all off, he has
to see Savannah every day. He knows she’s Garrick’s real future, but he
doesn’t have the balls to do the right thing for all of them and end it—
until his life goes sideways. As usual.

Now Rhian is alone, Garrick is heartbroken, and Savannah—the one

person Rhian figured would celebrate his departure—is beating down
his door. What the hell is up with that?

Crashing the Net

Mike comes to Moncton wanting nothing more than to play for the
Ice Cats and finally live on his own terms. He’s broke, bruised, and
covered from head to toe in cheap lube, but he isn’t going to let that
stop him. All he needs is a place to live and some time to figure out how
to reconcile who he really is with who everyonewants him to be.

Dumping three gallons of lube on the new kid is just another day at
the office for Alexei. He knows exactly who he is: a goalie on the ice, a
prankster in the locker room, and a man who knows better than to
share his private life with anyone. He’s let people in before and it’s
taught him that if he can’t have what he really wants, it’s better to be
alone.

Despite their apparent differences, an unlikely friendship grows.

Neither of them could ever have guessed how much they really have in
common.
Home & Away

You can build a team, but you have to find your home.

Rupert Smythe is fond of many things. Callum Morrison isn’t one of

them.

Rupert is a quiet, thoughtful business man and, sadly, a total wimp.

Maybe not the ideal candidate to run a professional hockey team, but he
signed on to do it anyway. As his life has reminded him on an almost
daily basis since, this isn’t the most brilliant idea he’s ever had. And that
was before Callum showed up.

Being in the spotlight is just part of being a professional athlete, but

Callum needs a break. He arrives in Moncton unannounced, determined
to help grow the team he just bought, and under the assumption he’d
be welcome. Possibly he should have tried to make a better first
impression.

Callum figures he can push through the rest of the summer, never
expecting two kids, a host of friends, and his growing feelings for
Rupert to derail everything he has ever believed about what he wanted,
and what he could have.

Out of Her League

Lachlan Morrison’s family likes to tell people that he’s shy, but that’s
like saying the sky is sort of blue, or good hockey is just a little bit
rough. Lachlan knows perfectly well he’s a social disaster and works
hard to humiliate himself as infrequently as possible.

Then Michaela Price, the most beautiful woman he’s ever laid eyes
on, moves to town, and she needs a friend.

Michaela knows she’s no prize. As a nationally-known disgrace,

she’s pretty used to being stared at and having to chase photographers
off the neighbors' roofs. She wouldn’t wish her life on anyone, and
certainly has no intention of inflicting herself on poor Lachlan
Morrison, who literally cannot speak in her presence.

But then, going back to school isn’t what she expected. It turns out
her new life is just as lonely as the old version, and she only knows one
person in town.
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