There’s Mood Lighting
Beck
I’m kind of drunk, and I never get drunk, so I’d forgotten how it makes the world feel squishy. Rigsy’s gone home already, and the Cougars have started leaving as well. They have morning skate tomorrow.
I’m almost too tired to peel myself off this wall and get a rideshare. Meanwhile, there’s some hot guy from UC Boulder leaning over me, telling me about his favorite new gym routine. He’s boring as hell, and I’ve already stopped listening. He’s so close to me, I can see the flecks of gold in his hazel eyes.
And then suddenly he isn’t there anymore.
“S’cuse me,” says Forest’s gruff voice. “But Beck already knows how to maximize his glute engagement, thanks.”
Forest slides in beside me, his hand settling on the small of my back like it lives there. And I go from mildly buzzed to fully feral in under three seconds.
“Sweetheart,” he purrs. “You about ready to get out of here?”
I’m so stunned that it takes me a second to organize my brain cells into speech. “Did you just…” Call me sweetheart in public? It’s such an outrageous idea that I don’t say it out loud. “Did you just scare off a guy who was chatting me up?”
“Yes, I did,” he growls. “Something wrong with that?”
“No,” I say immediately. Then I suddenly remember I’m supposed to be holding a grudge. “Actually, I’m still mad at you. Even if that was kinda hot. Never thought I’d live to see the day.”
“Yeah, about that.” He studies me with his dark eyes. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a dumbass. Meeting you is the best thing that happened to me in a long time. And from here on out, I’m going to make sure you always know that.”
My mind is kind of blown, and the weird vodka Stoney poured me isn’t helping. “So… All I had to do was get called up by the Cougars, and now I’m your favorite?”
Forest groans. “No, Beck. It’s exactly the opposite. The fact that you have so much potential scares the hell out of me. I never wanted to feel like you settled for me, when you could have anyone.”
I run the backs of my knuckles through his beard and think that over. “When did I ever give you the impression that I was settling? You’ve been, like, goals since the first time you ever poured me a beer. You’re all I really need. Well, you, a lot of protein, and ten hours of sleep at night. But mostly you.”
His brown eyes soften. He catches my hand in his and kisses my knuckles. “I’ve been a moron. How can I make it up to you?”
This requires some thought. “Well, sexually?”
He laughs. “That’s not what I meant. But sure.”
“Hmm.” I lean in and whisper, “They let me keep the jersey. You could fuck me in it.”
I get a warm chuckle and a kiss on my jaw. “Want to get out of here? I’ll drive you home.”
“Oh, definitely. Not home, though. The Cougars got me a Denver hotel room and it’s… Okay, listen. It’s at the Four Seasons, and it has a bed that takes up an entire zip code, and the shower has three heads and a bench. There’s mood lighting I didn’t even set. It just knew. So yeah. Take me there. Wreck me in a room with a really expensive mini bar.”
His eyes flare. “You’re on. Say goodnight to your coach, okay? And then meet me outside in my truck.”
“Wow, this room,” Forest says as we enter my plush lair at the Four Seasons.
“I know, right?” I slur. It’s late, and I’m dead on my feet. But Forest is here, and my dick is suddenly very aware of that fact. I toss my suit jacket at a chair and lean over to untie my shoes.
As soon as they’re off, I look around for Forest, hoping to find him naked. Sadly, he’s still fully dressed. He’s sitting on the side of the bed, strong forearms propped onto his knees, and he’s watching me with a fond expression.
“What are you waiting for?” I demand, unbuttoning my shirt. “This bed must be tested. Explored. Put through its paces.”
A slow grin overtakes his face, and it reminds me that I can’t wait to feel his beard on my balls. “I missed you. The way you speak your mind. And your oddball commentary.”
“What about this?” I turn around and drop my trouser pants and briefs in one go, showing him my ass. “Did you miss this?”
“You know I did. That was never my issue.”
I feel pretty good about that as I stumble out of the rest of my clothes. Forest removes his own in about half the time, and peels back the covers on the aircraft-carrier-size bed. Then he lays down, the white bedding pulled up to his slim hips, all his ink on display. And that broad chest, with just the right amount of fur on it? Honestly, it’s so distracting that I have trouble getting my last sock off. But I manage it and then dive into bed with him.
