Teddy had grown up at the Mineral Spirits Ice Palace—a small rink on the outskirts of town that hosted peewee hockey, would-be figure skaters, rec leagues, seniors on skates, and a host of other community events and classes. One of his earliest memories was watching Fred and Charlie in a hockey game, bundled up in a frog hat and mittens his mom had knitted because the place was so drafty, Rhonda there with her mom, daring him to jump from bleacher to bleacher.
He still had the scar on his shin from that day and a place in his heart for the Ice Palace. Honestly, with the snow forecast, they probably should have canceled the New Year’s hockey game and party, and indeed, the turnout was sparse with a lot of people opting to stay in ahead of the snow rolling in. Teddy’s parents were among those hunkering down, his dad expecting another call-out by morning. Charlie too, had decided to stay in for a sane bedtime for his brood over the party. But still, they had enough players for a round of four-on-four with a small but hearty cheering section. A number of people had brought sleeping bags and camping gear in case the weather worsened and they all had to sleep over at the rink.
The game was a good distraction from the fact that it had been over twenty-four hours since he’d had a text from Nick. Was Florida that much fun? Had he forgotten about Teddy already? Was he regretting giving Teddy the travel voucher? Didn’t matter. Teddy gave himself an internal shake. He had a plan now, and he was going to see it through, no matter if his stubborn sergeant major was busy moving on or not.
The score stayed tied at 2-2 for a long time, players starting to complain about the game dragging on and them being ready for the drinking-and-snacks portion of the evening. But Rhonda was a rules stickler, and she insisted on playing it out in a facsimile of sudden death overtime. She was on the opposite team to Teddy and her defensive presence meant that even getting a shot off was tricky. Teddy passed up several dicey chances to score, before a new resolve came over him. Why shouldn’t he take his shot? It was like this thing with Nick. No risk, no reward. And yeah, maybe the Teddy of a month ago would have let Rhonda win with no complaints, but this Teddy was out to prove he had a backbone and knew how to use it. This Teddy took risks and laughed at odds stacked against him.
Thus, the next time he got a good look at the goal, even though Rhonda was barreling down on him and the goalie looked ready to thwart him, he shot anyway, aiming to slip the puck past both of them. And…
“Teddy! I was supposed to win.” Rhonda groaned and took off her helmet, shaking her curly hair free. “Nicely done.”
“Man, I did not think you were going to shoot it,” the goalie complained, removing her mask as they skated toward the boards. “It’s time to drink, right?”
“Ri—” Teddy started to answer her, then stopped as he got a good look at the small group of friends and family watching them. There. In the back of the bleachers, behind a pack of cousins, lurked a hulk of a man Teddy would recognize anywhere. “Nick.”
“Huh. Look at that.” Rhonda followed his gaze. “Guess someone’s getting kissed at midnight after all.”
“You knew,” he accused. “Did you guilt him into coming?”
Hell. The only thing worse than Nick not being there would be Nick there against his will, there out of some misguided sense of sense of duty. He totally wouldn’t put such a guilt trip past Rhonda, and the last thing he needed was her messing in this…whatever he and Nick had going.
“Nope.” Rhonda gave him what he supposed was intended to be an innocent look but failed miserably. They exited the ice, and he had to force himself to not run to Nick, demand answers. Instead, he followed Rhonda’s lead, sitting on a bench right off the ice to remove his skates. He wasn’t going to ruin his only pair of skates just because Rhonda had orchestrated—
“Hi.” And then Nick was there, right behind him. Big hand on Teddy’s shoulder, warm even despite the chill of the arena.
“Rhonda put you up to this.” Crap. He sounded far more petulant than he’d intended.
“Not really.” Nick came around to crouch in front of him. He was wearing the same absurdly light coat he’d had when they’d first met. His real winter gear was all back at Teddy’s waiting for donation. Another reminder that he didn’t belong here, that even if he’d appeared, it was sure to be transitory. “She said you needed someone to kiss at midnight, but I was already well on my way to my own conclusion about that. God, I missed you, Teddy. So much.”
“I missed you too.” Teddy’s voice came out soft and breathy. “Can’t believe you came all this way just for New Year’s Eve.”
“I came for you.” Nick squeezed his hands. “Came to watch you make that goal. Damn, that was something. Might have to reconsider my opinion on hockey.”
“You came all this way for a goal?” His tongue felt thick and cumbersome in his mouth.
“I’d go to the North Pole and back for you.”
“I—”
“Hey, guys! It’s almost midnight! Come get something to toast with!” Rhonda called. Groaning, Teddy stood, giving Nick a hand up. He really didn’t want to share Nick with the rest of the crowd, but he reluctantly made his way to the party room—the same space with a few card tables and metal folding chairs where he’d turned ten. He grabbed sodas for him and Nick—he was already making plans to get out of there fast, and he wanted a clear head to drive. Rhonda passed out noisemakers as the goalie helped open bags of chips and other snacks. A combo New Year’s and birthday cake sat in the center of the table.
And him? All he seemed able to do was stare at Nick in dumb amazement, still not believing he was there, really there right in front of him.
A spirited chorus of “Auld Lang Syne” broke out in the back of the room as other people counted down in unison with the ball drop on the TV in the corner.
“Five…four…three…”
“Nick—” Crap. There was so much he needed to say to Nick. But time was ticking off, too much chaos around them to get the right words out.
“Two…one… Happy New Year!”
Nick had said he’d come to kiss Teddy, so Nick deftly plucking the soda from Teddy’s hand and setting it on a nearby table before pulling him close shouldn’t have surprised him. Nevertheless, he gasped at the contact of their torsos, whole body shaking like he was fifteen again, never been kissed. And when Nick bent, head coming down so that their lips met in a gentle kiss, all he could do was clutch at Nick’s shoulders.
“Happy New Year, Teddy,” Nick breathed against his mouth. “And happy birthday. Make a wish.”
Oh, how Teddy wished. He knew he wasn’t likely to get his dearest wish, but that didn’t stop him from dreaming. Nick was here, and that had to count for something. He’d come all this way for him. He had to want more than just some vague friendship, right? So Teddy wished, kissing Nick back, trying to put every hope into the gesture.
“Tell me we can get out of here.” Breathing hard, Nick pulled away enough to speak. “I want to beat the worst of this latest round of snow back to your place.”
“We can do that.” Teddy knew it was rude, making his goodbyes before the cake was cut, but no one seemed to care, Rhonda laughingly shoving them in the direction of the door.
“Go. I bet most of us end up having a sleepover here. You don’t want to get snowed in.”
Yes, I do. There was no one Teddy would rather get snowed in with than this man right here, but he’d rather be trapped closer to a bed, maybe burrow in, not come out until spring. It was fanciful thinking, of course, but Nick had said to wish. So as he gathered up his things and bundled up for the weather, he wished. And hoped.
The whole way to his house, he watched Nick’s headlights in his rearview mirror, still not believing he was really there.
But there was no mistaking the hard body crowding into his as he let them into the cottage. And then Nick was crowding them against the kitchen wall, kissing him again, deeper this time, mouth claiming him like he never intended to let Teddy up for air. He shoved both their coats off, a pile of outerwear building up next to them on the tile floor in between kisses.
“Teddy.” Nick said his name reverently as he yanked up Teddy’s sweatshirt, hand warm against Teddy’s stomach, fingers already toying with Teddy’s waistband.
“Whoa.” Teddy tried to slow him down with a hand on Nick’s shoulder, but all that seemed to do was spur Nick on, sending him to his knees in front of Teddy. “Hey, what happened to going slow, Sergeant Major I Take My Time?”
“Slow later.” Nick freed Teddy’s cock with practiced fingers that had Teddy groaning. “Missed you too much.”
Nick had blown him before, but not like this, not all hot and frantic and on his knees in front of Teddy in the middle of the kitchen. The novelty of the spectacle had Teddy close to the edge before Nick even got his mouth on Teddy’s cock. And true to his words, Nick didn’t go for subtlety or teasing, instead setting a hard, deep rhythm with lots of the tongue action guaranteed to have Teddy clawing at the wall behind him.
“Nick.” So much he needed to say. So much he wanted to do. But he was powerless against the onslaught of Nick’s mouth and hands urging him on. “Fuck. You don’t play fair.”
“Nope.” Nick gave him an unrepentant grin before resuming his torture.
“Not gonna last,” Teddy warned, finally giving in, settling a hand on Nick’s hair, which felt longer than when he’d last touched it even as the mouth pleasuring him was blissfully familiar.
“Do it. Wanna taste it.” Nick used the flat of his tongue to work the sensitive spot on the underside of Teddy’s cock, making him moan and gasp.
“Want something for you too,” Teddy protested. “Let—”
“This is,” Nick said firmly. “Gimme.”
Nick moaning around his cock shredded the last of Teddy’s resolve. This big man of his, so powerful and commanding, on his knees, all Teddy’s, even if just for the night. It was too much, the hot suction and hotter emotions pushing him ever closer to release. His hips lost control, thrusting artlessly, but Nick kept right up with him, sucking hard, hands pulling Teddy even deeper. He made a low desperate noise that pushed Teddy right over the edge, sent him spiraling into an orgasm that felt every bit as shocking as a Polar Plunge—like every nerve ending was blown out, leaving his insides swept clean, making it hard to focus on anything other than this experience.
Knees no longer able to hold him, he sank down next to Nick, rested his head on Nick’s shoulder for long breaths until he could speak again.
“Holy hell. Not sure what you were after there, but feel free to do that again sometime.” Feel free to show up again. Ah, there it was, rational thought returning, bringing with it the melancholy of knowing this couldn’t possibly last.
“Was after you.” Nick lowered his head for a kiss. He tasted vaguely of spunk, but knowing he’d done that for Teddy was enough to get his motor racing all over again. “Came for you.”
“I was coming too.”
“I know.” Nick’s voice was warm and rich.
“I don’t mean the orgasm.” Teddy shoved at his shoulder. “I was coming. To you. I was going to use the ticket voucher. I was going to come. Soon. Wasn’t going to wait for winter break. Was going to come, tell you that I want us to give this a real shot, and that I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. Long-distance. Investigating Florida jobs. Anything. I was going to come and not let you go.”
Nick took an agonizingly long time to reply. Finally, his forehead wrinkled. “But…why?”
Teddy took a deep breath. Here was the biggest risk of all and he was going to take it. “Because I love you. And I think you love me too, if you’d just let yourself see it.”