My Goal
Page 8
"Just a little Christmas present."
"Little! It's not that little. Call it a good size." Carlos protested. "As I said, you'd never have managed something much larger. Not in one night."
"Stop it, please. My ears are about to bleed," Mark protested.
Alex grinned.
"A bigger Lego set. He'd never finish building it in a one-night hotel stop-over." Carlos explained.
"Lego! You are talking about Lego?"
"Yeah. That's what I got Harry for Christmas, one of the latest Star Wars Lego sets. Why what did you think we were talking about?"
More quietly, just for Harry's ears, Carlos said, "I know it was a gift from me to you, or at least that's what it said on the label. But we both know it was a gift from me to us."
Harry had noticed Carlos often talked about them as "us."
He'd noticed a lot of things in the last couple of weeks, since they'd kissed, since he discovered Carlos was into guys and into Harry. Like when they hung out together, which was just about all the time, they got along exceptionally well.
In Carlos's company Harry felt as ease, not guarded or on edge. He didn't feel threatened, as if he'd have to hide his real self. It wasn't just because of what he now knew. Carlos hadn't changed; he'd always put Harry at ease.
Before Harry got to know him, his impression of Carlos was of an arrogant loudmouth, as portrayed in the media. Over the months since Carlos joined the club, Harry had seen a very different person: a considerate, generous, and thoughtful man. Carlos wooed and seduced everyone he met. Harry's mother already adored him, even though Carlos had proudly presented her a picture of his gay brother when they first met.
Things left unsaid hung between them. It had taken time, and Carlos hadn't pushed him, and now Harry had some answers.
CARLOS
Carlos had been drinking, and he suspected his brain was in no state to study the drawings and find the correct tiny pieces required for the Lego marathon that seemed like such a good idea much earlier in the day. After dinner, Carlos had hit the bar for Christmas drinks with a few of the guys. It seemed a good idea at the time, but the drinks kept coming and the time kept passing.
He had no idea where Harry went when the team broke up into different crowds. A group went to use the spa, which also sounded appealing. The usual suspects would have retreated to one of the suites for a mega gambling session.
They'd only been larking about on the journey to the hotel about building Lego for the night, Carlos now hoped. He didn't want to let Harry down, but it's not as if they were boyfriends or anything. Sod it. Carlos was drunk and frustrated. He'd laid his cards on the table for Harry two weeks ago, and Harry had come back with nothing and left him hanging there.
Damn it. Harry had no right to expect Carlos's company at every night hotel stop over, even though they had spent almost every evening on the road together in the past. Carlos felt horny, and his cock had seen no action other than his own hand for months. There was nothing he could do about that tonight, but tomorrow night, after the match, anything could happen. Carlos just knew the dry spell had to come to an end.
But he liked Harry, and first and foremost he wanted him, so before heading to his room he decided to knock on Harry's door. There was no sound coming from inside and no answer. He could be in another player's room or anywhere. Carlos thought he might send him a text once he was in his own bed. He was just about to walk along the corridor to his suite when Harry's door opened just a few inches. It was dark inside. Harry appeared looking as if he'd just been woken up.
"Oh, it's you," Harry said.
"Sorry, I didn't know you'd be asleep."
"Come in." Harry swung the door open wide.
The room was in darkness. Why was he inviting Carlos in? His alcohol-infused brain didn't ponder this question. Harry walked in and kicked off his shoes as was the habit whenever he joined Harry in a hotel room. From the light in the hallway, he could see the Lego box on the table. But the door was shut and the room was plunged into darkness. Carlos remained still. A moment later lights flickered on, and Harry's arms were around him.
"It's too late to build Lego, and I was almost asleep."
"And now?"
"And now, I'd like to pick up where we left off a couple of weeks ago." Harry's mouth moved to Carlos's cheek, where he planted one kiss after another.
It was a temptation Carlos couldn't resist.
Carlos wrapped his arms around Harry. "There is no sofa in this room."
"We can canoodle on the bed. But I'm still not the kind of guy who sleeps around."
"I know that. I never thought you were."
HARRY
Harry and Carlos had visited each other's hotel rooms the night before every match since September. With nerves and excitement, Harry had paced his room for two hours thinking about the things he wanted to say, but probably wouldn't, and that he'd like to do, but probably couldn't.
After a terrific Christmas together, Harry thought he just might get his shit together. He was surprised that it got later and later and Carlos didn't show up. But fate typically conspired against him like that. It was all so daunting, so it was with relief that he undressed and got into bed alone.
Yet, here was Carlos, like a gift from the gods. And Harry didn't know what to do with him.
Carlos undid a few buttons on his shirt and pulled it over his head, dropping it to the floor. As he did this, Harry realized that in his half-asleep state he'd opened the door wearing only boxer briefs. He had no problem being around his fellow football players dressed in so little, but this was the first time he'd invited one to his bed.
Unless he stopped Carlos there and then and put some clothes on, there was going to be a lot of skin-to-skin contact. That's what most people would expect, but it was way too fast for Harry. At least his mind thought so. His swelling dick was full of oh yes, let's go.
Carlos's hands moved to take off his pants, but he looked at Harry as if asking for permission.
Harry shrugged and then nodded. This wasn't how he imagined the evening going, but why not?
He retreated to the bed and pulled the duvet over himself. Carlos followed. Soon they were wrapped around each other, and there was no question of whether this was a good idea.
Harry ran his hands over Carlos's chest and felt the muscles in his shoulders, while their mouths locked together in a kiss that tasted of alcohol and passion. Their bodies instinctively found a way to press together stomach to stomach, with legs entwined, and groin grinding against groin.
Carlos's hands did things Harry didn't know were possible. Carlos touched him, but it was how he touched him: gentle, firm, tight. He made Harry feel special, sexy, as if he was the only man that mattered all at once. Harry hadn't imagined them getting naked together so soon, but when Carlos's hand slipped inside Harry's boxers, the progression was inevitable.
Harry didn't want to stop. He slipped his hand inside the elastic waistband of Carlos's briefs and released his magnificent dick. It was thick and long and felt heavier than Harry expected.
Having never done anything like this before, Harry was close to coming from the start. With a man's cock in his hand and Carlos stroking his, he was only seconds from exploding.
It was as if nature intended them to be together. The whimpers and moans of both men broke the silence in the room.
"I'm going to…"
"Yes, come for me, babe," Carlos replied.
As if the words were magic, Harry came over himself and Carlos and the bed. This was followed immediately by Carlos.
Harry was nearest to the ensuite, so he got out of bed and went to get a bath towel to clean up. He slipped back between the sheets next to Carlos, where they cuddled and soon fell asleep together.
They awoke early.
Carlos got out of bed and went to use the bathroom. When he returned, he stood in front of the bathroom door, posing with his hand stroking his semi-erect cock.
It was the first time Harry
had seen Carlos naked. And he highly approved. The previous night they'd stayed between the sheets; in the locker rooms and showers at football Harry never looked.
"I need a shower," said Carlos. "Do you want to join me? It's not unusual for footballers to shower together."
"It is if they're in a hotel room."
Harry slipped out of bed. He needed a shower too, and he wasn't going to turn down this invitation. With his teammates, he always made a point of not looking below shoulder level when the guys were naked. Today, he intended to make an exception.
With the water cascading over both of them, Carlos on his knees licking the end of Harry's dick was a sight he was pleased to see. He could barely keep his eyes open when Carlos sucked the head and the length of the shaft deep into his mouth. When Carlos suggested a relationship, if this was part of the bargain, there was no way Harry could turn him down.
Words couldn't express how Harry felt about Carlos and the things they did together in that hotel room. But joyful emotions threatened to overwhelm him.
Still damp, they fell back to sleep on the bed.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
December
HARRY
The second time they woke they both knew they were in trouble. The clock indicated they were late for breakfast. All of the teammates must be up. But it was the sound of knocking at the bedroom door that was the most ominous.
There was a persistent knocking, and then he heard his name. "Harry! Are you awake? Is Carlos with you?"
Why the fuck would he ask that?
It was the voice of Eric, the team captain. Would they be reported to the club manager?
They looked at each other in horror. They hadn't discussed what trouble they could be in if discovered.
Carlos pulled the covers up over their heads. "Is there a rule about not having sex with a teammate on the night before a match?"
He grinned as if no matter what shit happened, no one could take last night away from them.
Harry couldn't help but giggle. "This isn't the time to find out."
The knocking stopped, which was even more alarming because what next? Would someone get a key and break in?
"I don't care who knows about us. If there is an 'us' to know about."
Harry hadn't committed himself, and this wasn't the time for that conversation.
Carlos slipped out of bed and quietly gathered up his things.
"I will get in the shower; you can say I crashed here because we fell asleep watching TV." It sounded plausible.
There was a new voice at the door.
"Harry, you and Carlos didn't make breakfast. Are you okay?" It was Jason's voice.
Harry moved quickly into his boxer shorts on the way to the door and opened it to speak to Jason and deliver the alibi Carlos provided.
"The two of you overslept?" Jason looked up and down the corridor, stepped closer to the door, and lowered his voice. "After watching films late together." Jason tilted his head to one side and raised his eyebrows. "It's not like the two of you to miss breakfast, and you are always together. Whatever you are doing, you know people will talk."
"So we're not in trouble then?"
"No, Eric and I just wanted to make sure you're both alive. We all got worried when you missed breakfast." Jason paused and glanced up and down the corridor again. "When it's the two of you together, you know how he looks at you. Other guys will notice, and they will talk."
"Hold on." Harry opened the door and beckoned Jason in. "What do you mean how he looks at me?"
Jason looked towards the bathroom from where the sound of the shower flowed, evidently in use. "He looks like he wants to have you for breakfast if he hasn't already."
Harry grinned. "I'll keep that in mind." And he wondered if Jason would know the answer to the question Carlos had asked to him in bed only a few minutes earlier.
CARLOS
Birmingham South City suffered a humiliating defeat on Boxing Day. The team played like shit. The fans were pissed off.
The players were subjected to a severe dressing down by the manager. "Every man who stepped foot on the pitch was an embarrassment to BSC."
Using robust language, he went on to deliver smart comments, constructive criticism, and genuine insights in the locker room. He also let loose a cacophony of abuse. And a whole swath of insults was directed just at Jason and Carlos, the most expensive players on the team, who hadn't earned their salary that day.
Carlos recognized that he underperformed on the pitch. He sat and listened to it, just like every man there.
When the manager and assistant coach finally left the locker room, the men began to get changed in subdued silence. Then a small group of players became vocal.
"Carter, Garcia. Next time we stay in a hotel, you two need to get your dicks out of each other's asses and support the team."
"Yeah. Stop fucking each other in the morning and get with the team for breakfast."
Banter such as this was like water off a duck's back to Carlos, but he was horrified to hear quiet and respectable Harry subjected to such comments.
"Leave it, guys." Eric, the team captain, stepped in to pacify the vocal players when Harry and Carlos didn't respond. Harry grabbed his stuff and went towards the showers.
Alex rounded on Eric, pointing in the direction of Carlos as he spoke. "That's not what they put us up in a hotel for. It's bad enough we have them all gooey eyed at each other in the gym and training. And listening to their sex conversations on the bus."
"That right." Frazer joined in with Alex, directing his speech toward Eric. "I don't get to bring my girlfriend to our hotels and shag all night so I'm too tired to perform on the pitch."
Carlos clenched his fist and dropped his shower kit back in his bag.
"If their faggoting around is going to cost us games, then it's gone too far. Someone needs to split them up," said Alex.
It's none of your goddamn business, Carlos thought and turned to face Alex. He would have hit him after saying something, but Frazer spoke first.
"What's the matter with you today, Garcia? Did Carter shag you so hard he ruined you for football?"
There was no need for words when Carlos's fist connected with Frazer's jaw so fast he didn't see it coming.
Frazer staggered backward. A hand shot up to his face, and his eyes looked wide with amazement. "You fucking crazy fag!"
One of the other players got between Carlos and Frazer and led Frazer away. Carlos heard him saying, "You asked for that. You can't say stuff like that to a guy without expecting him to hit you."
Alex stepped back several paces with his hands up in the air.
"If anyone's got something reasonable to say, then say it, but I'm not here to listen to abuse about myself or my friends from any of you lot." Carlos turned to his bag and rummaged among his things, not doing anything but trying to look busy.
Jason approached him and put a friendly hand on his shoulder. "Not everyone thinks like they do, Carlos. Ignore them."
Ultimately, he couldn't give two flying fucks what the manager or anyone else at BSC thought about Harry and him. Carlos had already amassed such wealth that he never had to play football again. So one bad day at work or one lost game was not going to ruin his mood.
Unfortunately, the same was not true for the rest of the team. Some of them still strived to make a better name for themselves. Some of them made such bad investment decisions or gambled all their money away that they were not prepared for the day when no one would pay them to play football.
The team was subdued on the bus journey back to Birmingham, except nothing that day could dampen down the feel-good factor that burned inside of Carlos. He was going home with Harry, and after last night all the signs were good.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
January
HARRY
"Happy New Year, Harry."
"Happy New Year to you too, Scott. You're up early for New Year's Day. Weren't you out celebrating late last night?"
"It was just gone midnight, but I didn't stay out late. What about you? Were you celebrating all night?"
"I don't know what you think goes on in these hotels, Scott. I can assure you it's very dull, and we're just getting ready for work."
"How are things going with Carlos?"
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Since we moved out, it sounds like you spend all your time with him. I'm just guessing, and I haven't had the chance to ask you when I've seen you because there's always too many people around."
Harry had long wanted to confide in Scott, but not about Carlos. That was all very new. He wanted to tell Scott he was gay, but the right opportunity never seemed to arise. "What exactly are you just guessing?"
"When Jason told me about the fight last week, I wasn't sure if it meant he was defending your honor, or he was highly offended that someone have thought he was queer. And Jason told me you spent the night together. So I just guess something is going on there. Am I right? You do spend a lot of time together."
"Carlos is lonely. He doesn't know anybody in Birmingham."
"That doesn't make you his babysitter, and it doesn't ring true. He's a megastar and a football player and you are not the only other player on the team. There are hundreds of you at that club, I seem to remember," said Scott. "So do you have anything to tell me?"
"We did spend the night together."
Harry heard Scott squeal over the phone, and he had to pull it away from his ear just a little.
"Yes, fantastic. I would invite the two of you to dinner, but for the awkward position of Jason, and whether he wants to be out to Carlos. Are you two officially an item?"