Suckerpunch

by Elyse Springer

  With that, he ground his hips down and back, sweatpants-clad ass dragging over Sasha’s crotch.

  And Sasha was hard. Alex could feel the heat and weight of him, and more than anything in the world he wanted to feel it against him, inside him.

  “Fuck me,” he said.

  Sasha swallowed visibly. “Game tomorrow.”

  Alex leaned down until they were nose to nose. “I don’t care, Sasha. Fuck me, make me feel it tomorrow while I’m in net against Colorado. I can feel you in my head… I want to feel you in my entire body too.”

  With a growl, Sasha launched himself up, tearing at Alex’s clothes and his own. They laughed, hands tangling together as they rolled on the bed, trying to get to skin as quickly as possible. Alex went to work on Sasha’s belt, working it free and tugging his slacks off, while Sasha fumbled at the drawstring on Alex’s sweatpants before yanking them down and flinging them to the end of the bed.

  They were both hard and sweating by the time they were skin to skin, flushed from the exertion. Sasha’s eyes were shining, and he couldn’t seem to stop smiling. Alex knew a matching grin was stretched across his own face.

  “I love you,” Alex said.

  Laughter soon turned to moans of pleasure, and Alex closed his eyes as everything went hazy. He could feel Sasha’s hands on his body, and he could sense Sasha’s passion in his mind. The dual sensations only augmented his own arousal, until he couldn’t tell what was his passion and what belonged to Sasha. They were tangled together, physically and mentally, and Alex never wanted to let go.

  Sasha vanished for a moment, but Alex could still reach out to touch him while he was across the room, digging condoms and lube out of Alex’s bag. Then Sasha was back, fingers slick as they pressed between Alex’s legs, his large body forcing Alex’s thighs wide.

  It had been a while since Alex had done this. Sasha was a little clumsy as well, hands shaking as he pushed one finger into Alex. His nerves were obvious, and Alex closed his eyes and shoved every ounce of his pleasure and happiness through the bond.

  When Sasha added a second finger, it was with a lot more confidence.

  When he added a third, a few minutes later, it was with a wicked grin and a biting kiss. He curled his fingers, and Alex thrashed and moaned as the nerve endings inside him lit up.

  “Sasha, babe.” Alex licked his lips. “I need you. Now.”

  Sasha pulled away to fumble with the condom, and Alex took the opportunity to push the larger man down. He took the condom from Sasha’s hands, tore it open with a teasing wink, then slid the condom over Sasha’s hard cock, rubbing his hand along the shaft.

  Then Alex straddled him, both hands pressing down on Sasha’s chest. He absently ran a finger over one of Sasha’s nipples and smirked as a shudder ran through the body beneath him.

  “Sensitive?”

  Sasha groaned, so Alex repeated the motion, flicking the edge of his nail over the hard nub again and again until Sasha was panting and watching him through hooded eyes.

  “Please, Alex.”

  As much as Alex wanted to tease him, he wanted Sasha inside him even more. He slid his hands down Sasha’s chest, then lifted himself up on his knees so he could guide Sasha’s cock inside him. Sasha was big, hard, and Alex had to ease himself down carefully until Sasha was buried deep inside him. The defenseman didn’t move, to his credit, though he twisted his hands in the sheets at his side the entire time, and his body trembled as Alex shifted and clenched above him.

  Then Alex rolled his hips, and the cock inside him nudged over that bundle of nerves.

  “Oh, fuck.”

  Sasha looked like he was about to snap. “Alex, please. Я так хочу тебя.”

  Judging by the need and desperation that saturated their bond, Alex could guess exactly what was being said. He rolled his hips again, then sighed and tilted his head back. “Yeah, Sasha. Fuck me.”

  In hindsight, Alex should have expected what came next. Yet, despite being aware of all the carefully coiled muscle beneath him and the tension in every line of Sasha’s body, the first thrust of Sasha’s hips still caught him off guard.

  Sasha bent his knees to give himself more leverage, and his fingers curled around Alex’s hips as he pushed himself up and pulled Alex down on top of him at the same time. Red-hot pleasure jolted through him, making Alex moan.

  “Yeah, just like that.”

  With his legs spread wide across Sasha’s hips, he couldn’t get as much leverage as he wanted. But Alex did his best, riding Sasha’s cock, lifting his hips up only to sink back down and let Sasha’s cock fill him.

  One second he was upright, and the next he was being tumbled upside down, Sasha’s cock sliding free from his body. Alex’s back hit the bed, and then Sasha was looming over him. He pressed their lips together and fucked his tongue into Alex’s mouth. Alex didn’t have a chance to feel disappointment, though, because only a moment later, Sasha lifted his hips and leaned over him before sliding back in with one long thrust. Alex arched his back off the bed and dug his fingers into Sasha’s arms, urging him to do it again. With the new angle, Sasha’s dick rubbed over his prostate, punching needy moans from Alex’s chest every time he pressed inside.

  There was no way either of them was going to last long. Between the emotions and the bond—which sent a feedback loop of pleasure through Alex’s entire body, his own sensations amplified by Sasha’s—Alex was honestly surprised they’d made it this long. Sasha felt so good inside him, over him, around him, until all he could feel and think was Sasha. Every time he sucked in another breath, Sasha’s scent was there, and the bond throbbed and strengthened between them, filling Alex’s entire awareness.

  He became aware of Sasha chanting his name, Alex, Alex, солнышко, please breathed against his jaw as Alex kissed the soft skin there and fucked into Alex’s tight hole over and over.

  “Yeah,” Alex exhaled. “Love you, Sasha, come on.”

  Sasha leaned up, and for a second Alex thought he was going to kiss him again, but then Sasha turned his head so his neck was in front of Alex’s mouth.

  “Alex.” His voice was thick with desire. “Please.”

  Alex didn’t need words or even the bond to know what Sasha was asking. He hesitated for only a second, then wrapped his fingers around Sasha’s shoulder, his other hand cupping Sasha’s cheek. Then he reached up and slid his fangs into Sasha’s neck again.

  Sasha came like that, hips jerking as he buried himself deep inside Alex’s body, and Alex drank from him and felt his own orgasm wash over him like a building inferno until he was utterly consumed by it.

  This time, he pulled back from Sasha easily, helping the bite to close while Sasha shuddered above him as aftershocks rumbled through his body. He lowered himself unsteadily to the bed beside Alex, eyes closed and dark eyelashes fanned on his cheekbones, looking so peaceful and content that Alex couldn’t resist leaning forward to kiss him gently.

  “Thank you.”

  Sasha hummed, eyes fluttering open to reveal bright blue eyes staring back at him softly. “Это было изумительно,” he said. “Я тебя люблю.”

  Alex didn’t speak Russian, but he recognized the last word, the Ls tripping over one another. He smiled, then said teasingly, “You know I don’t speak asshole.”

  Sasha laughed, rolling onto his side to face Alex, and pulled him in for another kiss. “Going to have to teach you. You repeat after me. Ya.”

  “Ya,” Alex parroted back, trying and failing to keep a straight face.

  “Tebya.”

  Alex’s grin escaped as he repeated the word.

  “Lyublyu.”

  “Lyublyu.” Alex kissed him again. “Pretty sure I know what that means. I love you.”

  “Yes.” Sasha returned the kiss, then settled Alex against him and exhaled in contentment. “I say, that was amazing. You are amazing, and I love you.”

  They still needed to talk and clean up, and there was a strange bo
nd between them that needed to be explored… but it could wait.

  Alex closed his eyes, let happiness wash over him, and knew he was loved.

  Avocados and Avs (@avocolorado)

  guys, I know my team is great, and I love them… but after just the first period of this game tonight I feel pretty confident in saying we are well and truly screwed. daaaaaaaamn, seattle is playing lights-out tonight.

  Emma (@Cascadiac)

  Wowwww. So, uh, Seattle really wants that playoff spot, huh? Why can’t they play like this ALL THE TIME?!

  SASHA COULD feel Alex on the ice.

  It wasn’t instinct, the way he often knew when Shawn was out of position or when one of the forwards was going to drop-pass to him just before the blue line. Instead, it was a sense like sight or smell, a newly awoken part of his brain that told him where Alex was and how he was feeling.

  He was battling along the boards for a puck when he felt a thread of alarm race up the back of his mind. Sasha glanced up just in time to avoid being hit hard by one of the Colorado defensemen.

  “Did you know?” he asked during a TV timeout, skating past Alex’s net. “Did you know it would be like this?”

  Alex lit up, joy and warmth and the simple pleasure of playing good hockey tangled together. “No, but I’m not complaining.”

  Sasha tapped him with his stick blade. “Neither am I.”

  The game was an easy win, the kind that felt effortless. Alex was practically glowing, and he looked a hundred times better than he had the night before. He was still clearly recovering from weeks of physical and mental stress, but he seemed intent on proving himself, and the team fed off his energy.

  They sat beside each other on the bus, whispering low as their teammates celebrated the win on the way back to the hotel.

  “I always thought bonds were only fiction, y’know?” Alex tilted his head against Sasha’s shoulder, a physical and mental bundle of warmth. “Heather was the one who realized what was happening, and I didn’t believe her at first because I’ve never heard of anything like this actually occurring outside of a movie.”

  Sasha hummed, turning his head to press a kiss to Alex’s hair. He could hear their teammates behind them, a few guys talking about hitting the hotel bar when they got back, others playing cards or video games and shouting playful insults.

  “It’s a good thing,” he said softly. “I’m glad, because it means I know when you are happy, that you are safe.”

  Alex smiled, but there was a twinge along the bond. “Not safe yet. Not entirely.”

  Sasha snuck a hand behind Alex’s back, where any passing teammates wouldn’t see it. Right now it looked like two tired teammates grabbing a few minutes of sleep on the bus ride, but anything more and the rest of the team would definitely notice.

  “Ed’s trial is in three days.” He rubbed his thumb in tiny circles along Alex’s back, trying to massage away some of the tension there. “I can make him back down, leave you alone, but I’m certain it would mean having to trade you to another team.”

  The sound Alex made was part pain, part bitter amusement. “That asshole.” He rested his hand on Sasha’s thigh briefly, an apologetic rub. “I know he’s your best friend, but I can’t forgive him for what he’s doing to you, and to me.”

  It was more complicated than that for Sasha, and he could feel the understanding and sympathy from Alex as he tried to process his own complex emotions. If he didn’t use his testimony as blackmail, it meant he’d have to tell the truth—and that would mean helping to convict Ed for sure, and send him to jail most likely. It wasn’t the potential sentence that made Sasha hesitate, though; instead, it was the knowledge of what would happen to Alex if and when Ed revealed Alex’s secret.

  “I trust you, babe,” Alex murmured. He did sound exhausted, still not back to 100 percent even after feeding the night before. Sasha wanted to offer again, but he knew Alex would never accept more blood this soon. “You’ll do the right thing, whatever it may be. I trust that, and I love you no matter what.”

  Sasha could feel Alex drift off, and hugged him closer while resting his cheek on the top of Alex’s head.

  I’m thankful that he believes in me this much, Sasha thought, but I wish I could believe in myself enough to know what the best option is.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Eduard Despres will appear today in court on charges of DUI and damage of city property. If convicted, he faces a maximum punishment of up to a year in jail and a fine of at least $5,000, though more could be assessed given the damage. Despres previously entered a plea of Not Guilty and is expected to fight a blood test that was performed, which his lawyers call “inconclusive.” Despres is best known as the starting goaltender for the Seattle Cascades, the local NHL team. Sources say the team may take further action, depending on the outcome of today’s trial.

  —Jamie Morgenstern, Seattle Daily News

  SASHA TOOK a deep breath and glanced around the courtroom. He wore suits most days as part of his job, but today the tie around his neck felt like a noose.

  Warm comfort trickled over his spine, and Sasha smiled. Alex had offered to come to court with him and sit in the audience, but Sasha had declined. It would be hard enough to face Ed today as he knew he had to, but it would be even harder with Alex there.

  “Alexander Petrov, if you could raise your right hand.”

  Sasha was sworn in and took the seat he was directed to. The court room was small but filled with observers and a few media members who had managed to sneak in the back. Ed had opted for a jury trial, and Sasha glanced over the twelve individuals who would be deciding his best friend’s fate by the end of the day.

  Will he still be my best friend, after this? It wasn’t likely, and Sasha ached at that realization. But what Ed was asking him to do was even more painful.

  “Mr. Petrov, can you please describe for the court the events of January 3rd and 4th?” The defense lawyer who Ed had hired was calm, handsome in his expensive suit, and incredibly competent, if the news was to be believed. He seemed somewhat bored as he walked Sasha through the initial phone call and Sasha’s quick rush to the scene of the accident.

  He thinks he knows what answers I’m going to give, Sasha realized, because Eddie has told him what he believes I’m going to say.

  “And when you finally saw Mr. Despres, what did you notice?”

  Sasha let out a long breath and looked away from Ed and the lawyer. “The first thing I noticed was that Ed looked badly injured. There was blood on his face and shirt, and the EMTs had wrapped his arm in a splint. His eyes were unfocused too. At first I thought maybe he had a concussion, but then—” Sasha paused. Moment of truth. “Then I smelled the alcohol.”

  There was a buzz in the audience, and the jurors shifted uncomfortably.

  Ed’s lawyer had been pacing, but now he stuttered to a halt. “You believe you smelled alcohol?”

  “I know I did. Beer and whiskey. It was strong, but even more noticeable when he spoke.”

  Sasha would give the lawyer credit for one thing: he thought quickly to try to recover. “It’s possible, however, that what you smelled was simply alcohol that had been spilled on Mr. Despres earlier that evening?”

  “It’s possible,” Sasha had to admit. “But I’ve seen Eddie drunk many times before, and I am certain he was very drunk that night.”

  The lawyer glanced over at Ed, then back at the judge. “No further questions, your honor.”

  And then the prosecution, seeing a golden opportunity, jumped up for their own questions.

  Sasha could feel Ed’s gaze burning into him as he spoke, and only Alex’s steady strength in the back of his mind kept him from caving beneath the intensity of it.

  I’m sorry, Eddie, he thought, when the last question had been asked. I just want you to get better, and I think this is the only way you’re going to. Maybe their friendship would never recover from this, but Sasha hoped that someday, at least, Ed would recognize that Sasha loved h
im.

  The court adjourned so the jury could deliberate, and Sasha slipped out of the courtroom to find a bottle of water and somewhere quiet to wait.

  Ed found him at the vending machine.

  “How could you?”

  Sasha’s back went stiff, and he turned around cautiously with his bottle in hand. “Eddie.”

  But it was clear that Ed didn’t really want an answer to his question. “I thought you were my brother,” he said. “And you betrayed me like this?”

  “I told the truth.” Sasha shifted the bottle between his hands but didn’t open it. “You need help, Ed. You drink too much. You are my brother, and because of that I can’t just stand by and let you destroy yourself.”

  “Trou d’cul, tu m’as trahi!”

  Rage flashed across Ed’s features. It made him look even older, emphasized every line in his face and the way his skin seemed sallow and aged. Sasha closed his eyes against the onslaught of French Canadian cursing, then opened them again when Ed lapsed back into English to lay into him.

  “How many times have you been to the bar in the last three months, Sasha? How many? And you’re going to judge me for having a drink every now and then, when I know you like to go out with the boys after a game? You’re going to ruin my life because you think you’re better than me? Décâlisse avec ton hypocrisie. How dare you?”

  Watching Ed get even angrier, seeing five years of friendship and brotherhood crack down the center, was genuinely agonizing. Alex sent a pulse of sunshine through his chest, as though to say I’m here. I love you.

  It wasn’t enough to override the pain, but it helped Sasha find strength to take a breath and say, “Enough, Eddie.”

  Ed’s mouth snapped shut.

  “You are my brother, whether you hate me after today or not. But I can’t ignore what I’ve seen these last few months, and what I noticed before and dismissed.” Sasha met his eyes, trying to push every ounce of worry he could into the gaze. “Yes, we go out with the guys and we drink. But that’s not what you do, Ed. You drink too much. Last May you drive drunk. Now again in January. You went out alone the night before a game, and you drank so much that you totaled your car.”