by Laurie Lochs
The room gasped. I squinted my eyes. Who was Sam? I definitely didn't know who he was.
But my questions were answered a moment later when someone in denim sequins threw open the curtains and stepped fabulously onto the stage. He was wearing a blonde wig and bright pink eyeshadow. I recognized the colors at once from the Shane Dawson and Jeffrey Starr Conspiracy pallet.
He looked freaking fabulous, and as he put his hands on his hips and sashayed on stage, he said, "Y'all really thought I’d leave Ms. Delicious and Queen Mitch to deal with y'all ungrateful bitches alone? Oh no, honey. If anyone's going to be reading y'all for filth, it's going to be me."
The room roared with applause. It was deafening. I was tempted to bring my hands to my ears and plug them. Why the hell didn't Mitch and Jacob tell me they were mentoring an up-and-coming drag superstar?
I wonder if he plays hockey. He'd be a perfect addition to the team.
Mitch welcomed him with open arms. "Put your hands together for the sassiest young queen this side of the Mississippi!”
The room burst into a deafening round of applause. Students grinned and rose to their feet to clap. I settled into my seat and watched smugly as Jacob and Mitch continued with their set. I couldn't stop laughing. Halfway through, however, I was in for the surprise of my life when Mitch put his hands on his hips and turned to the audience.
"Now I know you didn't think we let you go without a surprise, right girl?”
I was just as confused as the audience. A surprise? Was there another secret performer?
Jacob took the microphone. "Stellan, get your ass up here and let's get this party started!”
My jaw dropped. My heart immediately raced out of my chest. What were they talking about? They wanted me to go on stage?
Someone tapped my shoulder from behind. It was Mitch's secretary, the kind women I'd run into at the front desk earlier. "Go on," she urged with a grin.
My limbs were trembling. I'd never performed in drag before. But I sure as hell wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to inspire the next generation of America’s sassiest youth.
Swallowing my fear, I walked to the stage. The room applauded as I made my way to join my friends. They welcomed me with a hug and immediately threw a platinum blonde wig on my head and brought me into their arms.
"Give Queen Stellan – or I should say, Stella SuCox – a round of applause!”
The audience burst into applause. I watched in amazement as the sea of faces clapped for me.
I faced Mitch and Jacob. "Oh my God. What the fuck did you get me into?”
Jacob laughed wildly. "You're a member of the freaking Rainbow League. It’s kind of like a right of passage that you have to perform in drag at least once."
I snorted. “And where the fuck was that when I signed up for the team?”
"It was in the fine print, bitch. Don’t be mad your busted ass Mama never taught you to read.”
I groaned and took the microphone. It was now or never. "I bet you bitches really thought a ho like me couldn't sashay like a real queen."
The audience clapped wildly. The boy who'd heckled Mitch earlier laughed fast and hard.
"I might not do drag, but y’all are the sorriest bunch of bitches this Dollarama queen ever did see.”
The room burst into laughter and applause. I couldn’t help but grin and snicker wildly. Maybe drag was something I was cut out for after all. I mean, I was having the time of my life… I could be as much of a bitch as I wanted to and nobody could tell me shit.
Jacob, Mitch and Sam brought me to the dressing room when we were done. Sam's eyes gleamed when he saw me.
“You're a fucking natural out there. I don't know how you did it."
I grinned. "When you've hung out around Mitch and Jacob for as long as I have you can't help but get a secret sassy side for free.”
We wrapped up our conversation. Suddenly, my phone rang. I furrowed my brow. It was Rowan.
My breath hitched as I answered the phone. “Rowan?"
"I need to see you, Stellan,” Rowan said quietly. "I know you just got back from the North woods. But I just got off a call with Coach Jeremy. I've been trying to ignore it for the past three days but I need to speak to you right away."
My heart stopped dead.
16
Rowan
I took a sharp breath and waited for Stellan to show up. I'd selected a coffee shop near the Care Center where he was for our conversation. He could zip over and it wouldn't affect him at all.
I ordered an Americano and waited for him to come. I sipped it and searched for the resolve I had within me moments earlier. It was too late to turn back now. I had to tell Stellan my plan and pray to God he supported me.
Pray to God the Rainbow League wanted to support me too.
At last, the door opened. Stellan entered with a nervous grin. His eyes were fluttering. I immediately stood up and welcomed him to the table, and slid the hazelnut coffee across the table to him.
"Okay, dude." Stellan settled into the seat and stared at me. "I can't with this ominous shit. Tell me what's going on. Otherwise I'm going to think I did something."
I tried not to laugh. "My God. You didn't do anything. Don't ever think that."
He took a deep breath. "I. Can't. Handle. This. Just spit it out."
I set my Americano down and looked into his eyes. "Okay." I cleared my throat. "When we first met, I was recovering from a knee injury to get back in the NHL. The knee injury had completely taken away my employment prospects. I couldn't play any games because of it, and I desperately needed your help to get back into shape."
Stellan nodded and took a sip of coffee.
"But over the course of the past few weeks, I realized something."
“What? That you’re bi?”
My palms were shaking. "Stellan," I said, trying to muster up the courage to speak my truth. "I don't want to return to the NHL."
His jaw dropped. "What?"
"You heard me correctly. It used to be my passion. What I lived for. But it's part of the reason I got divorced. And it's all of the reason why I didn't have time for my ex-wife."
I exhaled slowly. This was the moment of truth. "I want to be your boyfriend, Stellan. And I can't give you the attention you deserve playing professional hockey."
Stellan’s jaw dropped. “There's no way in hell you're quitting the Minnesota Wild for me."
"It's not just for you. It's also because I want more free time. I know I'm talented and hard-working. But I refuse to show up every day and not play games because I'm not a star player.”
Stellan shook his head in shock. He took a sip of coffee. His eyes flitted around the room, but eventually they returned and centered on me. "Well… If you quit, we could always use you as a coach on the Rainbow League."
"Are you serious?"
Stellan bit his lip. "I was actually joking, but now that I think about it… Well, it’s a hobby league. We wouldn't exactly be able to pay you. But the rest of the guys would think it's fucking sick if a member of the Wild helped coach the team."
My heart raced. "You think?"
"Absolutely." Stellan reached across the table and gripped my hand. "I think it's incredible, too."
My heart melted. "So you don't think this is a horrible decision? You don't think I'm throwing my life away?"
Stellan burst into laughter. "Oh, a little. But you know what? Even Jeff Bezos’s boss told him he was throwing away his future to start Amazon. Sometimes in life you need to take a risk and go full-queen ahead.”
“Full-queen?”
“It’s like full steam. But for the gays.”
My heart melted. “Thanks for trying to cheer me up. I can’t help but think I’ll feel like a failure.”
"Of course you will. At least for a little bit. The doubt doesn't dissipate all at once. You need to prove to yourself you've got what it takes."
Stellan leaned across the table and wrapped his fingers around my palm. "But you don't
have to prove anything to me. I already know you're the most hard-working, handsomest, and thoughtful man alive. I'd be so fucking happy to be your boyfriend."
My heart melted. This was all I ever wanted. I stared into Stellan's eyes, unable to believe his words. But their meaning came through to me loud and clear.
He wants you. All of you. He doesn't think you're stupid or a pussy for making this decision.
I leaned across the table and brushed my thumb on his cheek. "Thank you." I kissed him. Stellan moaned and lost himself in the kiss. I kissed him harder, gripping his jaw. I tasted the hazelnut coffee on his breath.
Then I grabbed his hand. "Wanna get out of here?"
Stellan flashed me a devilish grin. Without another word, I grabbed his hand and led him back to my place.
17
Stellan
The next morning
I took a deep breath and smoothed my shirt. For some bizarre reason I was feeling more nervous than ever.
"It's probably the espresso shot in your coffee this morning," I murmured, gripping Rowan's hand.
It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I'd finally be introducing my beautiful boyfriend to the team.
Rowan turned me around just before we entered the locker room. "Are you ready for this? Are you sure you don't want to wait longer?"
I shook my head. "Absolutely not. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I'm not letting some stupid butterflies talk me out of showing off my guy."
Rowan chuckled. "Just make sure to tell them I’m no longer playing pro. I don't want a bad case of false advertising."
I grinned. "You played pro for six years. You've got money in the bank, and a body the rest of the guys would kill for. I think you're going to be fine."
Rowan rushed forward and kissed me. I moaned as he threaded his fingers through my hair. He pressed me against the wall of the hallway, rubbing my body. When we parted he stared at me with hope and desire glistening in his eyes. "Let's go, cutie."
I tried to speak but I couldn’t say anything. I just wanted to stare into his beautiful eyes and kiss those sexy lips forever.
But I had a job to do.
Prying myself away from my beautiful man I threw open the door of the hockey room and entered. The team burst into applause when they saw me.
They knew I had a big announcement as I'd told them beforehand.
Jacob was the first to speak. "Oh Stellan. I hate to say this, but we were kind of expecting someone else."
I glared at him. "And, pray tell, who were you expecting?"
Jacob and Mitch shared a glance. "The sexy Wild player, of course."
I whipped around to face Rowan. He was grinning like a maniac. He was still in the hallway.
"Come in," I whispered fiercely, smiling at him. "Jacob has already spilled the beans."
Rowan laughed. He remembered he'd run into Jacob while waiting for me after last practice. Jacob was the one who'd told him to go to Ready 2 Come. So of course Jacob already knew who he was.
Rowan grabbed my hand and stepped in. "Hi, everyone. I’m Rowan. I’m excited to be the newest member of the team."
The room burst into laughter and applause. “Finally we get some actual talent around here,” Luke shouted with a grin.
Rowan laughed. "I just want to be clear. I'm no longer an official member of the Minnesota Wild. I played for them for six years, but I'm no longer on the team."
The room shared a nod. "Professional sports is demanding as fuck," Mitch said with a shrug. "I don't blame you."
I wrapped my arm around Rowan's waist. "He didn't quit. He simply decided to move on to bigger and better things."
Jacob and Brent shared a laugh. "As long as he doesn't become a drag queen.”
Rowan furrowed his brow. "Is there something wrong with drag queens?"
Jacob shook his head. "No, no. It's just that we've already got two. Adding one more would upset the masc-to-queen ratio this team depends on."
Brian, one of our strongest defensemen, rolled his eyes. "Take your ratio and shove it up your ass."
Jacob burst into laughter. "I'll do it. But you need to attach it to a 10-foot long dildo first.”
The team laughed as Rowan made his way in. We sat on the bench together. He handed me my elbow pads and shoulder pads as I got ready. At last we were ready to hit the ice.
But Rowan wasn't in his gear. He was only wearing a helmet and skates.
"You're not going to put your gear on?” I asked.
Rowan shook his head. "If I'm going to help Mitch coach I’d better not be in full gear. Someone will think I'm a player and check the hell out of me."
"Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing. It would knock that ego down a peg."
“I’m not sure about the ego but it sure as fuck would do damage to my knee.”
I grinned knowingly. "I freaking adore you. Do you know that?"
Rowan leaned in and kissed me. I moaned as we locked lips. "I had my suspicions," he whispered, staring into my dazzled eyes.
He grabbed my hand and led me to the rink.
18
Rowan
"Great job everyone. You did it."
The team smiled as we made our way off the ice. I shook my head in disbelief. Did I really just lead my first official scrimmage as a full-time coach?
It's a dream come true, Rowan. You're making the right decision.
Stellan wrapped his arms around me the second we left the rink. "Jesus Christ, big boy. You're a certified coach."
I burst into laughter. "I don't know if I'd say that. If anything I fucked up quite a few times. But I'm glad you can still see the positive side."
Stellan rolled his eyes. "It's a lot more than just me. Think of it like a professional piano player giving a performance. The audience will be absolutely blown away even if he messes up a few times. He’s so good at other parts that the audience will still be wowed. That’s exactly what you did on the ice. We have no clue about any of the positions you're teaching us. You're doing a great job."
Fire crept into my cheeks. "You're the sweetest fucking boyfriend ever. Do you know that?"
Stellan burst into laughter. "I'm just telling the truth. See?" he said, walking over to Jacob. He grabbed Mr. Snuggles — the team mascot who was also a little duck — from his hands and brought him back to me. "Even this little guy thinks so."
The team burst into a fresh round of oohs and awws. I took the little fuzzy animal from Stellan's outstretched hand, my heart melting at the sight of the baby duck Jacob's boyfriend Brent had given him when he'd proposed on one knee.
I held Mr. Snuggles. Suddenly the thought burst across my mind that I should propose too. Did I want Stellan to be my husband forever? Just the thought caused a fresh round of butterflies to flutter in my stomach. I glanced at Stellan. He was still fawning over Mr. Snuggles.
I knew it was stupid. But suddenly, I wanted to drop on one knee and make him my man.
I shook my head. I couldn't do that quite yet. We didn't know each other.
But there was one thing I could do.
"Get undressed, Stellan. I’ve got a surprise.”
I gripped Stellan's hand nervously as I led him through the forest. It was a secret location in the city. “I know it's not exactly the Boundary Waters but I still think we can have a great time."
Stellan giggled. "Where are we? It looks like a dog park."
I burst into laughter. "It's a park close to the Xcel Energy Center. It's buried in the city. You wouldn't know it, especially if nobody told you we were still in the city."
Stellan grinned. "It's gorgeous."
"Not quite as gorgeous as our secret trail."
Stellan burst into laughter. "It's close enough."
Gripping his hand tightly, I led him down the trail. The hush that overtook us was of indescribable proportions. It was as if the birds chirping outside had been completely cut off by a wall of silence. After 20 minutes of walking I took Stellan's
hand and pulled him close.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, Stellan. I love you so much."
Stellan's breath hitched. "I love you too."
I pulled him close and gripped his ass. "How about a little forest sex to thank you for being so goddamn supportive?"
Stellan's jaw dropped. "Public fun?"
I roared with laughter. "I was thinking more of a re-creation of our first time. But if that's what you're into I'm not going to kink shame."
Stellan giggled."I want it so bad."
I slipped him out of his pants. A second later, he was completely naked. I cupped his fleshy dick and balls in my hand. Stellan moaned as I fondled him and got him hard. When he was sufficiently hard I dropped to my knees and began to give him the most passionate blow job I'd given in my life.
Stellan moaned. He grabbed my hair and thrust into my mouth. "You're so tight."
I pulled the cock from my lips and grinned. "You're lucky. I'm more or less a mouth virgin. Besides you, of course."
Stellan chuckled. "Keep sucking, Mr. Wild.”
I took his cock back in my mouth. I flicked my tongue over the slick, swallowing the length. Suddenly, Stellan pulled me to my feet. He yanked down my pants and gripped my rock hard cock in his palm.
"Let me suck you, big guy."
I wasn't going to turn that down. Without another word, Stellan dropped to his knees. He frantically sucked my cocked like he was searching for an antidote to poison he just swallowed. He rubbed it over his lips, spit drooling from his mouth. With a moan, he brought his lips to my balls and jerked my cock frantically. He used the spit and light layer of clear pre-come as lube, stroking my shaft like he was desperate to reach what was inside.
I had a better idea. "I'm going to lie down. You climb on top of me."
"69?"
I grinned mischievously. "Just do what I say."
I laid on my back. Stellan climbed on top of me, the opposite way. His cock bounced on my chin and cheeks. I welcomed it into my mouth, gagging on the length as it hit the back of my throat. I felt my gag reflex activate but I forced myself to keep swallowing. His balls nestled against my chin, and as they started to tense I wanted to ask Stellan if he was close but I couldn't get the words out past the thick fleshy shaft thrusting into my throat hole.