“Yep. And I was a good boy with my hands in the air until then. So he got the major penalty, and after we scored, both times, I skated past the box and thanked him. Told him he inspired me. And I got second star of the game.”
“Good for you.”
“Except we still lost, five-three. If Lindy hadn’t been performing miracles in goal to keep the puck out, it would’ve been worse.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
“Mm.” They’d been mathematically eliminated for weeks now, but the losses still stung. “And I was underwater with my plus-minus for the game.” Both goals he’d been involved in were powerplay goals and didn’t count, while he’d watched two of the Tornados’ even-strength goals go into the net from a nice, helpless spot on the ice.
“So was I, even though we won.”
“I really want to watch my game tape with you.” Rusty didn’t think the screwups were his, and Coach had actually tapped Rusty’s helmet twice in approval when he came off. Still, he didn’t like wondering if he should’ve done something different. It would really help to hear Cross say,“Here, this guy’s out of position. You’re doing what you’re supposed to.”
“Soon as we’re both back in Oregon, we’ll look at that together,” Cross agreed. He ran a hand over his head. He’d cut his hair really short last week, and it worked in a much-younger Captain Picard way, making his hairline look distinguished. The guy was smokin’ hot and didn’t seem to know it.
Rusty shoved thoughts of the game aside. He didn’t want to waste any alone time he got with Cross on the road. “God, you look good. I have an idea.”
“What?”
“Have you ever had video sex?”Bad idea? Good idea?Rusty was horny, and the distance between them meant anything they did would be safely solo. He watched Cross’s face intently.
“Uh, no?” Cross’s eyes went wide.
“Want to give it a try? Really nothing you wouldn’t do on your own.”
“Um?”
That wasn’t a yes or a no. Rusty tried to make out Cross’s expression on the small screen. Had he overstepped? “My roommate’s out drowning his sorrows at a bar. I have the safety latch on the door in case he comes back early. You’re by yourself, right?” NHL veterans didn’t have to share a room.
“Yeah. I mean, there’s guys in the rooms on either side.”
“Same here. So we’d have to keep quiet.”
After a long moment of silence, Cross asked, “What would we do?”
Rusty was already regretting pushing Cross. They’d made out at his apartment hot and heavy, but only kissing and a little frotting, before leaving on their respective road trips. Cross wanted to go slow, and dude clearly had some boundaries he hadn’t been ready to cross that night. “Sorry, maybe this is a bad idea.”
“No! I mean, I’d never considered it.”
“We could jerk off together. I’d get off on watching you do that.”
On the little screen, Cross’s forehead creased deeper and he bit his lower lip.
“Or I could jerk off, and you could tell me what to do.”
Cross seemed to relax, his expression brightening.
Rusty grinned, relieved. “You like that idea? I could give you a show, and you could boss me around.”
“What would you get out of that?”
“Are you kidding? I get to come like a fountain.”
“But you could do all that without me. You’d jerk off anyway, right?”
“Yeah, of course. But it’d be ten times hotter with you watching, your voice. If you’re into it.”
“We can try. How do we start?”
