I climb off the bed and quickly pull on my pants.
“You’re leaving?” Nick sits up, not ashamed or embarrassed by his nakedness. Not that I blame him, he’s fucking gorgeous.
“Isn’t that what you do after a hookup?” I chuckle, trying to not sound as awkward as I feel.
“You didn’t get what you came here for.” Nick stands but doesn’t move to touch me or to get dressed. It’s a bit distracting if I’m being honest.
I force a smile to my face that I’m sure he can see right through. “I’m fine.”
With my pants and hoodie on, I grab the rest of my stuff and run. I’m a coward, but I can’t face him. It’s not his fault I struggle sometimes.
“Joey!” Nick’s voice carries down the hallway, and I stop but don’t turn around.
What the hell am I doing?
He appears in front of me a minute later with his sweats pulled back on and determination written on his face.
“I wanna talk to you about something, come on.” His hand lands on my arm, turning me around, and I let him with a sigh. I can’t make a scene in the damn hallway. Since most of the hockey players live on the third floor this year, I’m sure it would get around that I got into a fight with a football player real damn fast.
When the door closes behind me, Nick leans against it.
“You don’t know me, and you don’t want to spill all your deep, dark secrets, I get it.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “But we can benefit from this arrangement, if you want.”
I shove my hands in my pockets but don’t say anything, just wait to see what he has to say.
“I’m sure it’s just as difficult to keep a relationship for you as is for me during the season.”
I nod and let him continue.
“But I’m also happy toexplore...to find what you like.” He lifts an eyebrow and drags his eyes over me. “There’s not much I’m against, and if it gets you orgasms, I’ll call that a win.”
“Why?” I stand a little straighter. “What do you get out of it?”
“Orgasms.” He shrugs. “And not having to have the ‘I can’t, I have to go to practice’ argument every day.”
I snort and can’t hide my smile.
“Plus, maybe we can be friends who cuddle sometimes and also fuck when time allows.” He walks up and stops when my hoodie brushes his stomach. We’re eye to eye and the challenge he’s wearing is almost daring me to say no so he can convince me to change my mind, but fuck, I really miss human contact.
“Cuddle, you say?” I question, and he grins.
Nick slides a hand under my hoodie and scratches lightly over my abs. I suck in my stomach on instinct and close the distance between us.
“I’m not sure how I’ll keep my hands to myself, but I’m willing to give it a shot if it helps.”
I smile and grip his hips. “So generous of you.”
“I’m a generous guy.” His other hand palms my ass and kneads the muscle. “But if you baby talk me, we’re fucking.”
“Baby talk?” Confusion contorts my face. What the hell is he talking about?
“Yeah. That baby talk thing you do.” Nick looks at me like I’m the crazy one, but I have no idea what’s happening right now. “At the club when you were about to come and earlier today before we got naked.”
Oh shit.
I did do that.
“And you’re into that?” I’m not sure what I want his answer to be. It’s kind of weird, right? I’m a twenty-five-year-old man.
