Kent put his hands up. “Whatever, man. That’s your business. I don’t have a problem with you.”
“I have a problem with you saying homophobic shit aboutanyone. I don’t want to hear it again.” Ryan felt oddly calm. Almost like he did when he was fighting during a game.
Someone behind Ryan whispered, “Holy shit.”
Kent looked around the room for support, but everyone looked away. “Sure. Fine. I’ll watch what I say, all right?” he finally said.
“Glad to hear it.” Ryan gave him one last hard look, then turned away and sat back down in his stall. The rest of the team went back to whatever they’d been doing before, and the room filled with chatter.
Wyatt elbowed Ryan. “I wish I had a video of that.”
“Should have done that a long time ago.” Ryan’s heart was racing now, but he felt good. It was more like adrenaline and less like fear or panic.
“That shit isn’t going to fly for much longer in this league. Not when one of the biggest stars in the game is out.”
It was true that Scott Hunter coming out the same season he had won the Stanley Cup, the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP, and the Hart Trophy for regular season MVP had taken a lot of the wind out of the sails of the argument that hockey was a sport for straight men only. But obviously there was still work to be done.
It was time for Ryan to step up and do some of it.
Chapter Nineteen
“Wow.”
Ryan stared in amazement at Fabian’s apartment. Not only was it tidier than Ryan had ever seen it, it looked like some sort of fantasy sex den. The room was mood lit with a combination of dim lamps, candles, and white fairy lights, which made the red walls seem extra sultry. The candles must have been scented because there was an intoxicating sweet and spicy aroma filling the small space.
Also, there were sex toys on the bed.
And if all that wasn’t enough, Fabian was wearing a sleeveless black jumpsuit with flared legs and a plunging V-neck, as well as smoky black eye makeup and dark red lipstick.
Even Ryan’swildestsexual fantasies weren’t this good.
“Just in case you weren’t clear about what I want tonight,” Fabian said, reaching up to drape his arms around Ryan’s neck, “I thought I’d spell it out.”
He pulled Ryan down for a kiss. Dimly, Ryan worried about ruining his lipstick, but then he stopped caring because Fabian’s mouth was hot and urgent on his.
“Mm,” Fabian murmured happily when he pulled away. “I’ve been looking forward to that.”
Miraculously, Fabian’s lipstick hadn’t been ruined. It must be some sort of invincible lipstick. That was good news because Ryan hoped to do a lot more kissing tonight.
“You look incredible,” he said.
“You like?” Fabian released him, then did a little twirl. “A friend made it for me. I’m afraid it will have to come off for what I have planned.”
“I’m okay with that. But can I kiss you some more first?”
“Oh yes.”
This time Ryan hoisted Fabian up, and Fabian wrapped his legs around Ryan’s waist. Ryan pinned him against a wall and kissed him the way he’d been wanting to for days. He dipped his head so he could work on Fabian’s gorgeous neck, which made Fabian gasp and squirm in his arms.
“God, you’re good at that,” Fabian panted. “Missed you.”
Ryan chuckled. “It’s only been a couple of days.”
“You missed me too. Admit it.”
Ryan licked his Adam’s apple. “I missed you.”
Fabian sighed happily and said, “I am so excited to play with you.”
