He licked his lips. “You couldn’t just discharge me now though. Could you?”
I laughed. “If I thought it would do you any good, you know I’d sign those papers. But you need to be ready. I’m sure they’re going to stick you on no-contact for a while during camp and probably into training before the season starts. But by the time the first game rolls around, you’ll be golden.”
“I won’t be playing.”
“Mm. Not at first. But you’re not on the farm, honey. You’re on the team. You’ll get your ice time, I promise you that.”
He licked his lips, then said, “Is there somewhere I could sleep if I came to stay with you?”
With me, of course. In my bed, getting your scent all over my pillows so when you left, I’d have something to keep for a while.But I couldn’t say those words. “I have four bedrooms. You can take your pick.”
He bit his cheek, then said, “Would you come with me to talk to my mom?”
My eyes widened. “You want me to tell her that your physical therapist is going to take you into his home?”
He blinked, looking confused, like he didn’t understand why that was a problem. “Am I being inappropriate right now?”
“No,” I breathed out, squeezed his hands one last time, then let him go. God, I was going to get so fired. So incredibly fired. And probably lose my license. And there was a damn good chance Ferris’s mom would sue me.
But he was worth the risk. It was a nightmare scenario, and somehow, I wasn’t afraid of the consequences.
“Are you sure? Because I?—”
“I like you. I love spending time with you,” I said, cutting him off before he could speak more negativity about himself. “I want you around. I know it’s not forever, but for however long it is, it’ll be nice.”
He pursed his lips together like he was trying to hide his smile. “And I’ll be able to skate again soon?”
That immediately gave me an idea. “If you promise to take it very easy—and I mean very easy,andlet me wrap you up tight—we can go in a couple of weeks.”
He blinked at me, kind of doe-eyed. “Really? Where?”
“I have a friend,” I said, and god, it felt weird to say that and mean it. “He runs a little skating rink not too far from where I live. He lets me come and go whenever I get the itch.”
“The it—oh. The urge.” He glanced away like he did when he was embarrassed after taking something so literally. “Alright. Tonight, you can come with me to tell my mom I’m moving out. I can get all my stuff packed.”
Tonight. Jesus. “That fast?”
“Oh. Do you want me to?—”
“No. Tonight is good. Tonight is great.”
Ferris pushed himself up to stand. He looked happier. Better. He still moved more slowly than usual, and his voice told me just how tired he was, but there was a bit of bounce to his step. “You’re sure, eh? About me?”
I stood up and set my hands on his hips. The cameras were watching, so I was careful, but I leaned in anyway. “I’m not sureabout most of the things in my life, sweetheart. But you are the one thing I know I’m getting right.”
I broughtFerris home first so he could put what he had in whatever room he wanted to choose to sleep in. But we were immediately derailed the moment the door shut because with the soft click, he was on me. His crutches clattered against the wall, and his fingers twisted into the front of my shirt.
I grunted as my shoulder blades hit the wall, and then I pressed my hand to the back of his head and dipped low to kiss him. He nipped at my lips like he was starving for me, and I used my other arm to cinch around his waist and hold him upright so he didn’t have to worry about his balance.
This went on forever. For days. Weeks. Months, maybe.
In reality, it was probably less than a minute before he pulled away, gasping slightly as his eyes frantically searched my face. “I’m sorry. I’m being too much?—”
“No.” I took him by the chin and kissed him hard. “No. You are not too much. Tell me what you want.”
“I want you to fuck me. I want you to fuck me in the ass,” he emphasized like I might have some other wild idea about where I wanted to put my dick. And to be fair, I did, but not right at that moment.
His idea was brilliant. Perfect.Genius!
