Page 127 of Cheap Shot

“Are we okay?” Luke asked quietly.

Sebastian gave him a faint smile. “Yeah, we’re okay. You really didn’t have to come here this afternoon though. You didn’thaveto risk your privacy to come apologize.”

“Maybe I felt like I did,” Luke admitted.

“Why?”

Luke sighed, resisting the urge to pull away. “I don’t fuckin’ know. All I know is that I—I like what we’ve been doing. I liked you coming over to my place and hanging out. I liked helpingBrie and Harper out. I like—I guess I like spending time with you. And I don’t say that to many people. Or really … anyone.”

“Why me?”

Luke gave him a half-smile. “I don’t fuckin’ know. You drive me nuts with your chirps and shit but I guess I fuckin’ respect that you don’t back down. That you don’t let me or anyone else scare you. I like that you have a mind of your own and go after what you want and push back at me and all that. I likeyou, I guess.”

“You’re not so bad yourself,” Sebastian said with a smile.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. You’re alright, Crawford.” He squeezed the back of Luke’s neck.

“I think maybe it’s about time you called me Luke,” he said gruffly.

Sebastian’s smile widened. “Luke,” he said softly, and it sounded good on his lips.

“I didn’t like the way we left shit last night,” Luke admitted. “Didn’t like knowing I’d left with you still pissed at me. It felt wrong.”

“That’s why you came here today?”

Luke nodded. “I thought about it all last night.”

“Yeah, me too. I was planning to message you later today. I just knew you’d be busy with practice this morning, so I didn’t want to bother you then.”

“That’s another thing,” Luke said. “I like that yougetit. That you know how to give me some fucking space for hockey.”

“It’s yourcareerand it’s important to you.”

“What if I said that maybe you’re starting to be important to me too?”

Sebastian stared at him for a moment, his lips parted. “I’d probably say who the fuck are you and what have you done with Luke Crawford?”

“I don’t fuckin’ know,” Luke said with a laugh, pulling Sebastian a little more tightly to him. “I just know that I felt like shit when I left here. And I didn’t like the thought of not seeing you again.”

“Is that what you thought?” Sebastian asked, tilting his head and studying Luke’s face. “That I was done with you for good?”

“Yeah. I wondered.”

Sebastian swallowed noisily. “I wasn’t. I was pissed but I wasn’t done with you.”

“Good. And c’mere,” Luke said, even though Sebastian was close enough that he could feel every rise and fall of his chest. “Kiss me, Flower Boy.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

Sebastian closed his eyes and held on to Crawford—no,Luke—he thought hazily as he tangled his fingers in the hair at the back of Luke’s head and let himself be kissed senseless.

Luke delved his tongue into Sebastian’s mouth like he was desperate to taste him and Sebastian gasped against his lips, grabbing the front of Luke’s hoodie, hanging on tight as they made out like it had been weeks since they’d seen each other, not hours.

Luke hauled Sebastian closer, kneading his ass, his cock already hardening against Sebastian’s belly.

Sebastian was still feeling a little stunned by their earlier conversation, bewildered by the things Luke had said, confused by everything that had transpired. But being in Luke’s arms, feeling his tongue slide into Sebastian’s mouth, they felt right.