Page 64 of Cheap Shot

They made it a few more steps without incident and then Sebastian was the one sliding backwards, both feet losing traction. Crawford tightened his grip and somehow kept them both from wiping out.

Sebastian let out another breathless laugh when he was steady again.

“All I fucking wanted was to get laid tonight,” Crawford muttered under his breath. “The whole day was a fucking shitshow. Should’ve known something likethiswould happen.”

That made Sebastian laugh harder for some reason and then they werebothlaughing.

When it finally faded to soft chuckles, they began moving again. Somehow, they kept their feet under them the rest of the way and Sebastian quietly cheered when they finally made it to the top of the hill.

Crawford abruptly let go.

Sebastian hadn’t expected it and he windmilled, feet sliding out from under him. He frantically jabbed at the snow with his stick but the butt end skidded across an icy patch and he reached out, grabbing for Crawford. He clutched at his coat, which tugged him forward and Sebastian landed on his ass on the icy patch, the breath leaving his lungs in a forceful woosh when Crawford landed on top of him.

Sebastian groaned, struggling for air, until Crawford lifted onto his elbows and took a little weight off him. “You okay?”

Sebastian let out a pained noise, his head swimming, his lungs gasping to pull in air. “Probably cracked a rib or two,” he said with another groan. “Jesus, I don’t know how guys take it when you check them. It’s like getting hit by a fucking house.”

“Well, they’re usually wearing gear at least,” Crawford pointed out.

Somehow that struck Sebastian as funny too and he laughed, staring up at the sky, half-convinced tonight had all been a really weird fucking dream.

“You hit your head or something, man?” Crawford asked with a frown, looming over him.

“No. I don’t think so,” Sebastian said, still smiling. His ass was gonna be bruised and snow was melting and seeping into his jeans but otherwise, he felt okay. He swallowed hard as Crawford looked down at him, his face in too much shadow to see his expression clearly. “Areyouokay?”

“Ask me tomorrow.” Crawford dropped his head, resting his forehead against Sebastian’s chest, the top of his hat brushing Sebastian’s chin.

Sebastian fought back a smile. “So tonight was …”

“Yeah.” It almost sounded like Crawford was smiling too and when he lifted his head, he was. “It’s never boring with you, that’s for damn sure.”

Sebastian licked his lips because Crawford’s face was so close to his and even though they were lying on the ground in the snow, he was tempted to kiss him.

“Maybe next time we just brave the sidewalk?” Sebastian offered instead. “Or, like, walk on the street?”

“Fuck, I didn’t even think about the street.” Crawford huffed. “Guess I know what my off-season backyard project is gonna have to be.”

“Stairs?” Sebastian guessed.

“Fucking heated ones that melt the damn ice.”

“Good call. Is this actually your house or do you rent?” Sebastian asked curiously.

“I own it.”

Sebastian glanced around. What he could see of the yard looked nice. “Wouldn’t mind seeing it in the daylight sometime.”

“Yeah.” Crawford rolled away with a groan.

That was anoif Sebastian had ever heard one. He hadn’t meant it like that, hadn’t been angling for more than what they currently were. But he could see how it had probably sounded that way.

Crawford made it to his feet somehow, the air escaping his lungs in a sharp whistle of pain. Sebastian winced, wondering how badly hurt he actually was. But he could imagine how that would go if he asked.

Sebastian shivered, the cold finally beginning to grow too uncomfortable to ignore any longer. He sat up. “Okay, help me up.”

“You’re really fucking needy tonight,” Crawford muttered but he did hold out a hand.

“Fuck off,” Sebastian said, reaching for the hockey stick and poking around until he found a solid place to plant it.Needy. Crawford was the one who’d demanded to be fed, then had to be driven home and helped up to the house.