“Admit it,” He growls, pressing my back into the wall. “You like it when I piss you off.” Fuck, I hate Hayes so much. My breath hitches and I brace my hands against his chest. “You’re delusional.” “Am I?” He smirks and leans in, mouth hovering just inches from my ear. “Then why do you look like you're about to kiss me–or punch me? Either way, Carter, I win.” “Fuck you!” I spit. Dorian chuckles darkly, roughly kicking my legs apart so he can press his knee hard up against my dick. “Oh you will, Golden boy. And when you do, it won’t be because I forced you. It’ll be because you begged for my cock.” For Noah Carter, hockey isn’t just a game–it’s an escape. The golden boy captain with a killer smile and a secret he can’t afford to slip, Noah’s carefully crafted lie is falling apart with every practice and every time he locks eyes with HIM. HIM. Dorian Hayes is fire on the ice with only one mission--Make it to the NHL. But there’s one person he never expected to see when he got in Bridgewater to play for the Artic-Blades. Noah Fucking Carter. The one person he hates with everything inside him. Cue in a plan to destroy everything Noah stands for. But every time their bodies collide on the ice, Dorian can’t deny the pull. It’s infuriating, maddening…and addictive. He doesn’t want to want Noah, but when their rivalry shifts from Icy stares to scalding touches, Dorian is forced to confront a truth he’s spent years skating away from: sometimes, the person you hate the most is the only one who truly sees you.
View MoreNoah’s P.O.V
“Hey Faggots!”
I stiffened, forcing my hands to keep untying my skates as if I hadn’t heard it. The noises of the room—laughter, shouting, clang of lockers as they slammed it shut—kept going. Nobody even flinched. It was just a normal joke from Matt, one of my defensemen who thought anything that came out of his mouth was comedy gold. The dude was built like a fucking tank and sometimes, I wondered if that was all he was. Brute force with an empty skull.
A few of the other guys joined in, tossing back their own crude jokes as they stripped off sweat-soaked jerseys and peeled away pads.
My fingers kept trembling, but I worked the laces faster, hoping no one noticed. The worst thing you could do in this locker room was stop, freeze up, and let them see how the words hit you. That was blood in the water, and these guys were sharks who didn’t know how to leave a wounded animal alone. Usually, I didn’t care about the jokes, hell I joined in most times, but it just felt fucking different today.
“Careful, Greg!” Matt’s voice cut into my thoughts as he pointed to our team’s backup goalie. “Don’t drop the soap in the showers bro. Jaxon’s been looking at your ass all season.”
That’s when I glanced up, narrowing my eyes slightly to weigh my best friend's reaction. He was sitting on the bench, also untying his laces. “Yeah, Matt. I’ve been dreaming about your hairy ass too. Makes my knees weak just thinking about it.” he replied dryly.
The room erupted in laughter again, and I returned my gaze to my hand so I could unwrap the tape from my wrists. Locker room talk. That’s all it was. Stupid meaningless banter.
But still, my voice came out snappy when I blurted. “Come on, guys, cut this shit out.”
The room fell silent with all eyes turning to me and I forced myself to meet all their gazes, brows arched.
Finally, Matt was the one to break the ice and he turned away, muttering under his breath. “Jesus, Carter, chill out.” but at least, the others backed off and I could now breathe easily.
“Hey, cap?” Suddenly, I felt a hand slam down on my shoulder where I’d survived a huge bodyslam from the Northern Nomads stackhouse defenseman. Red-hot pain exploded in my ball-socket and I barely bit back a groan. “You good? If that shit still hurts from last season, you should probably have it checked out.”
I opened my mouth to reassure Jaxon but the locker room’s door slammed open with such a force that actually silenced the room. Coach walked in, clipboard in hand, followed by a cluster of fresh faces in new team jackets.
The new teammates Coach had talked about. He told us yesterday that since it was the new semester, we were going to have fresh blood on our team, and as Captain, it was my duty to make them feel welcome.
From the corner of my eye, I saw the old guys in all various states of undress had stopped whatever they were doing and were now leaning against lockers, sizing up the new guys like lions watching a fresh herd stumble into their den.
When Coach cut me a glance, I nodded and stepped forward. “Alright listen up! I am Noah Carter and captain of the Arctic Blades! ” I boomed, catching the attention of every guy in the room. “These are our new teammates. You old bastards are literal O.G’s and it’s your job to make them feel welcome. You were all rookies once, remember?”
The room thundered with deep male laughter and so I knew this season would be good. As loud-mouthed as my guys all were sometimes, I knew they would teach the rookies what they needed to know. Later when Coach was gone, I would assign each rookie to the seniors on my team to be their ‘Godfather.’ What other way to get better than to have your own personal role model?
Plastering on a welcoming smile, I moved past Coach to the recruits who stood in a line. Handshakes, shoulder claps, the usual pep talk. Most of them seemed eager, eyes bright with respect and awe for me.
Except him.
I did a double-take when I got to him. The first thing I noticed was his eyes. God, his eyes are an enchanted forest. Deep green-black with flecks of gold. And then I look at him. At his face, which looked like something out of a movie. He has really fucking dramatic features– stark cheekbones and those pink fish lips currently pressed together in a tight aggressive line. His hair was as red as fire trucks, cropped closely to his head and I caught myself wondering if it would feel as soft as it looked. Was the color even real?
“Dorian Hayes,” Those lips parted and my breath hitched as I realized I’d been staring at them. Fuck, the new season’s stress must be getting to me, and maybe the fact Hayes was drop-dead gorgeous. That… was an impersonal observation.
“Welcome to the team,” I kept my tone light and offered my hand. But he didn’t take it. He only stared me down with those jade-green eyes that sneered at me.
“Thanks, captain,” his response was curt and his lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile... There was an edge to him–a sharpness I couldn’t quite place. He really was handsome in a striking way, all hard lines and fiery red hair, but the hostility radiating off him was impossible to ignore.
But I will ignore it. If the new guy wanted to act like he’d got a rod stuck in his ass, then so be it. Sooner or later, the chip in his shoulder would be knocked off. Besides, I was too wound up tight to start dissecting our interaction.
Screw it.
I dismissed my team after my welcome speech and soon the guys were in the showers, preparing for the rookie dinner our school was holding. I wish I didn’t have to go. A hot date with my pillow awaited me but I had no choice. Fucking captain duties.
By the time Rookie Dinner wrapped up, I was half-drunk and really really looking forward to my bed. But as we left the huge dining hall, the team decided to hit a bar near campus to ‘celebrate’ because nothing bonds a group of hockey players like cheap beer and bad decisions.
Jaxon stuck close to me, however, telling me about some girl he’d hooked up with last semester as we trailed behind the loud guys heading to the dive. Yeah, a fucking bar called the Dive.
“Are you even listening, Captain serious?” his voice snapped me out of my surly thoughts and I glanced at him for a bit. His jacket was slung over his shoulder and he didn’t really look as drunk as I thought he’d. “You good?”
“Fine.” I finally muttered, and quickly stepped into the bar before he could further grill me.
Thirty minutes later, things had spiraled out of control. Here in our town, Ice hockey was kind of a big deal so anytime players entered into any bar, we were treated like fucking royalty. Free beers, an almost emptied-out section for the guys, and most importantly puck bunnies–how could forget the fucking thrill chasers. God, I had a headache. Thirty minutes more and I would tap out. The rookies were hyped up and I trusted Jaxon and the old guys to take care of them.
Think of the devil. Jaxon appeared in front of me just then where I sat nursing a bottle of water like an unc. He had lost his shirt somehow and the bar’s dim light created shadows across his huge bulky chest that rippled with 8pac abs. I brought my water to my lips and juggled it down my throat as if to clear whatever thoughts were trying to form.
“What’s up?” I said after a while.
“Noah, we’ve got a problem.” he leaned in close to shout it into my ears. My brows shot up immediately and he continued. “One of the rookies has gotten into a fight.”
Just fucking great.
I emptied my water and tossed the bottle somewhere before lifting off the long leather couch. And then I began shoving through the crowd, following right behind Jaxon.
When I got to the fight scene however, I froze. Hayes was in the middle of it all, fists raised, intense glare fixed on his face, his powerful, lean body tensed. The guy he was about to deck was twice his size, but Hayes looked like he didn’t care.
Those emerald eyes blazed with a fire that snapped me right out of the bar. For a moment, I was eleven and back in elementary school, standing next to a blonde scrawny boy who opened his tightly held palm and showed me a paper toy. He had the same green eyes that sparkled anytime I ruffled his hair.
His name had been Dorian too and I’d fucking betrayed him.
The memory grew painful and I quickly snapped out of it, blinking as the bar came back into focus. For a while, a crazy thought ran into my head. What if that Dorian was the same person here? But remembering those meek, kind green eyes and comparing them to the literal rage burning in this dude’s eyes. Plus the obvious red hair. They couldn’t be any more different. The Dorian I used to know would never pick a fight in a club.
Right! Shit! Hayes was in the middle of a fight.
“Hayes!” I yelled but he didn’t even acknowledge me. So gritting my teeth, I stepped between them and grabbed Hayes by the arm, yanking him back into me. A low noise came from his throat, his breath hitting the side of my face in harsh, quick pants.
Then his gaze snapped to mine and for a moment, I thought he might hit me instead.
The other guy, sensing his chance lunged forward and I threw him a punch on instinct. It caught him square in the jaw and he was sent sprawling.
Without thinking, I dragged Dorian along with me outside the bar. At first, he seemed quiet, glaring at me, but as soon the fresh night air bit into us, he yanked himself free again and turned on me.
“I didn’t ask for your help, Captain!” He snarled and the title felt so fucking insulting.
“Is this how you want to start your season?” I shot back, trying to keep my voice in check. “Getting into fucking bar fights and putting the entire team at fucking risk?”
“Stay the fuck out of my way, Golden boy,” he growled and walked off into the night, leaving me gawking after him in shock.
Noah's P.O.VThanksgiving NightThe scent of roasted garlic and slow-cooked turkey clung to every inch of the Reid house. I could hear Mrs. Reid’s voice from the kitchen yelling at someone, probably Anna, for trying to taste-test the cranberry sauce before dinner. The house was glowing warm, every hallway and room filled with soft laughter and rich aromas and the sounds of a family that loved being around each other.I’d only been here for less than a day, and already it felt more like home than anywhere I’d ever known, making me wonder how I'd managed to stay away all these past months. It was no wonder I usually spent every holiday with the Reids.Dinner was chaos in the best way. The table was bustling with passed plates and overlapping conversations. Sebastian, for someone who claimed he was bad with families, had already managed to make every single Reid sister laugh at least once. The fourth oldest, Clarissa, I think, giggled so hard she choked on her wine when he deadpanned th
Noah’s POVI winced so hard my spine nearly folded in half.Jaxon’s dad had a warm smile on his face and it was the kind of genuine one that made you feel instantly welcome, but right now it felt like a thousand-pound spotlight was on me. Because he was looking directly at me, assuming that Sebastian, Jaxon’s boyfriend, was mine.I risked a glance at Jaxon because I really didn't know if Jaxon was ready to tell his family.However, he looked surprisingly calm, lips pressed together, brows just slightly lifted. Then, he gave me a discreet nod. I'm ready.Right. Okay.I opened my mouth, ready to clear it up, but before I could even get past a single vowel, a hurricane in the form of a woman barreled into the room.“Oh mio Dio, i miei bambini!” she gasped out.She was tiny. Tiny, but her presence was enormous—fiery dark curls pinned back with two clips that were barely doing their job, red apron tied snug around her waist, and a look in her eyes like she was about to scold us into next w
Noah's P.O.VThe second I stepped out of my car, they jumped apart like kids caught making out behind the bleachers. Jaxon’s eyes flicked toward me, looking sheepish and… weirdly guilty? His hair was a mess from where the guy had clearly been gripping it. They looked like they’d been going at it for more than just a friendly peck.Oh my God.Oh my actual fucking God.“You might be surprised tomorrow,” Jaxon had said.This was the fucking surprise?Jaxon fucking Reid. Mr. “I’ve had a threesome with the Henderson twins.” Mr. “Choke me with your thighs, mommy,” himself… was gay too?And it was with his tutor? The same one I’d seen once or twice in the background when Jaxon was FaceTiming him at odd hours while claiming to be "studying" with him? That really pretty guy with the flawless skin and the glasses he probably didn’t even need?I blinked hard. “Am I hallucinating right now?”Jaxon raised both hands like I was holding him at gunpoint, pouring out words as he tried to dig himself o
Noah's P.O.VI didn’t remember the moment when I left the store and got on the road, driving to Jaxon's family house. Hell, I couldn’t even tell you what was playing on the speakers, even though I knew it was that stupid ass playlist Jaxon had shared with me—grunge and rock and some country-folk hybrid that made me want to pull my hair out when he'd begged me to indulge him. Right now, my brain was loud, louder than any music could ever be.Outside, the snow fell heavier now, little white streaks dancing past the windshield, like the universe was throwing static at my face just to see if I’d blink.I didn’t because I was still thinking about him.His mouth. The kiss wouldn't fucking leave my brain. It was as if his lips was still crushing mine and his breath lived in my lungs. My lips tingled with the need to be back on his and now all I could think about was how fast it ended. I shifted in my seat, groaning through clenched teeth. My dick was pressing up against the seam of my jeans
Noah's P.O.VI kept my eyes on the road, both hands tight on the wheel like I was holding on for dear fucking life. My heart was pounding loud enough to compete with the engine’s low growl. Every building I passed just made the nerves worse, like some countdown to a moment I didn’t know if I was ready for. Why the hell was I even nervous?It’s just Dorian.Except it wasn’t just Dorian.It was the first boy I ever wanted and was bold enough to let into my heart. The boy who got under my skin and twisted every part of me into knots. The boy who broke me, and the boy I still wanted, like a fucking masochist.When I finally pulled into the parking lot, I sat there for a second, dragging in a deep breath, then another. I could just leave. Text Coach and tell him I dropped the message. But no matter how much I tried to reverse out of here, I couldn't.. My fingers were already gripping the door handle, and then I was out, snow pelting lightly on my skin.The warm off-white lights of the stor
Noah’s P.O.VThe seventh game of the regionals ended with the Arctic Blades fucking demolishing the Wisconsin's titans. The titans, of all the teams.. I could still feel the sting in my thighs from the sprints and the vibration in my hands from that final slapshot that screamed past their goalie and lit the whole fucking stadium on fire. The crowd was still roaring in my head but the celebratory noise wasn't enough to wipe off the ridiculous grin on my face as I skated off the ice. We did it. We fucking did it. We have already made it into the fucking frozen four and the last(eighth) game of the regionals was just a formality I was halfway down the tunnel to the locker room, already reaching up to unclip my helmet when Coach O’Rourke’s voice barked out. "Carter!" Glancing over my shoulders, I spotted him waving me over.So I fully turned around, skating in a slow arc, only to see he was standing next to a man I didn't recognize. He was tall, built like bulldozer. He probably used t
Dorian The box cutter in my hand was dull as hell, but I worked it like it was a damn scalpel, slicing through layers of tape. I was on my knees in the cramped backroom of the store, sleeves rolled up, whilst being surrounded by towers of cardboard and half-dusty shelves of expired cereal. The air smelled like plastic and detergent and a little bit like the overripe bananas Susie always left near the staff fridge.I was almost done for the afternoon. Just a few more restocks and then I’d hit the bank to transfer some cash to Mom. Her voice had sounded clearer last time we talked, less slurred from medication. She even asked me about school. Rehab was working. Or maybe she was just too tired to yell.Either way, she needed the money. And I would’ve just done the transfer on my phone, but I didn’t have one anymore. A few days ago, I returned the android Noah bought me. I wouldn't lie and pretend that I'd handed it over him to while looking him in the eye. There was no way in the fucki
Dorian's P.O.VNo one was even looking at me, but I felt like the entire fucking room was laughing in my face. Not out loud, not in any obvious way, but I could feel it in my skin. A sick buzz crawling under the surface as Noah leaned in toward Jaxon, the two of them grinning by the lockers like the past month hadn’t happened between us. It was as if the history of what we used to be was totally wiped off, the way he had cried in my arms and how I used to make him moan, whisper, beg.Now Jaxon was the one pulling a laugh out of him with some bullshit story. I could tell it was bullshit by the way his hands moved in an exaggerated and performative way. And the worst part of it all was that Noah was giving him a real, open-mouthed, soft laugh. That damn laugh he used to give me when I kissed the underside of his jaw.When he was moping around all sad, a part of me, probably twisted and sick like it because it meant Noah still gave a fuck about me and as long as my actions were still cap
Authors P.O.VThe last thing Noah expected was to look over his shoulder and see Dorian Hayes coming at them while yelling for Jaxon to get his hands off his shoulder. The mother fucker kept creating a scene even after Noah told him to fucking leave.So in a rush of anger, Noah's body jolted forward, jaw clenched, ready to fucking deck him—until Jaxon hooked an arm around his middle and yanked him back."Are you insane?" Jaxon hissed through his teeth, dragging him toward the exit. "Let it go. Not here."Noah didn’t say a word. He just kept glaring at Dorian until the metal door slammed behind them.He didn’t even realize he was shaking until he buckled in and stared out the windshield. Just like before, Jaxon got into the driver's seat and began driving the car to a place Noah didn't really give a fuck about. He may have preferred to be in bed right now sleeping this gnawing ache in his chest off but he'd be damned if he continued to let Jaxon worry so much about him.Speaking of the
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