nobody was paying attention to them. This was not the time or place for this discussion, but he owed the man something. “It’s me. Damn, that’s lame.” His low chuckle was filled with the loathing that rolled within him. “I’m not used to this.”
“What?” Carter edged closer. “Going to a hockey game? I’m not going to jump you or maul you or even touch you unless it’s what you want.” His voice had edged lower, the tone balancing on annoyance. “My profession doesn’t make me an uncouth imbecile who’s going to out a man who’s not even out to himself.”
Ouch. Rock hung his head and let the truth of the words swirl around him. The pressure in his chest built until his lungs seemed too compressed to breathe. He was so obvious even this stranger could guess his shame. How many others knew and were too kind or afraid to say anything? Was he truly fooling no one but himself?
“Crap, man.” Carter sighed. “I’m sorry. That was harsh and uncalled for.”
Rock shook his head and found a way to swallow what little saliva he could gather in his mouth. “You’re right.” The words burned in his throat. “I’m sorry about that. I told you it wasn’t you.”
“I had no right to say that.”
Carter moved closer and nudged Rock with his arm, but he couldn’t respond. Even that little touch through leather, which was nothing more than a slap on the arm from Tyler or a shove from Deklan, lit up Rock’s insides. It didn’t matter what everyone else saw or thought—he knew the difference. So did the man standing next to him.
And he owed both of them better than this.
He lifted his head. “There’s nothing wrong with speaking the truth.” A truth he’d been hiding from since his teens.
“Rock.” The soft sound of his name from the other man’s mouth turned his stomach over and had everything tightening in his groin. It took all of his strength to keep his gaze steady when Carter continued. “I won’t push or force anything. I promise. I’m sorry about the last time. I didn’t—”
“No.” Rock cut him off. “Don’t apologize for my issues.”
Carter had done nothing wrong. In truth, he’d done everything right, which was why Rock had fled. And here the man was, trying again. Even if it was only because of the money, it was an opportunity he needed to take.
A rowdy group of fans passed them on the sidewalk, a couple of them already overindulging in the beers, based on the fumes that passed with them. The stream of people heading toward the stadium was picking up.
“We should go.” He motioned with his head toward the area. “If you still want to see the game.”
Carter studied him for a moment, his expression withholding his thoughts. “Sure. But…” He reached out and grabbed Rock’s arm to keep him from moving away. “Only if you’re okay. I understand if you want to call an end to this. I’ll have the agency refund your money.”
Rock froze, his eyes locked on the hand that held him. The heat was back, racing from that touch point to flood him with a desire he wanted to act on so badly. He slowly lifted his gaze, lingering on the wide chest, the slight bob of Carter’s Adam’s apple, the hard line of his jaw that showed no trace of a beard, the crooked smile until he reached the amazing crystal-blue eyes that waited so calmly for him.
Like he was walking away from this? Not a chance. Not again.
“I bummed us some awesome seats.” Rock made himself smile. It was weak, but it was the best he could do. “We shouldn’t let them go to waste.”
* * *
The crowd roared around them. The slick cut and slide of the blades scraped down the ice in time with the smack of sticks hitting the puck. The cool air blended with the diluted sweat scent from the players sitting just three rows below them.
“These are incredible seats,” Carter said as he leaned toward Rock. The noise level made normal conversation almost impossible, and getting close enough to the other
“What?” Carter edged closer. “Going to a hockey game? I’m not going to jump you or maul you or even touch you unless it’s what you want.” His voice had edged lower, the tone balancing on annoyance. “My profession doesn’t make me an uncouth imbecile who’s going to out a man who’s not even out to himself.”
Ouch. Rock hung his head and let the truth of the words swirl around him. The pressure in his chest built until his lungs seemed too compressed to breathe. He was so obvious even this stranger could guess his shame. How many others knew and were too kind or afraid to say anything? Was he truly fooling no one but himself?
“Crap, man.” Carter sighed. “I’m sorry. That was harsh and uncalled for.”
Rock shook his head and found a way to swallow what little saliva he could gather in his mouth. “You’re right.” The words burned in his throat. “I’m sorry about that. I told you it wasn’t you.”
“I had no right to say that.”
Carter moved closer and nudged Rock with his arm, but he couldn’t respond. Even that little touch through leather, which was nothing more than a slap on the arm from Tyler or a shove from Deklan, lit up Rock’s insides. It didn’t matter what everyone else saw or thought—he knew the difference. So did the man standing next to him.
And he owed both of them better than this.
He lifted his head. “There’s nothing wrong with speaking the truth.” A truth he’d been hiding from since his teens.
“Rock.” The soft sound of his name from the other man’s mouth turned his stomach over and had everything tightening in his groin. It took all of his strength to keep his gaze steady when Carter continued. “I won’t push or force anything. I promise. I’m sorry about the last time. I didn’t—”
“No.” Rock cut him off. “Don’t apologize for my issues.”
Carter had done nothing wrong. In truth, he’d done everything right, which was why Rock had fled. And here the man was, trying again. Even if it was only because of the money, it was an opportunity he needed to take.
A rowdy group of fans passed them on the sidewalk, a couple of them already overindulging in the beers, based on the fumes that passed with them. The stream of people heading toward the stadium was picking up.
“We should go.” He motioned with his head toward the area. “If you still want to see the game.”
Carter studied him for a moment, his expression withholding his thoughts. “Sure. But…” He reached out and grabbed Rock’s arm to keep him from moving away. “Only if you’re okay. I understand if you want to call an end to this. I’ll have the agency refund your money.”
Rock froze, his eyes locked on the hand that held him. The heat was back, racing from that touch point to flood him with a desire he wanted to act on so badly. He slowly lifted his gaze, lingering on the wide chest, the slight bob of Carter’s Adam’s apple, the hard line of his jaw that showed no trace of a beard, the crooked smile until he reached the amazing crystal-blue eyes that waited so calmly for him.
Like he was walking away from this? Not a chance. Not again.
“I bummed us some awesome seats.” Rock made himself smile. It was weak, but it was the best he could do. “We shouldn’t let them go to waste.”
* * *
The crowd roared around them. The slick cut and slide of the blades scraped down the ice in time with the smack of sticks hitting the puck. The cool air blended with the diluted sweat scent from the players sitting just three rows below them.
“These are incredible seats,” Carter said as he leaned toward Rock. The noise level made normal conversation almost impossible, and getting close enough to the other
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