In more ways than one.
Breck closed his eyes and tried to steady his heart. Truth was, he’d love to spend more time with Kai just one on one. Hell, if it could stay secret, he’d be all over it. Would do Kai’s ‘private sessions’ all fucking night long. The tension between them was too exhausting, the pull too strong. Like Tad, he was tired of fighting the way he felt. This barrier he’d been keeping between them required a shit ton of energy.
Problem was, he couldn’t take that risk. The price was too high for something he couldn’t guarantee. If someone saw them, if word got out, the future he’d worked so hard for would be in jeopardy. As much as he’d love to engage this man again, he’d be a fool to take that kind of gamble.
Besides, there were no promises in Kai’s eyes that said he’d be willing to acquiesce to Breck’s need for secrecy, and no way in hell was Breck going to request that kind of reassurance. Kai already knew he was hiding this part of himself. No need to keep reminding the man that he wasn’t out.
Meeting Kai’s gaze, he shook his head. “I gotta go.”
Something flickered in Kai’s eyes that looked a lot like disappointment. Stepping back, he inclined his head. “Good luck this weekend.”
“Thanks,” Breck muttered as he headed for the door.
Unless he found a way to purge Kai from his head, he was going to need it.
— THIRTEEN —
“What a shot!”
Kai smiled as the announcer’s voice boomed through EagleBank Arena, the pounding base of BLACKPINK’s Savage exploding through the sound system in taunting celebration. The crowd went wild, and understandably so. The Patriot’s center just grabbed the rebound and launched a quick pass back up the court, where Breck scored a nothing-but-net before the defense even had a chance to set up. It wasn’t his first basket of the game, and it clearly wouldn’t be his last. George Mason’s monarch was on fire tonight.
The halftime horn blared.
George Mason Patriots 55, Dayton Flyers 30.
As the masses piled out en route to the restrooms and refreshment stands, Kai settled into his seat and watched Breck’s team exit the court. A break in the locker rooms they’d most definitely earned. Especially, Breck, if Kai was being honest, demonstrating without contention why he’d been nicknamed the King. Kai had been impressed by his previous performances, but Breck had clearly upped his game for March Madness.
Which made Kai glad that he’d come, despite Breck’s demand that he stay away. He honestly didn’t understand what the big deal was. It wasn’t like Breck would ever notice him in this sea of a thousand faces. Besides, he’d already purchased his ticket when Breck had told him not to go. He’d been to enough games now to feel invested. He wanted to see Breck go the distance and win the championship.
Although, in his defense, he had considered staying home. Ultimately though, the temptation had been too strong. Breck enthralled him. Always had. How Kai reveled in the act of simply watching him move. Such a strong, lithe, athletic stag darting this way and that. Like he’d done when they’d sparred at Kai’s dojang, only now he was on a basketball court lighting up a crowd. No harm, no foul. Kai was just enjoying the game. One where, in his opinion, Breck surpassed king status. The kid was a prodigy.
The guy to Kai’s right plopped back down in his seat. A student, Kai presumed, wearing his Patriots hoodie. Right from the start, when Kai had first noticed him, he’d reminded him of Sean, what with his wavy blond shoulder-length hair and slender build. Sean was more attractive, of course. Far more attractive. Kai rarely spotted guys who surpassed his good looks. And unlike this guy, Sean carried himself with confidence. One of the traits Kai had liked about him most. Sean was just as poised and self-assured as he was handsome.
His thoughts strayed to their Tuesday session. So many reasons why it’d fallen through. Hell, by the time they’d gotten situated in Max’s dungeon, he’d gleaned enough about Sean and Max to be fully aware that no real playtime would be happening. And so, he’d begun with his change in plans, using every minute spent tying Sean up to devise a strategy for his own extraction. Sean’s request for Max to watch had only made things that much easier.
The kid was clever, Kai would give him that. And tenacious. Had refused to go down without a fight. Or maybe he figured if he was going down, then Max was going with him.
Not that Kai hadn’t had a back-up strategy if, somehow, Max had miraculously persevered. In that case, he’d have kept things underwhelming. Anticlimactic. Quite literally, as it were. He’d decided from nearly the get-go to not even bring Sean to orgasm. Which in no way meant the kid wasn’t worthy, because from what Kai observed, he most definitely was. Sean was a great big yellow flower engulfed in sunshine.