Chapter Text
This wasn’t Hayden’s first time in California, and it wasn’t his first time winning against Anaheim. Montréal was on their 11th consecutive victory and morale was pumping through everyone’s blood. Hayden scored twice and assisted Shane once tonight, and the adrenaline in his veins had barely came down for the rookie. The Metros decided this was the night they went out clubbing, and JJ had fixated on booking the best table at LA’s biggest club.
They didn’t have to fly out until the day after, which signaled the only thing these meatheads knew best when it came to celebrating: getting shitface drunk. Luckily for the rookies, they were barely legal in the States, otherwise Hayden and Shane would have been the youngest babysitters Montreal Metros had ever employed.
Shane inserted the key fob and the door to their hotel room clicked open. It’s almost like a ritual: Shane grabbed the key because he wanted to call dibs on his preferred bed. He pushed the door open and with haste, plopped himself onto the outside bed. Hayden trailed behind and casually removed his shoes before laying down on the unoccupied bed. The soft linen, the gentle hum of the heater, the soft warm light from the bedside lamp, and the heavy dinner invited their eyelids to shut tight.
Hayden reached for his Blackberry, the screen lit up showing 9:41PM. “Fuck, I thought we could catch some shut eyes”, Hayden mumbled.
Shane lift his head up. “Hayd, you should look at yourself in the mirror. How are you going to bed with that much excitement written all over your face?” Shane sneered.
“Fuck you Hollander!” Hayden shot back a smile. To be honest, he could use some cardio, any kind of them. He had been on the road for a while now. Between practice, playoffs, travel and empty hotel rooms, he barely had any time for himself. Sometimes, Hayden wondered how nice it could be to have someone all to himself. He had been with a few girls so far, booty calls here and there with zero strings attached. Sometimes they wanted Hayden to stay and cuddle, but he was too busy to linger. Always on the move, he could not let cheap intimacy fuck up his recovery.
“Do you want to go clubbing? We don’t have to fly back to Montreal until Monday.” Hayden shot his question at Shane. Shane had been his best friend the moment they both got drafted to Montreal, and they were virtually inseperable.
“To watch you making out with random girls and waiting in JJ’s room while you are getting laid?” Shane grinned.
“Jesus Christ it will never happen again. I’m sorry for that one time OK?” Hayden barked back jokingly then cocked his eyebrows. “I take that as a yes?”
“Sure Hayd, better keep your words.” Shane rolled out of his bed and rummaged through his carefully folded clothes.
“Go get dressed weirdo, pick something nice. Who on Earth would wear a blazer with a hoodie to the club like you, Shane Hollander?”
“Shut up Pike!” Shane gave him a middle finger before dipping into the bathroom.
Hayden lips curved up with a faint smile. He pushed himself up from the comfort of the bed and walked over to his suitcase and started picking himself an outfit. ‘Just another fun night with the boys’, Hayden thought.
“Hollander, Pike! Good to see you rooks here. We gonna get blasted out of space tonight,” JJ ambushed both of them the moment their feet barely touched the red carpet. Barely got their words out, JJ pulled the young Canadians through the long line until they hit the VIP counter.
“For JJ please!” JJ cheerfully talked to the attendant, unable to contain his excitement while his arms wrapped around the rookies’ shoulders. “Right this way,” the attendant professionally led them to their table. Hayden and Shane were the last to arrive, and everyone had been drinking. JJ grabbed the Don Julio bottle from the ice bucket, poured two shots of tequila, and handed them over to the rookies. Hayden and Shane reluctantly accepted the shots, Shane gave Hayden a hesitant glance, almost begging Hayden to save him from the alcohol.
“Is pig flying tonight? Our Cap decided to come!” “Fuck yeah that’s what I’m talking about, let’s go Hollander!” “Yo Pike, what did you say to bring him out of his den?” “Let’s fucking gooo we outside!!!!” “Hollander, take a shot with me next.” “Get in line, I’m here before you.” His team members bickered as JJ poured another round of shot for the team.
“Cheers to tonight’s victory and soon, our Stanley cup.” JJ toasted, his surroundings exploded.
Hayden quickly took his shot and placed the glass back onto the table. The cold liquid burned his throat, the spicy bitterness lingered ominously on his tastebuds before a warm sensation rushed through his chest.
Shane, on the other hand, hesitated. He looked at the glass in his hand as if he was holding the world’s most abominable sin. Hayden leaned into his ear, practically yeling over the obnoxiously loud music: “Relax Shane, just one shot. I’ll get you some ginger ale.” Shane gave his best friend a doubtful look, and Hayden returned with a reassuring smile. Shane emptied the shot while their teammates shouting “Shot! Shot! Shot!” before erupting into cheers when Shane clinked the empty glass on the table. They haven’t seen their captain showing up to any team fuctions, let alone taking shot in the club. The burning sensation of alcohol soothed the anxiety inside Shane and he loosened up. It felt great when all of his inhibitions slowly disappeared as the tequila slowly worked into his bloodstream.
Hayden grabbed a can of ginger ale, cracked it, popped a straw in and handed it to Shane. “Here you go buddy, don’t go too hard OK? I don’t want to babysit you. I’m going to dance for a bit,” Hayden said before pouring a double shot for himself, chased it with a wedge of lime before disappearing into the crowd.
Hayden wanted to dance his soul out, maybe picked up a cute girl and went back to her place. After all, behind the raging hormones, Hayden was still a considerate friend and he didn’t want his best friend to lose his sleep while he went to town on some chick in their hotel room. Hayden spotted an opening with ample space to dance, surrounded by pretty women. Hayden made his way through the shifting crowd, their movements controlled by the music, he slowly trickled through the tiny gaps between the moving bodies. Hayden was about to free himself from the stampede when all of a sudden, a giant brick wall crashed onto him, planting his face straight into the man’s chest. Hayden stumbled before losing his balance and tipped over, his arms extended as he braced for impact.
The crash never came. In a tenth of a second, an arm reached out and wrapped around Hayden’s waist, the massive hand gripped firm on his hip before Hayden was yanked against gravity. Meeting Hayden’s ocean blue eyes on the other side was a pair of mahogany pierced deep into his soul, carved an image of a rugged but well groomed man. Inches apart, Hayden could make out the other man’s facial features with clarity; he could smell the symphony of patchouli, moss and cedar on the larger man. His dark hair gently caressed the dirty blond forehead as Hayden slowly registered what the fuck just happened. ‘Did this man just saved me from eating shit in the club?’ Hayden asked himself, oblivious to the fact that he was blushing hard. A thousand thoughts rammed through Hayden’s brain, taking away his spatial awareness. It didn’t click in Hayden that he had been staring at this man for too long until the guy he just slammed his face into moved his massive hands away from his body. Hayden quickly pulled back from the man now towering over himself.
“Motherfucker are you blind? The ADA section is up the stairs!” Hayden taunted.
“Quite the mouth you have there kiddo, looking 5’6 but acting like you’re 6’5,” the older man jeered back.
“You asshole. You’re all meat with zero braincell!” Hayden snapped back. That man’s words just bruised Hayden’s ego. He’s 5’8 not 5’6 God fucking damn it. Hayden was not drunk; he drank just enough alcohol to uncloak his anger and without hesitation, pounced on his new enemy.
“You’re getting fucked up tonight fuckface!” Hayden shouted as he landed a punch on that man. But alcohol made him sloppy and the punch never connected. With ease, the giant man blocked Hayden’s assault before pinning him down on the floor. People gasped at the commotion and quickly scattered, some flagged down security.
“Let me go you asshole!” Hayden screamed as the man wouldn’t back down.
“Easy chihuahua, you’re too feisty for how big you are,” the man barked back.
Security quickly rushed in and broke the fight. Hayden was throwing every insults he could think of under the sun as security dragged him away by his collar while the giant just grinned menacingly, taunting Hayden to throw even more ammunition at him. Both of them were escorted out of the club despite Hayden’s plead to be returned to his section. His words fell on deaf ears. Protocol was protocol, and Hayden broke them.
They stood outside the club, minutes to midnight, with the line still wrapped around the block. Embarrassed from getting kicked out of the club when none of his teammates know what had transpired, Hayden shot a dagger look at the man, only to be returned with a ridiculed stare. He felt small and vulnerable here. He really wanted to sucker punch that motherfucker in the face right now if hundred pairs of eyes weren’t staring at both of them. Some might recognized Hayden and this wouldn’t be good for the team PR. The last thing Hayden wanted was Shane catching flames and crumbling from the public pressures from Hayden’s mischief, and he knew his best friend too well to put him through that.
Under the warm orange sodium street light, Hayden’s fragmented collection of memories started to piece together the features of this man. Judgements clouded by the haze of tequila, Hayden slowly but surely realized who the man was as colors drained from his face.
“Cliff Marlow you fucking asshole!” Hayden shouted, catching the attention of the other man as he lit up a cigarette. ‘Oh great, I just jumped the best friend of my best friend’s biggest rival.’ Hayden though as he rolled his eyes, before giving the middle finger to Marlow. Marlow leaned on to the cold brickwall, still wearing that fucking obnoxious smirk on his face as he ripped another puff of cigarette.
“Took you long enough to come to your senses. You’re feisty on and off the ice, Pike,” Marlow snickered, before tapping the half burned cigarette. “I’m sorry OK? I wasn’t looking…”
“Fuck! You! Asshole! The only time I could party with my best friend you decided to show up and ruined the night!” Hayden cut off Marlow, arm crossed as he shot another daggering look at the 6’4 man.
Marlow took another long drag of his cigarette, eyes dashed away from Hayden and glanced towards the skyline of Los Angeles, before turning his attention back to Hayden, exhaling the fume slowly.
“Your fault for throwing hands, Pike. I was going to apologize but you didn’t let me. Now look at us, both kicked out of the club while our friends are having the time of their life inside,” Marlow snided. “But I think you had enough fun, did you? Caught someone looking at me for a little too long,” Marlow teased, seductively dragged his tongue across his lips as Los Angeles winter had chapped his sensitive skin.
Hayden caught a glimpse of Marlow’s lips, his winter blushed face now turned two shades redder. He stumbled on his words as the image of Marlow luringly dragged his tongue across his lips seared into his memory.
A fleeting thought crossed his mind, Hayden wanted to feel Marlow’s lips against his. ‘Is it the alcohol talking or am I catching a feel for this asshole?’ Hayden knew he got caught staring into Marlow’s soul. He never thought about a man, nor he wanted to be with one until he was lost in Marlow’s mahogany eyes.
Marlow words, unassuming as they were, somehow perturbed Hayden’s psyche, and shortcircuited his brain. Logical thoughts fell into disarray as Hayden tried to troubleshoot his dysfunctional brain. All the words in the world and the only thing he could mustered was ‘Fuck you” before storming away from his rival.
The husky frame tilted his head to the sky, his black wavy hair could barely contained the cold rush to the back of his head as he leaned harder onto the freezing wall. Marlow glanced at the shape of Hayden slowly disappearing into the night, never drifted his gaze away from the dirty blond. Soft luscious lips, blused cheeks, and two blue oceans that plunged Marlow deep into an abyss he had never thought of shedding his light on.
Hayden walked with no destination in mind, aimlessly strolled the streets of LA under the warm orange lights, eyes glued to the sidewalk. Hayden couldn’t bring himself to look forward; he feared he would catch the sight of Marlow and his brain would melt into a mess. He could care less about crashing into anyone else, as long as they were not Marlow. To no avail, Hayden’s overdriven brain desperately fought back the pounding emotions surging from the rapid pulse in his chest.
Many girls had passed Hayden’s life and left nothing but arousal in Hayden’s pants. Tonight was different, something just blossomed in Hayden as he breathed in the visage of Cliff Marlow under the flashing club lights. Women were fleeting thoughts in his head, but the only one that lingered was a man. Not just any ordinary man, but it was his biggest rival in the league. ‘Why him? Why it has to be him?’ Hayden was fighting a losing war right now, trying to suppress the feelings arise like tidal waves that surged into the frail soul of the 21 years old Canadian.
God knew how long had he been walking, but when Hayden found the courage to look up, he was way past the nightlife scene, scattered around were restaurants and bars closing down for the night. Hayden stopped and pulled out his phone. ‘Zero message or call from Shane. He could be drinking with the team right now, or texting Lily from Boston’. Hayden thought to himself before quickly sliding his phone back into his pocket. He should had sent an assuring text to Shane yet he was too caught up with the storm brewing in his mind to form a clear thought.
Taking in the surroundings, Hayden caught a small poster plastered discreetly on an electric pole: “Techno rave at undisclosed warehouse. Follow the instruction.” It was only past midnight and Hayden, part bitter from getting kicked out of the club, part still full of pent up energy, decided that tonight was the night he would do his sidequest. “Arrive at Calzona St, first lamp post, next instruction will be there.”
Hayden walked down the block and hailed a cab, promptly jumped in. In a polite Canadian tone, Hayden spoke to the cab driver: “Calzona Street, please.”
“Are you sure? That is an industrial area. Nothing good goes down there after midnight,” the driver cocked his eyebrow, questioning this young man’s poor life choice.
“Yea I’m sure, just take me there please. I’ll be fine,” Hayden answered with zero emotion, staring out of the window absentmindedly.
15 minutes had passed. Hayden looked at the disappearing tail light of the taxi, second guessed his decision to be here. This was a well lit area full of industrial warehouses. It was not hard to find a black and neon green poster stuck out like a sore thumb on the first light pole of that street.
“Walk south towards Noakes Street then turn right. Find the black building, next instruction awaits.” Hayden murmured, tugging his hands into his pocket as the midnight air stole the warmth from his hands. ‘Why are they playing games making me walking around with cryptic instruction?’ Hayden started to regret this, but he was too deep into this journey, he might as well committed to the bit.
He turned the corner at Noakes, the black building came into view. Hayden beelined towards it as the wind picked up, his hair gently dancing to the rhythm of winter. Another poster came to view. “Rave to the grave, entry on the corner of Esperanza and Noakes.” Hayden got zero map on hand, how the fuck on Earth could he find Esperanza Street? His instinct told him to walk ahead, and he strolled the abandoned street again, passing a few alleys with dark corners. Somewhat freaked out, Hayden hastily breezed through the sketchy street. In the midst of night, Hayden could make out the thumping sound from a distance as he followed through. Esperanza came into view and Hayden breathed out a sign of relief. He turned the corner and found a security guy guarding the door down to a dark basement.
“Passcode?” Security guy coldly asked.
“What? What passcode?” Hayden replied, somewhat surprised.
“No passcode no enter.” Security firmly spoke.
“Uh….” Hayden scratched his head, trying to recall what passcode was mentioned. “Rave to the grave?” He blurted out, hoping for the right answer.
“Welcome in, $20 please.” Security tone warmed up. Hayden slipped him a $20 bill, got patted down and the guy opened the door, revealing a dark staircase. Music rippled through the space and the bass cut through the muted sound outside that door. “Enjoy the night!” Security guy yelled before slamming the heavy door shut behind Hayden. He made his way down the dark staircase, with barely lit red neon lights underneath the railing illuminating the steps.
Shane was 4 shots too deep for someone who thinks ginger ale is a good substitute for alcohol. On the verge of comfortably fucked up, Shane slumbered on the couch while his teammates rotated between checking in with him, offering him more shots which he declined and opt for ginger ale instead. Bantering with his teammates is fun, but his social battery ran out and he needed to find Hayden quick. Shane struggled to get up and as he look to the dancefloor, he could not find the dirty blond.
Shane pulled his phone from his backpocket and shot a text to Hayden. ‘Hayd where are you? I wanna go back.’
No response.
Shane moved to Ilya, typing in a quick text. It’s probably 4AM in Boston right now and Ilya must be asleep. He sent it anyways. ‘Hayden left me after dragging me out to party :(‘
Shane put his phone back into his pocket and went back to nursing his half drank ginger ale can while JJ and Drapeau chirping over his ears about who will get a girl first tonight. Half an hour passed by and Hayden still hadn’t returned a message, Shane starting to get more anxious as his best friend just gone AWOL. He called Hayden and it went to voicemail. ‘Hayden must be getting on with a girl right now.’ Shane paid no thought as he stood up and started saying goodbye to his teammates. ‘Empty room for tonight.’ Shane sighed as he walked out of the club alone and got onto the cab. “JW Marriott Downtown LA please.” Shane pulled his phone out, still zero text from either Hayden or Ilya. Shane typed a quick text to Hayden: ‘Are you coming back soon?’ as LA skyline slowly come into view.
Hayden made it to the dark basement. Red, purple and pink strobes light flickering to the beats of the music. The smoke machine was clouding the room. Hayden could not see more than 7 feet away. The subwoofer blasted out bass with intensity that vibrated his chest. The sound was louder than the cheers of Montreal fans when they won the game, louder than the dizziest night club he ever been to. A wave of heat and humid hit Hayden, moisture started to form on his temple. He quickly removed the outer layer and handed to the coat check and grabbed a free pair of earplugs offered by one of the staffs as he walked into the room. ‘Much better.’ Hayden though as he popped in the plugs. There’s an only fan tried blasting the cold air into the hot and sweaty basement, and Hayden felt someone suffocated already. He moved to the back of the room near the fan, carefully moving through the crowd. ‘Okay this is new. But I like it.’ He wanted the music to drown out the noise in his head, as that image of Marlow keep dancing in the corner of his mind. And this techno music thing was doing quite good.
The melodies slowly poured into Hayden’s mind as he let go of his inhibitions and he started dancing to the music, oblivious to his white tank started to soak up his sweat. A girl tapped onto Hayden’s back and handed him a white pill. He could barely registered what’s in his hand in the dark room when the girl shouted into his ear, trying to overcome the rumbling baseline before disappearing into the crowd: “It’s MDMA. Take it and you will be the happiest man in the world tonight.”
‘Happiest man in the world.’ Hayden startled at the thought for a moment before taking the pill. He never thought about what made him happy outside of hockey until this forsaken night. He craved for the yearning look Marlow shot at him, the gentle embrace when he wrapped his firm arm around Hayden’s waist. He wanted to be held in Marlow’s arm, locking eyes with him again while the world move around them. ‘Shit! Shit! I’m not supposed to think about him!’ Hayden angried at himself. As much as he tried to put his mind away from it, he somehow always steered back to that Bostonian.
The music switched. Less hypnotic, more sensual and seductive. Hayden’s body started to move on its own as he loosened up even more. Music sounded better, his body felt hotter, his brain started to fire signals and flooding his mind with euphoria. His pupils dilated as serotonin coursed through his mind, amplifying every emotion bottled inside. He wanted to, no, he needed to hug someone, kiss someone right now. MDMA is a wonderful drug because it surfaces all of your wants and needs and turns it to 11. The image of that giant Boston hockey player that left him starstruck filled his mind. Hayden moved involuntarily through the crowd as the music picked up the pace. Sweat poured out from the back of his neck, mixed with the chypre cologne he sprayed liberally on earlier today,. His dance became more aggressive, his feet work became more audacious, his heart yearned for Marlow to be next to him, hold him in his arms, look him in the eyes before lock him with a kiss.
In a dark basement with barely a hundred people in it, the uninhibited Canadian decided to jerked back and spin as the DJ switched to a new track. In that moment, Hayden lost his balance and fell, planting his face to someone’s chest. A pair of arms wrapped around Hayden and caught him as he repositioned himself on the dancefloor. Hayden looked up, barely made out the features of the man when his savior leaned in and lewdly whispered to Hayden’s ear:
“Hello Pike, we meet again.”
Cliff Marlow. Hayden wanted to push away, but his system didn’t obey his command. Marlow didn’t want to pull away neither; he tightened his grips onto Pike, his left arm held below Hayden’s arm, hand placed on his throbbing chest while the other wrapped around his back, hand staunchly placed onto his ass, fingers gripled firmly onto Hayden’s jean. He stood there, embraced by his tall and burly archrival, unable and unwilling to move. Hayden subconsciously returned the embrace as he reached out and locked his arms around his archrival sweaty muscular back. Streak of red and purple strobes illuminated Marlow’s face as he cracked out a gentle smile. Marlow was also down to his sweat drenched tank tops, breathing down Hayden’s neck as he inhaling that intoxicating moss-patchouli scent, amplified by Marlow’s own equally seductive essence.
Blue oceans crashed into mahogany again with a violent force of a tsunami. Billowing waves consumed Hayden, sent him haywire, shifting between panic and comfort, disdain and desire. Retreat was not an option, his brain scrambled to break away from Marlow but his heart fixed on holding Marlow dearly.
“Woah, miss me?” Marlow leaned into Hayden’s ear before pulling back and plunged his eyes into Hayden’s again.
“Shut up Marlow. Don’t talk to me right now.” Hayden tried to speak, emotions surging through his body. He gripped one of his leg onto Marlow’s as the world danced around them. Marlow bridged the distance between their faces, now only inches away.
“Your pupils are dilated, what did you take Pike?”
“Someone gave me a pill, told me it will make me the happiest man in the world tonight.”
Marlow beamed, he clocked that Hayden must took MDMA earlier. Marlow was no stranger to this substance; years of throwing parties with his brothers, sneaking a few pills, and babysiting his fraternity after the comedown during college had cemented the MDMA experience into his brain. “Are you happy right now?” Marlow asked as the music picked up the pace.
“I was until you came crashing into me.” Hayden slurred as he grinned ear to ear.
“Do you want me to leave you alone, Pike?” Marlow cocked his eyebrows.
“Don’t. Stay. I like this.” Hayden replied before burying his face against Marlow’s chest. He could feel his heart racing against the other man. “Marlow, don’t leave me please.” Marlow moved his left arm to the back of Pike’s head, slowly rubbing his sweaty hair in a circular motion. Pike was overwhelmed right now, and the molly even made it worse. He tightened the gap between his and Hayden, caressing through his hair, tracing his back with his gentle fingers as he laying his head on Hayden’s shoulder, rubbing his well trimmed beard onto the other man’s neck. They stood like that for a while before Hayden could mustered the courage to speak up to Marlow.
“Hey!” Hayden looked up. “Why are you being so nice to me?” Stormy eyes staring right into Marlow’s.
“Just doing what I know best, Pike.” Marlow answered as he kept caressing Hayden.
“Being the 2nd best Left Wing in the League?” Hayden smiled.
“Oh you got a bad mouth right there Pike.” Marlow laughed as he pulled his face closer to Hayden. “Feisty, sober or not.” Marlow brushed his thumb against Hayden’s lips. “What does the so-called best Left Wing in the League think about me?”
“You are a fucking bully, you checked me hard on the ice, you crashed into me at the club, you followed me down this sketchy basement and now you’re touching my ass.” Hayden chirped although deep down he enjoyed having Marlow fondling his behinds.
“And yet you’re glued to your bully, now what?” Marlow laughed.
Hayden blushed, then let out a gentle smile as he rested his head onto Marlow’s shoulder. If he was sober, he would send a few haymakers into his annoying face. But it’s the drug talking right now as joy filled his chest and Hayden got caught laughing and touching his archrival. “It’s getting hot in here Pike.” Marlow broke away slowly, gently removing Hayden’s embrace around his hip. Hayden weakly resisted but gave in as he watch Marlow taking off his tank tops and tuck it on his pants. Marlow is one hell of a fine man, broad shoulders and sculpted muscular chest. A well kempt happy trail ran down from his sternum, seperating his perfectly chiseled abs into two sides before disappeared in the white waistband. In the spur of the moment, Hayden Pike took off his tank tops and stuck it behind his back. He’s not as defined as Marlow, but he has years of being an athlete definitely written all over his body. Both athletes took a moment to admire each other, red light kissed the sweaty abs and chest of the best Left Wing players in the NHL.
Hayden caved and closed the distance between two hot, sweaty and bothered men, his hands ran through the back of his opponent as he explored the crescendos, the valleys, the definition of the man he’s holding. Marlow smelled so fucking good right now as the fabrics that seperated both of them were gone. He kissed on Marlow’s chest and shoulder before laying his head on it, inhaling the perfume Marlow exuded.
“Fucking hell Pike, what’s got into you?” Marlow asked as he placed his hands onto Hayden’s ass.
“It’s the drug talking, Marlow. Shut up. This isn’t me.” Hayden spoke as he moved his hands down to Marlow’s impressive ass before he slid a finger into the man’s waistband.
“It has always been you, Pike. You didn’t want to break away from me. You enjoy touching my body and now you tryna get into my pants. Tell me Pike, have you been fantasizing about me?” Marlow jested.
“Maybe.” Hayden defeatedly answered, sliding a second finger into his pants now. The cloaking darkness and smoky environment provided a good enough privacy for Hayden to do so without drawing attention.
“What do you want to do with me, Pike?”
Hayden hesitated, his eyes flickered as he looked into the older man before he crashing his lips against Marlow’s. Marlow felt so good against his lips right now; the tenderness of his lips gently assaulting Hayden’s. He was a gentle giant, knowing when to advance and when to pull back. Marlow teasing nipped the bottom of Hayden’s lips before sliding his tongue deep into Hayden again. As Hayden indulged in the lustful kiss, he felt a finger slowly sliding in between his underwear and his jeans, then another one, and another until Marlow’s whole hand was grabbing Hayden’s bouncy buttcheek. On the other side, he could feel a growing, burning hot sensation pressed against his dick. Marlow was hard, and his fly might buckle if they kept doing this.
Hayden pulled back to Marlow surprise. They both gasped for air before Hayden leaned in and said “Not here” as he looked around. No one in the room cared as they were too enamored to the music. Marlow laughed, hands still gripped tight onto Hayden.
“Oh Pike I thought you don’t swing this way. How much do you want me?”
“As much as you want me, Marlow. You hands were on my ass the whole time.”
“Rook, you’re such a bad boy.” Marlow said with haste before he devoured Hayden’s lips again. It tasted like heaven on Earth. Hayden wanted this moment to last forever. He kissed enough women to know how to work it, but never had he been hungrily kissed with so much passion and fervor from a man. Not any man, the man Hayden Pike despicably considered as his equal on the ice yet vehemently attached to his soul right now. He should have pulled back but it felt so good right now basking in Marlow’s warmth that filled an empty spot in Hayden’s heart. Their lips slowly parted way. Hayden gazed into Marlow’s eyes before asking him to dance with him.
“We haven’t danced at the club. I’m not wasting a night out without getting some move”
“You don’t want me anymore?”
“Marlow shut the fuck up! And dance with me.” Hayden teased, grabbed Marlow by the wrist and pulled him to the crowd. Finding themselves in a good spot, two souls danced like there’s no tomorrow until the earliest light slipped through the tiny ventilation windows of the basement.
Cold air streamed into the basement as the crowd thinned out, leaving more space for Cliff and Hayden. A breeze blew onto the dancefloor and Hayden left out a shiver. Marlow caught him shaking from the cold and promptly put Hayden’s tank top back on before his. Both men were sticky from dried up sweat, exhausted from dancing and drunk on emotions. Hayden didn’t want to leave the confined space he and Marlow serendipitously discovered for themselves that night in LA. He hated to step outside of that basement that set them free from public eyes and return to the life where he had to hate Cliff Marlow for the theatrics.
As they grabbed their own coats and followed the crowd out of the basement, Marlow shot Hayden a question: “Pike, do you want to go back to my place? I’m staying at Ritz-Carlton in downtown.”
“You’re funny, we are staying next door at JW.” Hayden replied with an exhausted wakefulness from the molly comedown. He’s tired but physically he could not put himself to sleep. Hayden turned away as he yawned into the chilly morning air, hand covered his mouth as a habit.
“You still haven’t answered my question Pike. Is that a yes or no?” Marlow asked as he tapped something on his phone.
“I can’t, I’m bunking with Hollander. He’s going to kill me for leaving him alone all night.” Hayden sighed as he pulled out his phone from his backpocket, the screen showed 2 missed calls, 5 text messages from Shane. He already concocted an apology for Shane in his head. “Poor guy, everytime we party he always get plastered. Dude doesn’t know how to reject a shot.” As he read the last text Shane sent him, he let out a sigh of relief as Shane had made it back to the hotel.
“Pike, he’s going to kill you if you come back at the crack of dawn and fuck up his sleep.” Marlow smiled, nudging at Hayden’s ribs. “If you want to redeem yourself with Hollander, come back and apologize when he’s up and not hungover.” Marlow paused as Hayden pouted, the gentle morning breeze fluffed the dirty blond’s hair as sunlight kissed his face. Sparkling cerulean met amber as they basked in the warmth of the golden light. A wave of crimson painted over Hayden’s rosy cheeks, and Marlow fought back the tensing urge to reach out and caress them. He wished he could hold Hayden and trace his thumb over the Canadian’s blush in the light like how he did in the secrets of the night. All he could was to give Hayden a reassuring tap to his shoulder. “It’s your choice, Pike. You don’t have to if you don’t want,” Marlow gestured, “this to continue.”
Hayden nodded, eyes broke away from Marlow as he fumbling his fingers nervously. Marlow looked away as a cab slowly pulled up to the street they had been standing. He hailed down the cab and turned back to Hayden. “Need a ride, kiddo? We are practically neighbor.”
“I-“ Hayden struggled to form a coherent speech. The thought of sharing a ride with Marlow and being with him in public scared him. His heart was hammering against his chest, his teeth chattering against eachother as tremors of hesitation and craving clashed in his mind. He stood there awkwardly until a yank on his wrist pulled him into the cab.
“Took you too long to decide so I made the calls for you, rook.” Marlow pulled Hayden next to him before reaching out and close the door. “The Ritz, ASAP please.” Marlow spoke to the driver in his thick Masshole accent before slipping a $20 bill to him; a stark difference from the tender yet husky voice he reserved for Hayden in that basement. As the signage of Esperanza street slowly fading away from corner of his eye, Marlow reached over and placed his giant palm over Hayden’s hand and nudged the soft knuckles with his thumb .
~~~
They stood at the entrance of their destination. Secluded from the public view, they awkwardly shifted between their feet before Marlow broke the ice. “Do you still want to come? I live on my own.”
Hayden looked at the older man before nodded his head defeatedly. Yes, he really wanted to come. Partly because of the lust, partly because he didn’t want to mess with Shane’s sleep. Shane doesn’t play well when he hasn’t hit his sleep goal, and they have a game in 4 days. A faint and flirtatious smirk flashed on the corner of Marlow’s lips before disappearing before Hayden noticed. He walked towards the residence lobby as Hayden trailed behind him. ‘This is luxury!’ He thought to himself while scanning the space, questioning if he would run into a fan here. In the vast lobby adorned with natural warm wood panels, floor to ceiling windows with subtle accent, and minimalistic warm lighting, he realized they were the only souls here.
“The hotel’s entrance is on the otherside, don’t think too hard Pike. People who stay here don’t watch Montreal versus Anaheim even if they gave two fucks about hockey.” Marlow teased as his voice echoed. “You don’t get smarter from overthinking bullshit.” Marlow clocked the nervousness on Pike’s face. “No one is on your ass, Pike. Well, except me, maybe, I don’t know. Loosen it up a bit.” Marlow winked.
“Fuck you!” Hayden laughed as he followed Marlow into the elevator. Marlow tap a keyfob onto the control panel and the number 47 popped on the screen. “Don’t you want to do that to me, Pike?” Marlow jokingly clapped back as the elevator doors closed in.
“You own a place here? I thought you spent all your life in Boston?” Hayden inquired, his eyes darted curiously towards Marlow.
Marlow rested his bodyweight against the cold metal, eyes rested on the dumb blond rookie he just collected. “I split time between coasts. When the season ends, I packed my shit and fly to LA. I spent my first 23 summers in Massachusetts and I grew up hating it. After Boston gave me a generous contract I bought this place. Could have lived in 90210 but I hate Westside.” He paused to look at the elevator and made a mental note, ‘23rd floor, halfway there’, “Summering here is just more pleasant. WeHo boys are hotter than P-town’s too.”
“90210? WeHo? P-town?” Hayden raised his eyebrow. He never grasped these American references.
“90210 is Beverly Hills, WeHo is West Hollywood, and P-town is Provincetown in Massachusetts.” Marlow unenthusiastically replied. “It’s where all the gays are.”
“Wait, so you’re gay?” Hayden blurted. “How do you know all of this?”
“I like men more than women. It’s common knowledge for liking, loving, and fucking men, Pike. Do you enjoy being with men more than just friends?”
“I don’t know Marlow.” Hayden mumbled, dizziness assaulted his mind. “I never thought of experimenting with men, nor did I want to seek it out.”
“Am I the patient zero at Hayden Pike’s bisexual clinic?” Marlow teased as he gently pushed Hayden’s shoulder. “I’m the first guy you’ve kissed?”
“I-” Hayden swallowed the lump in his throat. The elevator air thickened, so suffocating a knife can slice through it. The silence was deafening between both of them, with the occasional hum from the elevator. He didn’t want to admit Marlow was the first man he kissed and caught feelings for. He wanted to say ‘Damn right you are!’ so bad but he couldn’t fathom him, Hayden Pike, the Assistant Captain of the Metros, fall to his knees because his archrival decided to be Prince Charming. Hayden’s eyes darkened, the calm blue oceans now clouded with raging storms. He didn’t want to fall for Marlow, not because he wasn’t attracted to him, but because he scared how he would be perceived by the public. He knew they both have a long career ahead, and Hayden wouldn’t jeopardize both of them just because he had this moment of weakness.
“Hey, you good?” Marlow broke the silence, jerked Hayden out of his spiraling thought. His eyes laid onto Hayden’s as Marlow pulled closer to him, now only inches apart. Piercing through the turmoil in Hayden were two warm, flickering sparks. Like a lighthouse and its keeper’s wavering light amidst the stormy night guilding vessels to safety of the land, Marlow was the final guidance Hayden needed to escape the storm in his head and return to the safety of the shore.
“Fuck it I don’t know Marlow-“ Hayden stream of thought was cut short with the elevator ding. Marlow stepped back and gently grabbed Hayden’s wrist, shooting an assuring look before the turning to the elevator doors and guided Hayden through the foyer.
“Shoes off, please.” Marlow lazily slipped his shoes off with the other foot. Hayden complied and removed his now dirty white shoes. Marlow put both pairs of shoes into a hidden shoe cabinet before he opened the door to his apartment. Maybe it’s an understatement.
“The whole floor is mine.” Marlow nonchalantly said. “Here, let me show you around.” He grabbed his hand, intentionally tangled his fingers with the rookie’s. Marlow’s hand dwarfed Hayden’s like how Marlow just towered over the best Left Wing player in NHL. They walked through the penthouse hands interlocked as Marlow rambled on about his peculiar taste of interior design while all Hayden could do was nodding along. Okay this man loved organic material and wouldn’t shut up about how he loved green and brown in his home.
Finally as the tour concluded, Hayden plopped himself onto one of the leather sofa that Marlow spent a whole summer customizing. He disappeared into his kitchen, probably rummaging through his cabinets. Morning sunlight cascaded over Hayden as he bathe in the warm golden light, he was very comfortable and exhausted, yet he couldn’t put himself to shut his eyes. ‘Fucking molly.’ He thought to himself as he gazed to the blue oceans above and afar, with Hollywood sign barely registered in the corner of his eyes.
Marlow walked up to him from behind, placing a coaster on the plinth table before pouring a glass of warm water for Hayden. He put a small sauce plate with a bunch of pills next to it. “Vitamins, help with the comedown.” Marlow said as he crashed right next to Hayden, breaking the tension of the sofa as he could feel himself tipping towards the hunky man.
“Are you trying to drug me, Marlow?”
“Nope, standard protocol after rolling. You really should take it or you will feel like shit a few days after.” Marlow paused, shifting himself closer to Hayden. “It would be a shame if the “best” Left Wing player of the league couldn’t beat Buffalo’s.” He beamed as he gestured quote unquote, glancing at Hayden with a playful look.
“Watch your mouth, Marlow. Did you see how many assists I had last game?” Hayden taunted as he reached over for the pills. “We’ll slaughter Buffalo. If you’re lucky, we will murder you next, win the Stanley cup this season, and then world domination.” Hayden took the mouthful of pill and washed it down before setting the glass down to the coaster. “So watch your back, Marlow. Because I will strike when you’re least expected.”
“Do you expect THIS? Can the evil mastermind named Hayden Pike resist Cliff Marlow’s domination? ” Marlow barked as he lunged towards Hayden, pinning him down with his full bodyweight. “I wish you can play as good as how you ran your mouth, Pike.” Marlow laughed as he pressed his hands harder against Hayden’s arms while his legs locked him down. “Tell me Hayden Pike, how are you gonna escape this?”
“Get off me asshole. This is why Boston is the worst team in the league.” Hayden barked back, his legs wiggled underneath Marlow’s giant legs as he tried to find an escape. They struggled, laughed, pushed and pinned at each other on the sofa until both were exhausted. Marlow crashed onto Hayden, rubbing his beard onto Hayden’s soft skin. Hayden instinctively drew his hand towards the back of Marlow’s head and gently combed through his soft and wavy black hair.
“Damn you stink, Pike. My sofa gonna smell like ass if you keep staying here.” Marlow remarked.
“That’s your body odor you dirty Yank. Did you get your bells rung too hard your nose started acting up?”
“Go shower, stinky. Or bathe, I don’t care. I left spare clothes for you in my bathroom.”
“Are you this domestic when you have people over?”
“I never have people over, Pike. I don’t like having strangers walking around my place. It’s LA for fuck sake, everyone wants a piece of me.”
“Nobody wants a slice.”
“Except Hayden Pike who couldn’t resist this cake.” Marlow teased as he placed Hayden’s hand on his butt.“America’s finest ass baby. Feast while you can, they don’t build ass like this in Canada.”
Hayden blushed. He couldn’t think of a good response as he slid both of his hands into Marlow’s pants, rubbing and squeezing that voluptuous ass.
“Cat got your tongue?” Marlow chaffed as he pulled just enough away so he could see Hayden’s face. Hayden was too cute to not look at. His natural, lushful lashes adorned his yearning eyes.
“You’re so different off the ice, Marlow. It’s like an underfucked and overprotective nonna possessed you.” Hayden changed the subject, hands still fondling Marlow’s ass.
“God forbid I have a different personality.”
“I think they call that bipolar, Marlow.”
“We got Dr. Pike from bisexual psychiatry clinic in the house here. Is bipolar assessment included with your bisexual awakenings package?
“Oh my god Marlow why are you keep teasing me???”
“Call me Cliff, we can drop the last name calling off the ice, Hayden.”
“Whatever you say papabear.” Hayden laughed before horrified as he realized he called Cliff with a pet name. ‘What sorcery did this man do to my mind?’ Hayden panicked as everything blurred around him. Heart was pounding, his hands were shaking, his eyes darkened as he started spiraling again. Subtle signs but nothing gets past Cliff discerning eyes.
“Hayden.” Cliff gently whispered. “Hayden, you have the same elevator look on your face again. Tell me what’s wrong?” Cliff locked eyes with Hayden, his lighthouse slowly guided Hayden through the storm again. Cliff flipped Hayden over, now he was fully laying on top of him, resting his head on Cliff’s chest. Cliff ran his hand through Hayden’s hair, gently massaging his head while stroking his back like a baby. Hayden let out a small groan as he accepted getting comforted by someone he used to hate so much. Well, he hated him less now.
Hayden left out a long sigh as waves of peace flowed through him. His pulse slowly dropping to the normal pace as he melted into Cliff. “You feel better?” Cliff asked. Hayden didn’t reply but nodded. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Maybe, you promised to not tell everyone?”
“My little neurotic rookie.” Cliff cocked Hayden’s temple, jolted him from the comfort before soothed the spot he just pressed on. “Of course I won’t. No one knows I get hard for you. I can keep a secret or two. Can you though?”
“Yes, I won’t tell a soul.”
“So what’s on your mind?”
“I don’t know where to start.” Hayden hesitated. Cliff just lay there in silence as he gently rubbing on Hayden’s back. “I’ve been with many girls, yeah? But I were never drawn towards women romantically. I’ve always been on the road, barely have time for myself. I tried to go on dates, but my heart was never really in it. Most girls aren’t thrilled with the traveling aspect of our career, and those who were, they are just in for the money.”
“Could say the same here.”
“I thought I would be single for a very long time. It’s easy to find a booty call for my needs, but sometimes my heart wants some tender loving care too. It hurts when I see people around me with their girlfriends and wives showing up to the games, cheering for them and hugging them on the ice while I have fuck all.” Hayden’s voice shaking, tears forming in his eyes. His words got choppy now as if something stopped him from talking out his feelings. “Cliff, it hurts when my heart yearns to be loved and all the efforts I’ve spent were futile. It hurts so bad when I didn’t know I would fall for a man this hard. It hurts so bad knowing I can’t be like this out in public. Cliff, it hurts when I can’t be like this with you. It hurts when I am so desperate for love I would fall when you showed up and care for me. No one ever cared for me this much, not since my parents-“ Hayden broke into sobbing, tears rolling down his cheeks. His throat constricted, his breathing became shorter, his eyes clouded with streaks of red.
Cliff felt moistured formed in his eyes too. His vision went blurry as the dirty blond sobbed into his chest. He embraced Hayden and placed a kiss on his forehead as Hayden bawled his eyes out. He wanted to say something but it got stuck in his throat. He felt helpless not knowing how to comfort Hayden. He didn’t know what he considered as typical kindness would weight so much to Hayden. Through the tears, Hayden uttered: “I’m so… sorry for…. crying. I don’t want to… look weak. I’m tired, I don’t want to… pretend I’m stronger than who I really am anymore”, before he wailed into Cliff’s now soaked tank top again.
Cliff waited until Hayden’s emotions subsided before he consoled. “Hey, hey, you’re safe with me.” Cliff wiped the tears off Hayden, cupping his face with both of his massive hands as he looked into Hayden’s bloodshot eyes. “Does it kill you that it took you everything to feel the spark in your heart again?” Hayden didn’t answer as he laid his head sideway onto Cliff sternum, staring out of the window, occasionally let out a few suppressed sobs. Cliff moved his hand to the back of Hayden’s neck and calmly brushed in circles, as he learned it helped with Hayden’s outburst.
“I’m sorry for not being here sooner for you Hayden.”
“It’s OK, I appreciate that.”
“I don’t like seeing you cry. It pains me too when there’s nothing I can do to heal the wounds in you.”
“Don’t start, or I’ll cry again.” Hayden sniffed. “Why me? Why not anyone else?”
“Because I’ve adored you since the first time we fought on the ice. Remember how Roz checked you so hard you were out for 2 games? I almost jumped Rozanov in the locker room for injuring you that much.”
“Wow. He must really hate you.”
“Nah, he still likes me. Not as much as I like you.”
“So the feelings are mutual?”
“Have always been.”
“What took you so long to speak up?”
“Because I’m scared you wouldn’t feel the same, Hayd.”
Hayden lifted his head up and away from Cliff’s chest, his oceans seek for Cliff’s lighthouse again. Cliff could feel the hot breath from Hayden on his neck, he could feel the intensity of Hayden’s gaze etched into his soul.
“Can I kiss you?” Hayden asked, eyes glistening from the welled up tears.
“You can kiss me until you hate me.”
“Fuck you asshole!” Hayden smiled before his lips met the familiar warmth again. This time, Cliff let Hayden take the lead. The ravenous kiss in the basement was gone. Hayden kissed softly, tenderness grazed over Cliff’s lips. It was sensual and intimate, exactly what both of them craved for so long. Hayden broke the kiss and looked at Cliff to his protest.
“Are you sick of me now?”
“Oh my god Pike you fucking suck at kissing. No, I still wanna kiss you.” Cliff huffed before he pulled Hayden into another kiss again.
~~~
Hayden sat on the long dining table overlooking the skyline of Los Angeles, sipping the oolong tea that Cliff never brewed for anyone but himself. The T-shirt and hoodie with obnoxious Boston Raiders logo Cliff gave him were two sizes too big, but it was enough to covered the exposed lower half of Hayden as he waited for his underwear and pants to finished drying. The kitchen smelled faintly of French toast with berries and fresh fruits as Cliff insisted on making them for Hayden from scratch. Freshed out of the long shower with his used-to-be archrival, Hayden smelled like him: the infallible scent of moss and patchouli that screamed Cliff Marlow, now mixed with a hint of chypre that Hayden found while browsing through Cliff’s impressive fragrance collection. ‘LA gays really pampered themselves’ Hayden thought as he looked for the scent he liked.
“How was breakfast?” Cliff emerged out of nowhere, kissing Hayden’s temple.
“It’s really good. I’m surprised you can cook this well.”
“My mom side is Italian. It’s a disgrace if I can’t cook for my loved ones.”
“Does it mean I am one of your loved ones?”
“Yes you are my little pomodoro.”
“More than your nonna and mama?”
“Know your place Pike.” Cliff snarked before clearing the dishes. “Your clothes are in my bedroom. I charged your phone on the nightstand and your hotel keycard is next to it. I also packed a recovery package for you. Take it after every meal if you want to win this Thursday.”
“Oh wow you really planned this through huh?”
“Only for my loved ones.”
~~~
“Thanks for everything. Uh, can I have your number?” Hayden handed his phone to Cliff as the elevator door closing. Cliff typed in his number and sent a text before returning to Hayden.
“Done. When can I see you again?”
“At the playoff final.”
“Mmm, I might have to check you a little harder then.”
“Dream on, Cliff. Montreal will win the Stanley cup this year.”
“You wanna make a bet? Winner gets to decide our summer destination.
“Please, you would pick LA again. You’re too eager to pin me against the windows for the whole city to look.”
“And they gets jealous because only me, Cliff Marlow, can have Hayden Pike in the City of Angels.
“Shut up Cliff.”
~~~
Hayden walked out of the elevator back to his room. As he strolled the hallway, he couldn’t help but giggled over the first text Cliff sent him.
Marlow🧡
Hey sexy ;)
Hayden inserted the keycard into the lock and the door clicked opened. He pushed through and spotted Shane reading on his bed. As Hayden was about to apologize, Shane stared at him in horror for a good few seconds before yelling:
“HAYDEN PIKE WHAT THE FUCK? WHY ARE YOU WEARING RAIDERS HOODIE???”