Eye on the Ball Page 4

  “There’s gonna be a next time?”

  Leon shot him a strict look. “When we’re in the same city.”

  Chapter Four

  Three weeks later

  Hunter grabbed a handful of tissues and wiped off his cock. “Phone sex isn’t the same. We have a bye next weekend. Where’s Melbourne playing?”

  “We’re playing the Brisbane Gulls.”

  “How much free time will you have?”

  “It’s an afternoon game. Once the game is done I have Saturday night to myself. The team flies back to Melbourne on Sunday morning, although I could take personal time and stay longer.”

  Relief hit Hunter. He hadn’t known until that moment exactly how much he wanted to see Leon in person. “Done. I’ll book a hotel room for us. My next training is Monday morning at ten. I can catch an early flight and arrive back in time. Fuck, I have to go or I’ll be late. I’ll call you.”

  Immediately after hanging up, Hunter rang his travel agent friend and requested him to book a return ticket to Brisbane, a hotel room plus a ticket for the game. He might as well use the available time to watch Leon strut his stuff.

  Anticipation followed Hunter for the rest of the morning, and not even the puncture or the fine the coach dished out because he arrived to training late put in dent in his feel-good mood.

  He ran through the normal drills and set-piece plays, aware he was playing some of the best rugby of his life. Hell, even the coach admitted it. If he continued this way, he might even have a chance of playing for the All Blacks during the upcoming tour. Managing a face-to-face meet with Leon would be a cherry on top.

  Halfway through the session, the team separated into forwards and backs for specialist training. Hunter slotted kick after kick from various places on the rugby paddock, stopping now and then for critique and suggestions from the kicking coach.

  Training ended with a team talk about strategy.

  “We need to win the next game to make the playoffs,” the coach said. “It’s gonna be tight, but we’ve worked out some new set-pieces and a game plan. I know we usually run through them on a white board, but you’ve worked hard this week and deserve a break. With that in mind, we’ve printed the info out for you. I want you to learn the set-pieces over the weekend and make yourself familiar with the game plan. We’ll run through them on Monday, and fair warning, I’ll know if any of you haven’t done your homework.”

  Hunter groaned along with the rest of the team. Maybe he’d have time to study the stuff before he met up with Leon.

  Leon couldn’t concentrate worth a damn. He kept checking over his shoulder, trying to spot Hunter. He knew he’d arrived in Brisbane because he’d texted him from the airport. Said he had a ticket for the game and intended to watch Leon’s fine arse from the grandstand.

  “Fleming!”

  A reminder to keep his mind on the game instead of imagining what he’d do to Hunter once he got his hands on him. Leon held up signs with number 11 and 20 on them to inform the referee which player was coming off the field and the number of the player joining the game.

  The game continued at pace, a real nail biter with his team leading by a mere three points, the difference one penalty between losing or making the quarter-finals.

  The crowd nearest him booed at the whistle blow from the referee. Leon checked the big screen for a replay. Nope, good call. The pass was forward. Melbourne ball. Their fullback gathered up a high ball and returned the kick down the field. The ball bounced once before rolling out of bounds. Great kick!

  The players trotted to the spot indicated by the touch judge and formed a lineout. The hooker chucked the ball in, their lineout players jumped and knocked the ball down to their halfback. The crowd roared. Leon tensed, watching the play and mentally urging his team to the try line. A rolling maul formed, their players remaining on their feet and pushing the opposition back. The ball popped free. Quick hands moved the ball along the line of players. A gap opened. Their winger spied it and darted forward. A tackle. Crunch. Leon winced at the hard hit, not surprised when their winger took his time getting to his feet. He glanced at the clock. Mere minutes to go. A scrum. Their feed.

  The referee’s mouth worked, giving the teams instructions. Crouch. Bind. Set. Leon couldn’t hear them, but he’d issued the commands enough times during training. The two teams clashed, the Melbourne frontline holding.

  The crowd started the countdown to the end of the game. Ten. Nine. Eight.

  Their team pushed the Brisbane team back half a meter.

  Seven. Six. Five.

  Their halfback plucked out the ball, getting it away. But a Brisbane player tackled and the ball went loose.

  Four. Three. Two.

  One of the Melbourne players grabbed the ball and kicked it out. The referee blew his whistle signaling the end of play. Yes! Leon grinned and pumped his fist. They’d scraped through to the playoffs.

  Leon followed the rest of the players back to the dressing room. He checked in with the head coach, took care of a couple of small tasks, then he was free for the rest of the weekend.

  His phone beeped, indicating the arrival of a text. He scanned the message, and his grin widened. Hunter was waiting for him in the car park outside.

  He picked up his overnight bag and after a general good-bye to everyone, he left the grounds. He’d come to a decision. This time he intended to show Hunter exactly what he was in for if they continued down this path. He’d tie him up and use his flogger for sure. Hunter deserved the punishment for destroying his concentration this week. Leon exited the stadium, glancing around for a red rental car.

  “Hey, Leon. Over here!”

  Leon turned toward the familiar voice, aware he’d started thinking of Hunter as Hunter rather than Blair. Lengthening his steps, he strode over to the shiny red Ford. He pulled the rear passenger seat open and stowed his bag. The urge to kiss Hunter hello gnawed at him, but there were still heaps of people around. Instead, he restricted himself to a brief squeeze of Hunter’s upper arm.

  “Hey, man. It’s good to see you.” Hunter put the car in gear and pulled out of the car park.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I fancied some sun and swimming. I ended up booking an apartment down on the Gold Coast. It won’t take long to drive down to Broadbeach.”

  “Great idea,” Leon said. “Lots of tourists and visitors. We can get lost amongst them.”

  Hunter slid him a sly glance. “I don’t know about you, but I’m awful tired. I’m thinking I’ll need to have a snooze before I do anything else.”

  “Must be jetlag.”

  “Exactly.” Hunter concentrated on driving for a while. “We’re playing your team next weekend.”

  “Looks that way. Problem?”

  “Of course not. Us spending time together has nothing to do with rugby.”

  “That’s the way I see it.” While he’d started off intending to use Hunter to ease his loneliness, he’d gradually changed his thinking. They’d talked via phone, exchanged texts and even hooked up with Skype a couple of times. Hunter was nothing like the spoiled bad boy he’d envisioned at first meeting. “But we don’t have to avoid the topic. We can talk all the rugby you like over the next two nights.”

  “We’d better do more than that,” Hunter said.

  The drive down to the Gold Coast passed in easy chatter and mild flirtation. Hunter pulled into a resort foyer and parked. Twisting, he grabbed a cap off the back seat and slapped it on his head. “Wait there. I’ll check us in.”

  Used to taking control, Leon bristled at the order, even though it made sense. He gave a curt nod, and as Hunter strolled away, Leon pictured Hunter tied to a cross, whip marks decorating his back and buttocks. A surge of power laced with lust struck him, having a predictable effect on his cock. Oh, yeah. They’d start with a flogger this weekend and maybe some candle wax to test different sensations and learn what worked best. Leon tapped his fingers on the dash, the rhythmic thud loud. Irritating. He
scowled and craned his neck in an attempt to see Hunter in the reception area. While they’d had phone sex a couple of times, he’d gone through the motions for Hunter and hadn’t come. Although he was paying for his abstinence, he preferred to wait.

  He hadn’t told Hunter, knew he wouldn’t understand. Not yet.

  Hunter appeared, and Leon watched him jog across the forecourt to the car. Eagerness leapt to heady heights. Christ, now that he’d made peace with his conscience, he couldn’t wait to get his hands on Hunter.

  “We have a private spa pool.”

  “Drive.” Leon didn’t give a damn about the facilities. If they had a bed they were good.

  The drive to the apartment took mere minutes. Leon curled his hands to hard fists. He breathed evenly, focusing on control. In the past he’d prided himself on his restraint and his ability to push Jason into deep pleasure until his lover drifted, full of endorphins.

  With Hunter things were different.

  Hunter challenged Leon with his inner strength and confidence. Singlehandedly, he’d jerked Leon from his apathy, from the instant he’d glimpsed him across the club.

  Leon climbed out of the car. In silence, he retrieved his overnight bag while Hunter did the same.

  “This way.” Hunter opened the door and stepped inside.

  Leon entered the apartment, did a quick scan of the contents and closed the door behind him. “Which way is the bedroom?”

  “Impatient much?”

  “You have no idea,” Leon muttered.

  Hunter smirked, and after dropping his bag on the floor near a settee, he grabbed Leon’s hand and towed him to the nearest bedroom.

  Leon took one glimpse of Hunter’s happy face and knew he had no hope of controlling what happened next. “Clothes off.” Leon yanked at the zipper of his team tracksuit. He tossed his clothes in every direction. Naked, he rifled through his bag for lube and condoms. Patience and control could come later. Right now if he didn’t get inside Hunter he’d self-combust.

  The heat in Leon’s eyes mesmerized him. The hectic flush in his cheeks. Something told Hunter that Leon was at the end of his tether. The man prided himself on his control yet his hands visibly shook when he pulled a condom out of the box.

  “Why are you still dressed?” Leon barked.

  Hunter jumped, more turned on than alarmed by Leon’s harsh voice. Hiding his grin, he disrobed while wondering exactly what Leon planned for them. For him. In the past, he’d always taken the reins in a relationship, but things were different with Leon. Instinctively, he obeyed Leon’s stern orders and didn’t mind. If anything, they made the sex hotter.

  “What do you want me to do now?” Hunter made no effort to hide his arousal from his lover, especially since Leon appeared in the same state.

  “On the bed.”

  Hunter went willingly, kneeling on the bed on all fours, his butt facing Leon’s direction.

  “No, turn to face me. On your back.”

  Hunter did as Leon requested, aware of the thump of his heart, the rush of his pulse. His gaze connected with Leon’s and held. His stomach bucked while his cock grew harder. “I thought you wanted to tie me up.”

  “You didn’t seem very keen on the idea.”

  “I never said that.”

  “No?”

  “No.” Hunter felt safe with Leon. He trusted the other man, even if he did come from Australia and speak funny.

  “Spread your legs.”

  Hunter spread them, all the while watching Leon. Lean yet strong. His face harsh with passion. Leon looked away to open the bottle of lube and squeezed some on his palm. Hunter’s breath caught, anticipation ratcheting upward and churning his innards.

  “You want this—the pleasure I can give you.”

  “Hell, yeah.” Hunter had waited for someone like Leon his entire life, even if he’d only recently realized the fact. And he intended to keep him, although he knew better than to spell out the fact to Leon. Didn’t want to scare him away.

  Leon moved between Hunter’s legs and ran a single finger along his shaft. A husky groan squeezed past Hunter’s lips, a second one emerging when Leon leaned down to lick a droplet from his slit. The delicate lap of Leon’s tongue sent a shudder through Hunter. God, he needed this.

  “I want…please, Leon. Don’t wanna wait. Need you. Inside me.” Air whooshed from him when Leon pushed a finger inside him. Cold lube. He shivered, but it was nothing to do with the chill. Sensual energy scorched his nerve endings, turning white-hot when Leon angled his finger and hit the right spot.

  “Soon, Hunter.” His voice held raspy promise, and Hunter’s balls tightened. Lifted. When Leon stroked again, Hunter’s hips jerked. He clenched his jaw, so close to coming he was frightened to move a muscle.

  “No more. Just fuck me.”

  Leon pulled his fingers free, the strong column of his neck moving in a swallow. With deliberate movements, he ripped open a condom and rolled it onto his cock. He added more lube before turning back to Hunter. “I’ll go slow at first.”

  Hunter watched Leon crawl onto the bed and his body hummed. His ribs expanded with his rapid breaths. Leon leaned over him, guided his cock to Hunter’s entrance and pushed inside a fraction. Spears of sensation streaked from where they joined, not quite pain, but not exactly full-on desire either.

  “Steady,” Leon whispered against his lips. Then he lowered his mouth. The kiss spoke of passion with an underpinning of sweetness. Hunter responded eagerly, meeting each stroke of Leon’s tongue. One ravaging kiss led to another. Leon’s lips seared a path down Hunter’s neck, his mouth drew, tempering a hint of pain with pleasure. Then Leon’s mouth recaptured his, more demanding this time. Leon pushed deeper and Hunter’s stomach muscles tensed at the satisfying burn. Another push and retreat, and his entire body buzzed at the onset of heaven. Leon paused, mid-stroke. “You okay?”

  “More than okay,” Hunter whispered, one hand reaching for Leon’s. He laced their fingers together, the intimate connection ripping at his emotions. His mouth slanted beneath Leon’s with rough abandon, surrendering to Leon’s subtle direction.

  A clawing hunger seized Hunter, the slow, almost tortuous thrusting by Leon firing every one of his senses. Leon groaned aloud, his strokes becoming faster and less controlled. Leon’s face contorted into a savage mask, and Hunter lost it. Hot ejaculate splashed his stomach, the pulses going on for long moments.

  Leon grasped his shoulders, his fingers digging into Hunter’s flesh. He devoured Hunter with a punishing kiss. With pleasure still snapping through him, Hunter clutched Leon to him, gasping his enjoyment into Leon’s mouth.

  Hot, slick skin plastered to his chest. Leon powered into him one more time, his face holding both desperation and joy. He sank into the hilt, collapsing against Hunter as he came.

  Hunter’s belly let out a noisy rumble.

  Leon grinned and smoothed his hand over Hunter’s cheek. “Something tells me I need to feed you before we do that again.”

  Half an hour later, after a quick shower, they ambled down the street. Night had fallen since their arrival, street lights twinkling to life and illuminating restaurants and cafes busy with customers.

  “Where do you want to eat?” Hunter asked.

  Leon scanned the restaurants in the vicinity. “How about the surf club? Fish and chips with a sea view.”

  “Sounds good to me. Let’s go.”

  In the surf club, they ordered their meals along with a beer each.

  “The Gold Coast was a great idea,” Leon said.

  “I do have them sometimes.”

  Leon chuckled, and immediately, Hunter wanted to make him repeat the action. The flicker of humor made him appear much younger and happier.

  Hunter grinned, trying to tempt Leon into laughter again. “Can we meet each other next weekend?”

  “I don’t see why not. You’re not gonna try to punch me out when my team beats yours?”

  Hunter’s brows shot upward. “You’re dreaming
. We’re gonna run your team into the ground and advance to the semis.”

  “Our forwards will out muscle yours.”

  “Your backs are girls, and they have butterfingers,” Hunter ended triumphantly.

  “Huh.” Leon glared, but Hunter saw the amusement in him. He picked up his beer and took a sip.

  One of the staff announced their number over the PA system.

  “Stay there,” Hunter said. “I’ll get your meal for you. Want tomato sauce?”

  “Please.”

  Hunter added the sauce, picked up cutlery and carted the two meals back to the table.

  “You don’t have to wait on me.”

  Hunter shrugged. “No big deal.”

  During their meal, they talked about rugby and Leon’s plans to advance to head coach.

  “Does your contract cover another season?” Leon asked.

  “It does at present.” He scowled at his beer.

  Leon reached for his hand and squeezed to snare his attention. “But?”

  “I’m almost thirty. My body doesn’t bounce back as easy as it used to after a hard game. I’ve been out with injuries a lot this season.” Hunter tried not to let any shade of fear enter his voice. He had no idea what he’d do after rugby. It was all he knew, the only direction his talents lay. “And I keep butting heads with the coach. He doesn’t like me and only puts me in the team if he has to.”

  “Any idea why?”

  “Not the slightest. I’ve never had problems with a coach before.”

  “Do you have a plan?”

  “No.” Hunter played with his beer bottle. “I should have a plan, but my dyslexia meant I didn’t do well at school. When they offered me a contract, I grabbed with both hands before they changed their minds.”

  “What about money?”

  “That’s about the only thing I have done right. My agent said I should hire a financial consultant. Luckily he’s a good one and has helped me to invest some of my earnings.” Hunter barked out a sudden laugh. “He could have robbed me blind.”

  “But he didn’t.”

  “Nope. He kept me to a budget, and was a hard-ass when he needed to get info into my stubborn mind.”