Eye on the Ball Page 5

  “Ah, you admit to the stubborn?”

  Hunter leaned closer to whisper, “Hey, I let you have your way with me, didn’t I?”

  “Only because it suited you,” Leon said, his tone dry. “Would you like to go for a stroll on the beach before we go back?”

  “Yeah, I was going to suggest it myself.”

  They stood and exited the surf club. Immediately the crash of the waves became audible. The wind had picked up and hurled breakers to shore, forcing them to walk on the softer sand high on the beach.

  “Feels like it might rain,” Leon said.

  “A good excuse to stay in bed.” Hunter bent to slip off his sandals and dug his feet into the white sand with childish glee. “Sometimes we have preseason training at the beach. It’s one of my favorite parts of the season.”

  They wandered along the shoreline until low sand dunes separated them from the road, the glow of the streetlights and buildings like a halo above the sand hills, glinting in the distance. A couple of hardy souls roamed the sand too, but their presence didn’t stop Hunter from reaching for Leon’s hand.

  Content to enjoy the night and listen to the rush of the waves, they rambled hand-in-hand until they reached the sandy path leading back to the road and their resort. Back at their apartment, Hunter used his keycard to unlock the door. He stood aside to let Leon enter. With the door and the world closed behind them, they stared at each other.

  “I brought some ropes with me. Will you let me tie you up?”

  “You want to do a scene?”

  Leon’s brows rose. “Someone has done his research.”

  Hunter lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I was curious. It took me a while, but I read everything on the club’s website.”

  “And?”

  A sliver of excitement rushed through Hunter. Leon had made veiled references to discipline a couple of times. Instead of experiencing horror, his pulse started to race. Never had he considered the idea of subjecting himself to… Hell, he could think it, couldn’t he?

  Submission.

  There, he’d let the idea wander through his mind and the world hadn’t ended.

  “You don’t have to agree if you have concerns. I’ll take you any way I can get you.”

  Hunter’s pulse did a bump and grind, yet not a shred of fear stalked him because during their meetings and phone calls, he’d come to trust Leon. “My safe word is rugby. What do you want me to do?”

  Leon shut his eyes. His broad chest rose and fell beneath his cotton shirt. When his lids flicked open, passion blazed from him. He appeared the same, yet different, authority settling on his frame like a tight rugby shirt.

  Hunter shivered, part of him wondering what he’d unleashed with his agreement. He started to speak but halted the words at the tip of his tongue. Leon would tell him what to do when he was ready.

  “Come here.” Leon’s husky voice held a world of passion, of possibilities. Automatically, Hunter obeyed. Leon curled his fingers around his, the rough calluses on Leon’s palm against his bringing sensual heat to join his expectation.

  Leon led him to the bed and released his hand. With competent moves, showing not a hint of self-doubt, he unfastened Hunter’s shirt. He removed it, pausing to hang the garment over the back of a chair.

  Toss my clothes on the ground. Hunter wanted to get to the good stuff, but tamped down his impatient demands. He had to trust Leon’s schedule.

  Leon ran his hands over Hunter’s shoulders, his pectoral muscles. His biceps. A sigh rumbled from Hunter. Each drag of Leon’s fingertips strummed desire higher. God, this was torture, yet he didn’t utter a word of protest.

  Leon went to work on Hunter’s sandals. He ripped the Velcro fastening and placed the sandals at right angles to the dresser. Hunter’s chest expanded and relaxed. Waiting wouldn’t kill him. Leon would get to his trousers next.

  He didn’t.

  Instead he ambled over to his bag and returned with a coil of rope. Hunter’s eyes widened and reality crashed down on him. Was he going to let Leon tie him up and leave him defenseless? His breath came faster, a little choppy before he managed to calm his mounting fears.

  He suddenly understood why Maxwell’s website recommended experimenting at the club. From a safety standpoint, the club was a sure bet with all the security.

  “You okay? You’ve gone pale.”

  Tell him. Leon would understand his fears. “I’m a bit nervous,” he blurted.

  Leon appeared unconcerned. “You’re not used to this, so I’m not going to tie you for long, about half an hour tops. Less if you use your safe word.” He turned away to pick up his phone. “I’m going to ring my friend, Kane. He’s the owner of Maxwell’s. I’ll tell him what I’m going to do and get him to ring back in three-quarters of an hour to talk to you.”

  The tension released from Hunter’s shoulders at the offer. “I trust you. Really, I’m just a bit apprehensive because I haven’t done this before.”

  “Understandable. I’ll ring Kane anyway.” His top lip curled in self-derision. “Kane will be ecstatic knowing I’m with someone. He’s been telling me to get laid for months.”

  “He doesn’t know about me?”

  “Jana didn’t blab, which surprised the hell out of me.” Leon hit speed dial.

  “I don’t suppose I could take off my trousers first?”

  “When I’m ready. Kane, it’s Leon. I’m starting a scene. I need you to ring me back at 11.30. No. Yes. Okay.” Leon handed over the phone. “He wants to talk to you.”

  “Name?” a harsh voice demanded.

  “Not necessary,” Hunter barked back.

  The line fell silent for long seconds. “You want this?”

  “Yes.” Talking to Leon’s friend soothed some of the anxiety dancing through him, settled his mind. Hell, yes. He wanted this.

  “Tell Leon I’ll ring back at 11.30 on the dot, and if you hurt him in any way I’ll discover your name and hunt you down. Clear?”

  “Crystal,” Hunter said, biting back a grin. He ended the call and handed the phone back to Leon. “He’ll call back.”

  “What did he say?”

  “Nothing important.”

  Leon stared at him a fraction longer before nodding. He pulled Hunter into a quick man hug, over before Hunter could respond. “Thanks for trusting me.” He unfastened Hunter’s trousers, pulling down his boxer-briefs seconds later. He nudged him toward the bed. “On your back.”

  Hunter followed the instruction, his gaze tracking Leon as he ambled across the room. He grabbed condoms and lube and pulled a couple of things out of his bag, moving too quickly for Hunter to identify them.

  “Use your safe word if you need to,” Leon reminded him. “I’ll stop immediately and release you.”

  “Okay.” Hunter swallowed, forcing himself to remain in place.

  Finally Leon approached him with the rope. He slipped it around Hunter’s right arm, sliding the rope under and over before fastening it around the bedstead with economical movements. The rope was softer than Hunter expected. Not scratchy. An experimental tug showed little give. Hunter bit his lip, a frisson of worry nudging him. Leon hummed, testing the fit around his wrist, sliding a finger underneath and, apparently happy, he moved on to Hunter’s left hand.

  Leon continued to work, weaving the rope until he’d bound Hunter’s wrists and ankles, leaving Hunter increasingly vulnerable.

  Hunter kept expecting helpless panic to strike. Didn’t happen. Instead, he relaxed, his anticipation heightened and his mind drifted, at ease with his confinement. His eyelids became heavy, yet every other sense magnified. He was aware of Leon’s subtle caresses, one of his hands in contact with Hunter’s body the entire time, shoving excitement through Hunter. Raising his eagerness.

  Leon picked up a candle and lit it. He approached the bed and leaned over to caress Hunter’s cheek with his free hand. He smiled encouragement, his grin lighting his face, mesmerizing Hunter. God, he loved Leon’s smile.

&nbs
p; The candle tipped, a drop of wax splattering his chest. Hunter winced.

  “Steady,” Leon whispered. “I know what I’m doing. I won’t burn you. Close those gorgeous eyes for me and take lots of deep breaths. That’s it.”

  Hunter found himself obeying, wanting to please. Gorgeous eyes. Maybe they’d talk about that later.

  Leon caressed his shoulder. Wax dripped on his ribs. The initial sting eased away more quickly. As long as Leon touched him, the flash of discomfort didn’t matter.

  “You’re doing great.” Leon’s breath brushed past his ear. Hunter quivered. Every time Hunter touched him or dripped wax, sensations flooded him. Both good and bad. They seemed to counteract each other, and the last of his residual tension seeped away. Hunter drifted from one perception to another, from a smarting ache to contentment, until they overlapped and became something more.

  “That’s enough, I think. I’m going to flip you and try something else.”

  “Okay.” Hunter’s reply came out in a whisper.

  Leon quickly changed the bindings on Hunter’s arms and legs and added a black blindfold, effectively blocking his sight. Soon he kneeled on the bed in a doggie position, his arse raised for Leon’s pleasure.

  But he couldn’t see Leon. The new position pierced his inner calm. Not that he’d ever admit this fear. He pulled against the ropes.

  “I’m here.” Leon kissed his shoulder. “I’d never leave you like this unless we discussed it beforehand.”

  Some of his trepidation smoothed out at the reassurance. Leon stroked the curve of one buttock, massaging his flesh. His other hand grasped Hunter’s shaft, and Hunter’s fears faded as he wallowed in the pleasure of Leon’s touch. His cock filled. A sizzle of pleasure zapped straight to his balls, and when Leon stopped, removing all physical contact, Hunter let out a groan of protest.

  Without warning something struck his butt. The sting smarted, and he struggled to escape.

  “Keep still.” The no-nonsense tone of Leon’s voice told Hunter he’d repeat the blow if he didn’t behave. Fingers traced the seam of his ass, rubbing insistently against his pucker. A lubed digit slipped inside, stretching him. The pleasant burn grounded him, and he waited, curious about what Leon intended to do next. A second finger played with his ass, stroked him until he craved a hard cock to fill the emptiness. Instead, Leon removed his finger entirely. Frustration filled Hunter. Fear of the unknown jumped to the fore again. His pulse started to race. He sucked in a deep breath, attempting to calm himself. Another. Shit, he was all over the place with his emotions.

  “Steady.” Leon rubbed Hunter’s shoulder in reassurance.

  His touch did magical things to Hunter’s confidence, and he concentrated on his breathing. Nothing to fear here. Leon massaged his hole again and pushed inside him. Leon? No, a plug of some sort. Leon fed the plug into him slowly, giving Hunter time to become used to the foreign object.

  “You okay?” The comforting hand on the shoulder again, stroking away his lingering qualms.

  “Yeah.”

  The sudden movement in his passage startled a yelp from him before he realized the plug was hitting all the right places. Oh yeah. His back strained as he attempted to move. He didn’t have much leverage, caught fast, like a rugby forward at the bottom of a ruck.

  “Thought you might enjoy this.” Smugness coated Leon’s words. “Be good, and I’ll give you more.” The vibration slowed and tailed off.

  A sharp smack hit his butt, the pain darting conflicting messages to his brain. A second blow caught him in a different place, the sensations less tender.

  “Remember to breathe,” Leon instructed. “Slow and even.”

  Hunter followed the directives. A third and fourth whack struck his butt. A whoosh of air announced the next, seconds before it hit. Breathe. In. Out.

  Gradually the pain shifted, weirdly doing things to his cock. Good things. Hunter relaxed again, drifting with the feel-good vibes. After a while the strikes ran together. They no longer stung in the same way. Another smack. The vibrations started in his ass again. Two more swishes, and he was flying. It was exhilarating. Amazing. Everything smoothing together in his mind. Pain. Pleasure. Good. Bad. Combining into something magical that stole his breath.

  He was vaguely aware of Leon joining him on the bed. He cuddled against Hunter. Leon’s lips grazed the skin beneath his ear in a moist kiss. All the while, he stroked Hunter—his hip, his belly, his upper thigh—in a mesmerizing brush of fingers. Hunter quivered at each touch, still existing in the dreamy state. With each touch, Leon edged closer to Hunter’s erection, finally grasping his cock with a firm hand. He pulled at Hunter’s shaft, and Hunter couldn’t contain his hungry cry.

  Without warning the plug in his ass started to vibrate again. An orgasmic buzz tickled his balls, pulling them instantly tighter. Leon’s warm breath caressed his face, and blindly, Hunter sought his kiss. Their mouth met, the slide of Leon’s tongue against his pushing him until Hunter felt as if he was drowning, poised on the edge of a spectacular climax.

  Leon pulled away to nuzzle his ear and whispered, “Don’t hold back any longer. Come for me, Hunter.”

  Suddenly Hunter was acutely aware of his overburdened nerves, the delectable agony gripping him. Like an over taut rubber band, the tension snapped, and his cock jerked with explosive contractions, come spurting over Leon’s hand.

  He came back in degrees, aware of a sense of peace despite the rope binding him in place. Leon murmured reassurance and started to unfasten Hunter’s bindings. Last to come off was his blindfold, Hunter blinking at the bright light. The first thing he saw was Leon’s blinding smile.

  “I’m proud of you, Hunter. You did well.” The sensual stroke of his hand over his shoulder blended with Leon’s husky voice. Leon massaged Hunter’s arms and legs, his shoulders, then took a few seconds to ring Kane.

  “You all right?” Kane’s stern voice held a trace of concern.

  “Perfect,” Hunter said, yet the word didn’t encompass the emotions battering his satiated mind. God, who knew?

  “Good.” The connection cut off abruptly. Hunter pulled a face and handed the cell back to Leon. While Hunter was on the phone with Kane, Leon had prepared a damp cloth, and now he cleaned away the wax and come from Hunter’s torso before pulling Hunter into his arms again.

  Hunter sank against his chest, wincing when Leon’s hand glided over his ass.

  Leon chuckled. “I have cream to take care of bruising.”

  “Good to know.” Hunter’s voice felt rusty, words difficult to form. “The guys will give me a hard time if they see them in the changing rooms.”

  “Will it cause problems?”

  “I can spin a story if necessary. Most of us carry bruises from training.”

  Leon sat up and handed Hunter a bottle of water. “Would you like a soak in the spa pool?”

  “Yeah.” Hunter chugged some water and wiped the back of his hand across his lips. He set the bottle aside.

  With a supple move, Leon rolled off the bed and stretched out his hand. Satisfaction flooded Hunter when their fingers clasped together. He’d never suspected he’d get off from Leon tying him up, yet he couldn’t remember experiencing such euphoria in the aftermath of sex.

  Leon settled Hunter in the corner of the spa before clambering in beside him. The care he took made Hunter feel treasured. Leon hit the start button, and the jets sprang to life, making the water bubble and churn around them. Leon sidled closer and slung an arm around Hunter’s shoulders. Hunter leaned into the touch, contentment wrapping around him like a comfortable, well-worn training shirt.

  This was heaven, and he never wanted to leave.

  Chapter Five

  Leon woke leisurely, a smile on his face. Without opening his eyes, he stretched his limbs, his leg brushing another. Jason. Happiness burst through him until he recalled Jason was dead. His eyes flicked open, pulse lurching in panic until his gaze lit on Hunter. His anguish faded, replaced by relief and a
hint of lust.

  “What are you doing?” His raspy voice jerked Hunter’s attention from the papers he was scowling at.

  “Coach came out with a game plan and some new set-pieces for us to learn before training on Monday. Nothing is making sense to me.”

  Leon rearranged his pillows, propping himself up in a sitting position. “We use a whiteboard to communicate set-piece plays.”

  A snort escaped Hunter, and Leon noticed his hair stuck up in tufts, as if he’d run frustrated hands through it repeatedly. “We normally learn new plays that way.”

  “Does the coach understand you have difficulty reading?”

  “Yeah, he knows. I had to tell him last time he did this.”

  “Did you flirt with his daughter or his wife?”

  “No, of course not.” Hunter vibrated with indignation.

  “His son?”

  “No!” Hunter sent him a grumpy glare before squinting at the pages in his hand.

  “Give them here. Let me help.”

  “But it’s the plan for our game against your team.”

  “Yeah.” Leon didn’t take his gaze off Hunter. “You’ll have to decide if you trust me not to take the information and use it to help Melbourne beat your side.”

  Hunter’s eyes narrowed, his scrutiny piercing. As the silence lengthened, Leon glanced away. This was about trust—yes, but he was asking Hunter to put his career at stake. If anyone discovered their relationship the supposition would be bad enough.

  “Who develops your team’s game plan?”

  “I’ve had some input,” Leon said. “If our game plan isn’t working, I’ll have input into changes.”

  “Most people would be tempted to use inside info,” Hunter said, his voice toneless.

  “True, but our head coach is experienced. If our plan isn’t working, we’ll adapt our game accordingly after halftime. Besides, we’ve analyzed Auckland’s games this season and have a pretty good idea of what you might do. I’m willing to help you, and I give you my word, I won’t use anything I learn to help my team.”

  Hunter barked out a laugh, cutting Leon’s pride.