Klaus tightened his grip on my hand. “If everyone was aware, why didn’t anyone say anything?”
“Why didn’t the two of you say anything?” Coach said, pinning us with his stare. “The league has strict rules when it comes to outing mates or infringing on those bonds. They’re sacred.”
Klaus and I looked at each other, surprise scrunching up both of our faces.
“Jiminy crickets. Does anyone read their contract or the fucking rulebook?” Coach groaned. He pulled a tattered rulebook out of his desk, flipping it open and pointing to a bullet point. “Article sixty-three, section five. The league will not interfere in matters of mates. Mates on the same team will be allowed to play together. Should the situation arise where mates on opposing teams are scheduled to play against one another, one mate will sit out for the game to avoid cheating allegations. It will be the decision of the mated pair which mate will sit out for the game.”
We had never heard of mates playing the same competitive sport, let alone being on the same team. It had never crossed our minds that there were rules regarding our exact situation and the way the league would handle it.
I leaned forward in my seat. “Is there anything in the rulebook regarding hockey players and, let's say—reporters?”
Coach sucked in a deep breath, obviously tired of explaining things to us. “If that pretty little human reporter you make heart eyes at is your mate, the same rules apply. There’s nothing the league can do.”
“You mean to tell me I got pissed on for nothing?” Klaus mumbled under his breath.
We both knew it wasn’t for nothing. Our sexual exploits with our mate being broadcast over the rink for everyone to see wasn’t something we would ever be okay with. Not to mention, making Holly’s shitty ex piss himself was deeply satisfying.
“You know what this means,” I whispered to Klaus. “You don’t have to—”
He shook his head. “Yes, I do. This is what I want.”
“Am I missing something here?” Coach asked.
Klaus sat up straight. Proud. “I’ve decided that after this season, I’ll be retiring.”
CHAPTER 12
KLAUS
“Get your shit on, Powerhouse,” Coach shouted over the roar of the crowd.
We were tied four to four in the last period of the game, and Flurry looked completely exhausted, like he was ready to just drop on the ice.
“Am I subbing for Flurry?” I asked, fastening my helmet.
Coach grinned and shook his head. “No, for Jennings. Get out there with your mate and show me what you two can do. Jennings!” He barked.
I normally played center, the position Flurry filled, but Jennings played right wing. Coach must have been curious how we’d play together, and what better time to test the waters than the final minutes of a high stakes game.
Jennings skated to the box, and I hopped out. Flurry perked up when he saw me, his tusky smile widening behind the cage of his helmet.
Time ticked by as we fought the Furries to regain possession of the puck. Erickson, the leading scorer for the Furries shot on goal, targeting Ehrokk’s left side, but the goalie blocked the shot with ease.
“Someone’s been practicing,” I shouted across the ice to Flurry.
“About time,” he screamed back, shaking his head.
I gave Ehrokk our signal, a barely perceptible nod, and broke away toward the Furries goal at the opposite end of the rink. My muscles screamed as I pumped my legs, driving myself across the ice. I looked up at the stands while I moved, noticing Holly where she sat in the press box. She was leaning forward, nibbling on her nails while her deep brown eyes darted between Flurry and me.
We wouldn’t let her down.
Another subtle nod of my head and Ehrokk cleared the puck, sending it flying over the ice past the Furries, and right to my stick. I moved to shoot, skating close to the goal and drawing the defense with me. But at the last minute, I passed the puck across the crease to Flurry. The defense had left him wide open.
He raised his stick, slapping the puck right past the goalie and into the net a second before the buzzer rang.
The stadium erupted, and I skated over to my mate, drawing him into a tight hug and pointing at where Holly was absolutely losing her shit in the stands.
It felt perfect.
It felt right.
The three of us were right where we were meant to be.
“I love you,” Flurry whisper shouted over the madness.
“I love you too. Now let’s go get our girl.”
Coach had arranged for a post-game press conference for Flurry and me. After our performance during the game, it would have seemed like business as usual. They certainly weren’t expecting the bomb we were about to drop on them.
Flurry and I shimmed behind the long table that was set up in front of the Growlers banner, each of us taking a seat behind a microphone. Holly sat in the front row of a buzzing sea of reporters, and I quickly scanned the crowd for Mike’s face. The primal part of me was delighted when the little prick was nowhere to be found. I caught Holly’s eye, and she beamed up at Flurry and me. She seemed totally unaware of what was happening. I hoped she’d still be smiling once we made our announcement.
I cleared my throat and leaned over the microphone. “I’d like to make an announcement before we take questions.”
All the hushed chatter ceased, and every eye in the room focused on me.
I opened my mouth to speak but snapped it shut, feeling anxiety creep over me. Flurry leaned over and gripped my leg with one of his large palms, drawing my gaze to him. He grinned and nodded.
“After this season, I’ll be retiring,” I said bluntly, the little reassurance from my mate giving me all the confidence I needed.
There was a collective gasp from the room, the click of camera shutters, and the frantic scribbling of pens on paper. I pushed all of that aside, though, delighted by Holly’s shocked expression and the ‘o’ shape of her plump lips.
Lips I hoped would be wrapped around my cock later.
Pushing those thoughts aside, I continued. “I’ve found my mates and I’ll be pursuing life outside of my hockey career. The life I’ve always dreamed of with the people that I love.”
I was met with a barrage of questions from the media.
“Who are your mates, Klaus?”
“Care to comment on your mates, Powerhouse?”
Flurry glanced over at me and smiled before speaking into his mic. “Well, one is me.”
The room broke out into utter chaos. Reporters shouted questions, photographers surged forward to capture shots of the two of us together.
“Enough!” I bellowed, drawing all the noise out of the room. I gave Holly a sincere smile. “Come up here, princess.” There was kindness in the way I whispered, a tenderness in my voice that I reserved only for my mates.
Holly bit down on her lip, then slowly rose from her chair. I had to fight the growl that threatened to tear from my chest as every gaze in the room followed her up onto the stage.
I slid my chair back and patted my wide thigh, encouraging Holly to sit where she belonged. She sat on me, wiggling her plump little ass until she was comfortable, and making my dick as hard as steel.
Fuck.
I had half a mind for Flurry and I to take her right there. Stake our claim in front of the media and everyone watching the broadcast.