Chapter 16: The Threat

The second day of the youth clinic ended early.

Snow had started falling again around noon, thick and fast, turning the ice rough and the air white. The coordinator made the call before lunch. Buses arrived within the hour. Parents bundled their kids into coats and boots and hurried them onto the warm vehicles.

Sebastian stood by the rink, watching the last bus pull away. Julian limped up beside him, his knee stiff from the cold.

"That is it," Julian said. "Last day of clinic."

"Tomorrow we go home."

Julian nodded. Neither of them moved.

The snow fell around them, soft and silent. The mountains disappeared into grey. The cabin was a dark shape through the white.

"We should go inside," Sebastian said.

"In a minute."

They stood together, shoulder to shoulder, watching the snow bury the rink. The world felt small and quiet and safe. Sebastian did not want to leave it.

But the cold crept through his coat. Julian shivered.

"Okay," Julian said. "Now we go inside."

---

The cabin was warm.

Sebastian built up the fire while Julian made tea. They had fallen into a rhythm over the past days, moving around each other without thinking, handing each other things before being asked. It felt like they had been doing this for years.

Julian handed Sebastian a mug. "To our last night."

"Our last night." Sebastian clinked his mug against Julian's. "We made it."

"We made it."

They sat on the couch, feet up, watching the flames. The snow tapped against the windows. The wind hummed low.

"I am not ready to go back," Julian said.

"Me neither."

"Promise me something."

"Anything."

Julian turned to look at him. "When we get back, do not let me hide. Do not let me become the person I was before. The one who smiled and pretended everything was fine."

Sebastian set down his mug. He took Julian's face in his hands.

"I will not let you hide. And you will not let me run. That is the deal."

Julian leaned into his touch. "That is the deal."

They kissed, soft and slow, the fire crackling beside them.

The kiss deepened almost at once. Julian’s fingers curled into the front of Sebastian’s hoodie, pulling him closer. Sebastian tasted tea and heat and the faint salt of Julian’s skin. His hands slid down Julian’s back, under the hem of his shirt, finding warm, smooth muscle. Julian shivered—not from cold this time.

“Seb,” Julian breathed against his mouth. “I want… I want this. All of it. Tonight.”

Sebastian pulled back just enough to look at him. Julian’s eyes were dark, pupils blown wide, cheeks already flushed. “You sure?”

“I have never been more sure of anything.”

They stood up together, hands never leaving each other. Sebastian walked Julian backward toward the bedroom, kissing him the whole way—deeper now, hungrier. By the time they reached the bed, shirts were already on the floor. Hockey-hard bodies pressed together: broad chests, ridged abs, the faint scars and bruises they both carried like badges.

Sebastian laid Julian down on the thick blankets. The firelight from the main room spilled in, painting everything gold and shadow. He took his time, mouth trailing down Julian’s throat, over his collarbone, sucking a mark just below his nipple until Julian arched and swore softly in French. When Sebastian reached the waistband of Julian’s sweats, he looked up.

“Still good?”

Julian’s voice was wrecked already. “Don’t stop.”

Clothes came off. Sebastian’s hand wrapped around Julian’s cock—hot, heavy, already leaking. He stroked slow and firm, thumb circling the head, while his mouth worked lower. When he took Julian into his mouth, Julian’s hips jerked and his fingers fisted in Sebastian’s hair.

“Fuck—Seb—you...”

Sebastian hummed around him, taking him deeper, tongue pressing along the underside. He loved the weight of him, the taste, the way Julian’s thighs trembled on either side of his shoulders. He worked him until Julian was panting, close, then pulled off with a wet sound.

Julian hauled him up for a messy kiss, tasting himself on Sebastian’s tongue. His hands shoved Sebastian’s sweats down, freeing his cock. They stroked each other like that for a minute, foreheads pressed together, breathing the same air.

“Lube,” Julian rasped. “Nightstand. I bought some before we came up here.”

Sebastian laughed softly against his mouth—relieved, grateful, turned on beyond belief. He found the bottle and a condom, slicked his fingers, and came back to Julian, who had already spread his legs without shame.

The first finger was slow, careful. Julian’s breath hitched, but he pushed back, greedy. “More. I can take it.”

Second finger. Third. Sebastian crooked them just right and watched Julian’s eyes roll back, a broken moan tearing out of him. “There—fuck, right there—”

When Sebastian finally rolled on the condom and lined up, he paused, cock nudging Julian’s entrance. “Look at me.”

Julian’s eyes locked on his, glassy and desperate.

“I’ve got you,” Sebastian said. “Always.”

He pushed in slow, one long, steady slide. Julian’s mouth fell open on a silent cry. The heat, the tight grip, the way Julian’s body opened for him—it was almost too much. Sebastian froze once he was buried to the hilt, forehead pressed to Julian’s, breathing hard.

“Jesus Christ, Jules. You feel…”

“Move,” Julian begged. “Please.”

Sebastian moved. Long, deep strokes at first, letting Julian feel every inch. Then harder, faster, when Julian started meeting him thrust for thrust, nails digging into his back. The bed creaked. The fire popped in the other room. Snow lashed the windows outside, but inside there was only slick skin, gasping breaths, the wet sound of their bodies coming together.

Julian wrapped his legs high around Sebastian’s waist, heels digging into his ass. “Harder. Want to feel you tomorrow.”

Sebastian gave it to him. He fucked him deep and relentless, one hand braced beside Julian’s head, the other wrapped around Julian’s cock, stroking in time. Ice in his veins—Sebastian had always heard that phrase for the rink, for the clutch moments when everything slowed down and you just knew what to do. Right now it was the same: every sense razor-sharp, every thrust perfect, every moan from Julian branded into his memory.

Julian came first, back bowing, cock pulsing hot over Sebastian’s fist and across his own stomach. The sight of it dragged Sebastian over the edge seconds later. He buried himself deep and stayed there, hips stuttering, groaning Julian’s name like a prayer.

They stayed locked together, panting, hearts hammering. Sebastian pressed soft kisses to Julian’s damp temple, his cheek, his swollen lips. “I love you,” he whispered, the words slipping out before he could think better of it.

Julian smiled, slow and wrecked and beautiful. “I love you too. So much.”

They cleaned up lazily, traded more kisses, then collapsed back into the bed, limbs tangled, firelight still dancing across the walls.

---

The knock on the door came at dusk.

Sebastian was in the kitchen, washing mugs. Julian was on the couch, reading. The sound was sharp and unexpected, cutting through the quiet like a blade.

They both froze.

"No one knows we are here," Julian said.

"The coordinator. Maybe one of the parents."

"The coordinator would call first."

The knock came again. Harder this time.

Sebastian dried his hands and walked to the door. He looked through the small window. His blood went cold.

Richard Frost stood on the porch.

Snow dusted his expensive coat. His face was red from the cold, or maybe from anger. His eyes were fixed on the door like he could see through it.

Sebastian turned to Julian. "It is your father."

Julian's face went pale. "No."

"He is here."

"How did he find us?"

Sebastian did not have an answer. He opened the door.

Richard stepped inside without waiting for an invitation. Snow melted on his shoulders. His shoes left wet prints on the wooden floor.

"Sebastian. Julian." His voice was smooth, controlled. "Lovely cabin. Very rustic."

"What are you doing here?" Sebastian asked.

"I came to check on my son. Is that a crime?"

Julian stood up from the couch. His hands were shaking, but his voice was steady. "You are not here to check on me. You are here because you lost control and you want it back."

Richard's smile was thin. "Always so dramatic, Julian. I am here because I am your father, and I am worried about you."

"Do not." Julian's voice rose. "Do not pretend you care."

Richard's smile disappeared. He looked at Sebastian, then back at Julian.

"Fine. I will be direct." He stepped closer. "I know about you two. I have always known. The coffee shop. The late nights, the way you looked at each other, i knew it all." He laughed, a cold sound. "Did you think I would not find out?"

Sebastian moved between Richard and Julian. "What do you want?"

Richard looked at him with something like disgust. "I want my son back. I want him away from you. You are nothing, Sebastian. A hockey player with no future, no money, no family worth mentioning. You are dragging him down."

"He is not dragging me anywhere," Julian said. "I chose this."

"You chose this?" Richard turned on him. "You chose to ruin your career? You chose to throw away everything I built for you? For him?"

Julian's jaw tightened. "You did not build anything for me. You built a prison. And I am done living in it."

Richard's face darkened. He stepped toward Julian, but Sebastian blocked him.

"Do not touch him."

Richard stopped. He looked at Sebastian's arm, then at Sebastian's face.

"You think you can protect him? You have no idea what I am capable of."

"I know exactly what you are capable of. You tried to hurt my team. You traded your own son to hurt me. You leaked photos to the media." Sebastian did not back down. "You are a bully. And bullies lose when people stop being scared of them."

Richard laughed again, but there was no humor in it. "You are braver than you should be."

"I am not brave. I just have nothing left to lose."

Richard looked past Sebastian at Julian. "Come home with me. Now. And I will forget any of this happened. I will let you play out your contract. You can have your life back."

Julian shook his head. "I do not want my old life back."

"Then you are a fool."

"Maybe. But I am a fool who is finally happy."

Richard's face went red. His hands curled into fists. For a moment, Sebastian thought he might swing.

Then Richard stepped back. He straightened his coat. The mask slid back into place.

"You will regret this," he said quietly. "Both of you. I will make sure of it."

He walked to the door. Before leaving, he turned one last time.

"Julian. When your career is over and he leaves you for someone younger and you have nothing left, do not come crying to me."

He walked out. The door slammed. The cabin shook.

---

Julian stood frozen, staring at the door.

Sebastian turned to him. "Julian."

Julian did not move. His face was pale. His hands were shaking.

"Julian. Look at me."

Julian's eyes shifted to Sebastian. They were wide, scared.

"He is going to destroy us," Julian said.

"He is going to try."

"You heard him. He is not going to stop."

Sebastian took Julian's hands. They were cold as ice.

"Then we do not stop either. We fight. We tell our story before he can tell his. We gather evidence against him. We take away his power."

Julian's breath came in short gasps. "What if it is not enough? What if he wins?"

Sebastian pulled him close. He wrapped his arms around Julian and held him tight.

"Then we lose together. But we do not give up before we even try."

Julian buried his face in Sebastian's chest. His shoulders shook. Sebastian held him, one hand in his hair, the other pressed flat against his back.

They stood like that for a long time. The fire crackled. The snow fell. The cabin was quiet except for Julian's breathing and the wind outside.

---

When Julian finally pulled back, his eyes were red but dry.

"I am sorry," he said.

"For what?"

"For falling apart. For letting him get to me."

Sebastian shook his head. "You did not fall apart. You stood up to him. You told him you were happy. That took more courage than anything I have ever done."

Julian let out a shaky breath. "I meant it. I am happy. With you. In this cabin. Even with everything falling apart around us."

Sebastian kissed his forehead. "Then we hold onto that. The happiness. No matter what comes."

Julian nodded. "No matter what comes."

They sat on the couch, side by side, watching the fire. The snow kept falling. The wind kept howling. But inside the cabin, there was warmth.

Sebastian reached for Julian's hand. Julian laced their fingers together.

"We should call your lawyer tomorrow," Julian said. "And my mother. She has been gathering evidence against my father for years. She will help."

Sebastian looked at him. "Your mother?"

"She left him for a reason. She knows things. Things that could destroy him."

"Then we use them."

Julian nodded. "We use them."

They sat in silence, planning, thinking, preparing. The quiet before the battle.

Sebastian thought about Richard's face. The anger. The fear underneath. Richard was scared. That was why he had come all the way up the mountain. He knew he was losing Julian. And without Julian, he had nothing.

"Sebastian."

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For standing up to him. For not backing down."

Sebastian squeezed his hand. "I told you. I am done running."

Julian leaned his head on Sebastian's shoulder. "Me too."

---

The fire burned low. The cabin grew cold. But neither of them moved to add more wood.

Tomorrow, they would leave. Tomorrow, they would face the world.

But tonight, they had each other.

And that was enough.