Locker Room Tension

ROWAN

I slept like shit. It felt like roadkill.

The rink felt fuller than usual. Everyone seemed to be way too chatty. My mood was as sour as it could possibly be, my head spinning. I’d gotten drunk last night—too much—that I’d woken with a terrible stomach ache. I’d gotten dressed and started classes, only to take a weed break in between, and now the high was getting to me.

It was all because of that fucked up face I saw last night. I didn’t know who the dipshit was, but he had so much familiarity to the one person I’d tried not to ever think of or remember. They looked identical. So much so that it fucked me up a bit. Perhaps I was getting over myself.

“Boys!” Coach Ted called, slamming his palms together to get our attention. I snorted, dragging myself along with the other boys.

“I have good news. Great ones, even. Y’all remember our outsource for a new recruit?” The coach asked. The boys buzzed, answering in an excited roar, causing me to raise my head slowly.

“Well, here he is. Everyone, welcome Julian! He’s a player, won medals, and transferred to our school. He applied and I tested his drills. He’s good. And I approve.”

I was stupefied, confusion and shock etched on my face. It was that same dipshit from last night. A fucking walking replica of my nemesis. He looked everything like him… like Theo.

My heart sank at the realization as I took him in. Rookie face, he had. Mismatched light green eyes and the other was a light shade of blue—heterochromia. His dark hair was dull, wavy, pierced ears with golden hoops, arms sleeved with tattoos. Pink Supple lips.

Looking at him, the truth hit me like a slap in the face. This was Julian Theo’s brother whom he always spoke about . The brother Theo loved fiercely, the one who would do anything for family. And now Julian was standing in front of me with Theo's face, staring at me with pure, vengeful hatred.

“Rowan!” Fred called, jabbing his shoulder at me, drawing me back to reality. I glanced sideways to notice everyone else had their eyes on me and had gone silent.

“Dude, you’ve been staring. Don’t scare the guy. Do y’all know each other?” Fred asked, glancing sideways at me.

I let my eyes trail back to the fucker. His eyebrows were tipped like he was somehow expecting me to lie. Lie about what? I did not know him, for goodness’ sake.

“No, I don’t. But I would not be scouting a rookie just because he won some medals. Our team awards only the best, and as captain, I’m refusing him,” I grumbled, letting the words roll off my tongue in a less spiteful manner than how I probably felt.

The dipshit said nothing. In fact, he smirked—a fucking curve on his lips like he was mocking me.

“Absolute nonsense! With the nationals around, we need as many as we can get, and I am very particular in who I bring, which is why I hadn’t chosen anyone yet but him. His stats are off the charts. You’ll take him, and if you have errors, you’ll train him. It’s final. That’s your job as captain,” Coach Ted drawled in a tone making it final.

“Show him around, boys! Run some more laps, then call it a day,” Coach asserted again, waiting for me to make a move.

Reluctantly, I scoffed with a hiss, strutting past the rookie. He followed behind me, but I’d seen him smiling right at Fred and winking at the boys, then scurrying after me.

“I don’t like you,” I spoke as soon as we’d gotten into the locker room, shielding us away from others. It was just him and I. And I didn’t fucking want a walking, breathing reminder of Theo around me. Why did they look so alike?

“Is that all you have to say?” he asked, dropping every hint of niceness and faux gentility he’d put on.

“What? Like I’m meant to give a shit about some rookie? Listen and listen well. Do yourself a fucking favor and leave, or I’ll make this a fucking hellhole for you. Then you’ll end up leaving anyway. So make the smart choice, rookie,” I warned, hating how he would avert his gaze from mine.

He took a step forward, and then another, until we were standing chest to chest. Eyes on mine, a playful grin stretching on his lips.

“And dare I ask, Captain, why the hell am I getting under your skin so bad? Can’t stand the idea of someone possibly better than you? Or is there something you could be hiding? Perhaps I look similar to someone you’d rather not remember.”

I shot out my hands against his neck, slamming him against the locker, my face merely inches away from him. He let out a low, rough laughter, his words slurred as I cut out his airflow.

“You scratched my car and I let that shit go. Don’t fucking play mind games. I can be deadly if I want to be, so take my advice and get the fuck out of here,” I warned, knowing I meant every bit of it.

I was not against teammates if he had the skills, if he was good for me, but this one? Nah. He looked too much like a man I’d once loved. A man I once gave my heart to without even knowing. The man I had to walk away from. The man that had torn my heart to shreds and betrayed me. I wouldn’t make that mistake twice.

“And if I say no?” he asked.

It happened so fast. In a fucking blur. One minute his hands were on mine, the second minute he had me tossed sideways, twisting his arm around my neck, shoving me against the locker and having his hand snug on my throat.

A playful laughter coursed free from his lips and shame washed through me, realizing he had me pinned, one leg pressed between my thighs, resting right on my crotch, our bodies pressed flush against each other.

“Let’s make this clear. Rowan, I’m not here to ask for your permission. I am on the team. If you want to play captain, well, I don’t give a flying fuck. But I’ll be sure to make sure you crack until the golden mask you wear breaks. I want everyone to see the dirty, pathetic, full-on liar that you are. You may or may not know who I am, but one thing you should know is I’m here to fucking ruin you,” he breathed out, spitting every word with hatred and venom… sounding just like Theo. Fuck.

My head was becoming a mess.

“Am I understood?” he asked, squeezing tighter on my neck.

A sudden rush of adrenaline poured through me. I knew this position. I knew this look. This face. Fear eased over me as I stiffened, realizing how hard I was getting.

Stiff between my thighs. Heavy. As hard as a fucking rod. My heart skipped beats, seeing how the rookie’s eyes dropped to the tightening stretch in my pants and raised his eyes right back to me.

He rocked forward, shifting his hips, locking our bodies together in a punishing squeeze. A soft, breathless gasp slipped off my lip subconsciously and I froze again.

“Don’t you fucking dare,” I threatened with as much bite as I could muster, but he ignored me anyway. His hand slid down, his palm flattening over my zipper, pressing firmly against the heat of my length.

Shit. Shit.

I let out another low, ragged sound, tingles crashing down my spine at the contact.

“You’ve always loved being held down. Good to see that hasn’t changed,” the rookie spoke like he knew me.

And when my brain screamed for me to do something—to shove him off, to cuss him out—my body refused to comply. I arched forward slightly. He leaned his weight heavier against me in one slow, agonizing motion. My body heated up.

I wanted to feel his hands on me. Not through the cloth, but flesh on flesh. I hadn’t been this hot for anyone since… Theo. I hadn’t gotten involved with any other man. I’d put up a ruse with women, but it wasn’t the real thing I wanted.

“Fucking cheat, Rowan. You still are a tease. My dirty, sinful little secret. I bet you’d let me take you right here on the concrete,” Julian slurred.

I whined, gasping again. This time it came louder. I sounded more desperate.

Oh, now I’ve got a degradation kink? Fucking Christ.

Noises drew closer to us and I ripped myself free, shoving him off me, panting heavily while adjusting my pants to hide the massive tent in my briefs. The boys walked in, chatting and laughing, before finally taking notice of Julian and I.

“You guys are still here?” Jamal uttered, eyes dancing awkwardly between the rookie and me.

“He was slow. Was trying to show him around. Had to explain a few basics to him first,” I rushed out, the words way quicker than necessary.

Everyone exchanged weird glances but said nothing as they continued chatting.

“I have to leave first. We’ll catch up tomorrow, Captain,” Julian spoke, a sneer attached to the end of his sarcastic words. He smiled keenly in my direction before strutting off, dashing past the doors.

My heart picked up its pace, racing hard and fast as I headed towards the restroom, bolted the door shut and leaned heavily against the cold tile wall. My jaw dropped at the absolute state of me.

I was shivering, my skin burning hot. The friction alone had left me completely ruined.

I was so fucking hard it was starting to hurt.

I had gotten a few hookups, a couple one-night stands from here and there with women over the years, but never with a man. Not after what Theo did to me. This was the first time I’d been so aroused to the extent I was completely losing my mind—just from a man pinning me to a locker.

I swallowed thickly, resting my forehead against the cool surface, closing my eyes as my hands trembled at my sides.

I tried to fight the sensation, but the memory of his touch was a wildfire in my veins. My mind, being a fucking betrayer, had focused on those eyes. Those mismatched eyes. His arm pressed against me. The lips. Oh, his plump, kissable pink lips. The playful grin on his face.

The phantom feeling of his weight against his hips sent a massive wave of heat straight to my core.

“Oh. My. Fuck… ,” I groaned, my breathy moans filling the stall now. The sheer fantasy of his hands on my skin spurred no on. I shook, my body spasming as my climax hit me faster than a freight train, a sudden, blinding release tearing through me. I leaned back, panting into the empty air as my knees nearly buckled under the weight of the pleasure.

I had come undone… in less than what? Four minutes?

And to the thought of a man who looked exactly like my ex—the brother of the man I used to love, who was now here to ruin me. The rookie on my team had gotten me so aroused and worked up.

I was fucked. I needed to get rid of him.

Fast!!