Stolen Seconds

Chapter 3

The moment he hit send, Zane wished he could take it back.

What the hell was he doing? This was insane. If anyone found out, his career would be over. His teammates would never forgive him. The whole hockey world would laugh… or worse.

He drove home in a daze.

That night he barely touched his food. He kept checking his phone like a fool, but no new messages came. He lay in bed staring at the dark ceiling, wondering if Jaxon was doing the same thing somewhere across the city.

The next evening, Zane arrived at the locker room ten minutes early. The building was almost empty, lit only by the dim night security lights. He paced back and forth, his nerves buzzing under his skin. Part of him hoped Jaxon wouldn’t show up. Another part hoped he would.

Then the door opened.

Jaxon stepped in wearing a black hoodie and jeans, hands buried deep in his pockets. There was no hockey gear this time. Just Jaxon. He looked nervous too.

They stared at each other.

“You came,” Jaxon said quietly.

“So did you,” Zane replied.

Silence stretched between them.

Then the arguing started again… like it was the only safe thing they knew how to do.

“This is stupid,” Zane said, stepping closer.

“Completely stupid,” Jaxon agreed, moving towards him.

“You’re the last person I should be anywhere close to.”

“Same goes for you, Kessler.”

Their voices grew louder, but their feet kept pulling them closer until they were only inches apart. The same heavy tension filled the air.

Zane grabbed Jaxon's hoodie and pulled him in. Their lips crashed together… harder this time, deeper. There was no hesitation.

Jaxon's hands slipped under Zane's jacket, gripping his waist. Zane pushed him back against the lockers, but gentler than before. The kiss continued. The empty locker room was soon filled with soft sounds they never meant to make.

When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathing hard.

Zane rested his forehead against Jaxon's. “We can’t do this.”

“I know,” Jaxon whispered.

But neither of them moved away.

They stood there for a long moment, their hearts pounding, slowly realizing how deep they were sinking.

Zane pulled back first. “You should leave right away… before someone sees us like this.”

“You first,” Jaxon said. His voice was softer now, almost gentle.

Zane turned and left without looking back. His legs felt heavy all the way to his truck. He sat behind the wheel for ten full minutes before he could make himself drive.

The next few days became a blur of secret meetings and careful lies.

They kept telling each other it would be the last time.

Every night after practice, one of them would send a short text. The other always replied “yes.” The empty locker room turned into their secret hiding spot. They would start by arguing in low, sharp voices, throwing the same old insults. Then the words would fade, and their hands would take over.

Zane would grab Jaxon's hoodie. Jaxon would push him against the cold metal lockers. Their kisses grew longer, deeper, less angry and more desperate. Fingers dug into backs. Hot breaths mixed together. They never said anything soft. They just took what they needed and left quickly, pretending nothing had changed.

But during the day, they still acted like enemies.

In the next league game, Zane hit Jaxon harder than necessary. The check sent Jaxon crashing into the boards.

The crowd cheered the big hit.

Jaxon got up, smiling through the pain and scored on the very next shift. After the game, fans shouted about the intense rivalry. But only Zane and Jaxon knew the truth… every rough collision now carried a secret thrill.

They tried to stop. They really did.

After the match, Zane got the same text like always. But this time, he ignored it. “We’re done. Time to put an end to this sick game. No more texts henceforth.”

Jaxon replied anyway. “We both know you can't stop thinking about me. There's no need trying to hide it.”

Zane should have ignored the message. But his mind kept replaying every moment they had been together. He couldn't resist the urge to go.

They met in the dark corner behind the equipment racks. There were no lights, no sounds. Just mouths crashing together and hands sliding under shirts.

The kiss felt different this time… slower, almost careful, like they were both afraid this would be the last time.

Zane pushed even closer, feeling his hardening cock against Jaxon. His hands slid down slowly to unstrap his belts, a low groan escaping his lips as he kissed Jaxon hungrily.

But just then, Jaxon pulled away, exhaling heavily as he ran a hand through his hair.

“This is dangerous,” he whispered.

Zane blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”

“I have to go,” Jaxon muttered and took off, not looking back.

Zane stood there... confused, wondering what must have gone wrong.

He went home that night, still worried... and trying so hard to let go of his growing feelings for Jaxon.

But he couldn't. They just couldn't stay away from each other.

Night after night, they were right back there in the locker room… doing the exact same thing they swore never to do again.

Practice ended late the next evening. The parking lot was almost empty under the dim lights. Zane walked to his truck, keys in hand, his mind still spinning.

But a hand suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him into the darkness between two vehicles.

It was Jaxon. Again.

He had been waiting.

“One last time,” he whispered, his voice low and urgent. His eyes burned with deep hunger.

"This is insane!" Zane blurted out, but before he could protest, Jaxon pulled him in until they were standing really close between the two vehicles.

He leaned back until his shoulders hit the cold metal of his truck. Jaxon pressed against him... and their lips met in a flash.

The kiss was wild… teeth nipping, hands gripping jackets, their cocks throbbing hard beneath their shorts. For a few stolen seconds, nothing else mattered.

Then… there was a loud slam.

A car door shut hard somewhere nearby.

They broke apart instantly, their heads snapping towards the sound.

Quick and running footsteps echoed across the pavement. Someone had seen them… but the footsteps faded into the darkness before they could see who it was.