All Chapters of Slapshot Awakening: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Ryker POVI push the cubicle door closed behind us, bracing one hand against it to keep it shut as I kiss him deeper. His mouth is hot, hungry, his hands already sliding down my chest. They pause at the waistband of my jeans, and he unbuttons them without a second of hesitation.The warning in my mind fades fast the second his hand wraps around my cock. My other hand slams against the wall beside his head, a groan ripping from my throat as his tongue sweeps into my mouth.He shifts, pressing his body closer, until he’s turned around, back pressed to my chest, his chest against the cold wall.“Fuck me, Ryker,” he whispers, voice rough and desperate.I curse under my breath, leaning down to kiss his neck, biting lightly just above his collarbone as I hear the sound of his belt being unfastened.“We’re in a fucking club,” I whisper against his skin, even as I feel his trousers fall.“I don’t care. I don’t want to wait until we get back,” he breathes. His hand reaches back, gripping my co

Jaxon POVPaul lunges at him without thinking, but Ryker catches him easily, grabbing the front of his shirt and slamming him against the brick wall of the house. His voice is low, dangerous, deadly calm.“You want to fight someone? Fight me.”Paul’s fists curl, but he hesitates, and for a second, the whole world holds its breath. Ryker doesn’t move, doesn’t flinch. He stands solid and unshaken, staring Paul down like he’s already decided how this ends.“You lay another hand on him, I swear to God I’ll put you in the ground.”Paul jerks away from him, breathing hard, his expression twisted in disgust as he turns his glare back toward me.“You’re defending him?” Paul shouts, eyes locked on Ryker with disbelief and fury. “He’s your sister’s boyfriend. He cheated on her, with you, and you’re still stepping in like he’s the victim?”Ryker doesn’t flinch, doesn’t even look at him. He drops to his knees beside me, sliding an arm around my back, careful and steady as he lifts me off the cold

Ryker POVHe stays quiet, and I pull out my phone, finding the messages from his coach. “This is from your coach. They messaged me saying you and Erin ending your partnership is the best thing that could have happened, and that I should make sure you understand that.”I pull up the first video and hit play, holding the phone in front of him. “Look. This is you and Erin. Yeah, it’s clean. Polished. But look at your face, Jax. You look like you’re caged.”The video ends and automatically rolls into the one from today with Lauren. He doesn’t look away.“That,” I say, tapping the screen, “that is the Jaxon I remember. The one I fell for. Chaotic. Messy. Real. Raw. Not perfect, but powerful. The other guy? That was just Erin’s shadow. Her puppet.”He flinches at my words, and I let him sit with them. I stand and walk away, needing space before I say something worse. I love my sister, but everyone knows she took control of Jaxon’s life. No matter how many times I warned him not to change hi

Jaxon POVThe problem is, now the whole world does too.Ryker sits in silence for a while before speaking again. I can feel his hesitation even before the words come.“You should skip the game,” he says finally, voice low but steady. “Just tell them you changed your mind. Sit this one out, stay out of the public eye until it all dies down.”I shake my head slowly, still staring at my phone screen. “No.”“Jaxon, come on. It’s going to be a circus out there.”“I’m not hiding,” I say quietly. “Not now. If I disappear, then they win. Everyone calling me a coward, a liar, a fake. I won’t give them that.”He sighs and stands, crossing the room. “Then at least let me be beside you when it starts.”“You already are.”We don’t say anything else as we both begin to get ready. The silence between us is almost comfortable now, laced with the weight of everything unspoken. The fallout of the past twenty-four hours still hangs between us like smoke, but it doesn’t stop us moving.I get my clothes o

Jaxon POVIt’s strange. I’ve spent my whole life on the ice, but this feels different. The rink is the same size, the chill in the air is familiar, but everything else feels off. There are too many people, too many bodies moving all at once. I’m used to skating in sync with one partner. One rhythm. One breath. Not this chaotic mess of voices and blades and crashes.My instincts don’t line up with the play. I go to catch a pass and someone else is already there. I drift into space expecting silence, but the roar of the crowd is a wall. It's loud, constant and unforgiving.Still, I keep moving. Ryker’s out here. That’s what keeps me going. Not the scorem not even the pressure, just him.I don’t want to let him down. He gave me this shot, this strange opportunity to be beside him in something that’s his. He could have refused, then I wouldn't be here. This world isn’t mine, but I’m here because of him. For him.So I push harder. My legs burn but I ignore it. I cut sharp, pivot fast, alwa