Delayed Desires: A High-Stakes Release

Chapter 1: Turbulence in the Lounge

The airport lounge buzzed with the restless energy of delayed travelers, but for Assistant Captain Liam Cross, the only storm that mattered was the one brewing in the eyes of their star center, Ethan Ryder. Pacing like a caged animal near the bar, Ethan muttered to himself, his broad shoulders hunched under the weight of last game’s crushing loss. Liam’s gaze lingered on the taut lines of Ethan’s body, the frustration radiating off him like heat from asphalt. He couldn’t stand seeing their leader unravel like this.

'Hey, Ryder, you’re wearing a hole in the carpet,' Liam called out, striding over with a smirk. 'Come with me before you start a riot with that brooding face.'

Ethan shot him a glare, but the edge softened as Liam’s hand clapped his shoulder. 'I fucked up, Cross. The team’s counting on me, and I’m choking.'

'Bullshit. You’re the heart of this squad, and we’re not letting you spiral. Come on, I’ve got a fix for that head of yours.' Liam’s tone was firm, brooking no argument as he steered Ethan toward a quiet adjoining room they’d scoped out earlier—a tucked-away nook with a cushioned ottoman and blessed privacy.

As the door clicked shut, Liam caught the eye of their veteran left-winger, Mara Kane, who’d been nursing a whiskey nearby. She arched a brow, reading his intent like a playbook. 'You roping me into this, Cross? What’s the game plan?' Her voice was sharp, a challenge wrapped in velvet.

'Breathing exercise, Kane. Custom for high-stakes moments. Help me get our boy centered,' Liam replied, his grin wicked. Mara rolled her eyes but sauntered over, her presence commanding as she crouched beside Ethan, who was now perched on the ottoman, looking equal parts wary and wrecked.

'Relax, hotshot,' Mara drawled, her hand resting on Ethan’s knee with a casual possessiveness. 'We’ve all been there. Remember that time I tripped during a goal celebration and nearly mooned the entire arena? Shit happens. Laugh it off.'

Ethan’s lips twitched, but his eyes were still stormy. Liam moved in front of him, voice low and steady. 'We’re gonna take care of you, alright? Trust us. Pants off, but you keep that jockstrap if it makes you feel less exposed.'

Ethan hesitated, cheeks flushing, but Mara’s sharp nudge and Liam’s unyielding stare had him complying, shucking his jeans with a muttered curse. Liam’s fingers itched with purpose as he positioned himself, his touch deliberate yet gentle. 'This is about release, Ethan. Letting go of all that noise in your head.'

Mara kept up her stream of distracting banter, her wit cutting through the tension as Liam’s hands worked with precision, finding the right pressure, the right rhythm. Ethan’s breath hitched, his body tensing before melting under the targeted touch. Liam’s voice dropped to a growl. 'That’s it. Let it out. We’ve got you.'

The air grew thick, charged with unspoken heat. Ethan’s mortification battled with raw need, his gasps filling the room as Liam’s fingers pushed him closer to the edge. Mara’s smirk was pure sin as she leaned in, whispering, 'Look at you, Ryder. So damn strong, even when you’re falling apart. We’re proud of you.'

Ethan’s eyes squeezed shut, a shudder ripping through him, and Liam knew they were seconds away from shattering every wall he’d built. The promise of that explosive release hung between them, heavy and inevitable, as sweat beaded on Ethan’s brow and his panting grew desperate.