The Tennis Club - Chapter 10: Price
Hollanov, Shane/Others, Ilya/Others, Scott Hunter/Many, Ryan Price/Many | Explicit | secret gay hockey player network AU, feat. my army of hockey OCs
A cardboard box rounded the corner, Rozanov peeking over the top of it. He deposited it on the kitchen island. "Special delivery," he said, "from Casey."
His heart leapt, already hoping—assuming, even. He'd sent them. Ryan's things. Of course he had.
"Thank you," he murmured, abandoning the spice rack. He opened the box, peeked inside, and felt something settle inside himself for the first time since he'd gotten on the plane in Pittsburgh. It wasn't all that much, and it was more than he needed. Makeup and nail polish. A pair of high-heeled ankle boots enormous enough for his big feet. Two dresses, a simple gold chain necklace, a padded bra and a white lace thong.
Roz was watching him, his lower lip caught between his teeth. "And..." he said, then retrieved a small, lumpy bundle from the pocket of his sweats, clumsily wrapped in yellow-and-white paper that said, Happy Birthday!
"My birthday is in August," Ryan told him.
Rolling his eyes, Roz shook the package at him. "I know, this is just only paper I have."
He took the package in both hands, feeling the soft give of it. He opened his mouth.
"I know, I know," Roz whined, "I did not have to give it. I want to. Now open."
So he opened, the paper parting to reveal silky-smooth lilac nylons and a matching satiny garter belt.
Ryan's breath caught as he pinched the delicate fabric between his fingers.
"Casey said you needed stockings," Roz said, shifting from foot to foot, hugging his elbows.
He almost corrected him, almost insisted that, no, this was not a need, but that would have been rude, maybe ungrateful, so Ryan just nodded and said, "They're really nice."
"I think they are right size. And style? There were some that went around the waist, but they looked less sexy, you know?" Ryan realized, suddenly, that Roz was nervous. Babbling. "But these ones that stop on the thigh, they need the belt."
"I could try them on," Ryan offered, "if you want to see?" It still felt surreal to him, the idea that someone might actually want to see him in lingerie.
Roz nodded quickly. "Yes. Yes, if you want to."
With coding and art by the bodaciously brilliant @mock-speed