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Hayden folded his arms and sat up on the couch, “Fine. I’m sorry. But I really don’t understand.”
Shane nodded his head, “It’s a lot, I know,” he motioned to the Russian, “This is Ilya. Ilya Rozanov, you already know that. And he’s Boston Lily. We’ve been seeing each other—I guess that’s one way to put it—for a really long time. Since Rookie season.”
“The summer before,” Rozanov chimed in.
“Ok yea, summer before. But we didn’t get together until summer of last year where we admitted everything.”
“Ok,” Hayden said, uneasy, “So this isn’t new?”
“No, it’s quite old.”
“I can understand why you didn’t tell me,” Hayden sighed, “But that doesn’t explain what I saw. Because to me? It looks like Rozanov has been beating the fuck out of you and you’re so in love with him that you’re excusing it.”
“Hayden. It’s not abuse.”
“Then what the fuck is it?”
“Don’t fucking talk to him like that,” Rozanov snapped.
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
“If you guys keep trying to fight one another I think I’d puke. I already want to puke.”
“Sorry Shane,” both of the other men said in unison.
“Hayden, what you saw, what you’ve been seeing…” Shane took a deep breath before revealing the bombshell, “It’s sex stuff. You’ve been seeing the aftermath of some rough sex.”
“So he’s beating you during sex and outside of sex?!”
“Christ, Hayden no! I ask him to do this!”
Hayden’s jaw fell open, “You…what?”
“I ask him for this,” Shane lifted a hand to his face, “It’s all consensual, I swear. No one’s doing anything they don’t want to. Out of context, this stuff doesn't look great so I can see why you thought Ilya was doing something to me.”
A look of realization dawned on Hayden’s face as he realized the real situation here. There was no abuse, there was no upset—there were “beatings” yes, but Shane wanted them. Shane Hollander was just kinky and Hayden and Jackie had terribly misinterpreted it.
“So what I saw.”
“You happened to walk in on the start of some rough sex that I was having with my boyfriend. And I really do bruise easily, which definitely does not help. Nothing more,” Shane’s face was as red as a fire engine at this point. Hayden felt bad for prying, but it was a bit understandable considering his position.
“So this is like a…kink thing or something?”
“Hayden please don’t make me expand more on this.”
“Understood,” Hayden motioned to Shane, “He’s good to you?”
“He’s good to me, Hayden. It’s ok.”
Hayden turned to Rozanov, or Ilya I guess, “I’m so sorry Rozanov, what I did was uncalled for. I can’t say I like you, but Shane likes you so that’s enough for me.”
“You were trying to protect Shane from something you thought was terrible,” He looked at Shane fondly, “That is something that we can both agree on. I do not like you either, but I can get used to you for Shane.”
“That’s good enough for me,” Shane said, “I’m sorry Hayden this is such a mess.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, if anything I’m the one who’s sorry. This was all caused by me being an absolute ass.”
“Ok well, I forgive you anyway. I understand why you thought what you did, and me being uber cryptic probably didn’t help. It was just a really bad misunderstanding,” Shane nodded and Ilya did as well.
“Who else knows if you don’t mind me asking?”
“My parents,” Shane replied, “And Rose. And then one of Ilya’s close friends, but no one else.”
“You will not tell or I will find you, Pike.”
Hayden couldn’t help but believe he’d make do with that threat entirely. He had no idea what Shane saw in this man, but he was done questioning him for the day—they could get to that later, “I’m not your biggest fan, Rozanov, but I would never do that. However, Jackie—my wife—has been in on this with me and she’s going to be asking a lot of questions that she will not let up on.”
Ilya frowned and turned to Shane, “You trust Pike’s wife?”
Shane nodded, “With my life. But if you’re not-”
“No, is better there are no more misunderstandings,” Ilya turned back to Hayden, “But no one else.”
Hayden nodded, “Just…try to be a little less rough on him, ok? He comes back looking like he got mauled by something sometimes.”
“Will do my best,” Hayden knew damn well Rozanov was not going to do anything, but the sentiment was there and that was appreciated. The room was calmer, but immensely uncomfortable and Hayden sensed that it was time for him to leave.
“I’m going to head out. You two be safe,” Hayden made his way to the front door. In the corner of his eye, he could see Shane start to cry again but Ilya gathered him up in his arms and helped him into the next room over. He immediately pulled his phone out to text Jackie once he got in the car.
my beautiful wife <3: Everything ok?
Hayden: Jackie we made a huge mistake
my beautiful wife <3: What?????
Hayden: Shane is fine. Shane is very much fine. Shane is doing great actually.
my beautiful wife <3: Hayden spit it out
Hayden: Ok but you don’t tell ANYBODY
my beautiful wife <3: Ok. I won’t. Now what is it?
Hayden: Ilya Rozanov is Boston Lily and they’ve been having kinky sex, which is why Shane’s been so bruised up. Shane is entirely consenting to it thankfully
my beautiful wife <3: WHAT
Hayden: Yea. I know.
Hayden: I walked in on them starting something and tackled Rozanov bc I thought the was hitting him
Hayden: Well, he was but—you get my point
my beautiful wife <3: At least he’s happy I hope? And are you ok?
Hayden: Smitten. Utterly smitten
Hayden: I’m fine. Shane pulled me off of him and I don’t think Rozanov would have hit me unless I hit him because Shane was so stressed
my beautiful wife <3: what in the world is this timeline