Rating:

Explicit

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

M/M

Fandoms:

Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid, Heated Rivalry (TV)

Relationship:

Eric Bennett/Kyle Swift

Characters:

Eric Bennett, Kyle Swift, Scott Hunter (Game Changers)

Additional Tags:

Meet-Cute, Developing Relationship, Idiots in Love, Dumb Hockey Boys, Anal Sex, Oral Sex, Porn With Plot

Language:

English

Series:

Part 2 of It Takes A Village AU

Stats:

Published: 2026-03-26 Words: 4,209 Chapters: 1/1

A Not So Lonely Christmas

Summary

Eric loves Christmas in New York, but this is his first Christmas since the divorce, and the normally bright holiday has him feeling lonely. Lucky for Eric, he happens to have really great friends who recently set him up to meet a very cute bartender at the Kingfisher. Deciding there was no time like the present to pursue his interest in men, an interest that had long lain dormant for the duration of his marriage to Holly, Eric sets out to woo Kyle and maybe, just maybe, not feel so lonely for the holidays.

This is based in the It Takes A Village AU universe. It is a stand alone and you do not have to have read ITAV to understand what is happening, but I highly recommend reading ITAV anyway!

Notes

Eric

Eric loved Christmas in New York. The glow and music from shop windows delighted him, as did seeing the Rockefeller tree and feeling the energy of the crowds. This season meant hockey was getting exciting and the team was finding its rhythm. Having grown up in a small town, he was always amazed by the sheer number of people around him.

It used to be his favorite time of year to spend with Holly. They went to the Nutcracker every year, wore matching sweaters to holiday parties for his team and her friends. He should have known last year, when she spent the season out of the country with her parents skiing in the Swiss Alps, that something had shifted between them.

At first, he had assumed the distance was temporary. Now, standing alone in the city during the holidays, Eric had to admit to himself that it wasn’t temporary anymore, and the ache he felt made the loss real.

What was worse, Eric wasn’t even sure whether he missed her or the routine. He didn’t want to attend parties alone, go to see the Nutcracker by himself, or set up a tree in his sterile hotel room. For the first time since he moved to New York, Christmas felt lonely.

Maybe that was why he went back to the Kingfisher just weeks after going with Scott and the others. He had even seen Kyle again after the Metros game, but didn’t get much of a chance to talk to him. This time, he was alone. The car dropped him off nearby, and Eric ran a nervous hand through his hair, straightened his coat, and walked toward the soft glow of the bar’s entrance. A large rainbow flag flew next to the door, and Eric smiled. He was happy for Scott that he had Kip and Shane had Ilya. It felt good knowing the team was so accepting of them, that they would be accepting of him.

His eyes went straight to the bar the minute the door closed behind him. He knew it was ridiculous, that odds were Kip’s friend wouldn’t even be working that night, but Eric really hoped to see him again. Something about Kyle’s easy flirtation and gentle banter with his friends had lived in the back of Eric’s head ever since.

Sure enough, Kyle was working that night. He looked up from pouring a drink and immediately spotted Eric, a smile overtaking his face.

"Eric!" Kyle called out, spotting him. "Are Scott and Kip coming? I can get you guys a table."

Eric shuffled his feet, hands in his pockets, and shook his head. “No, uh… It’s just me.”

Kyle’s grin turned curious. "Only you, huh? What can I get you?"

Eric nodded. “Another mocktail like the one you made last time, if you don’t mind.”

Kyle beamed. “Sure thing,” he said. “Give me a minute to finish up with a couple of customers, and I’ll be right with you.”

Eric sat at the bar’s far end, able to watch the room. Christmas garlands hung above the bar, and lights ringed the windows. Booths and tables surrounded a small stage and dance floor behind. The place was only half full this early.

"So, handsome, what brings you here tonight?" Kyle asked, setting down a pale pink drink.

Eric looked right at him. "Actually, I came to see you."

Kyle raised his eyebrows. "Really? That’s... bold. I like it."

Eric grinned and laughed self-deprecatingly. “Look, I know I’m not much of a catch right now, what with the divorce and still working on finding my own place, not to mention the age difference, but if you’re at all interested, I would really like to take you out for dinner sometime.”

Kyle smiled and leaned over the counter until he was just inches from Eric’s face. “Now, how could I say no to such a handsome and distinguished gentleman as yourself?” he purred.

“Weekends are probably at least as busy for you as they are me,” Eric stated, using a finger to gesture around the bar and indicate Kyle’s job. “So how about Tuesday night?”

Kyle laughed and caught the hand Eric was gesturing with, running his fingers across Eric’s palm playfully. “I could do Tuesday,” he agreed.

“Great!” Eric beamed. “I could send you the details later?”

“Sure,” Kyle agreed, curling his fingers in a grabbing motion for Eric’s phone. Eric rushed to pull up a new contact and handed it over. He watched Kyle’s slender fingers as he typed his name and number before saving the information and handing it back.

Too soon, Kyle had to walk back down the bar to help another customer. Eric finished his drink, left a 20 on the bar and waved on his way out. The Christmas lights felt a lot lighter and less lonely as he hummed carols under his breath and decided to walk back to the hotel rather than call for a car.

Kyle

Eric sent him the reservation details for a rustic, chic little Italian place in Brooklyn. It was the kind of spot where you could easily spend over a hundred dollars, but you didn't need to follow a dress code or book months ahead. It was charming.

Eric met him at the door, and they walked in together and were led to their seats.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” the host asked. Eric ordered sparkling water, and Kyle asked for the house red.

“This place smells incredible,” Kyle enthused, grinning at Eric over his menu.

“I’ve been wanting to come try it for a while,” Eric stated. “Thank you for coming with me.”

“I saw your game Sunday,” Kyle continued. “I don’t really know much about hockey, but congrats on the win and all.”

Eric chuckled. “It’s okay,” he said. “A lot of my friends only know how to talk about hockey. It’s nice to get a break from it.”

“What else do you like to talk about?” Kyle asked.

“Art, for one,” Eric replied. “I dabble in collecting. That’s one nice thing about getting a new place: I can curate it how I want. My art dealer is already putting aside some pieces she thinks suit me.”

It was like Kyle had made a list of all the traits he wanted in his dream man, and the universe had spat out Eric Bennett. “I love art. I’m studying art at Columbia, actually. Just finishing my undergrad work for now, but I’m already working with a professor to continue in Ancient Art and Architecture after I graduate.”

It was Eric’s turn to beam uncontrollably. His eyes lit up with excitement, and he leaned forward in his chair. “That’s incredible,” he said. “Would you want to go with me the next time I see my dealer? She has a gallery near one of the houses I’m putting an offer on.”

“What’s the gallery called?” Kyle asked.

“Saint-Georges,” Eric answered. “Jeannette has incredible taste. You’re going to love it.”

“I live near there,” Kyle laughed. “I’ve been meaning to go for ages.”

They both ordered when the server came back, and the food was as incredible as the company. Kyle thought this might be the best date he had ever been on and couldn’t believe it was with a professional hockey player of all people. Eric shared that he had studied literature while playing for Harvard, had recently taken up photography, and was considering traveling to Crete over the summer.

Kyle kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, for Eric to slip and mention that he was secretly into international smuggling or something. Surely, someone, this perfect didn’t just… exist.

“Look,” Eric said, standing outside the restaurant once they were finished eating. “I had an incredible time tonight, and I really want to see you again. Are you doing anything on Thursday afternoon? I have practice in the morning, but I’m free after 1.”

Kyle smiled, fiddling with Eric’s coat button. "Nothing until work, but that's not until after nine."

"Will you go to Saint-Georges with me?" Eric asked.

Kyle nodded. “Okay,” he agreed, feeling a little breathless himself.

"Can I kiss you?" Eric asked, gently cupping Kyle’s jaw.

“Please do,” Kyle agreed.

Eric leant down and sealed Kyle’s lips with his own. He started slow, with drawn-out, close-mouthed pecks, and moaned when Kyle’s tongue flitted out to meet him.

“You’re so beautiful,” Eric sighed, dipping in to deepen the kiss until they were making out on the sidewalk, flushed and breathless, panting little puffs of white air into the cold New York night.

“I’ll see you Thursday?” Eric confirmed, pulling away.

“Yeah,” Kyle nodded, licking the taste of Eric’s kisses off his lips. “Text me the details?”

Eric nodded, and they each took their own car. Kyle would have gone home with Eric right then and there, but something in him said that Eric wasn’t quite ready, and Kyle was happy enough to wait. He was definitely the kind of guy worth waiting for.

That Thursday, Eric met Kyle at the front of Saint-George’s with two peppermint lattes and a snowflake-themed scarf wrapped around his neck. “I hope you like chocolate,” he said, handing one of the cups to Kyle. “They’re both oat milk, too, so I hope that’s okay.”

Kyle grinned at him. “It’s perfect, thank you.”

They walked into the gallery together, and it was immediately apparent they were the only ones there. It turned out that “Jeanette” wasn’t just Eric’s art dealer… She was Jeanette Saint-George, the gallery's owner.

“Eric, dear!” she greeted, striding up to them with a bright smile. “I’m so glad you could come today! We just got a new shipment in for the next exhibition, and you simply have to see them!”

She kissed Eric on both cheeks and turned to Kyle with a warm smile. “And you must be Kyle,” she said. “Eric has told me all about you. You’re just as handsome as he said!”

She led the two of them through the gallery, pointing out pieces that Eric hadn’t seen yet and asking Kyle about the kind of art he liked. While Kyle’s focus for his studies was ancient art and architecture, he particularly enjoyed modern sculpture and Fauvism.

The new exhibition, which Jeanette was excited about, highlighted the work of a contemporary New Orleans artist. Willie Birch had some truly stunning pieces, most of them in black and white. The ones she thought Eric would be most interested in were a small set of three, each one roughly the size of a large envelope. They stood out among the rest of the work displayed in that everything else was massive, larger than life, like the images they portrayed. Jeanette displayed them one on top of another as a complete set, and Kyle watched Eric immediately go still to study them.

“The detail in these is incredible,” he sighed. “Kyle, look at how he uses the shadows here to really highlight the shop next door.”

“I’m not usually that interested in graphite, but these are amazing,” Kyle agreed, leaning into Eric’s side to look closer.

“Save these for me?” Eric asked.

Jeanette smiled at them both warmly. “Of course,” she agreed. “He has some sculpture work too. Would you like to see it, Kyle?”

Kyle nodded, and they moved on. They spent hours there together, and the sun was setting by the time they made it back to the street.

“Thank you for bringing me today,” Kyle said, smiling up at Eric at the base of the gallery’s steps. “That was amazing.”

Eric had the biggest smile as he reached for Kyle’s hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss. “Thank you for sharing it with me. It’s usually just me and Jeanette in there.”

“I wish I didn’t have to go to work,” Kyle groaned.

Eric chuckled. “What time do you get out?” he asked.

“So late,” Kyle complained. “Not until after 3 by the time we’ve closed everything down and locked up for the evening.”

Eric hummed. “Well,” he said. “I have a game tomorrow and can’t be up too late. Then we hit the road for a week. How about you come over when I get back next Monday, and I’ll make you dinner? The hotel kitchenette is small, but I think I can manage something simple.”

“Okay,” Kyle agreed. “I can do that.”

Eric grinned and kissed him again, his lips warm and enticing against the December chill. Kyle never wanted to stop.

He whined. “I have to go,” and Eric chuckled.

“Bye, Kyle,” he said, pulling away.

“You'd better text me on your road trip!” Kyle demanded, backing toward the waiting car.

Eric nodded in agreement and waved.

Eric

The roady Eric left on with the Admirals dragged, the time away from New York feeling that much longer than usual, with dinner plans with Kyle to look forward to. Eric spent the time not on the ice emailing back and forth with Shane’s real estate agent as they put together an offer.

“So, Kyle, huh?” Scott asked, taking the aisle seat next to Eric on the plane from San Francisco to Seattle.

Eric smiled and studied his hands in his lap. “Yeah,” he said. “I really fucking like him, Scotty.”

Scott chewed on his bottom lip. “I’m happy for you, I think,” he said, shifting in his seat. “But Kyle is a really good friend, and your divorce isn’t even final yet. Please don’t hurt him.”

Eric sighed. “I know. It’s too soon, isn’t it?”

Scott shook his head adamantly. “That’s not what I mean. If you’re happy, I think you should go for it. The two of you have a lot in common! But just… make sure it’s what you want. Be certain about him before you take this much further. I don’t want you breaking each other’s hearts.”

“Am I crazy for feeling so certain after only really knowing him for a week?” Eric laughed, not so much a pleasant sound as an incredulous one.

“I mean, I can’t really judge you,” Scott laughed, and his tone was genuinely amused. “I basically asked Kip to move in with me after a single night together. At least the two of you have gone on a couple of real dates!”

Eric snorted. That was a very… Scott thing to do.

“You’re a little too intense, you know that?” he chortled.

Scott nodded and laughed along at his own expense. “Yeah, Kip assures me that I’m definitely not too lazy to be a serial killer.”

“Ha! What the actual fuck, Scotty, who just says shit like that?”

“Is the shovel talk over yet?” Wagner groaned behind them. “Some of us are trying to get some fucking sleep!”

“Shut up, Wags!” Cam cried. “Let them have their moment! This is way better than the shitty dramas on the little plane TVs! And I’ve watched all these movies! Twice!”

Eric noticed Shane repeatedly banging his head against the seat in front of him, one row ahead. He guessed it was a good idea to have mercy on their team around them and turned his attention to his book. Scott plugged his ears with headphones and leaned his head back to nap.

When they made it back to New York, Eric stopped for groceries on his way back to the hotel and grabbed ingredients for Butter Chickpeas with boil-in-a-bag rice, since he had to make do with the hotel's little kitchenette. It might kill him with microplastics, but hopefully, just one time wouldn’t be enough for that.

When Kyle arrived just after seven, dinner was pretty much done, and Eric was already in the process of plating it. He opened the door, and Kyle immediately went on his toes to kiss him.

“Hey,” Kyle greeted. “How was the trip?

“Too long,” Eric laughed and helped Kyle with his coat, hanging it by the door and leading him into the hotel suite. “Dinner is ready, though. And I have a bottle of wine chilling for you, if you want.”

“Yes, please,” Kyle grinned. “Can I help with anything?”

Eric shook his head. “Just have a seat,” he said, gesturing to the little two-top table. “I’ll be right there.”

He brought their food to the table, then went back for their drinks. His own sparkling water fizzed in a glass, and the white wine he got for Kyle gathered condensation in the warmth of the apartment.

Kyle moaned with his first bite. “This is incredible,” he said.

“I’m glad you like it,” Eric smiled. “It’s, ah… vegetarian. I hope that’s okay.”

“Of course!” Kyle insisted. “You don’t have to cook meat just for me. This is delicious, really.”

When dinner was finished, Eric took their plates to the sink, and Kyle wandered around the small living space while he washed them and set them aside to dry.

“Have you had any luck finding a new place?” Kyle asked.

Eric nodded. “We put in an offer yesterday for a place in Murray Hill. A nice four-story brownstone. I’m really hoping we get it. I can already picture it with some of the art Jeanette set aside for me.”

Kyle grinned at him. “That’s great!” he exclaimed. “This hotel is nice, but I’m sure it will be better to have your own space again.”

Eric grinned and crossed from the kitchenette to the little living area. He pulled Kyle into him by the hips and leaned down to lay a kiss on his lips. “It will be even better to have my own bed,” he agreed. “Especially with you laid out across it.”

Kyle groaned. “Please fuck me,” he sighed, surging up to kiss Eric again. “I really, really want you to fuck me tonight.”

Eric chuckled. “I think that can be arranged,” he agreed, and pulled Kyle with him into the bedroom. Kyle sat at the foot of the bed, and Eric stepped up between his legs, plunging his tongue into Kyle’s eager mouth and groaning when Kyle returned the kiss, arching against Eric in a way that pressed him up against Eric’s erection with a tease of much-needed friction.

Eric’s fingers scrabbled against Kyle’s skin as he pulled his shirt up and off, baring Kyle to the waist. He went to his knees and sucked eagerly at the skin of his abdomen, nibbled his way up Kyle’s chest, and sucked a deliciously pink and erect nipple into his mouth.

Kyle sighed, running his fingers through Eric’s hair. He whined when Eric’s teeth latched onto his nipple and pulled, dragging it away from his skin.

“We have way too much fucking clothing on,” Kyle complained.

Eric snorted a laugh and pulled back to drag his own shirt off while Kyle fought with the button of his too-tight jeans, eventually wrestling it open and shimmying the fabric down his hips. Eric leant forward and mouthed at Kyle’s briefs over his dick, soaking the fabric.

“Shit, yes,” Kyle moaned. “Fuck, Eric. I want your mouth. Please.”

Eric was happy enough to provide, using both hands to pull Kyle’s briefs down his hips and sliding them past his feet until they joined the pile of jeans on the floor. He reached back up for Kyle’s flushed cock, using his hand to hold it where he wanted it so that he could suck at the spongy head and tease the slit at the tip with his tongue.

“You’ll have to tell me if I do anything you don’t like,” Eric said, catching Kyle’s gaze, Kyle’s dick still held loosely in one hand. “I’ve always found men attractive, but I’ve never been with a man before.”

“Okay,” Kyle panted. “I’ll let you know. So far so fucking good, please keep sucking my cock.”

Eric chuckled and leaned forward again, taking the whole head into his mouth and swallowing around it, using his hand to stroke against the shaft.

“So good,” Kyle praised. “Just like that, Eric. Fuck, your mouth is perfect.”

Eric hummed, the vibration causing Kyle to grip the comforter in white-knuckled hands while tremors wracked his body.

“Hold on a second,” Kyle directed, then crawled backwards onto the bed until he was lying out fully against the pillows. “Take your pants off too and come here, okay?”

Eric nodded and did as Kyle asked, letting his jeans fall to the floor and then his boxers. He left his socks on and crawled onto the bed after Kyle, sucking at the bare skin of his ankle, then running his tongue along the inside of his calf to his knee. He bit the skin there, hard enough to leave a bruise, and Kyle screamed, throwing himself back onto the pillows and spreading his legs wider. When Eric reached his cock again, it was almost purple, and precum leaked liberally from the tip. He licked the shining fluid from Kyle’s shaft and took his cock so deep into his throat that he choked, eyes watering.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Kyle soothed. “I don’t think you’re ready for that, yeah? We’ll practice another time. Why don’t you get the lube for me? I’ll open myself up for you, and you can watch.”

Eric whined, unable to object to the idea of getting to do this again or Kyle opening himself up for Eric to fuck. He pulled a packet of lube from the bedside drawer and a condom, handing the lube over to Kyle.

Kyle tore it open with his teeth and squeezed lube onto his fingers, reaching down to tease at his entrance. Eric leaned in to suck his cock again, but Kyle pushed him away.

“No, baby,” he said. “I don’t want to come yet. I want you inside of me for that.”

Eric moaned and sat back, watching as Kyle stuffed a finger into his hole and pumped it past the ring of tight muscle there, adding a second finger minutes later.

“Your cock is fucking huge,” Kyle moaned as he fucked his slick fingers into his hole and stared at Eric’s eager erection. “I’m going to need to use three fingers to get ready for you, baby. It’s still gonna be a tight fucking fit. Don’t know if I’ll even be able to walk tomorrow. Might make you carry me around everywhere.”

Eric groaned. Kyle’s narration as he spread his hole for Eric’s use was going to send him over the edge before they even started.

“You’re so fucking hot,” Eric praised, stroking his dick.

“Put the condom on, baby. I’m almost ready for you,” Kyle instructed. Eric nodded eagerly and tore the packet open, rolling the condom over his turgid dick. He was so fucking close.

“Can’t wait anymore,” Eric whined.

“That’s okay, come here,” Kyle beckoned, reaching out for Eric to pull him up and over him. Kyle took Eric’s dick with one hand and guided it to his hole. “Come on, baby,” he urged. “Give it to me, will you?”

Eric held Kyle’s waist and pushed inside, careful to go slow. Kyle moaned beneath him. “That’s it, baby,” he sighed. “God, you’re big. Keep it slow and give me a minute, okay?”

“Yeah,” Eric panted, hovering over Kyle and watching his expression as he adjusted to having Eric’s dick inside him. He held still, waiting for Kyle to tell him it was okay to move.

“Okay, baby,” Kyle sighed, kissing Eric’s lips and then down the side of his jaw. “Please,” he begged when Eric was too slow to comply. “Need it.”

Eric broke, his restraint flew out the window as he thrust into Kyle’s heat again and again. He felt fucking incredible. Kyle’s fingernails left long scratches down his back as he screamed and begged for more, for Eric to take him harder and faster.

Eric gave it everything he had, pounding Kyle into the mattress. He gripped Kyle’s hips and sat back, pulling Kyle into every thrust to fuck harder and deeper into him. Kyle’s cries echoed in the small space of the hotel bedroom, and Eric just knew he was going to get complaints from the neighbors the next day.

His hips stuttered as Eric almost lost his rhythm, too close to orgasm to maintain it anymore. Not ready for this to end, Eric rolled onto his back and pulled Kyle with him, using the hands on Kyle’s waist to lift him and drop him on Eric’s dick again and again.

Kyle took his own weeping erection in one hand, the other braced against the headboard as he rocked backward onto Eric’s cock and groaned. “Oh, baby, I’m close,” he moaned, pulling faster at his own cock. “So close.”

Eric whined and ground their hips together, whole body shaking with exertion. Kyle came over his chest, and his cum painted the underside of Eric’s jaw. Eric stuttered again in his thrusts and came seconds later. Kyle’s hand left his softening dick and swiped through the cum on Eric’s chin, feeding it into his mouth. He angled himself to slip off of Eric’s dick and leaned down to kiss him.

“Fucking. Incredible,” Kyle moaned.

“Stay the night?” Eric asked.

Kyle laughed and nodded against his parted lips. “Yeah,” he agreed. “I might stay for fucking ever. Holy shit.”