He ran his fingers through his hair as he blew out a long breath. As his brow furrowed and his eyes crinkled, I wondered how old he was. Probably twenty-eight or twenty-nine, if my memory served me right.
Maybe thirty. Too young to be a coach at a major program like he was. Too young not to be playing. Too old not to have someone significant.
“I don’t mean to bully you, Jules. I was thinking of the others. I don’t want them to be jealous. You set the bar very high; you have to know that.”
We kept a safe distance, talking like coach and athlete, even though it was late and it didn’t seem like anyone was around. Everyone else had been eager to start the weekend. Maybe that was why I’d lingered so late.
“I know. I set my own standards on the court, and I don’t expect anyone to keep up. That’s me. I play tennis. It’s all I’ve ever done—well, until California. There ... I messed up everything.”
“Don’t be foolish. They had no right to do to you what they did. I’ve been around some mean pricks, and those ladies take the cake. And I use the word ladies very loosely. I’d rather say bitches.”
We now stood face to face in the dim hall, each of us having inched forward. Certain as the sun had already set outside, we were about to discuss what we had never delved into before.
“Just get it out, King,” I demanded.
“They shouldn’t have done what they did.” His face turned to stone, his expression grim.
I knew he knew, but this was different.
“They did it. Let’s just say it, get it out there. Okay? You know what they did, right?” I sucked down the stale air, filling my lungs, hearing the panic crackle inside me.
“They took my phone, shoved me in the shower with some tennis boy toy, and filmed to their hearts’ delight. The racquet handle up my ... was theirpièce de résistance.But you know what? Everyone has a guardian angel, and my old coach, the one who never told me that my shot was late, got there in time. Before they posted it. Before they shared it. So, God bless America and all that bullshit.”
His reached across the small space between us and grazed his knuckles against my cheek. “Don’t diminish it. You were set up by your teammates and assaulted. No one deserves that.”
“I’m a better person now. Wiser. Smarter. I lay it out there. I’m up front with everyone but you. With you, I feel like a woman all over again, with desires and urges, so I push back all that crap. Maybe it’s because deep down I know that you know, and yet you don’t judge me. You still call my name like I’m a person. Except when you’re throwing me out of your office.”
His hand had found purchase on my shoulder, his thumb running circle eights that might as well have been skin to skin with the way his finger burned through the sheer fabric of my shirt.
“Another reason why I’m picking on you. I don’t give a good goddamn what happened to you. I only give a damn about you. You, Jules. My feelings for you, my attraction to you is turning into a living, breathing thing. And that can’t happen. Yet when I watch you play, I’m mesmerized. Haunted by your beauty and perfection.” His voice lowered and became gruff, a small growl almost escaping when he added, “I want to make you all mine.”
“We can be discreet,” I said quickly. “I don’t even own a smartphone. I live at home ... how much damage could I do?”
I found myself bargaining with him, pleading with myself not to beg as I tried to convince myself this was all my doing. My move, my decision. All mine.
“It’s not right,” he said, “but I want to do that. Be discreet. Be with you.”
Drew
Jules stood before me with my hand cupping her cheek, and I was immobilized. My past tucked behind me, the future straight ahead ... was this young woman a roadblock or the fastest route to happiness?
Be with you. I heard the words coming out of my mouth and felt my heart beating in my chest. My quads shook like I’d just played, but I hadn’t done that in over five years. I was a coach, a person of authority, yet I was also a man who wanted to sleep with the woman in front of me. A woman I’d been tasked to watch over. To be careful with, gentle with, because she was fragile.
But she wasn’t fragile at all. Not even one little bone in her body.
It didn’t matter how many times I berated myself, I was going to have Juliette Smith. And not only once. I was going to have a lot of her.
I leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek and took her hand, leading her toward the back entrance where my car was parked. When we got to the exit, I let go of her.
“We can’t be seen like this—”
She nodded, interrupting me. I wanted to do her against the steel door, but I had some self-control. Some.
I opened the door a crack and placed my hand on her lower back, guiding her into the parking lot before me and beeping the car unlocked with my free hand. The lot was lonely and dark, empty save for my black car. I swung open the passenger door before guiding her inside. Once I’d folded myself into the driver’s seat, the German engine roared to life, and Dave Matthews hummed through the speakers.
“Do you feel up to coming back to my place? We can order some food.”
She didn’t hesitate. “Sounds great, King.”
