This is a trainwreck.
Mustering courage, I mutter, “Please, come inside.”
My sister hoists her duffel bag higher up her shoulder and I internally kick myself for not taking their bags. “Um, Thane, this is Marlow.” She chin-tips at the angel. “We’re best friends. She’s my roommate.”
Roommate.
Well, fuck me sideways.
I’ve just agreed to let my sister and her best friend slash roommate—the personification of my temptation—stay under my roof. This is going to be the biggest test of my will power.
At least now I know my angel’s name.
Marlow.
To prove I’m more than a grumpy loner and football coach, I force a smile to my lips and greet this lovely girl. “Hello, Marlow.” I stick my hand out for her to shake. “Welcome.”
Marlow’s blond brows rise and she eyes my hand like it’s a snake.
Then her palm slides against mine and her skin is so goddamn soft.
“Hi, Coach Thane.” She smiles and her dimples make an appearance. “Pleasure to meet you.”
Oh, baby, the pleasure is all mine.
“Please, just call me Thane.”
The girls shuffle inside and I practically flatten myself against the hallway, doing my best to not let any more of my skin touch Marlow’s. I’m practically vibrating like a tuning fork at being so close to the object of my desires.
I catch a whiff of her scent—floral and bubble gum—and bite back a groan.
The first time I noticed her was a few months ago at a football game. She looked like an angel with a halo over her head, sparkling in the sunny afternoon as she shook her pompoms and executed a cheer routine. My focus should have been on my players and yet my gaze kept straying to hers, completely transfixed.
My dick turned rock hard.
I didn’t date. Especially after I became a legal guardian. Had no time for it. Between raising my sister, abandoning my chance at a professional football career, and working to make ends meet, it left me little time for romance. And for the most part, I was content living my life in solitude.
Until Marlow.
What was it about her that made desire rouse within me? Why couldn’t I stop staring at her whenever we were both on the field—or when we crossed paths in the hallways? Her, heading to the girls’ locker room for a shower, looking so delicious with exertion and sweat beading her body. And me, on my way to my office, trying to hide my erection.
The number of times I’ve thought of fucking her into a flush, cum-stained mess is so wrong. But I can’t stop lusting after her.
It’s a problem and I need to axe it.
Especially now that she’ll be living with me.
Marlow and Michaela glance around the entrance, shifting on their feet. I snick the front door shut and lock it. “Michaela, if you want to stay in your old room, you can.” I palm the back of my head. “Otherwise, if you both want to stay together, you can sleep in the guest bedroom.”
They both exchange a glance. Michaela appears nervous just like me. Marlow breaks the tension in the atmosphere with another one of her charming smiles. “Mic, you take your old room and I’ll take the guest bedroom. It’ll be nice to have our own privacy for once, huh? You’re always complaining about my snoring and now you’ll have a reprieve.”
That draws an unexpected smile from me too. Something tells me Marlow is lying. She doesn’t snore. But her words cause Michaela to let loose a thankful breath, like she’s glad someone else made the decision for her.
“Cool.” Michaela points a thumb towards the staircase. “I’ll just, err, show Marlow the guest bedroom?”
I nod, feeling relieved to have a moment to gather my wits. I tuck my hands in my pockets. “Sure. Come down when you’re done?”
Michaela mutters some sort of agreement under her breath and drags Marlow up the stairs.
