Page 16 of Campus Heat

“Aren’t cheerleaders supposed to be more stable on their feet?” Ethan said, making no move to release me just yet.

I looked up and the air that was left rushed out of my lungs as my eyes met his.

7

Ethan

It was the worst practice session I’d ever had. I was distracted, and my mind was going places it had no business going. And being on the field didn’t help with that problem at all. The cheer squad was on the opposite end, and as always, Elizabeth was breathtaking.

Those strong leg muscles contracted as she ran. Her firm calves released to send her into the perfect jump. Her incredibly short skirt spun through the air along with her tight frame. And her breasts bounced in the most incredible way as she landed in the waiting arms of her team.

I stifled a groan. There were so many things I could do to that gorgeous body of hers. So many ways I could make her beg for mercy. And I was sure she could do the same to me. That mouth, those eyes… The worlds we could experience together. The thought alone had hardened my erection, and it wasn’t the first time either.

Since we shared that awkward moment when she fell into my arms at the carwash on the weekend, I hadn’t been able to get her out of my mind. The feel of her skin against mine, of her hot breath caressing my chest. I was a wreck from wanting her, even though I’d been doing a good job of lying to myself about it.

“Did you have a stroke?” Lucas said, waving a hand in front of my face. “Do you plan on asking the cheer squad to lead today’s play?”

“What?” I asked, annoyed by the interruption.

“You’ve overthrown three balls, man. We’re running ten-yard outs, not making dinner plans.”

The rest of the team laughed, making me feel like a total idiot. This was where my attention should have been. I was here for the game, not the girls. I couldn’t afford the distractions that came with relationships. I needed to get that into my head, and stop focusing on things that weren’t football. There was too much on the line.

I took a deep breath and adjusted my chin strap. “Run the route at ten then.”

“I did,” Lucas said.

We stared at each other, my brows raised and his jaw clenched.

“Set!” someone yelled.

A ball hit my hand. I dropped back, and glanced up. The girls were watching us, and Elizabeth was on the front line. Oh, what I would have given to know what was going on in that pretty little head of hers. To know if she was having the same kind of thoughts that had been plaguing me.

The pass sailed two feet high, but Lucas didn’t even jump for it.

“Oh, my God,” I muttered. “Lock it in!”

“I am locked,” Lucas shot back. “You’re the one doing the sightseeing.”

“I’m not doing any sightseeing,” I said through gritted teeth. “My head is where it’s supposed to be. In the game. How about yours? Because all I see you trying to do is pick a fight.”

Tempers were high. Lucas clenched his fists, and his face turned red with rage. It was a matter of time before things escalated, but maybe that was exactly what I needed. A good old punch to the skull to get my head back where it needed to be. Unfortunately, Coach blew the whistle before that could happen.

“Guys! Bring it in! I have an idea,” Harris said, separating Lucas and I.

The team jogged in to find Coach pacing the sideline while looking like he was arguing with himself. For a moment, I really thought he had lost his mind.

“Okay,” Harris said, giving a clap. “We’re installing something special for Friday. I watched this movie, and it gave me the perfect play for us to get a leg up. Their defense over-commits, so we’re going to run a motion-heavy misdirection package.”

I perked up slightly at the sound of actual football terminology that made sense. His idea sounded promising, and I was genuinely interested to hear more.

“Get this. We’re going to run… a give and go,” Harris continued, looking super proud of himself.

The team was completely silent. None of us had any idea of what he was talking about, and my assumption of him having watched an actual football movie shattered.

“Uh… What?” The tight end blinked.

“It’s really simple,” Harris said. “Ethan snaps it, hands it off, and keeps moving. Then he pitches it back, like a fast break. That’s how we’re going to create numbers.”