He traces my lips with his tongue and demands entrance. I open for him and suck on the wandering muscle as if it’s his cock. He groans and ruts against me, seeking the friction we both need. I slip my hands into the back of his shorts, grasping an ass cheek in each hand.

  Never in a million years would I have thought this would happen. I want to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming some crazy sex dream. I could come like this alone. It beats any fantasy I could conjure up.

  Our frantic kisses ease, and our breaths slow. He pulls back. My lips tingle and his are red and swollen, begging me to take them again. He rests his forehead against mine. “Fuck! I’ve wanted to do that since I first saw you in that library.”

  “Then why haven’t you? I’ve given you every chance,” I tease.

  He leans back until he can look me in the eye. “I know what you’ve been doing, you little shit.” I grin, unrepentant. “You’ve made it very difficult to say no.”

  “That was the plan. So, what’s changed now?”

  He studies me for a minute. “I know this may be a game to you, a fling—”

  I cut him off with a quick kiss. “No game—other than to get you to notice me—but I’m not interested in sex. Wait, I’m definitely interested in sex, but it’s not all I’m looking for.”

  “You’re so goddamn young. You have your whole life in front of you. You don’t need to be saddled down with an old man like me.”

  “Why don’t you let me be the judge of what I want. I’ve always had a thing for older men.” I waggle my eyebrows, and he rewards me with a chuckle. “Let’s just take this one step at a time and see where it goes,” I propose.

  “We’ll have to be careful. I haven’t seen anything that says a relationship between a coach and a player is strictly forbidden, but I can’t imagine it’ll be widely accepted, either.”

  “I’m okay with that. I know we’ll work it out. And who knows, we may not even be compatible and could ruin our careers for nothing.” I don’t tell him ‌I know, in my heart, he’s the one for me. Spending time together will prove it to him.

  “What do you say we go back to my place? We can order something and maybe get to know each other a little bit,” he offers.

  “Sounds good. I’ll run home and change and meet you at your house.” I pick up my bag and sling it over my shoulder.

  He nods toward the door. “Go ahead. I’ll wait a few minutes before I leave so no one sees us together.”

  “Okay.” I pop another quick kiss on his lips and open the door to go. I look back over my shoulder. “Eric?”

  “Yeah?”

  “You’re going to fall in love with me and never want to let me go.” I close the door behind me without waiting for his reply and rush down the hall.

  Tonight’s going to be the first night of the rest of our lives. I’m sure of it. I won’t accept anything less.

  8

  You’re going to fall in love with me and never want to let me go.

  Avery’s parting words run in a constant loop through my mind on the drive home. I fear he’s right‌. I’m not afraid of the commitment of loving someone—just the opposite—I worry once we get to know each other, he’ll realize I’m too boring and old for him. Where would that leave me? The situation has heartbreak written all over it.

  But I’ve always been the type of person to go after what I want, and what I want more than my next breath is Avery. I’d thought long and hard about the risk I was taking. Nico and Knox’s words kept me up most of the night until I’d finally come to a decision. Something tells me he’s worth every risk. Lord knows I’ve never had this reaction to another person before, so I’m going to explore it and enjoy it for however long it lasts.

  I unlock my front door and throw my keys on the side table. It took every ounce of my self-control to stop what we’d started in my office. My dick is still half hard from our encounter, and I give it a hard squeeze. Maybe a quick shower before Avery arrives will take the edge off. We need to get to know each other before we take this further, and I don’t want my hard-on to be the first thing he sees when he gets here.

  Once I’m done and sated, I throw on some track pants and a t-shirt before retrieving the takeout menus I’ve collected since I moved here. As a single guy, cooking for one sucks. It always highlights my loneliness, so most nights, I grab something on the way home or call for delivery.

  I hope that’s about to change.

  The tinny chime of the doorbell announces Avery’s arrival. I wrench the door open, eager to set my eyes on him. Watching him at practice this past week has shredded my control—not that I had much, to begin with, where he’s concerned.

  He stands on the stoop looking fucking edible with his damp hair and flushed cheeks. His faded jeans mold to his firm thighs, and his plain white t-shirt shows every curve of his well-defined chest, including the outline of that damn nipple piercing I’d obsessed over all day. I discreetly wipe the drool from my mouth.

  “Are you going to let me in?” When I finally finish devouring every inch of him with my eyes and reach his face, he flashes his trademark cocky smirk at me.

  My cheeks heat from the lust coursing through me or the embarrassment of getting caught. Maybe a little of both. “Yeah, sorry. C’mon in.” I pull the door open wider and take a step back.

  He strolls in, brushing the length of his body against mine as he passes. An audible gasp escapes me, and I realize my time in the shower did me no good. He’s not going to make this easy on me, and I’m not sure if I want him to.

  I put some much-needed distance between us, or we’ll never get any talking done. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “A bottled water, if you have it.” He follows me into the kitchen, not even hiding his curiosity as he looks around my place. A strange warmth fills me as I realize I want him to know everything about me.

  When he grabs the bottle from my hands, he purposely rubs my fingers with his. Every touch of his skin against mine sets my body ablaze.

  I point to the counter for a distraction. “Here are the menus for the restaurants in the area. Anything you’re in the mood for?”

  He gives me a smug smile, like he knows the effect he has on me, before turning to the menus. He flips through them, and we agree on Italian. The place up the street from my house is the best in town. Once I place our order, we sit on opposite ends of the couch and turn, facing each other with our backs against the armrests. He looks so at ease in my home, like he’s been here a million times before.

  Like he belongs here.

  “Time for the Q and A, huh, Coach?” He never loses his ever-cocky grin. I wish I’d had that much confidence when I was his age.

  “Yes, you go first.”

  “So, what made you decide to leave the NFL and start coaching?”

  “I felt it was my time to go, I guess. I’d accomplished all I set out to do.”

  He adjusts a pillow behind him and pulls his legs onto the couch, nearly touching me. “That sounds like the answer you give during a press briefing. Nice and rehearsed.”

  Damn, he’s observant.

  “It’s all true, but you’re right. That’s not all of it.” He watches me intently, focusing on my every word. And whether I want to admit it or not, I love having his undivided attention on me. “I was lonely even when I was surrounded by people. I made some great friends, don’t get me wrong, but…” I trail off, unsure what to say or how he’ll react to my confession.

  “But what?” he probes, nudging me with his toe to continue. He waits patiently for my response, never pushing me.

  “It wasn’t enough anymore. It’s difficult to have a relationship with someone when all you do is travel back and forth between games and spend the rest of the time practicing. Not only that, but it’s also hard to know if someone’s with you for who you are rather than what you can give them. I wasn’t getting any younger and knew I wanted more for myself, so coaching seemed like the next logical step. I get to keep doing what I love without sacrificing the things that really matter.”

  “Thank you for being honest with me. It sounds like you’ve thought this through.” The softness of his words tells me I made the right decision to be truthful.

  I shrug. “It wasn’t really a hard decision.” I don’t tell him I suspect he’ll be the greatest reward for the choices I made that led me here. “So, how about you?” I ask, changing the subject. I’d rather learn more about him than listen to myself talk about my dismal love life.

  “What do you want to know?”

  “Everything.”

  He laughs, and the deep, rich sound feels me with warmth. “That’s a loaded question.”

  “Tell me about your family.”

  “My mom died when I was ten from breast cancer. So, now it’s just my dad and me against the world. He lives here in town, and we see each other at least once a week.”

  I reach over and squeeze his leg, unable to keep from offering him comfort. “I know that had to be hard. How about any other family?”

  “Nah, both my parents grew up in foster care. It’s how they met. They were best friends more than anything. When they aged out, they stuck together. Mom got pregnant with me, so they decided to make it official and get married. They were still pretty young. My dad’s only forty.”

  “I’m sorry about your mom,” I say truthfully, not acknowledging that I’m closer to his dad’s age than his.

  A glimmer of sadness passes through his eyes. “She was great, easy to talk to, and loving. She let me be a kid, you know?” He laughs softly. “My dad called her an old hippie because she always wore these psychedelic bohemian skirts and tunics and planted flowers and herbs around the yard. She loved all the music from Woodstock. Sometimes I’d come in from playing outside to find her and my dad dancing in the kitchen.” The sadness returns to his eyes.

  “When she died, my dad moved us and his shop here. I think it was too hard for him to be where they grew up without her.” He shifts, and the melancholy disappears, replaced with his signature grin. “My turn. Tell me about your family.”

  “My parents grew up in town and raised me here. Football was life in my house growing up. My father hurt his knee during his sophomore year of college, so he never got to fulfill his dream of being in the NFL. He lived vicariously through me, even coaching in the pee-wee league through my high school years. Sometimes, I felt like I played as much for him as I did myself. But I never regretted it. When it got too difficult for them to follow me around the country, they retired and cheered me on from their new home in Florida. It was one of the first things I bought for them when I got drafted. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. Now, my dad spends his days playing golf, and my mom does charity work with her girlfriends. They spend every night together. They’re still very in love and happy after almost forty years.”

  “Any siblings?”

  “I have a sister, Marie. She lives an hour away with her husband and two children. I try to see them as often as I can.” If this works out between us, I’ll eventually have to introduce him to my family. I’m not sure how they’ll feel about him being so young, but my sister is older than her husband, so she’ll understand where I’m coming from. The doorbell rings, interrupting our conversation.

  I pay for the food. “Do you want to eat in here or sit at the dining table?”

  “Whichever you prefer.”

  “Let’s eat here then.” The living room is more comfortable and allows us to be closer together. I don’t want a table separating us.

  I gather plates and utensils and sit beside him on the couch. Our thighs press together, and his clean, soapy scent surrounds me. I want to push the food away and devour him instead, but this is technically our first date, and I’m determined to get to know him. If we want to build a lasting relationship, it has to be more than sex. I already know we’ll be compatible in that department by the explosive kisses we’ve had. We just need to make sure we fit in all ways to make it work.

  We reach for the lasagna at the same time, crashing our hands into each other.

  “Sorry, here.” I open the container and hold it for him to get a portion.

  He puts some on his plate, then on mine as well.

  “Thanks.”

  He places everything on the coffee table, then turns back to me. I don’t know what he sees, but he makes a sound in his throat before grabbing me behind the neck and pulling me toward him. His lips crash down on mine, and our food is forgotten within seconds as we devour each other. I frame his face with my hands. The stubble on his cheeks scratches against my palms, turning me on even more.

  We finally slow the kiss down and pull back, each of us breathing in short pants, staring at the other. The intensity lurking in his gaze sends my mind spinning. I keep worrying about his age, but all I see is a man who knows what he wants and is determined to get it.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to attack you, but I needed to clear the awkwardness from the air.”

  I chuckle at his honesty. “Never apologize for what just happened.”

  “Noted.” He grins and shovels a forkful of lasagna into his mouth.

  We shoot the shit about the team and the upcoming season in between eating. Avery’s knowledge of each guy’s strengths and weaknesses is astounding. He’s intuitive and hard-working. His obvious love for the game only adds to his appeal. Every new thing I learn about him draws me closer, like a moth to a flame.

  Once we clear our dishes away, we sit back on the couch, staring at each other. An almost tangible lust simmers between us, and I can take it no longer. Our lips meet, and we explore each other’s mouths without the same urgency as before dinner. I take my time exploring his body, roaming my hands along his back muscles, and feel them contract with each pass. He fumbles with the drawstring on my pants before he pulls my engorged cock free of the material.

  When I go to undo his jeans, his hand is already there, wrapped around his cock, stroking it at the same pace as mine. I push his hand out of the way and take over. He leans back, and I follow, hovering above him. Our fingers link, making a circle around both of our cocks, and the friction of his rubbing against mine is almost too much. I’m thankful for my shower earlier so I don’t embarrass myself.

  We both groan as we work in tandem. His eyes close, and the corded muscles of his neck stand out as he throws his head back. I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight. I nip at the exposed skin before soothing it with a swipe of my tongue. With a couple more strokes, we both come all over our hands. I rest my forehead against his while we catch our breath. When I finally pull myself together, I sit up, and he follows.

  His eyes have a blissed-out, dreamy quality, and his content grin makes me want to start all over again.

  “Come on, let’s get cleaned up.”

  We take turns washing our hands. He comes up behind me as I bend over the sink and rubs his half-hard cock over my ass.

  Fuck! He’s going to kill me.

  “You’re going to be trouble, aren’t you?” I say as I resist pushing back against him.

  “Who? Me? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He looks at me, offering a coy smile, and bats his eyelashes.

  I huff out a laugh. I’m not buying his innocent act for one second. “Uh-huh. Come on, you.” I take his hand in mine and pull him from the bathroom.

  “Alright, Coach. I think it’s time I go home.”

  As much as I don’t want him to leave, I know it’s the right choice. If he stays, things will go further than either of us is ready for. My control is non-existent where he’s concerned, but it won’t do either of us any good to move too quickly.

  “It’s probably for the best.” I follow him to the front door.

  He turns and leans back against it. “Thanks for having me over and giving us a chance.”

  “You don’t have to thank me for that. It should be the other way around. I still don’t get why you’d want to be with an old guy like me, but I’m not complaining.”

  He places a firm kiss against my lips. “You’re not old, but you are damn sexy.” He waggles his eyebrows, making me laugh.

  “I’ll see you at practice tomorrow. Don’t be late.”

  “Yes, sir, Coach.” He throws a wink over his shoulder and struts out to his car.

  I close the door and groan, banging my head against it several times, realizing how much trouble I’m in. I can’t help the smile overtaking my face if I tried. I have a feeling I’m in for the time of my life with Avery Thompson, and I can’t wait.

  It’s been a week since Avery and I had dinner at my house. We’ve spent as much time together as possible but never out in the open. Tonight I told him we’re going to have dinner and see a movie together. The way his face lit up makes me feel guilty. He shouldn’t be anyone’s dirty secret.

  We pull into the parking lot of a barbecue joint in the next town over. “I’ve heard this place is the best in the county.”

  “I haven’t been here before, but I’m looking forward to it.” His small smile and the sparkle in his eyes tell me how pleased he is about being here with me.

  I decide right then and there, I don’t care if we get caught. I feel more alive than I have in years when I’m with him. I quickly realize there isn’t much I wouldn’t do for him. My mission each day is to put a smile on his face.

  As we walk toward the door, his hand brushes against mine, and he snatches it away. “Sorry, I know we have to be careful.”

  I grab his hand in mine, lacing our fingers together.

  His eyes widen. “Eric, it’s okay. I don’t expect to do anything that could jeopardize your career. It’s enough to be out with you.”

  “What if it’s not enough for me?”

  His crestfallen look makes me want to kick myself.

 

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