“I meant I want to hold your hand and show the world how lucky I am to call you mine.”

  “Yours, huh?” His eyes heat, and a smirk takes up residence on his face.

  “Well, if you don’t want to be…” I let my words trail off.

  “It’s exactly what I want. It makes you mine, too.”

  “Absolutely. Come on. Let’s go in. I’m starving.” I tug on his hand, and he follows me into the restaurant.

  The hostess seats us in a booth toward the back. It’s like our own little private oasis, and I immediately shift forward and take his hand, unafraid of being spotted.

  “What are you thinking about getting? I can’t decide between the brisket and pulled pork.” His eyes meet mine over his menu.

  “I’ve been trying to choose between the two as well. How about we order one of each and share?”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  We place our order, and once the server leaves, he props his elbow on the table and rests his chin in his hand. His eyes sparkle with mischief. “Let’s do the twenty-question date game.”

  “What in the hell is that?” I can’t help but laugh at his excitement.

  “We take turns asking each other questions. No matter what it is, we have to answer.”

  “Hmmm, sounds dangerous, but I’m game. You go first.”

  “Favorite movie?”

  “Easy, Draft Day.”

  “No way, I love that one, too.”

  I shrug. “It’s about football. What’s not to love? Okay, favorite food?”

  “You’re going to think I’m making it up because of where we are but barbecue, hands down.”

  “Same here. It’s why I chose this place. I’ve been dying to try it since my buddies told me about it.”

  Our server comes and sets our food down. “Anything else I can get you right now?”

  “No, it looks great, thanks.” I push my plate to the middle, and Avery does the same so we can share. “Okay, my turn. Do you read?”

  “Do playbooks count?” Pink tinges his cheeks.

  “In my eyes, they do. Why are you blushing?”

  “I don’t want you to think I’m a dumb jock because I don’t really read for fun.”

  “Well, if you are, then I am as well. I haven’t read a book for enjoyment since college. And even then, it wasn’t many.”

  We go back and forth during dinner, realizing more and more how much we have in common. With our age difference, I wasn’t sure we would, so I’m pleasantly surprised.

  When we finish, I pay the tab, and we head to the movies. There’s not another soul in the theater. The movie has been out for a while and only has a few showings left. We sit toward the back, and I clasp his hand in mine. I stroke my thumb against the pulse point in his wrist. The longer we sit there, the more he squirms. I turn my head to see what’s wrong and find him staring back at me, desire heating his eyes.

  I stroke his cheek with my free hand before tracing his lips with my finger. He moans and grabs me around the neck, crushing his lips to mine. He seeks entrance with his tongue, and I open willingly. I can’t get enough of him—his taste, his smell. We’re so lost in each other that we don’t realize the movie’s ended until the bright lights shine down from above.

  We pull back and look around. The screen is dark, and it’s dead silent in the theater. He chuckles at my wide eyes.

  I roll my eyes and smirk. “Let’s go Casanova.”

  It sets him into a fit of laughter again. It takes a couple of minutes for him to gain control of himself before we make our way out of the theater and into the night. The drive home is quiet, with only the radio playing softly in the background, but it’s not uncomfortable. Quite the opposite. It’s easy and familiar like we’ve done this a thousand times before.

  I replay our night together and realize how much I enjoyed myself. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone on a date and relaxed around the other person, feeling like I could truly be myself. But something will have to give sooner or later if things keep progressing the way they are. I’m not sure how we’ll make it work, but with each moment spent together, I start to believe Avery may just be the one for me.

  9

  “Move your ass, Thompson!” Eric yells from the sidelines. I clamp down on my mouthguard and get into position.

  I hadn’t expected Eric to take it easy on me during practice, but I didn’t think he’d make it extra hard. It’s like he’s overcompensating. We’d discussed keeping everything on the down-low, but even Billy mentioned how ‘Coach is ridin’ my ass’ more lately. It’s drawing attention we don’t need.

  “What’s the matter, Thompson? Playing with your own balls too much last night, so now you can’t even hold a football?” Zack says from the line. A few of the guys chuckle.

  I yank out my mouthguard. “No, just your mom’s,” I mumble. “Throw the fucking ball straight for a change!”

  Zack narrows his eyes at me before getting into position.

  Olsen snaps the ball to Zack, and I run down the sideline, cut to the middle, and turn to catch Zack’s pass. The ball spins and slips from my hands before I can get a good grip. One of our linebackers hits me in the midsection and tackles me to the ground. He lands on top of me, knocking the wind out of me. Damn, that hurt. He outweighs me by about thirty pounds, and I feel every one of them. He pats me on the helmet and deftly jumps up like he didn’t just plow my ass into the ground, and not in a good way.

  Eric blows his whistle. “Hit the showers!”

  I jerk out my mouth guard and lie on the cool turf, staring at the sky. A hand appears and reaches down to help me up. I’d know that hand anywhere. “Maybe you need some private lessons, Thompson.”

  Some of the guys walking by snicker. “I said hit the showers! If you’re not in a hurry, you can run the track with Coach Williams!” Eric bellows. The lingering guys take off at a jog, not in any mood to mess with Eric’s assistant coach.

  I rip off my helmet and run a hand through my hair. “Yeah, maybe you could show me a few things,” I answer truthfully. Eric may not have been a well-known NFL player, but he was good. I’d searched the internet for some of his old games and had found him instantly. I wasn’t ashamed to admit I’d jerked off, watching him in action.

  There are guys on the team more experienced than me, but Eric wants to make sure everyone is at the top of their game in case someone’s injured and needs replacing. He runs everyone through the plays. He wants us all to be at our full potential, not just sitting on the sidelines, watching.

  It’s one of the things I admire about him.

  “Go cool off a little, then come back. We’ll work on your grip.”

  I smirk at him, and because I can’t help but tease him, I reply, “I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with my grip.”

  His eyes flare, and his hands fist at his sides as I turn and jog to the locker room. We can definitely have some fun with this.

  I head straight to the water fountain and fill up my water bottle. Summer workouts are the worst, especially when the temperatures reach into the nineties. I plop down on the bench beside Billy, suddenly exhausted but excited about working with Eric one-on-one.

  “Man, what is wrong with you today? You’re usually not such a klutz.” Billy hands me a towel, and I wipe my forehead. He leans in and whispers, “You trying to get Coach’s attention?”

  I glance around the room, making sure no one’s within hearing distance. “No. Well, maybe a little. I like having his attention on me.” And it’s the truth. I want him focused on me all the time. I hope he feels the same about me because I can’t seem to think about much else lately, and it’s messing with my game both on and off the field.

  Billy pats me on the back. “Well, good luck because the attention he’s been giving you might make you a better football player, but it doesn’t look so good in the romance department.”

  He doesn’t know Eric and I have been seeing each other outside of practice. So far, we’ve not done much but talk and make out a few times. I want more than that, and I know Eric does, too. But ‌he always puts on the brakes when things get heavy. I haven’t pushed it yet because we both have to be ready for more.

  I chug the rest of my water and hurry back out to the field. Eric’s waiting along the sidelines, looking at his clipboard. His head pops up, and his eyes land on me the minute I step onto the field. The late evening heat has nothing on the intense burning in his eyes.

  Suddenly, I don’t want to practice anymore.

  I saddle up next to him and glance around, making sure no one’s lingering on the field. “Let’s go back to your place.”

  He grips the clipboard until his knuckles are white. “We need to at least look like we’re working on your moves.”

  I let out a low chuckle. “Oh, I’ve got moves. Let me show them to you at your place.”

  He doesn’t answer right away, the struggle written across his face. “I’ll meet you after you”—he coughs, then clears his throat—“shower.” He turns and walks off toward the parking lot without another word. I didn’t miss the rise in his shorts or how he covers it with his clipboard.

  Usually, I take a nice long shower, but not today. I don’t waste any time cleaning up, too eager to see Eric. I leave my gym bag in my locker and run to my car as fast as I can.

  I obey all the traffic laws on my way to Eric’s—it wouldn’t do either of us any good for me to get a speeding ticket because I’m too impatient for the night ahead. As soon as I knock on his door, he rips it open and pulls me inside, slamming it behind me. I expect him to be as frantic and horny as I am, but the soft kiss he gives me makes my heart flutter for a different reason. It’s the kind of kiss you’d give someone you’re happy to see.

  I revel in it.

  “What was that for?” I ask when he pulls back.

  “I want you to know this isn’t just about frenzied sexual tension and getting off. You deserve better than that. You deserve the tenderness, too.”

  No one outside of my family has ever said anything so caring to me before. All traces of my earlier cockiness are gone. In its place is a need so great, it’s painfully deep in my soul. Eric is the one to find himself pinned to the door, my mouth on his, seeking his tongue.

  “Need you. Now, Coach,” I grunt out in between kisses.

  He pulls back. “Not coach. Not here. Here I’m just Eric.”

  I nod furiously, and we get back to our feverish kissing.

  We stop long enough to rip our shirts over our heads, toss them aside, and crush our lips together once more. All the while, he moves us backward and down the hall until we reach his bedroom.

  I’d only been in here one time before. We’d watched a movie and made out until I had to go home. Neither of us had taken it any further, knowing once we crossed the line, things would never be the same again. But tonight, I don’t want anything to stop us. I need him with every fiber of my being.

  He pushes me back onto the bed and straddles my thighs. I rise up to kiss him, but he leans back out of reach. “We need to have a talk before this goes any further.”

  I groan and flop back onto the bed. “I’m tired of talking.” I may have stuck my lip out in a pout.

  “I’m not saying we need to stop, but you need to know some things first.”

  “Okay,” I reply when I notice his serious expression.

  “I get tested regularly and was negative for everything on my last test. I haven’t been with anyone since, but we should use condoms until we decide otherwise. You’re young, and I’m sure you—” I rise up and cut off his words with a kiss.

  “I haven’t been with anyone in six months, and I’ve never…”—my cheeks heat—“had penetrative sex before.”

  Something dark flashes in his eyes, and he growls before crushing me to the bed and devouring my mouth. I run my hands along his back and pull him closer.

  He reaches down and unties my shorts, thrusting his hand in and palming my dick. I moan loud and filthy, like a seasoned porn star. He must like it because he ruts faster against me.

  I stick my hands into the back of his shorts and grab his ass, pulling him tighter until he can hardly move his hips. He slows down and raises onto his hands. “If we keep this up, I’m going to come in my shorts. I’d rather be inside you when I do.”

  I nod and respond breathlessly, “Yes, yes, I want that, too.”

  He sits back, grabs the sides of my shorts, and pulls them down my legs, tossing them onto the floor.

  I trail my fingers down his firm abs to his waistband. “Your turn.”

  He falls to the side and shucks his shorts, throwing them to join mine.

  This is the first time we’ve been totally naked before, and I want to trace every inch of his skin, but I want him inside me more, even if I’m a little nervous about it. I grip the sheet as the realization hits that this is it; I’m actually going to have sex with Eric.

  He notices my hesitation and stills above me. “What’s wrong? Do you want to stop? We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. Just tell me to stop, and I will.”

  “I’m just a little nervous, is all. I want this, all of it, with you.” And it was the truth. I’d sworn to Eric I would make him fall in love with me, but I’m halfway there myself.

  His face relaxes, and he brushes a piece of my hair off my forehead. “Okay, baby, but you always have the option.”

  “I’m never going to say stop with you.”

  “I’ve only bottomed a couple of times, but if you prefer to top…” he trails off.

  “No. I want to feel you inside me.” I may not have had penetrative sex before, but I’d played with myself and used toys. I know I’ll enjoy it.

  He leans down and kisses me softly, his tongue tracing along the seam of my lips. I open, and soon we’re back to where we were, frenzied and eager. He kisses along my jaw, down my neck, and to my collarbone, where he sucks up a spot. I want nothing more than to be covered in his brand, marked for everyone to see who I belong to, but I know it would only raise questions.

  He continues his path down my chest and stomach. He licks and sucks my groin, and all I can do is writhe and beg him to hurry. He licks a bead of pre-cum from my slit. Molten heat erupts along my dick, and my release tingles at the base of my spine. I’m so on edge, if he touches me again, I’ll explode.

  As if he could read my thoughts, he takes my dick and squeezes the base just enough to hold back my orgasm. “Not yet, remember? I want to be inside you when we both come.” I shiver at his words, his deep, hypnotic voice promising to fulfill my every fantasy.

  “Mmmm. Come, yes, please.”

  He chuckles, reaches over, and opens the nightstand drawer. He pulls out a condom and lube and throws them beside me. He flips me over, and I’m astonished at how he manhandles me, considering we’re not that much different in size.

  He places a pillow under my hips and spreads my ass cheeks. I hear the snick of the lube before the cool liquid runs down my crack. I moan when he circles my hole with a finger and then slowly inserts it.

  “More,” I pant, ignoring the initial burn.

  He nips at my ass cheek, distracting me from the sting as he adds a second finger to the first and scissors them. He rubs along the inside, hitting the spot that makes me see stars.

  “Oh, god. Eric!” I cry out when he adds a third finger. I push back against him while simultaneously rubbing my aching dick along the pillow for some relief.

  I immediately feel the loss when he removes his fingers. Soon, the head of his cock presses against my hole.

  “Are you ready?”

  I give a frantic nod.

  “Say it.”

  “Yes! I’m ready!” I shout, so on edge, one more touch, and I’ll blow.

  “Tell me you’re mine,” he demands.

  I suck in a breath and stop rutting against the pillow. I’d fantasized about him saying those words. Dreamed one day he’d claim me as his as I long to claim him. I’m not too young and dumb to believe it’s not just in the heat of the moment. Everyone says things they don’t mean in the middle of sex, but my heart stutters for a moment, believing it’s real.

  “I’m yours,” I choke out.

  It stings even though he pushes in slowly, and I hold my breath until it subsides.

  “Breathe, baby,” he whispers in my ear, and I do as he commands, drawing in much-needed air.

  He continues pushing forward until his groin is completely pressed against my ass. I’m thankful that he doesn’t move once he’s fully in. I’m beginning to wonder why anyone would do this when he moves the slightest bit and pleasure replaces pain.

  He begins a slow rhythm, hitting that sweet spot inside me again. “Yes!”

  “God, you feel so good,” he groans.

  I try to conjure up a response, but no words form as he continues his assault. His fingers dig into my hips, and I know I’ll have more bruises tomorrow.

  He reaches around and grabs my cock, stroking it in rhythm with his thrusts. From one minute to the next, I’m coming. White light bursts behind my eyes, and my cock pulses, painting the pillow underneath me. I barely register his erratic movements before he stills, resting his forehead between my shoulder blades, panting.

  He places a soft kiss on my spine and falls to the side. I collapse in a heap, not even caring I’m lying in a mess.

  I can’t help but grin when he looks over at me. “That was amazing.” He’ll never know how much better it was than my dreams.

  He leans up and rubs a hand down my spine to the top of my ass, giving it a firm squeeze. “Come on. Let’s get cleaned up and find something to eat.”

  As much as I want to stay nestled in his bed, I’m kind of gross, so I pop up and head to the shower. Eric trails slower behind me. “Hurry‌, Coach,” I tease. “Water’s gonna get cold.”

  He steps in behind me and nips at my shoulder. “I’ll show you who’s your coach,” he says and proceeds to show me how much more he really is.

  10

 

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