“If you’re looking for Coach you’re a little late.”
“Yeah, I’ll..uh..just come back to see him tomorrow.” I keep my eyes closed and take a step back only to hit the wall. I need to leave but that means opening my eyes. I would rather fumble my way out of here than open my eyes and look at Grayson’s wet, naked chest. As long as he stays where he is, this won’t be a problem. I can leave and he can carry on doing whatever he was doing. Good plan.
I move to the left along the wall, stopping abruptly when I feel an arm next to my face. I can smell him, feel him, standing in front of me. He smells like mint and soap and fresh apple pie.
Breathe I tell myself. Just breathe.
“Open your eyes Huntley,” Grayson whispers. His warm breath caresses my throat.
“No.” My voice comes out all breathy and I curse myself for not sounding more confident. C’mon, pull it together girl…
“Please,” he pleads softly. “I want you to look at me.”
He trails his nose down my throat and back up, stopping at the soft piece of skin right under my earlobe. My breaths are coming in short erratic gasps and I can’t stop the involuntary shiver that travels down my spine and into the core of my stomach. I want him. Right now.
“Huntley,” he says again, growling softly. It’s a demand. One I wish I could ignore. My eyes flutter open and I look up into crystal pools of green, with wet hair hanging just above arched brows. Grayson’s arms are next to my face, caging me in. He towers over me with his tall frame and his proximity should scare me. But it doesn’t. His arms are well-built, his muscles tense under his skin. I ache to reach out and touch the beautiful man staring so intently at me but I keep my hands firmly at my sides. With great difficulty.
“Grayson,” I whisper. Now I’m the one pleading. He’s too close and he smells so good. This is bad. Very, very bad.
“Take a look, I know you want to.” His lips move but I hardly hear what he’s saying. I’m too focused on not kissing him when his lips are so close. I wonder idly if they taste better a second time, if they feel different and what I would do if they grazed every part of my overexcited body.
“What?” I force myself to drag my attention away from his mouth.
He chuckles and I watch his chest move with the sound. “I said,” his voice is still a breathy whisper, “You can look. I know you want to.”
I swallow. Hard.
Of course he’s right. I want to look.
So I do.
His lips are parted, his breathing coming out in short wisps like mine. His chin is covered in light stubble and I have the sudden urge to lick it. The skin on his neck is smooth, still coated in droplets of water that skate over the light freckles on his shoulders. I know his shoulders are broad but I didn’t see how broad until now. My scrutiny stops at his pecs and I spot the little silver bar sticking out of his nipple. Fuuuuck. That’s so sexy. I bite my tongue to prevent myself from pulling it into my mouth. His hand slips under my shirt and rests on my hip. His thumb traces lazy circles on my hip bone and my skin blazes from the fervor of that small stroke. Oh.My.God. He’s teasing me, tempting me. I rest my hands on his chest and gently graze my index fingers over his nipples. It makes me smile when I feel him shiver. He isn’t as unaffected as he’d have me think. I look back up and he’s staring at me, trying to see right into my soul. It’s unnerving, like the feel of his racing heartbeat under my palm. I like that it’s racing because of me.
He moves his leg and pushes it up between the apex of my thighs. I bite my lip but it doesn’t stop a moan from escaping my mouth. He has me so tightly strung I’m afraid one more slight brush of his leg will set me off. “Do you know how crazy you make me?” he asks huskily, his eyes never leaving mine. I nod and he gives me his lopsided grin. Oh crisis, I want to kiss him so badly.
“Why have you been avoiding me?” I ask. I need to know. We can’t keep tip-toeing around each other like this. “Because this is a bad idea. You’re going to break me and I’m already damaged. I’m just not sure how much longer I can stay away from you.” His answer surprises me. I take a step forward, his bare chest only a sliver of space away from mine.
“Then why don’t you stop trying?” I whisper, so close to his face that if he stuck out his tongue to lick his lips it would brush mine in the process.
Something flitters across his face and I can almost see him withdrawing from me. He’s getting ready to make an escape. The electrical current surging between us a second ago is replaced by tension. “Huntley…I…” He pushes away from the wall and lets out a huff. The loss of contact feels like a kick to the stomach, knocking the wind right out of my lungs. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have –“
“Save it.” I put my palm up effectively halting whatever bullshit excuse he wants to feed me. My voice is hard and detached. The intensity of my reaction to him lingers but is eclipsed by my sudden anger and humiliation. I don’t know why I’m surprised though. He’s Whitley University’s very own playboy and I was all too willing to give in and surrender to him. I was foolish to think this was more than a silly game. God I feel weak. I took a risk and let my guard down, opening up more than I have to anyone in months. This is the second time he’s played me.
I take a deep, calming breath, willing the tears to wait until he can’t see me. I don’t want him to see my cry. He doesn’t deserve to. My feet move towards the door but his hand wraps around my arm and I waver. “Huntley wait, I need to explain.” Dammit, why does he have to sound so disheartened? It’s not like this is hurting him. But it’s hurting me.
“No need. I get it.” I choke out. I pry my arm free of his grip and walk out, breaking into a sprint as soon as the door closes behind me. I don’t stop until it’s my apartment door closing behind me.
** ** ** ** **
After a scorching shower, the tension in my body is somewhat dissipated but my emotions are still erratic. I’ve been here for almost three months and while I love it, I still have bad days. Some days I wake up happy, ready to face whatever comes my way and other days I struggle to make it through. I miss my mom. I miss her comforting hugs and right now I miss her advice. My feelings for Grayson frighten me and I have no clue how to deal with them. Or him. I’ve never felt such a conflicting desire for anyone before. I am irrevocably drawn to him, like a magnet, but I also have the inclination to run from him. I need to talk to someone. Maybe Demi? I feel like I can trust her which is another feeling I’m unfamiliar with.
I drop onto my couch, overcome with exhaustion, just as my phone starts ringing. It reads unknown number and I frown. I got a new number after my mom died and only a few people have it, all of which are here in Breckinridge. I made sure no one from my past had it before I left. I answer it with caution.
“Hello?”
I hear a sharp intake of breath on the other end but nothing else.
“Hello?” I ask again, doing nothing to hide my irritation.
“You answered,” the voice says. I know the voice is female but that’s where the recognition ends.
“Who is this?”
There’s a few seconds of silence. I think the call has been disconnected but then the voice says “It’s…It’s… Taylor.”