Keon’s eyes narrowed, sharp and focused like always. The guy missed
nothing. “Yeah,” he drawled. “One second you’re there, next you’re
gone. You’ve been pulling vanishing tricks a lot lately.”
Fuck. I had to watch for Keon, the Sherlock Holmes of the damn team.
He’d sniff me out if I wasn’t careful.
So I shrugged, forcing a laugh that sounded way too loud in my own
ears. “Yeah, uh… I met up with someone.”
Miguel’s eyebrows shot up. “Ohhh. That girl from the party that was
following you? Cindy?”
“Yeah,” I said quickly. My mouth was already running faster than my
brain. “Yeah. Just, you know. Nothing serious. Just hung out.”
Keon’s smirk was sharp, but he didn’t push. “Nice. Cindy is cool. Why don’t you invite her over after practice? We’re having a drink,
planning homecoming. You can bring her by.”
My stomach twisted tighter. Great. Perfect. Awesome. Lie your way in, lie your way out. “Yeah, I’ll… I’ll check with her,” I muttered, hoping
that would shut him up.
1/4
Chapter 106
Practice was worse.
Aiden was all business, and God, he was on fire… No hint of softness,
no trace of the man who’d held me wrapped in blankets just hours
ago. His voice was clipped, sharp, cutting through the team like a
whip.
“This is your last week before the season begins,” he barked, pacing
in front of us as we took a knee. “Your last chance to prove you
belong here. College rhythm is back–classes, practices, games. This
week you give everything you’ve got, or you don’t belong on my
field.”
Silence. Every player’s eyes locked on him.
He kept going, relentless. “Next Sunday, we have the donors‘ dinner.
Do you understand what that means? The men and women who keep your program alive, who put you in facilities that rival the NFL’s, who fund your scholarships and your futures–they’ll be there. They
expect to meet athletes who are sharp, professional, charming. They
expect to see men who represent this school with pride. You’ll dress
like professionals. You’ll act like professionals. And you’ll answer
every question with intelligence and respect.”
The weight of his words pressed down, even on me. Especially on me.
2/4
Chapter 106
“And after that,” he said, his voice dropping lower, harder, “you play
your first game of the season. Scouts, football experts, the people
who decide your futures will be watching. This week is no nonsense.
No excuses. No screwing around.”
The air was heavy, tense. He looked everyone of us in the eye before
nodding. “Now get your asses out there.”
Practice was brutal. Coach pushed us harder than ever, barking
orders, demanding perfection, and making us run the same drills
until my legs felt like they’d snap in two. Sweat stung my eyes, my
lungs were on fire, and still he wasn’t satisfied. Every mistake, every
hesitation, I paid for double.
By the time he blew the whistle, I was dead on my feet. I hung back,
waiting for the locker room to clear out. I helped toss gear back into
storage, stalling until the noise of my teammates faded. When the
showers were finally empty, I slipped in alone, hoping they’d be gone
by the time I was out. The water was hot, pounding against my skin,
washing away the sweat but not the thoughts clawing at my brain.
I was just stepping out, drying my hair with my only towel, when the
door creaked.
Miguel.
3/4
Chapter 106
He froze mid–step, eyes wide. My heart stopped as I realized what he
was staring at my back. My thighs. The angry red marks striping my
skin, fresh and undeniable.
“What the hell…” Miguel’s voice cracked, shocked and sharp. His gaze
shot up to mine. “Who the fuck did that to you?”
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oh my god no!
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
