Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40297 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40297 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
“Last one!” Coach shouted. “Full out. Make it count.”
I pushed everything else away and gave the routine everything I had.
When we surfaced, Coach was actually smiling. “Much better. That’s the standard I want to see every day.”
I sucked in air, my arms burning as a feeling of satisfaction settled over me. No matter how much Ares was getting under my skin, I could still do this. If another shot at the Olympics came, I wouldn’t hesitate to take it. Not even for my dream man.
The rest of the day passed by in a blur of swim lessons and practice sessions. I stayed focused and pushed through the fatigue, but a low buzz hummed under my skin the entire time. By the time I pulled into my driveway that evening, I still felt wired in a way I couldn’t quite shake.
I’d barely stepped out of my car when the deep rumble of a motorcycle filled the quiet street. I knew who it was before I even turned around.
Ares rolled up to the curb on his bike, looking ridiculously hot. After pulling off his helmet and killing the engine, his blue eyes locked on me.
He twisted around to pull a spare helmet from the saddlebag and held it out to me with a smirk. “Grab a jacket and put on better shoes, baby. We’re going for a ride.”
I took a few steps toward him before I realized what I was doing. “I just got home. I’m not sure I’m up for—”
“Want you on the back of my bike.”
I bit my lip, fighting a losing battle. The pull toward him was too strong, especially when he said stuff like that.
With a soft sigh and a smile I couldn’t hide, I closed the distance between us and took the helmet from his hand. “Okay, just a short ride.”
His smirk deepened, like he’d known I’d cave the second I saw him. Which was fair since that was exactly what I’d done. But after I grabbed a jacket and changed my shoes, I climbed onto the motorcycle behind him and pressed against his broad back. And I was happy about my decision.
The ride was everything I had craved since I started crushing on Ares.
With my arms wrapped tight around Ares’s waist, the bike roared down the winding roads outside Crossbend. The vibration of the engine hummed between my thighs, and every time he leaned into a turn, I felt the solid flex of his muscles.
I wanted to hold on like this forever, with my cheek against his shoulder while I breathed him in, letting the rest of the world disappear in a blur. For the first time in years, the constant pressure of training felt far away.
But the thought that I should tell him wouldn’t leave me alone. Maybe if he knew I would likely need to leave for California soon, he’d pull back before either of us got hurt.
Except I was already half in love with him. Maybe more.
By the time he pulled into my driveway and killed the engine, I’d talked myself out of saying anything. I yearned to be close to him, and I might lose my chance if I pushed him off until after the Olympics. Twenty months was a long time to ask a man to wait.
And Ares wasn’t just any guy. Women probably threw themselves at him all the time. He had too many other options to wait for me.
So I decided to trust myself to keep the eye on the prize while I went for what I wanted.
Climbing off the bike on shaky legs, I handed him the helmet while Ares took his off too, hanging both from the handlebars. Before I could step back, he caught my wrist, tugged me forward, and kissed me.
One hand slid into my hair while the other gripped my hip like he wanted to pull me onto his lap right there on the bike. I melted into him, whimpering softly as his tongue stroked against mine. He kissed me like he was barely holding himself back.
When he finally pulled away, we were both breathing hard.
“Get inside. Right now. Before I say fuck waiting until you’re ready.”
Feeling dazed, I nodded and forced myself to walk toward the door on unsteady legs. I didn’t look back until I was safely inside.
Through the front window, I watched him fire up the bike and pull onto the street. My heart was still racing as I leaned my forehead against the cool glass.
He wasn’t supposed to get in my head. Now I wasn’t sure he’d ever get out.
9
TYRE
Ileaned against the warm hood of my SUV, my arms crossed and gaze locked on the doors of Cecily’s training facility. The ocean breeze cooled my skin, and the smell of brine and the salty tang in the air normally just reminded me that this town was home.