“I was waiting for you girls. Was going to trail behind Addie’s car when you left the party until you all got home safely.”
My heart beats hard with the revelation. That’s so incredibly…sweet and thoughtful. I soften even further for this man and I despise it because I want him, I want him,I want him.
Thane must see my desire for him. His green eyes drop to my lips with pure, unadulterated hunger. “Marlow–”
Thane’s voice is drowned out by the piercing groan echoing from Hank.
We both snap back to reality and stare at the limp figure on the ground. His eyes are half-mast and he’s cradling his face in pain, too drunk and too high to realize his Coach is the one who put his hands on him.
Shit, shit, shit.
Thane just punched a drunk asshole—one of his football players—for me. He can get in serious trouble. If we don’t leave now, I fear there’ll be repercussions. “Thane, let’s go.”
He shakes his head, angrily staring down at Hank like he’s the scum at the bottom of his shoes. “Let me talk to him. He had no business putting his hand on you like that?—”
I shake my head frantically and press my hand onto his shoulder, redirecting his attention to me. “Thane, you just assaulted one of your players,” I whisper-shout. “He can press charges. He’s too inebriated to realize it’s you, so please leave while you can,” I beg and palm his cheek. His anger deflates under my touch. “You gave him a dose of his own medicine. It’s over. I’m fine. Now go.”
“I’m not leaving without you.” Thane grabs my waist and pulls me closer to him, eyes flashing with possession. His body is trembling with adrenaline. I run my hands over his broadshoulders soothingly. “I can’t. I’m so fucked up over you and seeing him forcing himself onto you? It’s going to take forever to erase that image from my head, baby.”
It seems counterintuitive to leave with him when I vowed to myself that tonight, I was leaving his home and trying to move on from him.
But seeing him in the flesh, appearing so tortured and shaking with the same need that I am, I foolishly give in to my heart’s desire by uttering, “Yes.”
Chapter Eight
THANE
Ican’t think straight.
My head’s been a fucking mess all week since the night in the solarium.
And now my body is pumped with adrenaline after seeing one of my players put his unwanted limbs on Marlow.
Marlow may have stopped me from doing more damage but in my mind? I’ve roughed him up and successfully found a way to kick him off the team.
Hank was never a problem player for me, but now he’s on my shit list.
I’ll never be okay with a man touching a woman unconsented.
Fuck him.
Since I didn’t get to beat the bastard to a pulp, come Monday morning, I’m going to make his life hell.
Marlow wants me to drop my vendetta. Right before I usher her into the passenger side of my truck, she says, “Please, don’t do anything rash. It’s not worth it.”
She’s worried for my safety and job. I’m not. Which is why I grate, “You’re worth it,” before closing her door and rounding my truck to slip into the driver’s seat.
Now the tension in the air is thick as I drive down the dark street, laced with my anger and Marlow’s nervousness. She’s been fiddling with her phone for the last two minutes, probably texting Michaela and Addie that she left. She mentioned a moment ago that the girls weren’t ready to leave since they were having fun, so she was going to hail a taxi.
The thought of Marlow getting into a random car alone at this hour of the night makes me sick.
I blow out a breath and clench my fists around my steering wheel, barely stopping myself from glancing at Marlow.
I can’t believe she’s here. In my truck. Sitting inches away from me.
God, she looks amazing in that short pink number, her hair cascading down her back in loose waves. Her floral and bubble gum scent fills the cab and every time she crosses and uncrosses her legs, I resist the urge to pull over, pull down her panties, and pull open her thighs to remind her what I can do between them.
I want to kiss her lips. I want to play with her pussy again. But this time? I want to put my mouth on her too, taste her arousal straight from the source. I’ve been losing my sanity these last few days imagining what eating her out would be like, along with finally fucking her.
