Page 69 of The Penalty

He doesn’t shut the door once we’re both inside, which is disappointing, but what was I expecting? Him to bend me over and fuck me in his office while the entire team is down the hall? Yeah, no. Not a good idea.

I take a seat across from his desk. He sits and turns his focus to his laptop as he finds the email from my professor. He reads it over and starts typing away. I like watching his fingers and hands move across the keyboard, the way his brow furrows while he concentrates. Everything about him is attractive. I don’t know how I got so lucky that he wants me.

“I can feel you staring at me,” he says finally.

“Can you blame me?”

He smiles and shakes his head. “Stare all you want, baby. I hope I’m the only man you’re staring at like that.”

“You are.” We haven’t talked about being exclusive, but I guess I assumed we were. I haven’t been with anyone else. I’m not even interested in anyone else. And I think he knows I’m either at school or work or at his house. I don’t think he’s seeing anyone else either, but I suppose I don’t know for sure. “Am I the only woman you stare at?”

He looks over at me. “Are you asking if I’m seeing anyone else?”

I nod, a little embarrassed for some unknown reason. I have a right to know if he’s sleeping around, especially since we’re having unprotected sex.

“Just you, McKenzie. You’re the only woman I want. The only one I need.”

I let out a small sigh of relief.

“I hate them touching you,” he says.

I tilt my head in confusion. “Who?”

“The guys on the team.” Right. The hugs.

“Those hugs mean nothing. You know that.”

“I know. I just wish I could touch you. Kiss you or hold your hand or anything so they know you’re mine.” His voice is quiet, but I can hear the frustration.

“Am I yours?” I ask. We haven’t talked about what we are, but I know that’s because we can’t really be anything yet. That hasn’t stopped the little flame of hope in my chest, though.

He meets my eyes and says, “Yes. Don’t ever question that, McKenzie.”

I bite my lip to suppress my smile. “Ok.”

He goes back to his computer and finishes up his email to my professor. “Ok. Done. She just received a glowing review about you.”

I laugh. “You didn’t have to lie.”

“It’s not a lie, Mckenzie. You’re one of the hardest-working people I’ve ever met. I’m so proud of you even if I do wish you’d let me help you more. But seriously, no one deserves a higher grade than you. All the other coaches agree.”

I feel my face heat. “Thank you.”

We both stand, but before I have a chance to leave, he comes around the desk and pulls me toward him. His lips are on mine before I even realize what’s happening. It’s quick, but it’s just what I needed.

When he pulls away, he says, “I’ll see you at home, baby.”

Everything about Tyler Danvers is overwhelming. My knees go weak when he calls me that. And when he calls his house our home, I feel like I belong there just as much as anyone else. The most important part is that he wants me in his home. He wants me in his life. “Can’t wait.”

With a smack on the ass, I’m out the door and on my way out of the field house, leaving behind the best, most life-changing semester of my life.

TWENTY-EIGHT

TYLER

“Let’s go ice skating!” Kylie randomly shouts from the living room one afternoon. The girls are done with school for the semester and have been going crazy decorating the house for Christmas. This is the first year I’ve even bothered getting a tree, which is currently being decorated with different colored ornaments.

“Do you even know how to ice skate?” I ask. Ice skating isn’t a huge pastime where we’re from, definitely not like here in Nebraska.