Page 51 of Whistle

“Don’t you need these clothes?”

I frowned, not understanding. I glanced over my shoulder. He was wearing the sweats but hesitated with the hoodie in his grip.

“Your clothes are soaked too.”

Oh. Right. Fuck, I’d forgotten.

A smirk tugged the corners of his mouth, and I knew my brat was on his way back. I’ll just tame you again later.

No. No. This was a mistake. It couldn’t happen again. Christ, we were in my office. The door was wide open. Someone could have walked in. I could have lost my job.

God, what the fuck have I done?

“Em?”

“Coach.”

A heavy pause.

The hoodie hit me in the back. I spun as it smacked onto the floor. He stood there, chest bare, the diamond in his navel teasing me under the light. His golden hair was half dried, half wet, the curls wild. His eyes spit blue fire and lips were in a line.

There’s my brat.

“I don’t want your clothes, Coach,” he spat. “You wear them.”

Hooking his thumbs in the waistband of the sweats, he moved to swipe them down.

“Don’t even think about it,” I groused.

“But it would be inappropriate for your swimmer to wear your clothes.”

My teeth gnashed. “No more inappropriate than for you to walk around naked.”

“I can wear my wet clothes home.”

“You aren’t going home.”

Hurt flashed in his eyes. “Sorry. Back to your place.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Whatever.”

I swiped the shirt off the floor and threw it at him. “Put it on.”

He hesitated.

Sighing, I stalked back over to my locker and reached in. “I have more.”

He relented and pulled on the shirt, making sure to pull the hoodie over his head.

“So is that why you don’t want to swim?” I said, peeling off my windbreaker and hanging it on a nearby hook.

The second he hit the water, it was as if consciousness left his body. Everything about him changed, so much so it was obvious even with the water between us. His body sank like wreckage. His instincts and training didn’t even kick in. It was like he was content to be down there at the bottom of the pool.

As if he were surrendering.

As if he wanted to die.

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