Page 4 of Crossed Lines

I let out a disbelieving laugh and, ignoring the tight feeling in my chest, slip back into the water before I do something insane like ask him if I’m that obvious. I know I’m not, because I’mnotobsessed with Luke.

“I’ll see you at training tomorrow, dude. Coach wants us to get some drills in.”

Junseo is quiet for a moment before he sighs, says, “Later, Captain,” and leaves through the sliding glass doors. I force myself to breathe away the last of the anger until all that’s left is that low-grade hum in my chest. The giant pool room echoes with each breath, so loud I don’t hear the footsteps on the tiles.

Someone clears their throat, and I roll my eyes. “What do you want, Junseo?”

Except it’s not Junseo back to annoy me with baseless accusations. Luke stands at the edge of the pool, swathed in a large vintage sweater and tiny athletic shorts that show off his lean thigh muscles.

“There you are.” He doesn’t look at me directly, gaze focused on some spot over my shoulder. “I was searching for you everywhere.”

“Clearly you didn’t try that hard.”

“Shut up.” He toes off his shoes, then his socks, before sitting down on the wet tiles. One leg dangles in the water, the other propped on the edge and wrapped in beige Ace bandages. As if drawn by a magnet, I swim to his side and lean against the pool wall.

I nod at the leg. “Aren’t you meant to be resting that?”

“Got bored waiting after I finished baking some protein squares for Junseo.” Still avoiding looking at my bare chest, he rummages in his shorts pocket and brings out two homemade protein bars. “Plus, I wanted to watch a movie but clearly you’re busy being Michael Phelps.”

Without asking, he hands me the peanut butter flavor.

It’s the only protein shit I can take; vanilla and chocolate taste like pure ass whenever I try—and not the good kind. I devour the bar in a few bites, moaning appreciatively.

Luke wrinkles his nose. “Do you have to do that?”

“Tastes good.” Ignoring his glare, I tuck the foil into his pocket and flash my patented grin. “You came to ask me if I wanted to watch a movie? I’m flattered.”

“When you say it like that, it sounds dumb.”

“Nah, it’s cute.” I leer at him, only half-joking. “Did you want to cuddle after? I could still help out with the whole virgin thing.”

Luke rolls his eyes and tilts his head back, giving me time to trace the length of his brown skin, eyes catching on the freckles dotted over his cheeks like stars.

Something dark in me loves it when he gets so flustered he can’t speak, his hands balled into fists and face screwed up in irritation. Riling him up is the best part of my day. I like being the only one who can cut through his uptight veneer.

Problem is, he knows me just as well. And Luke gives as good as he gets.

His gaze flicks back to mine, legs falling open so slightly it could’ve been a coincidence. I lick my lips. My nose burns with the copper smell of chlorinated pool water. Beyond the glass doors, a group of employees pass by, their laughter fading away with each step. Nobody looks in to see what we’re doing.

A tentative hand curls over my bare shoulder. My dick twitches in my swim trunks and I hiss, resisting the urge to lean further into him. Luke tilts his head, smiling a little.

Sneaky bastard.

But I can’t complain. Not when his skilled fingers dig into my tight trap and start massaging the knotted muscle until it loosens. His touch is a raging fire burning through my skin and caressing deep inside of me, chasing away the chill of pool water.

Junseo’s words echo in my head, but I push them away. This isn’t a marriage declaration, it’s a fucked-up game of chicken, and I’ll be damned if I lose.

“Do you get a kick out of annoying me or is it just innate talent?” Luke digs his thumbs into a particularly knotted muscle and I bite my lip to stop myself from groaning.

“It’s my life’s purpose. You’re cute when you’re angry.”

He rolls his eyes, but a tiny smile plays at the corner of his lips. “You’re such an asshole.”

Humming, I reach out and press a damp hand to the knee propped on the tiles. His leg jumps under my touch, but he doesn’t move away. A dark purple bruise mottles his shin, the worst of it hidden behind bandages. I trace around them gently, jaw flexing.

Being this close dredges up memories of the night we met. By the soft furrow of his brow and pursed lips, he remembers it, too.

I was at my friend Callum’s college party in freshman year, and I hadn’t yet met Luke. It was late at night, I was drunk out of my mind, and all I wanted was to get laid before the real hard work began.

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