Page 24 of Baby Duke

I keep my breathing even and my pace steady as we slog our way around the track. By the tenth lap, I have overtaken a dozen of the boys. By the fifteenth, only the Dukes are ahead of me, the gap slowly shrinking between us.

I pass Law on the next lap. His eyes widen as I come level with him, then he huffs out a tired laugh and gestures for me to go ahead as if he has accepted me as his better. Smart guy.

On the eighteenth lap, I make my way past Brett. He gives me a side eye but doesn't seem all that surprised.

West is still a little ahead and I pick up my pace just slightly. I don't want to overtake him just yet. He probably thinks I dropped out ages ago, as a few of the guys have. Some vomiting in the trash can near the change rooms.

I fly past the coach as I reach the final lap, winking as he glowers at me. And then I give it my all.

I am a few paces behind West, but my new speed has the space between us rapidly dwindling. His pace has not changed at all the entire time, but I am interested to see if his speed can match his stamina. With half a lap to go, I come up beside him.

I wish I had a camera to capture the incredulous look on his face as he looks across and realizes it's me. His steps falter, giving me a slight advantage, which I take without hesitation. Giving my all, I push my legs faster, relishing the burn as my muscles protest. West's heavy footsteps pick up speed behind me, but they have got nothing on my lithe legs.

I fly past the finish line, letting out a laugh in absolute euphoria, my body loving the release exercise gives it. I slow my speed to a steady jog, then bring myself back to a walk. My shirt clings to my body, and I can feel sweat gliding between my breasts. Not the most pleasant sensation.

I turn to circle back to the Coach but instead collide with a disgustingly attractive body, slick with his own sweat. Each and every hard ridge of his body is presented in sharp detail against his sopping white shirt. Thankfully, before I can attempt to dry hump said body, West pushes me off him. I stumble back a few steps but do not fall, much to his annoyance. I think he wanted me to fall.

"You cheated."

I scoff, settling my hands on my hips. "Sorry, Baby Duke, I won fair and square."

"It wasn't a race," he growls.

"Now that is something only a loser would tell themselves after they have clearly lost," I counter.

"You are incorrigible," he snarls.

"I am glorious," I grin. "I think it's about time you assholes learned that women are not yours to own and control.”

"I think it's about fucking time you fell in line."

We are nose to nose again. Chests heaving, my nipples graze against his torso, causing them to tingle and harden. Traitors! Thankfully, before West can notice, Coach blows his whistle and calls us in.

"Alright, ladies, enough bickering!" I snort at his new nickname for the team, "You have ten minutes to stretch your muscles out, and then we're doing push-ups!"

West sends me one last glare before storming off towards the girls, who are watching from the sidelines. I flop to the ground, an uneasy squirm in my guts as he heads straight for Sherry. She eagerly soaks up the attention, placing her hand on his stomach as he whispers in her ear. She giggles and nods, glancing at me with a wicked glint in her eyes.

The warm water eases my aching muscles as I take a shower in the ridiculously posh changerooms. Tipping my face into the spray, I weave my fingers through my hair, pushing it out of my face. The sounds of the other girls gossiping echo against the tiles until the end-of-day siren breaks through. Sighing, I turn the tap off and reach for the towel I had hung outside the stall, slightly shocked to find it still there. Wouldn't be the first time mean girls have stolen the new girls' towel. Thanks, juvie. Not that it happened again, though, I taught those girls who was boss.

I quickly dry myself, leaving my damp locks to fall down my back, and wrap my towel around myself.

The changerooms are blessedly silent now, everyone else having vacated as soon as the bell rang. I reach my locker and type in my code.

A note falls out.Ah, I think to myself,so the mean girlsdidstrike.

I decide to ignore the note for now and pull out my uniform. Or I would have if it were still there. Instead, I pull out a men's football jersey with1 Mazzuchelliwritten on the back. So, West was behind this.

Also inside my locker are my bag, shoes, socks, and my underwear. Nothing else.

I growl in frustration and reach for the note, wondering what Baby Duke has enforced for my uniform to be returned.

It is time for you to learn your place, Princess. Come to me, wearing only my number, then kneel. Beg. Show the world how desperate you are to get down on your knees for me.

-West

Mother fucker!

If he thinks all it takes is a bit of skin and a threat to turn me into a simpering whore, he has got another thing coming for him.

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