Page 37 of Collide
“Trust me, you won’t be laughing when I’m done with you.”
I beam. “I hope not.”
She glares. “Care to explain why Donny just became a student aide on my paper?”
That jackass. I should have known that smirk was bad news. “I didn’t say anything like that to him.”
“You said plenty. Don’t try to pretend you didn’t go all macho man and screw everything up.”
“I was trying to help.”
“I never asked for your help!”
“You wouldn’t. You could be hanging off a damn cliff, and you still wouldn’t ask for help.”
“But you did it anyway? Maybe I didn’t do anything about Donny because I know how he is. He’s pissed about what you said, and now we’re stuck with him. Why couldn’t you leave it alone?”
“You were stressed,” I try again.
“And how does that affect you?”
“Because I ca—”
The creak of the door cuts me off before Kilner’s voice drifts through the locker room. “It’s the damn plumbing in my washroom. I need it fixed, Brent.”
“Fuck.” I pull a distracted Summer into the stall and close the door. My hand covers her mouth before she can make a sound. Judging by the way her eyes flare, she might bite me.
“You can’t be in here,” I whisper. Her brows scrunch, and her grip on my wrist tightens like she’s trying to break it. “I’ll remove my hand if you promise not to scream.”
She reluctantly nods, and I uncover her mouth, still caging her against the wall. She’s breathing hard, and I don’t mean to, but my eyes fall to her rising and falling chest that grazes my bare torso. A water droplet from my hair hits her collarbone, making her flinch when it slides down her skin, leaving a wet trail as it slips between the swell of breasts.
I’m caught in a fervent trance when a sharp pain in my abdomen forces me to jerk back.
Summer pulls away her assaulting finger, and if looks were tangible this one would be throwing me off a cliff. She meets my sheepish smile with an eye roll.
Being this close to her makes me hot. That isn’t ideal because I’m in a towel, and she’s pressed against me so perfectly, just one wrong move, and everything is going to get even more uncomfortable. I try to force the thoughts out of my head, but that’s impossible when she brings her lips between her teeth. I have to hold in a groan. I’m wrapped in a bubble of her, and I feel like I’m damn near suffocating.What the hell is happening?
The sink running and crumpling paper breaks my attention from her. “Crawford? You still here?” He must see my gear on the bench because he stops in front of the stall.
I clear my throat. “Just finishing up, Coach.”
“Well, hurry up. They’re locking up early tonight.”
“Got it.”
His footsteps retreat, and Summer’s head falls back on a sigh.
“And Crawford? Tell your girlfriend no shoes in the shower.”
Then the door closes.
“Oh my God! That is so embarrassing.” Summer's cheeks flush pink. “You’re like a furnace!” She moves away, and wipes the water droplets off her arm and chest before swinging open the stall door. Puzzled, I pull on my sweats to go after her.
“That’s it?” I ask when she’s already down the hall. “You came all the way here for that?”
“Yeah, guess so.” The heavy doors bang closed behind her.
“WHEN A SKINNY fucker chirps, it is not a jab at your manhood!” Kilner grabs Dylan by the collar and shoves him with the strength of an enforcer. “Where the hell is your head at?”
