Page 29 of Skid Spiral

“Well, I just—” I fumbled with my words and closed my eyes for a second to gather myself. “The training, the lift today. Balance. You mentioned yoga. I had a teacher who showed us a pose that was good for enhancing your sense of equilibrium.”

Lou let out a low laugh that was undeniably sexy. “So you really are going yoga guru on us.”

“Maybe a little bit.”

She sauntered closer with a sway to her hips that brought my gaze sliding down her body before I caught it and yanked it upward again. A sly smile was playing with her lips.

Lou was always pretty, and I loved seeing her face set in its frequent determined expression. But this new seductive persona made her a whole different kind of gorgeous.

I couldn’t say I liked it better, but certain parts of me were responding—a lot.

“What’s the matter?” Lou said, close enough now to tap me right in the middle of my chest. That smile turned even slyer. “I’m not going to believe you’ve never seen this much of a woman before. I’m not sure I’ve ever read an article about you that didn’t make a point of mentioning how you swing both ways.”

Somehow my cheeks seared even hotter. “I—well—that is true—I just wouldn’t normally—”

She eased even closer, the warmth of her presence tingling over my skin, and trailed the finger she’d tapped me with down my sternum all the way to my belly. An ache formed in my stiffening cock.

Lou gazed up at me. “Is there a problem?” She didn’t let her fingers slide any farther, which part of me was desperately grateful for and the other part deeply regretting. “I’ve gotten the impression that there’s a spark between us. But if you’re already dating someone or I’ve made a mistake, I won’t be offended.”

I swallowed hard.

“It’s not that,” I made myself say. The truth was I hadn’t pursued anyone in months—and there were very few people, men or women, who’d ever affected me as much as she did.

“Then it’s something else?”

It was, wasn’t it? When had she become the flirty one and me the awkward dolt?

The answer came to me like a bolt out of the sky. “I’m your coach. It wouldn’t be appropriate—”

Before I could continue, Lou snorted. “Is that what’s bothering you? I don’t see why it should matter.”

I found my composure enough to put a little sternness in my expression, trying to ignore the feel of her fingers against my stomach. “Relationships between someone in an authority position and a student can easily become exploitive.”

Lou arched her eyebrows at me. “I promise you I’m not the slightest bit concerned that you might ‘exploit’ me. Actually, I’d really like you to.” Her smile stretched into a grin.

I could practically come in my boxers when she looked at me like that.

“Iamstill your coach,” I had to say.

“Are you, though? I mean, it’s a totally unofficial position. I’m not paying you. Neither of us has any power over the other. We’re both consenting adults, no real authority either way.”

I couldn’t help acknowledging that she had a point. But was I only thinking that way because I wanted her more with every passing second?

At my continued hesitation, Lou’s teasing demeanor faded. She moved her hand over to curl it around my own. My fingers squeezed hers of their own accord.

“Just to be clear,” she said, her gaze searching mine, “this isn’t just about scratching an itch or something. You know, you’re the first person who’s ever made me feel like me skating is somethinggood.Like I could be bringing something great into the world by doing it. You have no idea how special that is to me. I can’t stop myself from wondering if the spark between us means our connection could be incredible in other ways too.”

The honesty in her voice sent a pang through me that was more than just desire.

She sounded like a woman who knew what she wanted—and who really did wantme. Would I really be protecting her by denying her and myself?

Or maybe this was a chance to create a different kind of magic.

A few doubts still niggled at the back of my head, but they’d been quieted enough that the hunger in me overwhelmed them. I tugged her even closer, and my head bowed as if by a magnetic force.

Lou bobbed up to meet my lips halfway. The second her mouth melded with mine, whatever sparks had been forming between us flared into a total bonfire.

She tasted like cinnamon sugar with a hint of bitter coffee, sweet and invigorating in one petite package. With a swift movement of her soft lips, our mouths were parting and her tongue slipping over mine.

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