Page 6 of Stalked By the Coach

I'm drowning in forbidden waters with no shore in sight, adrift on a sea of sin with no way back to the man I once was. In my weakness, I've become unmoored from my morality, set adrift by the siren song of Lydia's beauty and passion.

She is my undoing in every way, a temptation I'm too weak to resist. Sleep comes in fits and starts, offering no reprieve from the turmoil in my mind.

My fantasies flash like sparks behind my eyelids each time I close my eyes, igniting a fire in my blood that refuses to be quenched. I'm burning alive with need for a girl half my age, a sickness for which there is no cure.

Lydia haunts my every waking thought and poisons my dreams, her beauty a venom that's infected my soul. She is my drug of choice, an addiction I can't kick, and I'd gladly lose myself in her sweet oblivion again and again.

But at what cost? I've already sacrificed my integrity, my ethics as her coach, for a few moments of ecstasy in the dark. How much more of myself am I willing to compromise for a taste of her lips, a chance to lose myself in the heat of her embrace?

The answer terrifies me. I'd give it all and then some for Lydia. My self respect, my career, my morality—all of it gone in the flames of desire.

She is my salvation and my damnation, and I can't escape her hold on my heart.

By the time the first rays of sunlight peek through the curtains, I've made my decision. Today is a new day.

I drag myself from the bed as dawn peeks over the horizon, the golden light mocking me with false promises of redemption. There will be no absolution for my sins, no way to undo the betrayal that lingers on my hands like the scent of her skin.

But I have to try. I have to bury these feelings deep within and lock them away, contain the beast that claws at my insides, begging to be set free. I have to be her coach and nothing more.

The cold shower does little to dampen the fire in my blood, but it steels my resolve. I stand before the mirror and see only the lie I must become—calm, collected, professional. No hint of the passion that burns beneath the surface, an inferno waiting to engulf us both.

At practice, I avoid her gaze, afraid she'll see the truth in my eyes. But I can feel her watching me, her stare like a caress that awakens every nerve in my body. It takes all my strength to remain unaffected, to keep my hands from reaching for her, to choke back the words I long to whisper in her ear.

"Coach, did I do something wrong?" Her voice is hesitant, laced with hurt and confusion.

I clear my throat, struggling to form a coherent response. "Everything is fine, Lydia. Keep up the good work." The words taste like ashes in my mouth, but I force a smile, hoping to reassure her.

She sees through my lies, peering into my soul with eyes full of longing. I'm drowning in depths of blue, losing myself in her gaze, and I know I can't escape her, no matter how hard I try.

Lydia has me, heart and soul, and there's no going back.

CHAPTERFOUR

Lydia

My heart poundsas I step onto the track. Why can't I stop thinking about Coach Thompson? His strong hands guiding my form, his encouraging smile, the intensity in his eyes as he watches me run.

I shake my head, trying to clear the image of his lips pressed against mine.Focus, Lydia. I have a meet in two weeks, and daydreaming isn't going to get me there.

But with every stride, I see him. Feel the heat of his body behind mine as he adjusts my stance. Hear his voice in my ear, low and rough. "You can do this, Lydia. You're stronger than you know."

My cheeks flush as I round the bend, warmth spreading through me that has nothing to do with the sun. I stumble, catching myself just before I hit the ground.

Dammit. I bend over, hands on my knees, panting. This can't go on. I won't let my feelings for him sabotage everything I've worked for.

Coach Thompson jogs over, concern etched into his features. "You alright?"

I straighten, avoiding his gaze. "Fine. Just tripped."

His hand closes around my arm, and I shiver. "You seem distracted today."

I try to pull away, but his grip tightens. "I'm focused now."

He steps closer, lowering his voice. "Are you sure? Because I'm worried about you, Lydia."

My breath catches as I meet his eyes. Worry, and something more.Heat. Desire.

I lick my lips, watching his gaze darken. "Don't be."

---