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“You have the sweetest little pussy.” His tongue rolls over licking and lapping me up. “Cum in my mouth, Taylor.”Lick, nip.“Now.”Suck, lick.“Fuck, I could cum just from the taste of you.” His lips hold tight around me, but his tongue moves over my swollen, throbbing clit in a perfect figure eight.

Only now when I drag my eyes down to him do I notice his corded shoulder muscles and the way his biceps are flexing. The water moves in silent waves beneath his arm andholy shit.The idea of him getting off from going down on me brings me all the way to the edge. My core and legs squeeze tightly, as the pressure shoots out, sending an overwhelming tingling sensation from the root of my hair to the tips of my toes and when a deep grunt pulls from him, vibrating through me—I soar over the ledge. White hot light coats my vision, and the moan that escapes me isn’t sweet or light.

My back rises and falls displacing the water that has spilled over around me. My body feels immovable and unbearably heavy as I lift to my elbows. Knox stands to his full height still between my legs. His hands cup the backs of my arms, and he helps pull me up the rest of the way beforedropping his forehead on mine. Our heavy breathing mixes with the sweet smell of arousal, the steamy salty air, and Knox. My lungs expand as I pull in the deepest breath I can manage.

“Glad you finally decided to come by, love.”

I smile, shaking my head against him. “Just so you know, this was not my plan.”

“Me either.” He nips my bottom lip. “It was so much better.”

Knox towersover where I lean against the door to my room. His wet hair slicked back under the hat he threw on before driving me back up here. “You didn’t have to walk me all the way to my door.”

“Yeah, I did.”

My post-sex rituals usually consist of a high-five, and a ‘see ya around,’ but not only do I not think that will fly with Knox, I can’t even bring myself to want to be so casual about it.

“Right well, thanks for the sweatshirt,” I say, twisting the oversized sleeves around my hands. “I’d say I’ll get it back to you tomorrow but that’s probably a lie.”

A smile tugs across his lips, and then they press into my forehead. My heart skips a beat as I lean into him slightly.

His deep voice rumbles against my skin when he says, “Keep it, I’ve got your underwear.”

Knox

“Up, up, up. Nice. Rack it.”Nolan steps out from under his barbell, flicking his belt buckle with one hand. “Was that a new PR?”

“By four and a half kilos.” He drops his ear to his shoulder with a ‘no-big-deal’ type of smile, but inside I know he’s beaming.

“Hell yeah, buddy.” I lift my hand for a high-five and his closed-lip smile spreads into an all-out grin. “Mega job, mate.”

His hand smacks into mine, transferring a spark of pride through my veins.

This team has put in an incredible amount of work over the last week. I don’t know what I was expecting when I decided to work with a bunch of teenagers, but they’ve far exceeded my expectations. They talk a lot between sets, or while warming up, but it reminds me that they all have lives outside of this weight room. I’ve given up everything over the years to make sure that all my goals were met when it comes to this sport. Oftentimes, I felt like I was sacrificing more than others around me at best and more than was necessary atworst. Their goals will likely change over the years, especially if any of them choose to go pro, but for right now, they're already in a better spot than I was.

Ronan Berkley works tirelessly on his sets in the corner. Out of everyone on this team, he reminds me most of myself. I like to think I was a little more fun and a little less doom and gloom, but his focus is borderline psychotic. Just like me.

He hasn’t said a word to me since that first practice, and the only time I’ve spoken to him is when I’m shouting drills or plays at him. I was starting to think it was a personal problem he had against me, but he seems more pissed off than usual today and I haven’t said shit to him.

I sit on the bench across from where he’s working on a heavy set of deadlifts. He lets the barbell drop with an echoingthudand even though I know he can see me, he doesn’t acknowledge me.

“You good?”

He points to his headphones shaking his head.Little shit.

“I said, are you good?” I enunciate my words and shout a little louder than necessary.

“Sorry mate, can’t hear you.”

My jaw clenches but I can’t even get mad. I have a feeling I was just as annoying at his age. I give him a tight smile and a mock salute and leave him to do his work in peace.

“Don't feel bad Coach, he doesn’t talk to anyone.”

“He talks to Riley,” Brody pipes up from the bench.

“Barely,” Nolan huffs. “That’s why she’s always so pissed at him.”

“Who’s Riley?” I ask.