Page 95 of Heart Taker

With the meat on the grill and the potatoes in the air fryer, we grabbed a couple of beers and sat down on the deck and watched the day turn into night.

A half hour later, everything was ready. We fed each other bites of food, and talked for hours until our voices turned hoarse.

But as the night grew darker, Damien’s relaxed demeanor began to shift. I squeezed his hand, determined to find out why.

“What are you worrying about?” I asked him.

He turned his head, his eyes clearly troubled.

“You’ve got another year left at Sutton. So do I. And I don’t know how we’re going to manage to keep this”—he pointed between us—“a secret. I’ve got a pretty good game face, but it doesn’t apply in this case. You’ve completely wrecked my ability to remain indifferent.”

I couldn’t help but smile at that. Knowing I was the only one who could get under his glacial armor? That was heady stuff. It did more than turn me on; it filled me with pride.

Damien shook his head. “You like that, eh?”

“Damn right,” I replied and raised his hand to my mouth, kissing his knuckles. “And you’re getting worked up for no reason. I know me, and I know you. We can play this cool. And if we slip, so what? Plenty of college students have relationships with their teachers. It’s not like we’re the only ones.”

“I don’t imagine that anyone at the school, or the board, would like to hear you say that.”

“It’s the truth.”

“I know that it happens, but it doesn’t look good for a coach to be involved with his player. Think of what your teammates would have to say.” Damien sighed. “One, or maybe both of us, is going to get hurt.”

“You don’t know that,” I insisted. “And fuck what other people think, Damien. You didn’t pressure me into this relationship. I made my own choice.”

“Other people won’t assume that’s the case. And maybe there’s a warning in there. I’ve stepped over a line, and I should probably recuse myself before we both end up ruining everything we’ve worked hard for.”

“No. Our team needs you.”

Fuck it, I wasn’t backing down. I leaned over and kissed Damien. Hard.

“More importantly, I need you.”

“Baby.” Damian cupped my face. “Think about what would happen if the situation were reversed, if you were in my role?”

Damien had a point; I didn’t want to fuck up his life. But I didn’t want to lose him. Selfishly, I couldn’t give him up, and I didn’t want him to give up on me either. For the first time in years, I wanted something that was mine, and only mine.Damien was so much more than a lover; I connected with him in a way I’d never felt with any other man. I could talk to him about anything and be myself with him. He was a man I respected and admired, a man that was kind and caring underneath all those sharp edges.

A man I loved… Holy fucking hell, I was falling in love with Damien.

The stakes weren’t high; they were all or nothing.

“I get it, I do.” I paused, looking away, trying to control the reckless feelings tumbling around inside me. I wanted to say “fuck everyone else” but that wasn’t realistic. “I promise that we’ll keep this between us. We can be discreet.”

I glanced over at Damien again, and he nodded.

“Then there’s another issue. Are you going to be able to take my direction on the ice and not take it personally?”

“Of course.”

“Silas.” Damien raised one eyebrow.

“What?” I chuckled and silenced him with another kiss. “We’re still us, right? I’ll take your advice, but that doesn’t mean I won’t try pushing back once in a while.”

“Once in a while?”

“Relax, it’s all gonna work out,” I assured him.

“I hope so,” he quietly admitted. “I want us. I’m sure from the outside looking in, this is completely wrong, a disaster waiting to happen, but nothing has ever felt so right. I can’t explain it any other way.”

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