Faster (The University of Gatica #2)

by Lexy Timms

  He smiled, but his eyes remained solemn. “That too. But I’m serious, after tonight it’s back to the grind for me. Tomorrow I’ve got to be at the training hall to go over tapes for next Saturday’s game. If I’m going to be playing two positions, I need to know both of them like the back of my hand.” He opened the car door for her. “I know I won’t be able to see you all week or weekend. Away game and we are traveling down to Virginia by bus so we won’t be back till Sunday afternoon.” He sighed and walked around the car to the driver’s side.

  She watched him click his seatbelt together and start Lizzy. “You do know that sport shouldn’t be only about business, right? You do need to have some fun with it.”

  “I know.”

  “It doesn’t sound like you are having fun.”

  He pulled out onto the road and headed toward campus. They had gone to eat at a burger joint that Tyler swore only the local people went to. It was a hidden gem that the college didn’t know. He hadn’t lied. The burgers were amazing.

  Aileen faced forward, afraid she might have stuck her foot in her mouth.

  Tyler sighed. “I do have fun. It just sometimes feels like a job instead of a college sport. But it is a job. We get a scholarship to pay for school and let us play the game we love. I do love it. I want to play in the NFL. Who wouldn’t?”

  She didn’t know what to say, so she just sat quiet hoping he would talk. It seemed like that was what he needed.

  “I’m just stressed. I want to win the Jim Thorpe again. Imagine winning that two years in a row? I want to win NCAAs in the hurdles too. Back to back. Nobody does that kind of shit! You won World Juniors, does it make you hungry to win NCAAs?”

  She blinked. “I want to win races. I don’t know if I can win NCAAs. I’m a freshman.”

  “Who won World Juniors! You know half the team is terrified of you?”

  “Pardon?” She hadn’t heard that.

  Tyler chuckled. “The sprinters are scared of you. At your party, they were talking about how pretty you are and how you were going to kick butt. I heard you were knocking back fast times on the hills and on the track. James won’t shut up about how you are stronger than some of the guys on the team.”

  “I’m not. I can barely bench press the bar.”

  He reached over and rested his hand on her knee. “I think he’s referring to your legs. How do you harness all that power inside of you?” He squeezed her knee, tickling her. “Or are you a descendant of Thor?”

  “I believe you’re the one who’s the gift from the gods.”

  “How about we agree to be amazing athletes? I’ll win the Jim Thorpe and you win indoor NCAAs. Then come outdoors, we can keep a tally of our races. See who the better hurdler is.”

  She liked the feel of his hand on her thigh. Focus, Aileen! “Are you this competitive in everything?”

  “Pretty much.”

  She laughed. She liked the two of them flirting back and forth better than talking about the stresses of sport. “Okay, just so I can get this straight… We’re competing in degrees, in future careers, how much we make, dinner in ten years and now we are going to see who’s the better athlete.”

  “Better hurdler. I’d kick your butt in every other sport.”

  She scoffed. “Really? Every other sport? Maybe football, but that’s probably it.”

  “Are you challenging me?” He pulled onto her street. “What sport do you want to do first?”

  “Pardon? You want me to kick your butt tonight?”

  “Next time we hang out. Choose the sport, or are you chicken?”

  She hated being called chicken. “You let me know when you’re available. I’ll have a game planned.”

  “So I’ll pick the time and you’ll pick the place.” He pulled into her driveway and held out his hand. “Deal?” He grinned wickedly at her.

  She squeezed his hand tightly. “Deal!”

  “What do you want to do now? It’s kind of early to head over to the party.”

  “You coming?” she teased.

  “With you? I’ll go just about anywhere.” He pulled her toward him with the hand he held inside of his. He pressed his lips softly against hers and then again.

  “Jani texted me before to say she was heading over to Chrissy’s to get ready. We’ve got the whole house to ourselves. Do you want to come in?” The rate of her blood flow increased rapidly as ringing echoed in her ears. She couldn’t believe she was asking him inside. She brushed her lips against his and said breathlessly, “Maybe we can start one of those competitions in my room.”

  Tyler inhaled sharply. Without a word, he stepped out of the car and came around to open her door. She slipped out and leaned against the side of Lizzy. Tyler put his hands on either side of her shoulders, resting them on the metal of the car. His body curved perfectly into hers and a hand found its way to her scalp as his fingers curled and entangled themselves in her hair. His lips found hers, giving her the most incredible, seductive, sensual kiss she had ever experienced.

  When he reluctantly pulled back, he gave her a half grin. “Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.”

  She stared at him, her shoulders rising and falling as she tried to catch the breath that escaped her. It took longer to recover from his touch than running a hundred meter hurdle race. She reached for his hand. “Let’s go inside.” She’d never been one for public displays of affection and what she wanted to do to him couldn’t be done on her front lawn.

  He let her lead him inside. She flipped on a couple of lights as she led him toward the back of the house where her bedroom was. A million thoughts ran through her head. Why didn’t she feel nervous? She wasn’t the kind of person to just up and take someone to her bedroom. Then again, she had thought she wasn’t the type of person who would sleep with some athlete on a recruiting trip. According to Becky, her best friend, she was two steps away from joining a convent. If only Becky saw her now.

  She couldn’t believe how Tyler changed her. He didn’t really change her, he brought things out of her that she tended to keep quiet. He made her want to be aggressive, like she was on the track, but with him. She enjoyed how it made her feel. It couldn’t be wrong, could it?

  She pushed the questions aside as she opened the door to her room. She hesitated as a bunch more queries bubbled inside her head. Did she switch the light on? Leave it off? Was she supposed to say something? Or just start taking off her clothes? She had never been in this situation before and suddenly didn’t know what to do. At her hotel room last February, everything had just happened naturally.

  Tyler leaned over her and flipped her light on. His hand still in hers, he pulled her toward the bed and sat her down on the edge, near the foot of the bed. He squatted down in front of her so their heads were level. He ran his finger over his lips as his eyes flitted back and forth at hers. “Before you start kissing me and I lose my ability to think…” He winked as he teased her. “I want to tell you that I’m sorry about the other night. I shouldn’t have come tapping on your window. That’s not something I would do. I was sitting at First Down with some buddies and the conversation turned to track. There’s a player on the team that sprints as well. He came to your party just before school started. He was telling the guys on the team about you. His girlfriend is a hurdler on the team.”

  Uh oh. Mindy. It had to be.

  “I usually keep my head down and don’t say anything, but he started going off about how you were telling his girlfriend how you were going to kick her ass and be number one. How Coach Anderson only had eyes for me and you now.”

  “I never said…” She pressed her lips together. “Mindy snapped at me, at that party and told me off.”

  Tyler nodded. “I figured. It pissed me off that he was whining like a baby and spewing lies about you. I was this close,” he said making a small space between his fingers, “from punching his lights out. Not a very team thing to do, so instead of staying, I got up and left. I was just going to go for a walk to cool off and ended up in
front of your place.”

  “Thank you for almost defending my honor.” She wasn’t teasing, she meant it. “I’m sorry I got mad at you that night.”

  “Don’t be. I deserved it. I was ticked you didn’t contact me.”

  “And I was mad you didn’t get in touch with me.”

  “I went to nationals just so I could see you.” He grinned sheepishly. “Lame isn’t it?”

  “I was in Poland. World Juniors.”

  “Yeah, I figured it out afterward. I forgot you were still a junior and I wasn’t paying attention to the scheduling. I was just excited to see you.” He rolled his eyes and then covered them with his hand. “I can’t believe I’m telling you this.”

  She didn’t mind at all. All this hotness outside and this incredible sweetness inside. Like one of those massive tigers she watched on the Animal Planet TV show. “I didn’t think you liked me. Then I didn’t want you to think I’d signed with Gatica because of you. I mean, you being here isn’t a bad thing but…” How could she explain it so it made sense?

  “I know what you mean.” He leaned forward so his waist pressed against the inside of her knees. “I have a crazy schedule. I don’t want to disappoint you.” His eyes rested on her lips. “I’d hate myself if I hurt you.”

  She ran her tongue over her lips to wet them and a thrill ran through her as Tyler watched and swallowed. “How about we just go with the flow? See where things take us? You are definitely running track, right? You’re not going to sign some big NFL contract and take off in January?”

  He shook his head, his eyes still intently watching her mouth.

  She smiled and squeezed her legs lightly, savoring the warmth of his skin seeping through his thin shirt. “We’ve got one season to hang out.”

  He grinned. “Actually, I’ve got two indoor and one outdoor season of eligibility left. I didn’t know. Coach Anderson told me the other day. I have a full season this year. I won’t use my last indoor season because I’ll be playing football by then but, there’s a spring training camp in Florida I now plan on going to.”

  Aileen’s knees bounced excitedly. “That’s a lot of track meets and weekends to hang out together, after football.” She wanted to say fool around together but told her mouth to think with her brain, not her body. Her voice dropped to a husky whisper, “What am I going to do if I have to see you every day training? I might jump you in front of everyone if you take your shirt off!”

  Tyler pushed her back onto the bed and dove on top of her. He began kissing her neck and mumbled, “I’ve got it way worse than you.”

  Her eyes closed when he ran his hand up her side. There was no need to say anymore.

  His lips left a trail of fire up her neck as they made their way to her mouth. His tongue slipped into her and they kissed, unable to stop. When Tyler finally lifted his head to catch his breath, he lay on top of her and smiled.

  “What?” She wondered if her mouth was kiss-crushed and red. She didn’t make out very often so her lips needed a bit of practice to toughen them up. She grinned at the thought.

  “There is something innocent about you that turns me on. Immensely.” He bent his elbows slightly so his head was inches away from hers. “And then you have this ravenous part about you that blows my mind and I can’t think.”

  His scent teased her nostrils as his skin hovered so close to her. She stared at him, her eyes wide and mouth slightly parted. “Take off your shirt.”

  He blinked, probably surprised by her command. He reached behind him with one hand and pulled it off, not even moving from above her.

  She ran her hands over his bare skin marveling over the tan color, smooth lines, and rock hard abs. She pushed him so he rolled over and she lay on top of him. Straddling his hips, she unbuttoned her top and shrugged out of it.

  Tyler let out a shuddering breath as his fingers traveled over her rib cage and lightly traced the lace on her bra. The clasp connected at the front and with one hand he undid it. He let out a low laugh. “I’ve always wanted to do that.” His hands gently pulled the straps off her shoulders, exposing her pink erect nipples. He held one and leaned up to suck the other one in his mouth. His teeth nibbling as his tongue swirled.

  Aileen swore under her breath. She didn’t mean to, the words just escaped her. Her eyes closed as her head fell back. She wrapped her legs around his hips, her center pressing tight against his erection. Her skirt had lifted and it was only her thin panties and his clothes separating them.

  His arm muscles rippled and his stomach grew taut as he lifted her and placed her so her head rested on her pillow. His lips returned to hers and his hand trailed over her breast and down her abs. He gently pushed her leg against the sheet so there was room for his hand to slide up her thigh. He moaned against her lips when he touched her wetness.

  So did she. Her hips arched to find his hand again.

  Expertly he teased, his finger slipping in and out of her and rubbing up against her. She clutched the bed sheet with both hands, making fists and hoping her hips weren’t moving as much as her hands were, clenching and unclenching, trying to find some kind of release.

  She reached for his waist and fumbled with his belt. His erection pressed against her skin as she pulled his jeans down. He kicked them off impatiently. She pulled off her panties, not taking the time to bother with her skirt.

  A guttural groan escaped as he entered her. He dipped his head so his lips could kiss and suck hers. Her hips rotated up and down as she tried to find release from the aching desire inside of her.

  Their tongues attacked each other, fast and manic.

  Tyler’s phone, tucked in his jeans lying on the floor, began ringing. “Fuck off,” he muttered between kisses.

  Aileen smiled against his lips. My thoughts exactly.

  A minute later, Aileen’s phone began vibrating and playing music. Then Tyler’s started again.

  Aileen couldn’t concentrate on where the sounds were coming from now. All she could focus on was the driving need to climax. She ground her pelvis hard against him. She gasped and arched her back, crying out as ripples of pleasure flowed over her.

  Tyler matched her thrust for thrust and shuddered as he felt her tighten beneath him. He moaned and his pace became frenzied. He stiffened suddenly, his eyes shut tight before he buried his face into her neck, sending a trail of butterfly kisses as he clung tight to her.

  They lay together panting. Their sweaty bodies moist against each other.

  Tyler and Aileen’s phones began ringing seconds after each other again.

  He moaned and mumbled against her neck, “Go away!”

  Aileen giggled as she ran her fingernails up and then down his back. “I don’t think they’re going to. Someone desperately wants to get a hold of us.”

  “I’m busy.” He kissed her neck again and squeezed her breast with his hand.

  Aileen enjoyed the guilty pleasure until her phone started once again. “I have to get it, or I’m going to throw it out the window.”

  Tyler bent down and kissed each rosebud nipple before rolling off her and collapsing on the bed beside Aileen. “If it’s Sean, I’m going to kill him. Again.”

  She laughed and crawled over to the end of the bed where her purse lay on the floor. She reached in and grabbed her phone. There were seven missed calls from Jani. She hit the speed dial button to call her friend, prepared to send a tirade of verbal abuse her way.

  Tyler’s phone started ringing again. He groaned and leaned over Aileen’s legs to grab it. “Whaddya want?” he growled.

  He jumped off the bed and began pulling his jeans on.

  Jani picked up Aileen’s call after the third ring. “Aileen, you still with Tyler?” She didn’t wait for Aileen’s answer. “You need to get him down here right away! Drew just got in a fight with one of the football players. He’s busted up pretty bad. I think Drew broke the guys hand and nose!”

  Aileen snatched her shirt from the bedpost and dashed over to the door to grab
her bra off the floor. “We’re on our way.”

  As she answered Jani, Tyler growled into his phone, “I’ll be there in a minute.”

  Chapter 16

  Tyler and Aileen rushed inside the house where the party was. He led the way, his hand pulling her tight to him so she wouldn’t get lost in the crowd. There were a lot of people Aileen didn’t recognize. The party must have tumbled out of the house and into the backyard.

  “Where’s Zach?” Tyler barked, his face tight with anger and worry.

  Jeremy looked terrified. “H-H-He’s at the swimmer’s place. Jani went with them.”

  “Where’s that?”

  “First house around the corner. It’s got a Red Coat flag in the front window.”

  “Where’s Drew?”

  Jeremy squirmed. “He took off. He’s hammered, Tyler.”

  Tyler whipped around and pulled Aileen back to the front door. Everyone moved like a wave to get out of his way.

  Outside they ran down the small road between the townhouses until they came to the house with the flag. He raced up the front steps and banged on the door. “Zach? You in there?”

  A tall, dark haired guy with very blue eyes opened the door. Jani squeezed out under him. “Aileen!” Her gaze ran down and then back up Aileen. She reached out and tucked a messy strand of hair behind Aileen’s ear. “Sorry, I interrupted you guys,” she whispered.

  Aileen waved her hand. “What happened?”

  Jani pointed to the dark haired boy and then to Tyler. “Tyler, this is Carter. He’s on the swim team.”

  Carter nodded. “Zach’s in the kitchen.”

  Jani grabbed Aileen’s elbow to make her wait a minute. “Let Tyler go in. Carter’ll explain what happened to Tyler.”

  Aileen watched them go and crossed her arms over her chest. “What the heck happened?”

  Jani sighed. “It’s so stupid. Drew got his dumb-ass drunk. Zach showed up looking for Tyler and Drew got all up in his face and started saying stupid stuff.”