Page 57 of The Penalty

But the moment is shattered when his phone vibrates on the bedside table. He freezes and pulls away. When I look up into his eyes, I don’t see the devastating regret that I did the last time he kissed me, and my heart is grateful for that.

He lowers his forehead to mine. “I have to go.”

“Ok,” I whisper, even though I don’t want him to. I wish we could stay wrapped up in this bed all day.

“I don’t want to,” he says, his voice rough. My body relaxes with relief.

“I don’t want you to.”

His hands gently trail up my body from my hips to my stomach and, finally, the underside of my breast. My breath hitches as his calloused fingers explore my skin.

His thumb runs over my hardened nipple.

“Tyler,” I moan.

His phone vibrates again. Probably one of his players or coaches since the game starts right after noon.

“Fuck, I hate this. I want you so bad it hurts,” he admits as he leans down to kiss my neck one last time. “But I really have to go.”

I lean up slightly and kiss him quickly. “Go. I’ll see you at the field.”

He groans and rolls off me. I miss the heat of him already and there’s an ache between my legs. One I know I’m going to have to take care of myself before I get out of this bed.

Tyler stands, and it’s hard to miss the large tent in his pants. He adjusts himself to make it slightly not as obvious.

“See you in a bit,” he says and then sneaks out of my room and down the hall, leaving me to replay everything that just happened in my mind.

The energy is wild when I get to the La Vista University Stadium. There are only a few more games left in the regular season, but the Bobcats are well on their way to the National Championship. The whole state is proud of this team and ready to see them go all the way. My brothers have been texting me all week, asking me if I know what Coach has planned for the game. Like I’d tell them even if I did know.

I go to the field house first to check in with the coaches like I always do. Coach Zach and Coach Travis are coming out of the locker room when I arrive.

“Coach!” I shout, and they both turn around.

“McKenzie,” Zach says. “Good to see you again. Sorry to hear about your father.”

“Thank you.” I’m still not ready to talk about my dad yet, so I quickly change the subject. “Good luck today.”

“Thanks,” Travis says. “We’re gonna kill it out there.”

I laugh. “No doubt about it. Have you seen Coach Danvers?”

“He was headed to his office last time I saw him.”

“Cool, thanks.”

I head off toward Tyler’s office.

He’s reading something on his desk when I find him. I knock gently on his open door. He looks up, and his face relaxes when he sees me. None of the normal tension that I get from him is present, so I take that as moving one step closer.

“McKenzie.”

“Hey, just wanted to come say good luck. Not that you need it.”

“I’ll take all the luck I can get.”

He walks toward me and looks over my shoulder into the hallway, checking to make sure it’s empty. My pulse races as he angles my chin up and kisses me. It’s quick, but it means everything to me. It means he doesn’t regret what happened between us this morning. It means he might stop pushing me away and just let this happen. It fills me with hope. Hoping for anything with Tyler Danvers is dangerous, but I let myself do it anyway.

“I’ll see you on the field,” he says as he traces my lips with his thumb.