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His authoritative voice was as cool as a freshwater stream running from the loftiest peaks. “Focus on the breath. Nothing else matters. You don’t have to block out thoughts. Just bring your attention to where your breath is coming in and out of your body. Just noticing.”
Everything about his steady, measured demeanor soothed me. I’d never noticed how incredible his eyes were, so dark and expressive, so full of kindness. They were a harbor—a place to shelter in a dreadful storm. “Just this breath and the next. That’s right.”
My eyes fluttered shut and I took a breath, striving to relax.
“Imagine your body is a mountain. A mountain is powerful and strong. Whatever happens, the mountain stands. It might be battered by wind and rain, or the sun might shine, but the mountain always remains the same. Unfazed. Solid. Powerful.”
His calm, tone had so much depth. It crackled over my skin like electricity. My mind filled with dirty thoughts. Reece’s elegant palms sliding over my stomach. His hard body atop mine.
“… Just following each breath. Not forcing the breath. Relaxing into it…”
His hands covering my breasts. His hot breath on my nipples. Sliding down onto him and riding him slowly as he whispers his praise in that low, soothing voice.
“… Just this breath… and then the next…”
Reece easing me gently down onto a bed. His dark eyes locking with mine from between my thighs. His hot tongue probing and tasting.
My skin prickled with pleasure and my heart hammered. Any good feeling was swiftly replaced by guilt. I was supposed to be meditating, not becoming unspeakably turned on. Since when had I wanted a man this much? Sean didn’t get me all hot and bothered like this. These feelings were so new. Still, I couldn’t act on them. Reece was here to do a job. He didn’t welcome my attention. He’d already made his position clear and rejected me. Besides, Sean had hurt me too much to start anything new.
All that matters is the team.
“When you’re ready, open your eyes.”
My eyes flashed open.
Reece spoke to the team, but his steady gaze rested on me. “Any questions?”
I was painfully aware that mud splattered my face and I only wore my sports bra and shorts. Usually that wouldn’t have bothered me. It was normal after a match to strip down. None of us cared in the dressing room. But with Reece looking so immaculate in his smart suit, I felt self-conscious at being half-naked. What did he think when he looked at me? Did he like what he saw?
Lana leaned in and whispered in my ear. “I’ve got a question. Just how much of a freak are we talking?”
Her teasing chuckle raked through me as the dressing room broke into chaos and noise again. Reece’s heated gaze passed over me one last time before he slipped out the door.
Chapter 12
Skylar
The next morning, we played our penultimate game. Two games between us and victory. Only a win would keep us in the running. Sweat drenched me. My lungs burned with every breath. After several attempts on goal, we had a no-score draw. The opposition was too strong in defense. I dared a glance at the giant digital display in the corner of the stadium. Two minutes before the final whistle. My stomach dropped. Two minutes before we crashed out of the league.
A season full of work and it’s all about to unravel.
I shook my head. No. It wasn’t over until that whistle blew. Chanting from the crowd filled my ears. Lana signaled me for a cross and suddenly the ball was at my feet. I took off, sprinting toward the goal. An opposition player flew at me for a tackle. I pivoted, holding her off and keeping possession. I’d die before I let go of this ball without a shot at goal. Then I saw it. An opening. Blood roared in my ears. My heart sang. This is what I lived for. This moment. I charged forward, leaving the rest of the pitch in the dust.
I own this fucking pitch.
My heart pounded a terrifying rhythm in my chest.
Shit. I have to calm down.
I have to be calm like… a mountain.
Reece Forster’s velvet voice played in mind.
I am strong and steady like a mountain.
With one hard, solid kick, I booted the ball toward the net. The keeper dove but she didn’t stand a chance. It soared past her hands straight into the top corner. The crowd knew it was going in before I did. The stadium erupted in a barrage of roaring sound.
Then it was chaos.
