Splaying her thighs, my hips grind into the apex, pressing into her core as speakers blare that “making love to her may drive me crazy.” It’s the truth. I couldn’t have picked a better song to let her know I’m aware of her private peep show. I won’t let her have it though. If she wants to see me, it’ll be front and center.
Her hands find my naked, sweaty chest. She rests her hands on my hard pecs, the touch making me swallow roughly. These dances don’t usually affect me, but grinding my cock against her, smelling her...it makes me want to rip her clothes free and fuck her like an animal. The chorus rocks the club, and I follow it by nipping love bites along her exposed neck, over her breasts, down her firm tummy until I reach her jean covered pussy. I bite there too, relishing in her body vibrating with need.
She moves to grab me, but I’m quicker. Pulling her up and over, I smoothly switch our positions so I’m on the bottom and she’s straddling my hips. At Def Leppard serenading that he “doesn’t want to touch her too much,” I remove my hands and pop my hips. I want her to have the full effect of the words from the song. I mean every fucking one of them. “Love bites and love bleeds.”
With my groin jerking against her, Sunshine falls forward with her hands still holding on. Her cheeks are flushed, breaths coming in quick pants as she fucks me with her honeyed gaze. She could’ve had me at one time. I’d have given her all of me, every last inch. I’d have offered her everything.
Popping my hips once more, she leans in to take my lips, and I flip her—hard. She lands on her back with my thick biceps underneath her arms, cocooning her from injury. My hands cup behind her head, so she doesn’t get hurt in any way; I’d never forgive myself if she did. I want her pussy sore from my cock pounding against it, but nothing else. When she walks tomorrow, the insides of her thighs will be peppered with bruises as if I’d fucked her all night long. She’ll feel me everywhere, without me actually touching her flesh. Tonight will be a taunting reminder of what she let me do.
My front gyrates, cock pumping against her hard enough to scoot her big, round ass across the stage with each thrust. The crowd screams as they watch me dominate her. They all wish they could be her at this moment, yet I wish it were anyone but her. I have to do this though; she can’t just appear out of the blue, shake up my life all over again and not expect any repercussions. Owenses are gentlemen sure, but we’re also assholes when we need to be.
She grabs onto my neck to hold on through it all. At the ending, I slow my movements down, gently grinding, until her chest brushes mine with each breath. Sunshine’s so turned on that her pupils are dilated with need; the look has my cockiness come out in full play. The guitar hits, and I circle my hips, bringing her to the cusp of an orgasm. She’s so far lost in me and the moment that she’s forgotten we have an audience. There’s a room full of horny women, all of whom want what she has in her arms right now. The drums kick in, the music fades away, and we’re met with the screams and applause of the spectators. It brings her right back into the present.
With a cocky wink, I release her as the two servers return, ready to escort her back to her seat. My lips tug up into a grin as I hear them speaking to her.
“You’re a lucky one.” The server on the right smiles at Sunshine. He takes her arm.
The other escort takes her left side, agreeing. “Yep, Bliss is the highest paid dancer. He always makes them pay to touch. He can do that though, since he drives women crazy for him.”
At that, I make my way offstage, grinning like a fool.
She sits right up front the rest of the night, attempting to get my attention every chance she gets. I do what any heartbroken man with a brain does...I act like she doesn’t exist. I pretend like I’m fine and not shattered by her presence alone.
“Mr. Owens.” The principal greets me warmly, and I have to stop myself from replying that’s my father and not me. Here, I would be Mr. Owens or Coach Owens if they decide to hire me, so I need to get used to it.
Shaking the older man’s hand, we stroll through the empty hallway leading to his office. It’s like going back in time for me as I glance around. I don’t think anything has changed in this entryway since my brothers and I were here so long ago.
The thick blue main doors open to a smaller entry area that the school uses to display the various accomplishments. It morphs into a hallway that has restrooms, counselors’ offices, a nurse’s office, and an attendance office lining each side. The hall eventually ends with the main office where you check in and can also see either the principals or vice principal. That office is placed right in the middle of a fork, so all students and staff pass it. One side of the hallway takes you to the freshman and sophomore classrooms and their lockers. The opposite hallway veers off to the junior and senior classes and their lockers.
“I appreciate you coming before the kids are back.” The principal glances back to me, and I nod, not sure what to really say in return. I’m so nervous about being back here that I’ve already forgotten his name. Clyde said the school wanted me to meet with the principal here and today. The interview time wasn’t my decision. He continues, “Have you ever worked with teenagers?”
“No sir, just my younger brother.”
“Do you have other experience in the field besides individual coaching? I’m looking for someone who can teach and transform the team as a whole.” He unlocks the main office, and I follow him inside. He sits, comfortable in the space. “They need a lot of work, I’m afraid.”
“No,” I admit with a sigh and sit in the chair across from him.
We’re in a modest meeting room of sorts beside his office. It’s where my brother had to come every time the staff felt the need to pressure Clyde in some way. Usually, they wanted to congratulate him on Tyler’s success and suggest colleges. If it were about me, then it’d be to recommend I be placed into therapy and a foster home following my parents’ deaths. I didn’t hide my grief; in fact, I remember telling many of them to fuck off. I was hurting and needed time to work through it, not my teachers and peers constantly watching my every move.
I rub my hands against my pants, trying to get rid of the anxious feeling in my gut. Taking in a deep breath, I exhale and decide to go for honesty. I don’t have anything to lose at this point. “I’ll be up front with you and admit the truth. Once I was free of this place, I never imagined I’d be back here—for any reason.”
He smiles and not unkindly. “I think ninety percent of us feel that way when we initially leave high school. I certainly did. It didn’t become clear I wanted to work with adolescents until I’d finished out my doctorate.”
My eyes widen at his admission. I hope he doesn’t expect me to have some fancy degree, because it isn’t going to happen. Not only did I get the hell out of high school, but I also wasn’t wasting any more time going to college. I didn’t want to be where other people could pick over my moods and analyze me even more. “I didn’t go to college.”
His brow furrows. “Your brother let me know that much already. I wasn’t going there with that; I just wanted you to know that many teachers, coaches, and counselors were in the same boat as you. They don’t opt to work at a high school right after graduating either.”
“But, don’t I need a degree or something to teach?”
“In this case, no, you don’t. Our school is small enough we can work around a few things. You’ll have to go through a background check, of course, sign a contract, and work on your certification, but that can be done online while you’re already coaching. You’ll be on work probation that allows us to hire you with the promise of completing all necessary requirements. If we were a bigger school located in a city, we’d have stricter rules to follow, but no one pays us any mind, so we have wiggle room. And I shouldn’t admit that to you out loud, for legal reasons, but I want to be upfront about it all.”
“I appreciate that.”
“I would, however, recommend that you take a CPR course. It’s imperative that you be able to help the boy
s out on the field should it prove necessary. Also, please seriously consider enrolling in kinesiology—it’s sports science and physical education—or physiology courses…any of it would benefit you greatly. They can be online as well, and we offer a small stipend to help cover the costs. That’s thanks to a few private donors. It’s not required, but it’ll assist you greatly within your position.”
“My position?” I mumble, growing confused.
“Yes.” The older gentleman nods adamantly. “As our new head football coach. I assumed Clyde filled you in on our proposal.”
“You mean I’m already hired, if I want the job? I thought this was just an interview.”
“Well it is, of sorts, but I already offered you the job through your brother. Did he not tell you that the position was yours, as long as you came in today?”
I shake my head, silently cursing my brother for leaving this bit out of our conversation. He probably did this shit on purpose, afraid I wouldn’t show up. That sneaky asshole. “He must’ve forgotten to mention it.”
The principal chuckles at my obvious discomfort. “I requested you be here today because our pro bono attorney is in town. I didn’t want to ask her to come at another time and disrupt her schedule, or I would’ve let you email me a time and day of your choosing before school starts.”
“It seems my brother left out many of the details.”
He grins. “Call me Steve.”
“All right then, Steve,” I acknowledge and brush off my apprehension. “I guess you have yourself a football coach.”
“Damn glad to have an Owens on my staff too. Let me check on our lawyer so you can sign the documents and be on your way. I’ll also give you the keys to the athletic offices before you leave. You can get acquainted with everything and prepare at your own pace.”
“Thank you.” I offer an easy, relieved smile and watch as he exits the room. He closes the door behind him, and I release a pent-up breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.
I hadn’t put much thought into what would happen if I actually got the job today. I only came here to appease my brother. I’m going to have to Google the shit out of coaching when I get home. I know how to privately coach my brother, but that’s different. Clyde and I have always been there for Ty. We all played football in school, too, but this is me teaching an actual team. A full roster of players and the thought makes me want to break out in a sweat. I have to instruct teenagers when I’m my own brand of shitshow at home.
Jesus Clyde, what the hell have you gotten me into? Tyler is going to laugh his ass off when he hears about this. Shit, shit, shit.
“Nathanial? Do you mind if I call you by your first name?” Steve asks as he pokes his head in.
“Just Nate is fine.”
He nods and strolls back in. “Come on in, Miss Sunshine. I have our new head football coach all ready for you. Let’s get these papers squared away and make it official.”
She strides in, and the world seems to tilt a bit. My mouth falls open like a fish out of water. She’s all buttoned up, looking fine as fuck and professional in a skirt suit. The sight has me grumbling in my chest with desire. Fuck, she’s so damn sexy!
Her wide, welcoming smile falters when we make eye contact. She sucks it up, taking the chair between ol’ Steve and me. “I had no idea this was the Nathanial I was working up the contract for.” Her gaze flashes to the principal, while she opens her laptop and types in her access code. “It hadn’t crossed my mind to ask for the last name as well.
“Oh, you two already know each other?” he asks, unaware of the sudden tension in the room that’s so thick you can taste it. “I shouldn’t be surprised, I reckon, with how small this place is. It didn’t click that you two are around the same age and probably attended school together.”
“I’m five months older,” I murmur absently, then shut my mouth. Steve eyes me, curious no doubt at how I know I’m five months older. It’s random knowledge and automatically gives off clues that we’re on a much more personal level than just passing acquaintances.
Sunshine laughs awkwardly and types quickly on the laptop keyboard. “Okay, I have your full name in here now. I need your driver’s license and social security card numbers, please.”
Silently, I dig out my wallet and hand her the two cards. After a moment of her typing them into her laptop, she glances at us both.
“I’ll be right back. I need the printer.” She points toward the door and hurries out, then quickly returns with some papers. “Okay Nate, if I can have you sign here, here, here, here, and one last time here.” She gestures to the particular lines as she flips through pages and then slides the stack to me along with a fancy black pen.
I scribble a wobbly line with an ‘s’ at the end on each section she marked, just as I always do when signing something. I slide the stack back, meeting her gaze when I finish.
“Congratulations on the new position,” she offers, and I nod.
I’m too fucked in the head at the moment to really respond. The only thing playing on my mind is that she’s a lawyer. She really did it after all. She went for her dream and did what she always said she would. I bet her parents are beyond proud of her. That means she went to college and everything. Not just any school either, but law school and is even doing work for free in our small town.
I’m a freaking stripper.
Here I’ve been taunting her, not ever thinking that she may be too damn good for me. I was picturing her as that tall, skinny teen with braces, not some curvy, vivacious successful lawyer. I’m such a damn loser compared to her. Here I wallowed in myself for years while she went off to live her life and become a success. All the while, I was here, doing nothing productive with my life.
“Thanks,” I finally murmur, and Steve shakes my hand.
“I’ll go file these with the staff contracts,” Sunshine says as she stands. “I’ll be right back.”
I take the small window of time to make my exit. Thanking the principal for my new job, I grab the athletic building keys and hightail it out of there. There’s no way in hell I can talk to her now. I feel like an ass for what I put her though at my show. Of course, I loved every second of seeing her so exposed and vulnerable to me. I don’t enjoy the fact that I had to see her today. All the while I’m barely getting my first real grown-up job and discovering that she’s been this beautiful, smart, successful woman for God knows how long.
***
I notice a familiar face at the club when I’m working my shift. I wasn’t going to just up and quit without knowing how this coaching position will play out. My brother barely broke it to me that he wants me to move out so he can start a family. I’m going to need all the extra income I can bring in to pay for building materials. Stripping may not be a stand-up sort of job, but the tips pay bills.
Sunshine attempted to chat with me again, but luckily, it was late. I was able to skirt out of there before she’d gotten a decent chance. Had it been Saturday night, I’d have had to stay the entire night. It’s the busiest time of the week, and the boss doesn’t let anyone off. However, it would’ve been difficult for her to get a word in. There’d be too many people around, and the noise is always at a constant high on those nights. I’ll take my chances of not being around all together before counting on other factors.
Part of me feels cowardly for ducking out at every chance I get when I’m near her, but that’s not it at all. My actions are strictly self-preservation. She broke my heart once, and I don’t want her around to remind me why I loved her so much back then. It’s taken forever for me to stop thinking of her on a daily basis. I can’t help but wonder if she’s thought of me at all since she’s been gone. It doesn’t matter; it can’t. What’s done is done, and I refuse to waste anymore of my life away, pining for someone who left me behind so easily.
She wanted to forget? Well, that’s fine. I’ll just forget about her.
Here I am another night stuck working at the club. I’m strolling into the building, an
d yet again, Sunshine Simmons is amongst the eager women waiting for the show to begin. It seems this lady is determined to make my life hard. She has no reason to keep coming back here. Sure I fucked with her a bit the first two nights she stopped by, but now, it’s beginning to infuriate me. She has the nerve to treat me like she did, to leave me behind without a word. I’m not only talking about me taking her virginity but the fact that she was my best fucking friend in the entire goddamn world and she acted like I was no better than horseshit on her boot.
I’ll have to do what I’ve been doing already—try to ignore her and leave as soon as possible. There’s a piece of me that wants to keep screwing with her, but it’s biting me in the ass. I’ve started looking for her everywhere I go, and that can’t happen. I’m not going to allow myself to get used to the idea of her being around again. The principal said she’s in town from the city on pro bono work; nothing in that statement has anything to do with me. She’s grown into a fancy lawyer, but one thing remains the same, she still enjoys my body.
“Bliss, you’ve got a private show.” Pork Chop pops his head behind the curtain. I rarely have anyone that can afford to get me alone, so it takes a moment to register.
“A private dance?” I repeat like an idiot, and he chuckles.
“What’s this make, number five? Out of the entire time you’ve been working here?”
Two years...dance number five sounds about right. Like I said, I’m expensive. If I have to lower myself into private dancing for someone, then they’re going to pay for it.
With a shrug, I grab the bottle of tasteless, odorless oil and lather a small amount over my abdomen, chest, shoulders, biceps, and triceps then swipe my deodorant as a last-minute precaution. If I’m going to be rubbing up on someone I want to smell good and feel good—it’s my job, after all.
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