Transfer Student Pt. 04

Guilt. It had been the predominant feeling for him the past 48 hours. On Saturday, Brendan had texted Lauryn, met her at her place, and ended things. She cried. Asked why. He blamed work, stress, anything but the truth. The truth was, he couldn't stop thinking about one of his players. And not in the way a coach should. They agreed to keep coaching together, him trying to appease her, her holding out hope he'd change his mind.

He hadn't seen Nia since Friday night. Not because he didn't want to, but after the breakup, his weekend had been swallowed by obligations--helping his father with property paperwork, sitting through tense family dinners he could barely tolerate. Old expectations, old power plays. The kind of responsibilities that made him feel like a boy again, not a man. By Monday's practice, he was strung out and restless, and when he saw Nia on the field, it hit him all over again.

She was wearing her typical short shorts and tight tank top. Some of the girls greeted her warmly, asking how she felt. Nia responded nicely with general platitudes. She kept her eyes down as she changed into her cleats. Could everyone else feel this tension, she wondered? She looked at the other girls; they seemed normal. She was acutely aware of where Brendan was. Her heart beat fast the way it did when she was new in a class. Only once did she let her eyes sweep over to Brendan, who was leaning on his stick off to the side, looking down at his clipboard. She felt her stomach flip when he looked up at her, only to look away and begin giving orders quickly.

"First team on the field."

His voice was harsh but clear. It caused the girls to start moving, pick up their sticks, and jog to the field. Nia grabbed her stick, beginning to join the others.

"Nia, sit down. You're out. Abigail, go in." He didn't look at her as he said it.

Nia froze. Should she protest? She wanted to be a starter; hell, she was a starter. She only missed because of him. A sense of righteous indignation began to bubble up.

"I was sick." Her tone surprised even her and caused Brendan to look up from his clipboard.

He pushed off his stick, picking it up and flipping it in agitation. He let his eyes skim over her, lingering a bit too long on her chest. Shit, he was doing it again. He cleared his throat, then allowed his frustration to take back over when he noticed his body responding to her.

"You skipped a whole week. Next time, send a text. Abigail was here; she gets the playing time."

Nia could feel the hidden smirks from some of the other girls. Lauryn averted her eyes and walked to the field. It wasn't that Brendan didn't raise his voice at his players sometimes--it was just rare. He usually delivered quiet, stern directions.

Nia took a breath and cut her eyes at him. It was his fault. All of this. She tossed her stick down heavily. She felt a mix of frustration and confusion. It was like he'd become a different person. At this point, she half expected him to pull out a cigarette and start smoking. She scoffed. No, that'd be too far. No one she knew smoked, especially not someone like Brendan, who visited the gym regularly.

"Alright, coach." Nia used sarcasm only he would understand to emphasize the word coach as she turned back to the sideline. She wanted to remind him. Brendan felt the guilt rise and show in the reddening of his face. He decided he had to treat her no better than the others. He didn't want anyone thinking she was special to him.

When Nia finally got time to play, she was off, and he was her worst critic.

"Hold up your cradle, Nia," he yelled out, frustrated when she lost the ball in center field.

"Get the ball down to the goal!" he let out with exasperation when Rachel caught up to her, stopping her attempt to move the ball to offense.

"Abigail, go back in," he huffed the third time Nia dropped the perfect pass Heather threw.

Nia walked off the field, grabbing her water bottle as the sweat ran down her face. He was throwing off her game. She was making careless mistakes. She lifted her jersey slightly to feel the cool air on her skin. She felt more tired than normal.

The sun caused a glint on her belly ring that Brendan couldn't help but notice. He couldn't help but remember how the stainless steel tasted as he licked his way up her body in anticipation of tasting her firm tits and hard, dark nipples. He froze for just a moment. He was right back to the other night in her room, touching her like she belonged to him. He stopped taking a breath to calm his body and pulse.

Quickly, he kept walking toward Lauryn.

Focus on the field, he told himself.

"Is this the lineup for the game?" Lauryn asked, not saying Nia's name but glancing at her with some pity.

"She's out," Brendan snapped. "If she wants to play like a joke, she can stay on the sidelines and practice catching like it's middle school until she remembers this isn't recess."

Lauryn raised her eyebrows, turning to the field. All at once, the second-string girls moved like magnets in reverse away from Nia's orbit. She threw her stick down and sat beside her bag. What was he playing at? She focused on her breath: in, out, in, out. She narrowed her eyes and stared straight ahead, waiting for the fifteen minutes until practice was over.

Later, as she changed into her sneakers, she avoided looking at anyone. They didn't know it, but she wasn't coming back tomorrow. Why was she insisting on staying around where she wasn't wanted? It was a club team, after all--she paid to play. She'd get her exercise from yoga class like she had before she transferred. She glanced swiftly over at Brendan and Lauryn as they spoke, standing close. She puffed her breath out hard. Had he even ended it with her?

"Yo." The deep voice behind her caught her off guard by how close it was.

Eli knelt beside her, glancing back at his teammates just once. Nia looked over his shoulder as a few of the guys smirked their way, then started running drills.

"Hi," Nia said quietly, apprehensive.

Though he spent the practice pretending not to notice her, Brendan couldn't pretend anymore when he saw the gangly freshman strutting his way over to Nia. He removed his sunglasses, pretending to examine one of the nets. He watched as Eli knelt beside her, too close for Brendan's comfort.

"So, we're having another party Wednesday. I wanted to invite you personally, see if I could show you what I've done to the backyard." He grinned, smiling at his own cleverness, licking his lips. He tapped her bare knee once, twice, like they shared some inside joke.

Nia waited for the rush--the feeling that came with being picked--but nothing came. She took his suggestion in, rolling it around in her mind. She had no interest in hooking up with him again, but she could feel Brendan's gaze on her. He had gone out of his way to treat her like shit all practice, and Eli here was giving her the perfect revenge.

"What time? Or should I come over early and check out the yard before everyone gets there and messes it up?" she cooed, laying it on--but not too thick. She reached out and slid a couple of her fingers down Eli's hard chest, feeling nothing but the desire to piss Brendan off. He let out a small grunt of approval before tapping her chin with a shit-eating grin on his face.

"Come at 7," he said, standing up with his legs spread slightly, looking down at her.

Brendan's mind snapped, and he could almost hear Eli's voice describing Nia on her knees, sucking his dick. Fuck. His voice came out louder than he intended, angry.

"Rookies, clear the field," Brendan said, his voice cutting through all conversations. He didn't look at Eli. Just Nia. "That includes you."

He watched the handful of girls start moving toward the equipment. He should have controlled himself better, but the moment Eli touched her, he lost that little bit of control he was holding. He wanted to do more and was barely containing his desires. And when he watched her obediently trot off with the others, he knew he wasn't done with her yet.

That night, Nia was halfway through the third chapter of her psych homework when her phone lit up with his name popping up.

Brendan: you busy?

She stared at the screen. Thought about ignoring it.

Then typed back: homework

His reply came almost instantly: come outside.

She hesitated, sitting on her bed, letting her legs swing absentmindedly.

Why would I go? she asked herself. Her mind flashed to how good it felt to be in Brendan's arms. Idiot, off course you're going to go, she thought, as she pulled her green hoodie over her tank top and black spandex shorts.

He sat out front in his silver Land Rover. She climbed inside without saying a word, adding to the tense silence. He must have noticed she had goosebumps all over her legs because he turned the heat up, being sure the vents were turned on her. Then he turned the sound down on the radio. Neither knew where to begin or what to say. At the first stoplight, he finally glanced over at her. Her brow was a bit furrowed, her lips pressed together.

"Do you want to talk?" he muttered.

"Talk?" She crossed her arms, glancing at him. "Now you want to talk? Was acting like an asshole for me or for Lauryn's benefit?"

"It has nothing to do with her. I ended it on Saturday." The light turned green.

"So you just wanted to be extra dickish?"

"Nia," he breathed, "I thought I was making it less obvious how I feel. If everyone can see even the smallest bit of how I feel around you, they'd all know."

"Know what?" Nia turned her body slightly away from him.

"That I'm crazy about you," he said, raising his voice just slightly. He waited, gripping the steering wheel tight for her to respond. Nothing.

They sat in silence until he pulled into a small apartment complex. His place was clean, simple, and masculine. The room was filled with shades of dark gray and blue. She could tell that everything had its place. Even the lacrosse trophies on the mantel were arranged in height order and the photo of the golden lab sat neatly in the center.

He sat on the couch in the center of his living room, waiting for her. She sat at the edge, unwilling to sit too close. He leaned his elbows on his knees, and she noticed his biceps flex just a little before he spoke.

"I shouldn't have been that way with you, and I'm sorry." He caught her eye and tried to hold it. She looked away, squirming a bit on the sofa. She wanted to believe him, forgive him, and throw her arms around him. Jesus. She shifted back toward him.

"I want to believe you."

"I'm telling the truth. It's so hard to be around you. I want to touch you, and I know I can't. I don't know how to be."

"I can't be on the team." He wanted to feel surprised, but he knew. They couldn't be in the same space like that.

"And don't take all the credit for it either. I don't want to stay in a space where no one sees me."

"Not no one," he protested.

She paused to make eye contact with him. Did he see her? Did he really? They both asked themselves. They sat quietly, each taking their time to think of what to say or do next. Nia felt freer now that she was sure she wouldn't be back on the field.

"So you're quitting on me, but showing up to that freshman's party?" He'd had it on his mind since he picked her up. He'd been waiting.

Nia laughed in a high, tinkly way. Brendan looked over at her, enjoying the sound he didn't get to hear much. It was a damn shame he didn't make her smile or laugh more. He ought to.

"You're worried about Eli? I don't care about him at all. It just felt a little kismet to show you some guys still want me."

"Still want you?" he pushed closer to her, pulling her body toward him and crossing the space between them in one motion.

"Jesus, Nia, I want you all the time. I can't get through one work assignment without thinking about how much I want you."

She felt like she couldn't catch her breath. Then he pressed his lips against hers. He used his momentum to push her backward. His hand cradled her head before it hit the couch. He raised up slightly so she could slide her foot out of her sandals and move her leg around him.

His hardness immediately found her warm center, and he moved his hips, letting it grind into her. He kept kissing her too, letting his tongue explore her mouth, then letting softer kisses feather down her neck.

"Brendan," she sighed his name and let her nails gently trace up and down his back. She reached into his pants from the back, untucking his shirt and pulling it up and off. When she tossed it to the ground, she found him sitting halfway up, his dark hair a bit mussed, and a mischievous grin on his face.

"Oh, she's getting into it," he teased as she took in his muscled body. His body wasn't overly defined, but you could still tell he was strong.

She suppressed her own smile, crossing her arms at her waist and pulling her hoodie and top off, revealing her lack of a bra. His mouth formed into a lazy "O" as he took in her naked flesh.

"What?" she asked with a sense of insecurity.

"What?" he repeated back to her as he began to play with her nipples. She gasped, feeling a tingle between her legs.

"What even is this body?" he said as he leaned forward and took one of her nipples into his mouth.

She let her head fall back with pleasure. He sucked her harder into his mouth. His hand hastily pulled her shorts and panties down. His belt felt cold and hard against her tender skin.

"Take it off," she whispered into his ear as he began sucking her nipples with increased suction.

He let her nipple pop out of his mouth before reaching down to remove his belt and pants. He pulled her up to a seated position on the couch, her legs on either side of his body as he knelt in front of her.

"I want this," he said as he sucked her nipple into his mouth again holding her back so she was tight against him.

"I want you here with me. Doing this," he kissed her lips as they broke into a smile.

"I want to be here," his fingers slid lower and deeper between her thighs.

"I want you, Nia. Give me a chance."

He pushed his fingers inside of her, pumping them slowly in and out. Nia gripped the couch with both hands as she indulged in his hot mouth on her nipple and skilled fingers inside of her. She felt her hips begin to rock against him. She wanted this too. Wanted him. She didn't know where this would lead, but it felt too good to stop. She wrapped her arms around Brendan's head as he continued to suckle on her. She pulled away a bit, eliciting a low growl from him.

"I want you inside me now." She leaned her body back, spreading her legs wider.

Brendan grabbed his wallet, pulling the condom out swiftly. Then, with an even louder growl, Brendan took his cue, grabbing her ankles to pull her delectable pussy toward him.

"Say it again," he held her lower body down and still his palm.

"I want you inside--" before she could finish, he slammed into her, relishing in her warmth and that little sound she let out when he entered her. He let his blue-eyed gaze penetrate her while his dick pumped into her.

"Oh fuck, you feel so good." He grabbed her ass, pushing further into her like he couldn't get deep enough. Nia wrapped her legs tighter around him, letting him take control of her body's movement.

"Yes, Brendan." She was louder than she meant to be, but her whole body was vibrating, like she was shimmering from the inside. She came hard on his dick, and he held her even tighter, pounding into her even faster until he followed her lead and came.

"Shit," he breathed out, still deep inside her. She could feel his dick twitching inside of her. They were both breathing fast, holding onto each other's sweaty bodies. He pulled out of her softly, throwing the condom away as he lifted her off the couch and carried her to his bedroom. Nia's head lay against his chest as he gently deposited her on the dark blue comforter before climbing in beside her.

"This could be good for us, something new," he said, kissing her shoulder.

A shiver ran through her body. A new start for her, yes--but what was new for him, she wondered. He pulled her closer, and she let his heat hypnotize her, her eyes closing, their breathing steady as she let her mind take a rest.