Lucia Franco

The room stilled as Kova tilted his head to the side. Pensive eyes stared down at me, and I felt myself falling into a bottomless pit. He had my full attention, I couldn't look away. He was sucking me dry, feeding off my emotion. And truthfully, I didn't want to look any other way but his. I wanted him to see I wasn't kidding about my future.

Kova ran his tongue along his bottom lip and I tracked the movement. Something clicked between us, an understanding only someone as ambitious as us could identify with. It was there. I felt it, and the look his emerald eyes penetrated me with told me he did too. I hadn't realized it, and I didn’t think he did either, but at some point in time during our conversation, Kova had stopped stretching me. One hand was now half on my waist, half on the table. His other hand cupped the back of my leg, nearly holding onto the crease of my ass. I didn't remember him moving them, but I liked it. The tips of his fingers pressed into my inner thigh and caused a rush of heat to sear me. They were dangerously close to my sex and I swallowed as a throb resonated in my core.

I breathed in deeply, the way Kova taught me. One small move and he’d touch me where no one had ever touched me before. I didn't know which was worse, wanting to feel his fingers there or the fact that I didn't find the action repulsive.
I parted my leg slightly and looked in the direction of his hand. Kova followed my gaze, and swiftly pulled away, clenching his eyes shut.

My breathing deepened.
Hayden stood to his full height, stepping in closer between my legs so his waist was pressed to the countertop. My lips parted, a breath rolling off as he stared deeply into my eyes. His hand carefully cupped my cheek, his fingers holding my jaw steady. I swallowed when his eyes traveled to my mouth, his head dipping down just inches away from closing the distance.
"You're so pretty when you laugh, Aid," he whispered, his nose rubbing mine. Goose bumps broke out across my skin. "Your whole face lights up," he added, this time against my lips as his hand slipped into the back of my hair, kneading my head. "You can make fun of me all you want if it makes you laugh the way you just did."
He closed the short distance and pressed his lips to mine, soft and gentle. My heart pounded, unsure what to think of this moment.
Tenderly, he pulled my bottom lip into his mouth and nibbled on it. I gave in with only a slight hesitation. A simmering heat washed over me when his warm tongue slipped inside and met mine.
I moaned, liking Hayden's kiss. It was completely unexpected and I wasn't sure what to think. Not that I could—or wanted to. Leaning into him, I pressed my chest to his,

my back arched and my hands came up to his firm shoulders before sliding into his chalky hair. Even with the fabric of my shirt between us, the heat of his bare skin against mine was heavenly.
Hayden deepened the kiss as I tugged on his hair, and my thighs squeezed his hips, feeling pleasure streaming through my body. Our mouths mimicked each other's, our tongues dancing perfectly as a sweet bliss hit both of us.
Hayden was a damn fine kisser.
And I had a pretty good idea he knew when he pulled me closer. He took control and set the pace, and I allowed it. There was no space between us, my legs wrapped around his back, and my heels pressed into him, wanting to feel him closer to me.
Hayden's mouth became aggressive. Pleasure flowed through my body, starting from my head down to the tips of my toes. A blaze of warmth steadily grew between us and we both drew from it. I'd kissed a couple boys before, but Hayden's kiss belonged in another league.
My hands moved from his hair down his neck and onto his firm pecks, skimming over his honey colored skin. He exuded strength beneath my touch, and I wanted to feel every inch of his body. Moving to his hips, the back of my knuckles danced over the V that dipped into his sweatpants. His stomach twitched, and he squeezed me just a little tighter. Sliding around to his back, I cupped his round ass.

Everyone had gone home for the evening and here I was, stuck in the gym after hours, waiting on Coach for one of his "not stretching, but stretching" drills. I rolled my eyes hearing his voice inside my head saying it.
"I hope that eye roll was not for me," Kova stated, swiftly walking past me. I had no idea where the hell he came from. The man loved to appear out of thin air.

Kova strode over to where I was standing. He captured my gaze and stood inches from me, placing his hands on my biceps.
Affection laced his voice as he said, "If you need me, all you have to do is say something. That is what I am here for, Ria."

Even after hours of training gymnasts, I could still smell the faint scent of his spicy cologne.
"You will only set yourself back if you do not use what is readily available to you. Me."
Him?

I bit the inside of my lip. He was right. "I just try not to ask too many questions, you know? I like to show I can do things on my own."
He raised a brow and countered me. "You?" A sexy grin slowly appeared on his face and my cheeks grew hot. "You love to talk back. Is it not almost the same thing as asking questions?"

My lips parted as we stared into each other's eyes, unsure what to think. This man was beyond confusing, and his touch left me with questions. Questions I had about myself and my reaction to him. Thing was, I began to like