“You can come out,” Jesse said flatly. “They’re outside now.”

I poked my head out from the blankets. He grinned at me as he was zipping up his jeans, a Grant West University sports blazer on top. Then he disappeared into the bathroom and I heard water running.

I exhaled. Holy smokes. When the realization of what had almost happened settled over me, my arms shook a little. I couldn’t believe a bunch of Jesse’s teammates had almost seen me naked, and in his bed. Well, they did see me in bed, but not the naked part. And I was hoping Cord and his two friends wouldn’t put two and two together, but who was I kidding?

Jesse came back out, a slight whiff of outdoor cologne clung to him; his hair glistening with gel.

Oh dear goodness. I swallowed over a very dry throat again. I was reminded how dangerously attractive he could be at times. And now, with his angular cheekbones, his glossy black hair, the scent of pine trees, and how his blazer molded perfectly from his broad shoulders to his trim waist… I had to hold onto the bed so I didn’t pull him back down.

I wanted to, almost too much now. I licked my lips at the lustful thoughts that swirled in my head.

He flashed me a grin before he tossed the same key card from before at me. It landed beside the pile of clothes he had tossed earlier. “I’d invite you to come with, but it’s a team thing.”

I flashed him a look. Like I would want to have breakfast with all those guys, knowing they knew what I’d been doing an hour before.

“So,” my voice was so husky. I flushed in embarrassment.

Jesse smirked now.

I tried to clear my throat. “What are you doing for the day?” It didn’t work.

He dropped his arms to his sides and straightened from the wall. Then he stalked towards me. I swallowed over the huge lump in my throat. My lips were dry again. He got closer. Oh goodness. No one should look that lethal in only jeans and a blazer. Slowly, so slowly, he leaned down so his face was inches from mine. Both of his hands rested on the bed on either side of me and he held himself there. His lips brushed against mine as he spoke, “Lots and lots of sex.”

My heart was pounding.

“Really?” I squeaked out.

Then his lips moved into a perfect smile. “What are you doing today?”

“Wha—” But I stopped. I reached up and took hold of the back of his hair.

He tensed, waiting.

I started to sit up. He moved back, but stopped when I applied pressure on his hair. Now I was on my knees. The bed comforter was the only thing that covered me. It was tucked under my arm, but as I lifted myself up and pressed against him, it started to slip. His eyes darkened, but he didn’t move. I didn’t let him. And then I grinned. My lips brushed against his. His breathing grew shallow and I felt his heart pick up its pace. It thumped against me. And then I whispered, caressing him at the same time, “Lots and lots of—”

A pounding on the door stopped me. The same guy yelled through it, “Come on, man! You already banged her. Let’s go!”

A mask of fury came over him quickly. He tore himself away from me and was out the door in a second.

“Hey—what the—?”

There was a loud crash against the wall. One of the pictures that’d been hanging up was knocked off its nail from the movement. It crashed to the floor.

“Hey-hey!”

“Hey, man—”

And then someone punched someone.

“Ow!”

“Holy shit!”

“Hey, hey—”

There was more movement in the hallway, more punches were shared, and another crash against the wall.

Jesse’s door was slammed shut. It was loud and sudden. I jumped from the tension and staggered to my feet. Now it was my turn to quickly dress. I pushed my arm through a sleeve, cursed when it caught and ripped a hole, but hurried to finish dressing. When I pulled my jeans up and my fingers couldn’t snap the button, I cursed again, and then pushed my hair out of my eyes. I wanted to chop it off at that moment.

I couldn’t let him get hurt, not because of me.

I reached for the handle, ready to yank it open when a loud voice boomed outside. “What THE HELL is going on out here?”

All the fighting stopped.

“Hey, Coach…” a voice strangled out.

“Hunt?”

“Yeah, Coach?”

I heard the hostility that was still in Jesse’s voice.

“Camden?”

A grunt was his response.

“You two, in Hunt’s room. Now.”

I sucked in my breath.

“Uh, Coach…”

“Now!” he barked.

I heard Jesse’s groan and grabbed my bag. Then I looked for a hiding spot. What the hell was I doing? I had no idea, but this was beyond embarrassing. I snatched my bra from the dresser and threw myself into the closet, just as the door opened again.

I could see through the crack between the doors. Jesse was the first one in. He paused as he scanned the room, then he hesitated to go further in.

“Hunt, let’s go.” The impatience from his coach was evident. “We don’t have all day and I don’t want my two best shooters to be fighting. I want this fixed and I want it done now. Camden, sit your ass down.”

He grunted again, and passed Jesse.

I couldn’t see where they all sat, but Jesse stood by the counter. I could see him clearly; he kept glancing towards the bathroom.

“Okay.” The coach let out a deep sigh. “What the hell is going on between you two?”

“Coach, he came out of nowhere—”

“Don’t give me that bullshit, Camden. I heard what you said to him. My room’s across the hall and if I had a girl I cared about and you said the same thing, I’d beat the shit out of you too. This has been going on for awhile now. I want it dealt with, now.”

Jesse’s shoulders dropped down. He sounded regretful. “He’s got a problem with me—”

“He’s a f**king freshman and he acts as if he’s the entire team, Coach.” Camden was on his feet now. I saw his shadow grow in size. “I’m the captain. I call the shots—”

“I call the shots. Now sit down, Camden.”

He didn’t.

The coach stood now. His tone took an authority that made me grip my bag tighter. “You will sit down now, Camden. Now!”