No Boundaries

“Understood,” I replied, standing up straight.

“And you need to apologize to Hunter. Make it right, because so help me God, if he hides back in that shell of his because of you, I will skin you alive. Football will be the last thing on your mind. I promise you that.”

“Got it. I’ll see to that now.”

“Good.”

“You done lecturing me now?” I cocked my head to the side.

She was worked up. Her face was red and her breath was as heated as it was last night.

She took a deep intake of air. “Yes.”

“Can we talk about what happened the other night?”

I saw the recognition in her eyes. Damn. In the light of day, they were a beautiful light blue.

She shook her head. “Nothing happened.”

“That’s not how I remember it.” I leaned against the desk, touching her arm lightly as I relaxed now that she had laid down her laws. “I’m here because of you.”

“What?”

I laughed. “I decked the guy, protecting you.”

She wriggled back. “I didn’t tell you to get in a fight,” she whispered. “I never asked for your help.”

“You think I’m going to kiss you. Lick you. Suck

you until you’re ready to come and then let some other fucker put his hands on you?” I leaned toward her, the energy growing between us. “I might not be that good with kids, but there was no way in hell I’d let him hurt you. Do you understand me?”

She nodded.

“Good. I’ll go talk to the kids now.”

I walked out of the room, leaving her speechless.

8

Julie

I had always been a firm believer in not judging a book by its cover, but in Kane Hawkins’ case the cover was great, and it was the past that worried me. Especially when a certain eight-year-old was staring up at him with nothing but complete adoration on his face. If he could pull this type of reaction from a boy who hid within himself ninety-nine percent of the time, then I’d give him a chance.

I turned my back on Hawk and waited for the click of the door before I took a deep breath and let myself relax. It was easy to not notice anything about him while my anger was running hot, but as my temper cooled, I felt myself flushing for a totally different reason.

Never in my life had I been affected by a man’s presence the way Hawk affected me. I went from wanting to murder him with my own bare hands to wanting to rip his clothes off and lick up and down each and every inch of his body.

If he had stayed in the room for ten more seconds, I felt certain that my morals and dignity would have gone out the window and I’d have ended up in a similar position to last night.

It was the eyes. I thought to myself. The darkest of browns, outlined in such a deep shade of brown they almost looked black as the light shone off them. I felt certain he could see straight to the depths of my soul.

It was the same look he gave me the other night when I looked down between my legs and saw his desire and hunger for me. Damn it.

It took almost ten minutes before I felt like myself again and even then, every time I closed my eyes I saw piercing chestnut eyes staring back at me, daring and unapologetic.

That night I had been reckless and irresponsible. I couldn’t let that side of myself emerge again. Not with Hunter involved. I loved that child as if he were my family. I wasn’t going to let the lust I had for Hawk cloud my judgement.

It didn’t matter why he was here. He had been sentenced to serve his public service here with these kids and I wasn’t going to let his flirty, cocky personality knock me off track.