The Pack (The Pack 1)

“Dominic,” I murmured, his name swirling around my head as I tried to fight the emotions it suddenly evoked in me.

“Yep, he was pretty tight lipped when he got home. Wouldn’t even talk to his Dad or Caleb’s dad.” My eyes shot back to hers as she spoke candidly and I wondered what else she might tell me.

“He didn’t tell you anything,” I made it a statement, suddenly knowing it was true. He’d protected us both by not admitting to whatever moment we’d had and I was glad to know the stares directed at me had nothing to do with a teacher student romance.

Not that we had any type of romance going on, I tacked on hastily before my mind got any ideas.

“Nope,” Anna replied instantly, polishing an incredibly sharp nail on her sweater. “Dominic is a gentleman.”

“Nothing happened.” I said sharply, and Anna gave a knowing nod.

“Oh, we’d know if it had.”

I frowned at the mysterious response and she recognized that maybe she’d said too much.

“Gonna be late for class,” she said abruptly, giving me a little wave, further confusing me as she disappeared from view.

I avoided the cafeteria at lunch, instead begging for a library pass with the excuse that I had to do research for a paper. I ate my lunch hiding between the stacks of books and trying to convince myself I wasn’t taking the coward’s way out. When the bell rang, I left the library, hanging a sharp left and ran into a wall. The force was enough to make me bounce back and I would have fallen on my ass if he hadn’t grabbed me at the last second. As his fingers wrapped around my upper arms, heat seared my skin and I knew who my wall was.

“Dominic,” I murmured without thought.

“Jess,” he answered, the sound of my name on his lips sending an unwanted shiver down my spine. A million questions hung suspended from my tongue, but they all dried up as he studied me. I wasn’t sure what he was looking for but coherent thought was difficult to come by when he touched me.

“Are you okay?” He asked and I managed a nod, feeling a bit like a bobble head in his grip.

“Good,” he answered before he nodded and then repeated to himself, “Good.” To which I continued to nod. “Anything unusual happen over the weekend?”

Besides you and that hot as fuck moment?

“No,” I replied, ignoring my internal snark. The bell rang again, breaking our spell as students began to stream around us. “I need to go to class,” I told him, his hands still holding me hostage. He let go so quickly I stumbled and his arm shot out to steady me.

“You sure you’re alright?” He appeared amused by my apparent clumsiness and a retort died on my lips at the sight of his smile. Handsome didn’t begin to cover it, I thought, as his lips curled up revealing straight white teeth. Gorgeous was a little lackluster too. A shout interrupted my attempt to find a word that could describe his looks.

“Coach Dom!”

He eased back, his eyes still watchful as a guy bounded up to us.

“Miller, to what do I owe the pleasure of you shouting my name in the halls?” His wry expression and pointed question stopped Miller in his tracks as I wondered if that was the guy’s first or last name.

“Ahh, yeah,” Miller hesitated, shifting his backpack awkwardly. “Caleb was looking for you.”

“In that case, I’ll overlook your rule breaking. Now, get to class.” He didn’t bother to raise his voice, but Miller shot down the hall at his command. I watched, bemused, as the feeling that I was missing something hit me once again.

Dominic tilted his head toward me, keeping his expression carefully blank, as I walked backwards in the direction of my next class, unwilling to turn my back on him. Instinct warned me I was in the presence of a predator.

For a second, I thought I saw a hint of a smile on his face at my hesitation and my heart reacted, but he controlled his expression, with an abrupt motion turned, and went down the hall, releasing me from his presence.

The rest of the day was a blur as I tried to piece together Anna’s cryptic remarks and Dominic’s presence. He’d made it a point to search me out today and I wasn’t sure if it was concern for me after Friday’s events or something more.

Like he wants to jump your bones? A naughty voice whispered and I shoved the errant thought away. He was older. A coach. Besides that, he was dangerous.

Not to you, the same voice whispered and again I ignored it. He may not have been like the guys who chased me in the woods but the memory of his desire, the control he’d had to exert to let me go, wouldn’t leave me. He might be more civilized but he was still a threat.