"Someone might see us," she whispers into my face as if I didn't know that.
"You're the only woman I want, Gabrielle," I say, looking directly at her, still holding her body in my arms. "Don't you ever forget that."
Her eyes go round in surprise. I guess not because of what I said, but because I wasn't afraid to admit it.
"And now let's start our practice." I smile at her, loosening my grip slightly, trying to understand if she's able to stay on her feet.
I may be fired for what I’m doing, but when I’m holding the most beautiful woman in the world in my arms, I don’t care.
Chapter Sixteen
Alex
It's been a week since our kiss, but I can't stop thinking about those lips even for a second. I didn't try to kiss her again; I know it's forbidden. After that practice, I apologized for putting her career in danger like that. She said that she's not offended because I'm the one who could be fired.
She's right as always, but I don’t care about my job. All I can think about are those two months that I have to spend as a coach in this school, after which Gabi will graduate, and I will be able to kiss her until her lips are swollen. No, even if they hurt, I'll still continue kissing her.
And I am ready to wait as long as it takes to be with the only girl I want. Until then, we’ve agreed to stay professional. Even though it's hard for me to even think about her, much less see her. Two years with no sex when you think you're impotent is nothing compared to two months of looking at an almost naked girl you desperately want but cannot have. It's pure torture.
Today is her birthday and I prepared something special. I know it's risky for us to be alone but I can't help myself. Luckily, it's Friday, and school is over two hours earlier than usual. I can't wait to see her.
I look at my phone and see a message from Gabi.
Can't come today; feel sick.
I immediately call her back, but she already turned her phone off. I take a look at her house, realizing that she must have fallen asleep.
I decide to wait a couple of hours before going to check on her. If she feels bad, I should get her to the doctor. The moment I think about it, I see her coming out on her terrace in a bikini, ready to start swimming in her pool.
Since we renewed our practice, she’s stopped getting up early and swimming in her own pool. I told her not to do that if she doesn't want to burn out.
I was supposed to leave about half an hour ago, and she knows that. I always leave my house earlier than I should, while she's usually ten minutes late. But I took today off to spend more time with Gabi. I thought we would practice for a couple of hours and then go straight to the yacht club.
That means she lied to me that she's sick, thinking that I had already left for school.
I'm sitting on the terrace, peeping through the holes between the bushes. She looks up at my house, and I take a breath. She doesn't notice me and turns away.
I fight the urge to go to her, but when she bypasses the pool and heads toward the rocks, I get up from my seat and rush to her. No way is she going to jump. I rush to her.
But she takes a seat on the edge of the rock, exactly the way she did that day when I came to apologize. I exhale with relief when I see that. She turns to look in my direction, and our eyes meet.
"You never give up, do you?" she asks without reproach.
"I wouldn't be a champion if I did," I say with a smile and come closer. "May I?"
I ask for permission to take a seat next to her, and she nods silently, turning her face to the ocean.
We simply stare at the deep blue water for a couple of minutes, absolutely calm and peaceful today. It's too early, so there are not many people out there on the beach. I hear birds' cries and dogs barking, and I remind myself how lucky I am to feel what I am feeling right now.
To feel alive again.
Chapter Seventeen
Alex
"Why aren't you at school? You were supposed to leave fifteen minutes ago." She breaks the silence and turns to look at me.
"Thirty, to be precise," I say with a smile. "I wanted us to have a practice outside."