Seducing The Grumpy Campus Coach

Now youre scared? The campus jock had me pinned against the wall, his body close, his voice a low, gravelly rasp against my ear.

You were so eager to flirt. Didn't you think about the consequences?

I wasnt flirting. I denied it, straining to breathe, my heart hammering a chaotic rhythm.

No? He clearly didn't believe me. "We're adults, Calla. You own your actions."

Oh god, what was I supposed to do?

"Strike three, Calla Jansen. How many times is this now?"

He grabbed me by the collar of my jersey, lifting me like a kitten, choking the life out of my impending freedom. The exit gate was just a single, agonizing step away, but I couldn't reach it.

I flailed, desperately trying to twist out of his iron grip.

I was going crazy. Why did Lachlan Shaw always manage to catch me every single time I tried to sneak off campus?

It baffled me. I couldn't figure out the surveillance setup, but if I didn't get out soon, the boredom of this intense pre-season soccer camp would actually kill me.

Why were we locked down for a whole month just for training? It was archaic.

"Lachlan" I turned my most pathetic gaze on the man behind me, clasping my hands together in a plea. "Just this once? I swear, its the last time!"

Lachlan wasnt buying it. He let out a dry, dismissive scoff. "Calla, that's what you said last time."

"I mean it! If theres a next time, you can call me Shirley." I thumped my chest dramatically, raising a hand in a solemn oath, trying to look trustworthy.

The corner of his mouth curved up, crinkling the skin at the edge of his eyes. His facealready unfairly handsomelooked even more devastating with the hint of a smile. But right now, it just terrified me. I swallowed hard.

Lachlan bent closer, and I instinctively leaned back.

"That's a weak promise, Calla," he murmured. "Why would I ever call you Shirley?"

I paused. He had a point. My pathetic little promise had no teeth.

Just as I was scrambling for a better guarantee, Lachlan cut me off, his resolve clear. "Rules are rules. Once the camp is over, you can spend a whole day off campus. I won't stop you."

I refused to accept defeat and tried one last, dying gasp of a negotiation. But before I could get a word out, he shut me down with another threat. "Maybe the drills aren't intense enough. You still have the energy to try and run away."

"If they're too easy, I can always double the running for your entire squad tomorrow."

Seriously? The man was completely unreasonable.

I immediately snapped my head up. I was not going to be the reason my teammates had to do suicide sprints. I bowed a full ninety degrees. "Coach! I was wrong! I'm heading back to the dorm now. See you around!"

With that, I bolted, terrified that even a moment longer in his presence would lead to consequences for my friends.

This pre-season camp was mandatory, a brutal month of daily drills and lectures. The main rule was no unauthorized leave. Lachlan, a graduate student and former star player, was the assistant coach assigned to my team.

Which is why the entire campus seemed to be under his personal jurisdiction.

But I strongly suspected Lachlan was deliberately targeting me.

Every time I tried to slip away, hed materialize like an angry spirit, a personalized surveillance system attached to my back.

What made it worse? He even policed my love life.

A cute guy from the track team asked for my Instagram handle the other day. I instantly lit up. Handsome strangers are a rarity around here. I was about to open my profile for him when Lachlan appeared out of nowhere and yanked me away.

When I demanded to know what he was doing, he actually said, "Time for training. Get back to the field."

I checked my watch, furious. We still had an hour before the next session! What were we supposed to be doing so early? Sunbathing?

I glared at him, then whipped my head around to find the track guy, but he was gone.

"Lachlan Shaw! You owe me a dating prospect!" I yelled, stomping my foot. I didn't even care that he was my coach; I used his full name.

He just smiled. "Fine."

The next morning, I found a hideous, obviously fake bouquet of plastic roses taped to my dorm door.

I was so angry I tossed them directly into the nearest trash can.

Lachlan, your love life is a pathetic imitation of the real thing! May all your future relationships be as fake as these roses!

I had no idea what I had done to incur his constant antagonism.

I spent my evenings soul-searching, but aside from my desire to escape the suffocating campwhich was a perfectly rational desireI couldn't identify any other transgression.

I simply did not understand.

In a fit of pique, I spent a week reworking the toxic male antagonist in my current novel, giving him Lachlans exact name and an equally infuriating personality. I had been struggling to name the character, but now the inspiration flowed freely.

Even my readers seemed to pick up on the vitriol. A comment on the latest chapter read: Somethings up with this 'Lachlan Shaw.' Did the author hate this guy in real life? Usually your villains are complex, both pitiful and awful, but this one is just pure awful.

My readers understood me completely.

I didn't reply, but my best friend, Tess Sullivan, commented on my behalf: Haters to lovers, anyone?

I tried to stop her, but it was too late. Disaster.

My readers instantly started shipping us.

Every day, the comments were flooded with: How's the real-life Lachlan doing?

Wait! What about my status? Where did my authority go?

I was even more determined to despise him.

I rested my chin on my palm, gazing out the window of the off-campus coffee shop (a rare, illegal indulgence), nursing my iced latte. I sighed a long, dramatic sigh.

Only two more weeks left of camp. Under Lachlan's watchful eye, I didn't dare slack off; in fact, I had to work even harder than everyone else.

To mess up would be both humiliating and painful. When you're dependent on a tyrant, you have to walk on eggshells.

Tess took a long sip of her bubble tea, seeing my distress. She laughed. "What? Still thinking about Lachlan?"

I gave a short, noncommittal sound.

"I knew it." Tess's eyes crinkled with smug success. "Lachlan is hot. Of course you're hung up on him."

"No!" I finally protested, gently pinching her arm, my cheeks feeling warm. "I'm just annoyed that training isn't over yet. I want to escape his grasp."

"Are you sure you don't feel anything?" Tess leaned closer, pressing me. "He's the campus heartthrob. Soccer captain. The girls who like him could circle the entire field."

"Look." Tess pointed to the campus field a short distance away. The air was filled with cheers and shouts. "Most of those girls are here for Lachlan."

I barely heard Tess. A different thought was forming in my mind: If I couldn't escape his grasp, maybe I could disarm him. How could I make him go easy on me?

What if I made Lachlan like me?

The idea settled into my mind. It was brilliant. This was a much better solution. I had never failed to get a guy's attention. A tiny challenge like Lachlan Shaw couldn't possibly be my match.

I'd make him regret ever messing with a girl like me.

No sooner had the thought solidified than I sprang to my feet. Tess was startled. "What is it?"

"Back to the dorm to put on some makeup and a killer outfit," I announced, finishing the last of my latte and tossing the cup. "I'm going to pursue Lachlan Shaw."

Tess was stunned. She hurried to catch up. "You figured that out fast!"

I looked toward the field where Lachlan was running a drill, and a new wave of determination solidified. I nodded.

I swapped my camp uniform for a slinky sundress, applied a subtle layer of makeup, and headed to the campus market for a bottle of water and a fresh towel. I found an empty seat in the stadium stands.

When I saw Lachlan take a break, I immediately called his cell phone.

The moment he picked up, I launched into my plan.

"Coach!" I chirped, making my voice extra sweet. "Could you do me a favor?"

"I made a bet with some classmates yesterday. The deal was: if I gave you water and a towel and you accepted it, they owe me fifty bucks. If you refuse, I owe them. Please help me out!"

I watched as Lachlan smiled, looking down at his phone. "What's in it for me?"

"Hmm" I pretended to think deeply. "How about we use that fifty dollars to grab dinner? I heard that new Korean BBQ place downtown is amazing. Want to try it?"

He was silent for a moment, taking a slow drink from his own water bottle. Then, slowly, he replied, "Okay."

"Awesome, Coach. See you after the next half." I hung up, smiling triumphantly.

Of course, there was no bet. It was a complete lie.

I waited until practice was over and was gathering my things to go down and deliver the goods when I looked up and saw Lachlan was already sitting beside me.

His face was suddenly inches from mine. I was caught completely off guard, staring right into his eyes. The faint, salty smell of sweat mixed with his colognethe scent of pure male adrenalinehit me, making my heart flutter inexplicably faster.

I shivered, completely startled.

He moved silently. Like a predator.

He extended his hand, beckoning for the water in my grasp.

I tried to act nonchalant, handing him the bottle. I could feel dozens of eyes on us now, along with the rising tide of whispering.

I felt certain they were talking about me.

I hadn't planned for my grand gesture to be quite this public!

"I said I was going to bring it down to you, so why did you come all the way up here?" I whispered through gritted teeth, suddenly feeling incredibly guilty.

"It's more efficient," Lachlan said, taking the towel to wipe his neck. "It saves me the trouble of having to reject other people. Saves my breath."

It might save him trouble, but I was probably going to be the hot topic on the campus message board for the next three days.

No, wait, I was probably already being dissected by every girl with a smartphone.

I hated him. I was even more convinced he did this on purpose.

No!

I couldn't back down now!

"Lost in thought?" Lachlan waved his hand in front of my face.

I snapped out of my stupor and looked at him blankly.

Lachlan's lips quirked. "You're totally zoning out. I said I'm free tonight. Just let me change first."

I nodded dumbly.

Before he left, he added, "And don't sit out in the sun. Your face is already bright red."

Once he was gone, I frantically touched my cheeks. They were burning. I took out my compact mirror and saw that the heat was rising through my foundation.

No, no, this wasn't right.

It had to be the sun.

We settled into a booth at the Korean BBQ. We hadn't been there long when a whole team of guys rolled in.

That would have been fine, except they immediately started yelling "Ma'am!" and "Future Mrs. Shaw!"

Me: ???

Don't call me that! We hadn't even had a first date!

But I couldn't deny, I kind of liked the sound of it.

I played the role of the shy, flustered girlfriend, a lamb ready for slaughter, but they only lingered for a moment before Lachlan shooed them away.

I ate my food, my mind racing, trying to figure out what my next move should be to truly reel this man in.

I still hadn't figured out a surefire plan by the time we finished dinner. Just then, I overheard someone talking about the Campus Fall Fest. This gave me an idea. To keep him around longer, I suggested we check out the festival.

The closer we got to the quad, the denser the crowd became.

I seized my chance, grabbing his hand and pulling him forward. "We have to hurry! We need to get a good spot!"

As I spoke, I lightly dragged my index finger across his palm.

I ran a few steps, then glanced back. I realized the hand I was holding belonged to Lachlan, and I instantly let go, feigning embarrassment. "Oh, sorry! I was so excited, I just instinctively grabbed your hand like I would my girlfriend's."

It was a total performance.

The light was dim; I couldn't make out his expression.

But I wasn't worried. Men, after all, simply needed to be slowly tempted and theyd be yours.

We arrived at the stadium quad. It was packed and noisy, but a gentle melody was floating over the crowd. We found a spot near the stage. Just as one song ended, someone yelled Lachlan's name.

We both turned. It was the guy who had just performed.

"Didn't you say you were busy tonight?" the singer asked. Then he noticed me standing next to Lachlan. He paused, then gave an exaggerated wink, thumping Lachlan's chest. "Betrayal, Shaw! You're breaking the bro code."

"Well, since you're here, play a song before you leave."

Lachlan couldn't refuse. He went up on stage and performed.

He chose a mellow acoustic songsomething like The Atlas Ghosts' track, "Momentum."

He played the guitar, the stage lights bathing him in a soft, ethereal glow, making him so radiant I couldn't tear my eyes away.

"I thought Id be drifting," he sang.

"Leaving all my looking back to the sunrise."

""

That was a song I'd recently shared on my social media.

I stared at him, and he met my gaze. His eyes were filled with a tenderness that made my heart pound wildly.

I couldn't help but wonder: Was this the same Lachlan Shaw who put us through hell during drills this morning?

He felt like a completely different person.

The event was winding down, and it was getting late. I told him I needed to head back. Lachlan nodded and walked me to my dorm building.

Before leaving, I clasped my hands behind my back, tilted my head, and offered a sweet, innocent smile. "Coach, you were amazing tonight."

Then I took a step closer to him, looking up into his dark eyes, my smile genuine this time. My voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, meant only for him. "And you also looked kind of hot."

Oh, I was good.

The next morning at practice, I felt a new surge of confidence. I wasn't sure if it was my imagination, but he seemed a little kinder to me today.

He smiled more frequently, too.

Still, the revolution wasn't over. I had to keep working.

I learned that apart from the weekend pickup games, Lachlan spent most of his free afternoons in the library.

So, clutching a few textbooks, I followed him.

After checking two floors, I finally found him tucked away in a quiet corner on the third floor.

I placed my books next to his stack and took out a pen.

He looked up, gave me a small, acknowledging nod, and went back to his work.

I sat down, twirling my pen, pretending to study. The truth was, my mind was elsewhere, and I hadn't absorbed a single word.

My pen slipped and clattered to the floor, landing exactly between our seats.

I froze. A brilliant plan immediately formed in my mind. This is perfect.

I waited for him to retrieve it.

Sure enough, a second later, Lachlan bent down to pick it up. I bent down at the exact same moment, and our hands brushed against the pen simultaneously.

The backs of our hands were touching. Our heads were close.

I looked at him, and the world seemed to go silent.

I was riding a wave of smug satisfaction. How could you not be into me, Lachlan? Im gorgeous and smart. Just fall for it already.

Fall for it, fall for it, fall for it.

To my confusion, he instantly released the pen and stood up, leaving me to grab it myself.

I was baffled. Why did Lachlan bail on the trope? This was not how it was supposed to play out.

"Calla Jansen, come with me." Lachlan's voice was suddenly devoid of any of the warmth from the night before.

He stood up and walked away.

A strange feeling of dread washed over me, but I meekly followed. I frantically tried to figure out if I had accidentally made him angry. He didn't seem like the type to get petty over a clumsy attempt at flirting, though.

Before I knew it, he had led me to a deserted corner of the stacks. He abruptly slammed his hand down on the table right next to my waist, trapping me between the surface and his body. He leaned in close, staring down at me.

Crap. I looked into his eyes and instantly realized I had walked right into a trap.

I was too scared to move, swallowing hard. "C-Coach Shaw."

"Scared now?" Lachlan smiled, a slow, mesmerizing grin that made me hold my breath. His voice was a low, husky rumble. "When you were doing your little dance just now, didn't you think about what would happen next?"

I was caught. "I... I wasn't doing anything."

"Oh? You think I didn't recognize your game?" he challenged, raising a brow.

As he moved closer, the heat of his breath washed over my face. I instinctively leaned back to keep a sliver of distance, and the intensity of the moment made my heart race wildly.

My body was trembling, which was odd. I was a veteran of the dating scene, yet here, facing Lachlan, I completely lost my composure.

"Calla, were both adults here," he stated, his voice firm. "You're going to take responsibility for what you started."

The moment the words left his mouth, a hand cupped the back of my head. The next second, his mouth was on mine, a kiss that was both passionate and deep.

My eyes widened. I couldn't react.

This pace was insane. It was too fast.

"I" I pulled back an inch, trying to say something, anything, but before I could utter a word, he sealed my mouth again.

He claimed my lips, his hand sliding down to the nape of my neck, deftly pulling out the hair elastic. He wrapped the strap around my waist, pulling me tight against him, as if he meant to melt me into his body.

I suddenly recalled the thought from my novel:

The highest-level predator often disguises himself as the prey.

I had walked right into the ambush.