Page 71 of Jackrabbit

“Exactly,” Beau said. “I'm your coach. It's unethical.”

“Why, because I pay you?” Colt scoffed, crossing his arms. “Try again.”

“I'm your boss!”

“Right, andyoupayme? Funny. Haven't seen a cent.” Shaking his head, Colt took a step to the side and back, that restlessness thrumming. “If anything we're each other's hobby, Beau. Give me a better reason.”

“I'm fifteen years older,” Beau tried, though he was struggling to meet Colt’s gaze.

“Last year, I spent three weeks on a beach railing some sixty-eight-year-old man who’d lost his wife and didn’t want to take a vacation alone.” Colt snortedat the expression on Beau’s face. “Oh, come on. Don’t be a prude. I’m just saying age doesn’t matter to me, alright?”

“Colt—”

“Give me a real reason.”

“Kendrick—”

“Nope.”

“The shop—”

“Yeah, no. Try again.”

“Because I can't live with myself knowing I fucking groomed you!” The words ripped out of him with all the desperation of a man drowning, raw and terrified, and he finally looked into Colt's eyes just in time for them to shutter entirely.

The silence stretched between them as the parking lot lights clicked on and buzzed. Colt was working his jaw, staring at Beau like he wasn't sure whether to lay him out or walk away.

“Groomed me?” Colt’s brows drew together. “Fuck, Beau. I’m almost thirty years old. Are you serious right now?”

“I knew what I was doing to you every time I told you how good you were.” Beau ran his hand down his mouth to his chin. “For weeks I—”

“And the first time I got a fucking hard-on listening to you praise me was the second time you ever brought me to the gym,” Colt snapped. He paced away, took a deep breath and came back. “Do you have any idea how insulting it is that you just said that to me? Groomed me!”

“Whether you pay me or not, Iamyour coach,” Beau insisted. “The power dynamic—”

“I'm not inhigh school!”

“It doesn't matter!”

“God, you really do think I'm just some idiot kid.” Colt scrubbed his face and let out a frustrated little growl. “That's so wrong, Beau. I thought at theveryleast you respected me. But, Jesus. You think I'm so fucking naive that I don't even know what I want?”

“I do respect you.” Beau’s eyes were stinging, his heart racing. This had gone pear-shaped so goddamn fast, and he'd just hurt Coltagain.“If I didn't, we wouldn't be here right now. It's not about you, or what you did. It's about me.”

“Beau, I just spent thirty minutes eye-fucking you while you tried to pretend nothing was happening.” Colt threw up his hands. “I've got a plug up my ass and lube in my gym bag, and you're going to stand there and tell me straight to my face that you think you're responsible for that?”

All the blood rushed from Beau’s head to settle, hot and demanding, right in his gut. A plug. Lube. The image hit him like a physical blow—Colt, prep-warm and waiting. It was the hottest thing anyone had ever said to him, and he was the lowest kind of predator for even thinking about it.

"You're talkin' real big, boy," Beau said, his voice tight with something jagged. "You think standin' there tellin' me how you've prepared your body for me makes this better? It makes it worse. It means I’ve let this go so far you’ve spent your private time fixin' to be ruined by your coach.”

“Ruined.” Colt let out the quietest, most savage little growl as he stepped into Beau's space. “Jesus, Beau, I'm not asking you to fucking marry me. I'm asking you to fuck me. That's literally it. Ruin me. You think you can ruin me after who and what I've done? You—”

Colt had more to say, pressing his lips together like the words were trying to claw their way out. And Beau should leave it. He should get in his truck and drive Colt’s fool ass home so they could pretend this never happened.

He stepped forward into Colt’s space. “I what, Colt? You got somethin’ else to say to me? Go ahead and say it.”

Colt tipped his jaw back. “I've had men who make anything you could possibly do to me look like a goddamn game, Beau. Like a tea party. You growl and throw your weight around and touch my throat—you think any of thatscares me? It's G-rated. You think you could ruin me?” Scoffing, Colt crossed his arms. “I'd like to see you try.”

Enough.