CHAPTER 16 :

“The tyrant grinds down his slaves and they don't turn against him; they crush those beneath him.” — Heathcliff Earnshaw.

I was red with anger and frustration when I came up from the pool, water beads trailing down my torso. Roulette stood beside me, drying himself when the coach smiled at god knows who among us. Mawkish ignorance gnawed at me for not being able to understand his trick.

“Good swim, both of you. And Tobias, try not to get frustrated during the swim. It distracts you and doesn’t let you measure your opponent.” He looked admiringly from me to the person he described as ‘opponent’, his chest swelling with pride. Yes, that was correct. Who even cared about the guy that ever came second?

Then the realization of his trick came crashing on me. He intentionally stayed behind me to give off the impression that he was slow today, whereas he was only waiting to pounce on the moment where I'd grow reluctant and decrease my speed and he'd cover up and win the race. Fuck.

Flashing the coach a fake smile, I walked back to my locker, opening it. My hands were rummaging for the towel which I needed if I had to get a shower. I couldn’t quite locate where I put it, and that was irritating me even more. All I could see in my locker was a few shirts and a few boxers and two spare swimming caps and one pair of googles. What the fuck? So, was I believe that it just vanished from my locker?

I slammed my locker shut, angry at myself for not being able to find my towel. In the meantime, Adrian had already showered and left while Cole was headed for the bathroom stalls. “Hey, Cole!” I cried from near the lockers, as he turned his head ar my direction, waving a hand.

“I can't find my towel, man! Can you lend me yours after you come back from the shower?” The towel was going to be wet, but I had to manage which whatever I could get my hands on at this point.

“Alright, bud. I'll be back soon.” He smiled at me, showing me a thumbs up before he disappeared in the stalls. Deciding to again open my locker, I faced the metal box, throwing the door open again, eyes frantically searching for the apparently lost towel. Footsteps reverberated from behind me again, and before I could react, he had me boxed in place with his hands on either side of the lockers. There was so less room left, that I couldn’t even turn to face him.

“You're ignoring me.” Came an impatient statement, while I felt him press his body on to my back. Jesus, what was he doing? He had just taken the swim along with me, and yet, his presence was so warm and one could bask in the heat emanating from his torso. Fuck, I shouldn’t give in.

“Fuck off, man. Let me turn. Step back.” The warning in my voice was dangerous and scary. Low, yet prominent and powerful. A calm. A deadly calm which everyone was scared off.

“Let me make it up to you.” His words were cut off by a strange haste to place the other, and he wasn’t deterred by my anger, because that seemed to push him even further. And how could he make it up, exactly? What was he offering, sex?

“Look, Roulette, I'm going to kick your ass if you don't listen to me and back the fuck off this very second.” My hands were curled into balls at my side, because he wouldn’t even allow me to turn and look at him in the eye. What an asshole.

“Please, Tobias. Talk to me.” His warm breath fanned my neck, and I bit my lip, not allowing myself to give in to his advances. Not getting any reply in return, he pressed against me further, pushing me hard against the locker. My subconscious was running in a heated frenzy and didn’t know hoe to react.

“You are attracted to me. Admit it.” He breathed against my neck, opening his mouth on to the vulnerable flesh there, trailing his lips along the area. My back arched at this move, sending shockwaves to my groin. All I wanted was to slam him against the locker and kiss him breathless. But, no, self restraint mattered. He flicked his tongue against the bare flesh, sucking on it, when I bit back a moan.

“Tobias! Where are you?”