The Balled And The Beautiful: A College Sports Romance Story by Nicole Chance

off of him from wearing his leather jacket, even with the early evening twilight sky above them.
    He took a deep breath, smelling whiffs of both fear and the slightest bit of arousal. What was he to make of that?
    “My room is right here,” he said, nodding to the door behind her. “I’m sure they’re long gone, but I’d feel better having you inside where you’re more protected.”
    “T-thanks for helping me. I’m still not exactly sure why you risked yourself for me, but all I can say is thank you.” She smiled at him, but her gaze dropped down to his abdomen where the wound was. “We should—”
    He held up a hand, cutting off any more words. “Like I said, I’ll be fine. I have field first-aid training from the military.” But most importantly, he was a werebear with extraordinary healing abilities. He’d clean it out and put a bandage on it to keep her happy, but the rest would happen on its own. Probably by morning if he got plenty of rest.
    However, looking at her soft curves, he wasn’t sure that was what he wanted, at all. The fact he’d gotten a king-sized bed didn’t help either. He liked all the extra room for his long limbs, but he didn’t know how he’d contain himself if he had to be beside her all night. His cock hardened in his jeans at the intimate ideas of what they could do together, and he marched toward the door.
    Fucking hell...
    Emilee walked into the room behind him and stayed close to the door as if a monster might leap out and grab her. If she only knew how close he was to doing exactly that, she might’ve run from the room. Maybe bringing her here hadn’t been his best idea, but he’d have to keep control of himself since he refused to treat her with the same disrespect those asshole bikers had done to her.
    “Make yourself at home,” he said, throwing the remote at the edge of the bed closest to her. “I’m going to take care of this.” He grabbed the first-aid kit and cracked the door to the bathroom, sitting on the toilet while he took care of this. The bathroom would be easier to clean, and he didn’t want her watchful eyes on him while he did nothing but slap a bandage onto his wound.
    The soft sounds of moaning and skin against skin caused him to stiffen with horror. Damn. He’d purchased one of those adult channels before he’d left the room. Now she was probably freaking out about what kind of person he was. The sounds stopped after a few moments, and he heard Emilee take a shaky breath. So far the deadbolt on the lock hadn’t clicked, and there were no footsteps either coming or going either.
    When he’d wrapped the wound, he walked into the bedroom leaving his shirt and jacket hanging inside the shower. She was lying on the bed with her arm over her eyes. Her short shorts gave him a good look at her long, smooth legs. She pulled her arm from her face and pushed up onto her elbows. He fought his gaze to remain on her eyes and won...just barely.
    “Everything okay?” she asked. Her tongue swept over her lower lip as she ran her gaze over his chest to the wound.
    “Just a scratch. I’ve survived worse.” His chest and back were littered with scars, mainly from the attack that turned him into a werebear. Those never healed no matter what his body’s healing strength was.
    “I see that.” The bed groaned a little as she rose to a sitting position. Her breathing came out a little breathy, and she wavered a little. “I don’t know what I’m going to do now. No job, no job prospects, no family to help. I’m so screwed.”
    * * *
    Emilee couldn’t believe the mess she’d gotten herself into. Part of her wished she could’ve done a whole do-over of the night. While it was disgusting what her boss asked her to do, what was she going to do now? Starve? Live in a cardboard box? She hadn’t been crazy about that stupid diner in the first place, but at least, it had been hiring, unlike the other businesses in the area. Maybe doing as he said wouldn’t