Sarah nodded and felt Angel’s hold tighten. “Yeah, I can do that.”

“Great.” The coach smiled big then, “We’ll see you here after school every day.” He reached his hand out. “Welcome to the team.”

Sarah reached out and shook his hand. He excused himself and walked away. Angel whispered in her ear. “He just had to touch you.”

Sarah laughed. “You’re so silly.”

She turned around but he kept his arms around her. The expression on Angel’s face was stern. “You’re not serious are you?”

“I told you I don’t trust the guy. You shouldn’t either.”

Sarah couldn’t help smiling. She’d never met someone so vehement. But his expression softened quickly. He kissed her and they turned and followed Sofia and the guys who were already headed to the locker room.

“He seems nice enough.” Sarah said

Angel squeezed her hand and groaned. “Can you trust me on this? I’ve heard too many stories.”

“Okay, okay.” Sarah leaned into him.

Sarah was beginning to understand what Valerie meant about Angel and his brothers being so intense. But she liked it. Her whole life it had been just her and her mother. There had been too many times when having a man there to protect them would’ve come in handy. So having Angel fret over her safety didn’t bother her. On the contrary, she embraced it.

*

After a few weeks, they’d pretty much slipped into a comfortable routine. Sarah would practice with the team after school while Angel was at football practice. They’d meet afterwards, and go grab something to eat, then park at what had become their spot, over the cliff’s where’d he’d taken her on their first night together. They’d spend about an hour there and then go home.

Everything was going well except for a couple of incidents with Dana. She’d made it a point to pull Angel aside as often as she got the chance. Sarah had seen some of it and though she hadn’t said anything yet, Angel worried it might become a problem.

Friday’s were different. It was game day. Instead of meeting up after practice, Sarah would go straight home with Valerie and got ready for the game.

This week was an away game, so the stands would be less crowded, and Angel would have a perfect view of Sarah.

He was having a good game, they were up by fourteen at the half, but when they came back out after halftime, the cheerleaders had changed their tops into jerseys. Real jerseys from the players on the team. They tied them in a knot in the front just under their chest to make them fit snugger. To Angel’s dismay, Dana wore his. He’d forgotten about the jersey she borrowed last year. He glanced up at the stands and saw Sarah sitting with Valerie and a few other girls. If Sarah got upset about this, he was going be so pissed at Dana.

They’d agreed to meet at the after party back by their school. Sarah left the game with Valerie and had arrived there before him, so when he got there he wasn’t sure what to expect. He walked into the party with Romero and Eric looking around for her. He spotted Valerie first, and then he saw Sarah. There were a few guys talking to them, and he tensed up. He walked straight to her, and took her hand immediately. Pulling her back away from everyone, he kissed her. To his delight, she wasn’t mad. She kissed him readily.

“You had a great game.” she smiled.

He stared at her, holding her tighter. “You’re beautiful, Sarah.”

“Thank you.” She tilted her head sideways. “You really want to be here?”

Was she real? He could almost feel the hair on the back of his head stand up as he looked around and found Eric. He walked over and tugged Eric’s shirt.

“I’m outta here.”

Eric smirked. “Already?”

“Bye.” Angel grinned.

They’d barely made it to Angel’s car and he was already kissing her neck. Every time they'd made out, things got heavier and heavier. The last time they made out she’d let him under her bra. He made the most of it, leaving quite a few red spots all over her br**sts, confident no one would see them and she wouldn’t get in trouble. He was dying to know how far she’d let him go tonight. He could hardly contain himself running his hands up and down her back.

When they got to their special place, they pushed their seats back all the way, and his lips were immediately on hers. His hands explored every inch of her. But anything below the waist he touched only over her clothes and even that nearly pushed him over the edge. He kissed her hard, suckling her tongue and lips. She moaned softly, making him even more insane. Unbuttoning her blouse, he took her breast in his mouth.

His hand made its way slowly down her body, caressing her stomach, then down between her legs.

Angel’s heart hammered away wildly as he passionately kissed her and brought his hand up slowly, just above her waist and in her pants. When he felt her hot flesh against his hand he almost lost it. He pulled his mouth away from hers to catch his breath, burying his face in her neck.

“You’re driving me crazy.” He groaned as he inhaled her rousing scent.

Slowly he slid his hand further down in her pants. She spread her legs making him stop cold. “Oh, babe,” he gasped, as he began moving his hand again even further.

His fingers caressed her for a few seconds, but not being able to stand it he moved his hand even lower. She arched her back and he had to stop.

He pulled himself off her just a few inches, knowing that if he kept going he’d be done. “God, I want you so much Sarah.” He could barely catch his breathe.