ch. 2

As soon as the door was closed, Sasha took a deep breath, and then slammed his fist into the wall. What had he done? Well, he knew what he had done, but why? How? He turned and placed his back against the door only to be confronted by the mussed bed. It's linens in complete disarray; he closed his eyes to block out the image, only to be assaulted by even more vivid memories. Perhaps that would be his punishment, his penance, to spend the rest of his days reliving the taste of her skin on his tongue, the smell of her arousal, hearing a constant replay of her breathy moans in his ear, the sweet stinging bite of her nails scraping down his back, the sight of her bare before him, trusting him, begging for him, the feel of her surrounding him as he acquiesced to pleas. This time he slammed his head into the wall in an effort to dislodge the images. What had he done?

He remembered last night clearly the alcohol-induced haze provided no respite from the actual memories.

Flashback

He was leaning up against the bar, not really paying attention to his surroundings, and wishing he was anywhere but a ballroom full of leeches and snobs. The reception was mandatory, so he decided to stay just long enough to congratulate Payson and his other girls on a job well done, and then get the hell out of there.

He wondered what was taking them so long, the party had been in full swing for almost an hour. While Lauren could be counted on to be fashionably late he expected the presence of Payson and Emily to negate that. Turning to flag the bartender down and place an order, he saw that the man's attention was fixated elsewhere. After three ineffectual attempts to garner his attention, he turned over his shoulder to see what has the man so enraptured. That was the beginning of the end.

Her hair was down, in a mix of tousled waves and curls flowing over her shoulders. Even from the distance he could see that her eyes were sparkling and she was glowing. Lauren and Emily were by her side, but he barely noticed them. She was radiant. His eyes moved from her face to take in the rest of her. He really wished he hadn't. She was wearing a white lace dress. It had a neckline that started just below her clavicles showing off her toned shoulders, but more than her shoulders, it hugged the generous curves of her hips and chest, stopping about five inches above her knees. He knew immediately the dress did not belong to her. His Payson would never own something like that. It wasn't overtly sexy, but it was suggestive, sensual, and that was so much worse.

He dragged his eyes away, and took in the rest of the room. He and the bartender weren't the only people to notice the new arrivals. Many an appreciative and predatory glance was being sent the Rock girls way. Abandoning his quest for hydration, and shaking those lecherous thoughts from his head, he made his way over to them. Payson noticed him first, and though he though it impossible her smile grew even wider, that smile he felt she only reserved for him.

"Sasha," she greeted, causing her companions to follow suit with a chorus of hey Sasha's, including the fourth person he didn't notice initially, Kelly Parker. He knew she was Payson's roommate, but he didn't really think they would be showing up to parties together.

"Hello ladies. You all look lovely this evening." He addressed the entire group, but couldn't stop his eyes from lingering on Payson

"Yeah we do. " was Lauren Tanners reply, causing Kelly to roll her eyes, Payson to blush, and Emily to mumble a thanks.

"I wanted to congratulate you all," he emphasized the all by looking at Kelly, "on a spectacular performance today, I believe the word historic, is being bandied about his evening"

Payson and Emily looked at each other and grinned, while Lauren smirked and Kelly smiled. They really had conquered the world today. The dream team 2.0 the media had dubbed them. Two of the all around medals had gone to the girls standing in front of him, Payson with gold and Emily the bronze. Lauren hadn't been too shabby herself scoring a gold on beam, and Kelly Parker a silver on the vault, missing a gold medal by a few thousandths of a point. For that reason the party tonight was full of sponsors itching to get their hands on any one of the girls standing before him, but especially Payson. Payson who was standing there in the angelic white dress, beaming at him like he was her favorite person in the world.

"Thanks Sasha, but part of that belongs to you. After all you got us here, and we couldn't have done it without you." Payson stated happily. She was met with a 'here, here' from Emily.

"Yeah back before they had you, I, was the best gymnast in the world," Kelly muttered under her breath.

"Kelly, a silver medal is nothing to be ashamed of," Emily offered.

"Yeah Kmetko, I'm aware, thanks for the pep talk." Kelly huffed rolling her eyes.

"Emily is new to this winning thing, she will probably sleep wearing her medals," Lauren injected in a sing -song voice.

"Lo, knock it off." Payson sighed.

"Yeah Lo-Lo, at least she has more than one medal to keep her company, tonight." Kelly Parker smirked

"Well at least mine is gold." Lauren spat.

Sensing the change in the air, and not wanting to stand around listening to them sniping, he excused himself from the squabbling medalists. "Alright then ladies, I'll leave you to it. Enjoy yourselves, and be careful, the sharks are circling." He cautioned, sparing one last glance at the angel in the white dress. She watched at him with playfully exasperated green eyes, as she tried to put an end to the outbreak of cattiness. When he got back to the bar he ordered a double, it would be the first of many that evening.

Two hours and too many drinks later, he was still at the bar when he felt her sit next to him. It was always like that when she was near him, he could feel her, sense her, literally. He was drawn to her, just as his eyes had been all night. He fought it by drowning his impure thoughts in copious amounts of whiskey, but it was still there, lurking on the periphery. Now she was sitting close enough that he could smell her perfume, and he found that he was nervous.

"Vodka and sprite please," she ordered. That was a surprise. He gave her an amused sideways glance.

"What, it's legal here. The drinking age is seventeen, and after the night I have had…"

He just nodded. They sat there in silence for a while, both nursing their drinks. He heard her order another and sigh deeply.

"What, to many people asking for your autograph, and, kissing your arse, trying to cover theirs?" He should never have cursed, or said anything like that to one of his gymnasts, inebriated or not, but then again, Payson had always been special.

She let out a bark of laughter "Something like that. My face hurts from all the fake smiling I have done, I mean it literally hurts."

"Comes with the territory, you're a celebrity now." He said taking a sip from his glass.

"When all I ever wanted was to be a gymnast." She sighed.

"Not just a gymnast, but the best gymnast. Hence the reason you are such a draw, your authenticity, your passion they love it." He said, turning and taking her in completely for the second time that night.

"Was it like this for you?" She asked, eyes boring into his. He didn't know if she realized it, but everytime she turned the full force of her gaze onto him, he felt like she was looking into his soul.

"In a sense," he said turning back to his drink, "I had a story too, and while not nearly as compelling as yours, the media always loves a gold medalist with a good story. It will be better or worse for you depending on how you look at it."

"How so?"

"Well the cat is out of the bag now. You are a beautiful and talented young woman. They are going to want to put your face on everything, from cereal boxes to luxury cars; perfume to designer clothes. Hell as someone as gorgeous as you could even end up in Victoria Secret, Sports Illustrated or walking down somebody's runway. The world is your oyster Payson Keeler, talented gorgeous but real, and accessible. You are their wet dream." It was the alcohol doing the talking. Once he opened his mouth the thoughts he'd been suppressing all evening, as he had watched her, and yes he had watched her, came tumbling out. She had attracted everyone's attention, male and female alike, they fell over themselves to get to her. He looked down at his glass wondering if someone had laced his drink with truth serum while he wasn't looking. He chanced a sidelong glance at her but she wasn't looking at him, she was staring intently at the glass in front of her.

There was a brief silence, and he wondered if she had even registered what he said. She let out a deep breath, "Well that sounds completely miserable."

He smiled into his glass, "Absolutely."

With that, the tension abated. They sat there for at least another hour, talking about everything from her potential sponsors, to favorite television shows. He looked around the room and saw that the crowd had thinned out considerably.

"I think I should get you back to your room now it's late, and we have to be up in a few hours to leave." Sasha said throwing enough bills on the counter to cover both their tabs.

"Right as always Sasha Belov. What would we do without you?" Payson sang standing from her chair and smiling up at him.

"Lets hope you never find out," he said, tucking her hand into the crook of his arm.

They made their way to the elevator and got off on her floor. When they got to her door, she began looking around frantically. "Do you have my key? I don't have my purse. Kelly has my purse, and my purse has my key. How do I get in without the key that my purse has? Stupid purse hiding my key." She slid down the wall and sat on the floor, leaned over and knocked on the door. "Keeelllyyyy, let me in, let me in now. If you let me innn I'll let you play with my medalsss."

If there was any doubt in his mind before it was gone now. Payson Keeler was tipsy if not drunk. It was actually somewhat funny. He felt sorry for her though, she would feel it in the morning, and traveling hung over was never any fun. After Payson's third attempt didnt recieve a response, he stood her up and they headed down to the front desk. He asked the woman for a copy of the key to Payson's room. It started going downhill, when Payson couldn't produce identification proving she was in fact staying in said room. She began told the woman she shouldn't have to show identification, because she was the world champion and everyone knew who she was. He decided that in order to avoid an international incident, they should vacate the lobby, keyless.

Debating what to do, he made what he would later deem to be the worst decision of the night. Taking her back to his room to sleep it off.

He was grateful that he had his own room this time. Walking into the tiny kitchenette he put on a pot of coffee. He looked over the short counter and laughed to himself as he watched her sitting on the edge of the bed, struggling to get out of her strappy sandals, and cursing the designers choice to make them in the first place. Once she'd freed herself he presented her the cup of strong black coffee and drank one himself. They sat in companionable silence as he watched as some clarity return to her eyes.

Sitting the cup down she turned to him with a sheepish look. "I imagine the punishment for actually getting drunk, will be worse than the punishment for going to a party and watching other people get drunk."

He scoffed, "What can I do? Remember it's legal here as you pointed out earlier."

It was her turn to scoff "I was already halfway there when I sat down next to you. All of that champagne went straight to my head. Every time I looked up someone was giving me another glass of something. Lauren most of all, something about not drinking alone, or doing it while we can."

He laughed, that sounded about right.

"Thanks for getting me back safely, and for not letting me prove to the woman at the front desk I was the world champion of gymnastics."

"Honestly if I didn't think you would have broken your back again, I would have paid big money to see you do a layout- layout across the hotel lobby, in a dress and high heels no less." He joked.

"While drunk, imagine how many sponsorships that would get." She laughed.

"Oh yes, you would have had Bacardi in the bag, with Jack Daniels banging down your door."

"Well last year Austin did win the Olympics with the worst hangover of his life. Sounds to me like alcohol pairs well with our chosen sport, and you," she said resting her hand on his arm, "you were notorious for your drunken debauchery. It makes me feel better to know I'm joining a long line of distinguished drunken athletes. The alcoholic beverage endorsement industry is missing a gold mine."

They both laughed at that. As the laughter tapered off Sasha noticed their current positions. They were pressed up against each other from shoulder to thigh, while sitting on a bed. Her hand was resting lightly on his arm, and that innocent touch was sending electric pulses through his body. He stood up quickly and faced her.

"You can have the bed, I'll take the couch."

"No. I'm better thanks to the coffee. I'll just head down to my room. I'm sure Kelly is back by now. If not I can room with Emily and Lauren. Thank you Sasha, for taking care of me…again."

"It was my pleasure. I find drunk Payson to be very entertaining. However do try to keep out of trouble for at least a day or so, give me time to rest up from this little adventure."

"My humiliation is complete. See you tomorrow.'

She got up grabbing her shoes, and he followed her to the door. At the last minute, she turned and due to the proximity of the door, they found themselves all but pressed up against one another ,again.

"Thank you for the stuff you said earlier at the bar, sometimes I…" she shook off whatever she was about to say, "anyway just thanks."

"I meant every single word of it, Payson you are truly special." His voice dropped a few octaves, causing her breathing to speed up. Just like that the air between them became super heated, charged with sparks of electricity.

He looked down at her she was biting her lip. Her fist clenched and unclenched until a look of calm determination descended over her features. It caught him off guard when she leaned up and placed a kiss on his cheek, grazing the corner of his mouth. He found himself leaning into it. She pulled back a little, and he knew he should have too. Instead he stayed there with his eyes closed, until he felt her mouth slant across his. It was the sweetest kiss she could have ever offered him infused with sincerity, love, and innocence. He took a moment to revel in it. He was unprepared when it took on an entirely different meaning. Instead of the chaste press of lips, it was her tongue reaching out to find his as her teeth nipping at his bottom lip. He let her in. It was the weakest he had ever been in his life but in the face of her overwhelming presence, her scent, the feel of her fingers grazing his scalp, and the power of the alcohol coursing through his veins, he gave in to the sweetest temptation he had ever been known. He met her stroke for stroke nip for nip taking as much as she was willing to give him.

She pulled back her eyes were closed and she was breathless. He understood her plight because he was having a hard time catching his breath as well. This was his moment, this was his chance to end it all before any other lines could be crossed. He could send her on her merry way and tuck the last few minutes of his life into that steel vault he kept at the back of his mind. Then she opened those beautiful eyes, full of lust and longing all directed at him and he was lost.

He followed her blindly, as she twined his fingers with hers and led him back into the room towards the bed. Hedidn't know if it was the alcohol that lowered his inhibitions, silencing all the voices in his head that should have been railing against what was taking place, or if their connection was just so powerful, that there was no stopping it.

It was the same connection that caused him to work so hard for her return, the connection that allowed them to work seamlessly in the gym, the connection that made them great. The thing that allowed him to overlook her ordering a drink right next to him at a bar, and the thing that was currently preventing him from stopping her as she lead him to the bed. It was as if she was some siren who had lulled him into a trance, with her pretty face and sweet kisses. All of the fight had gone out of him as soon as their lips touched. Who was this girl; this woman? Where had his shy innocent Payson gone. This woman standing in front of him, touching him, kissing him, undressing him, she was none of those things. She had complete and utter power over him, in the way that only a beautiful woman can control a man. Maybe they weren't as sober as he thought, was the last thing to cross his mind as he felt her peel his shirt from his shoulders and he surrendered his very soul to her.

End of Flashback

Now he was sitting here in his own personal hell the morning after, wondering where to go from here. There was no line that he hadn't crossed last night. He'd betrayed her trust, her family's trust, and most of all he had betrayed himself. The relationship between a coach and their athlete was sacred, and precious. His and Payson's even more so, it was the most important relationship of his life, and now it was tainted in the worst possible way.

The only right thing to do would be for him to leave. He realized even that was a selfish move on his part. On one hand he would be leaving because he thought it was what was best for Payson, but on the other hand he was leaving because didn't know if he would be able to handle seeing her everyday, and not ever being able to have her like he did last night again. So in the end he would be leaving to save himself pain and heartache. It would be torture of the worst kind, to know what he knew now, and have to look but not touch. To have her within his reach, but never be able to actually do anything about it. And maybe that was the point, maybe that was what he deserved, to have to face his mistake. To look her in the eye everyday, and offer the only thing he had left to give her; Olympic gold.

He had failed her last night. He should have stopped her at the bar, before she got drunk enough to end up in a situation where she didn't have complete control of herself. He failed her again when he didn't push her away after the kiss, when he didn't force her to leave straightaway. His personal dealings with her was nothing but a laundry list of his failures. He wouldn't let their professional relationship follow suit. He would not, could not fail her in that capacity as well. Therefore, while every fiber of him was screaming to runaway he wouldn't give in to it this time. He would stay and see this through, see her to the Olympics. Then he would get as far away from Payson Keeler as possible before he hurt her again.

*Another revision. I hope these help with any flow issues or continuity errors between later chapters.