Chapter 49: Attention

Elena stood near the center of the basketball court, arms crossed, watching the scattered group of players with growing frustration. She had called for practice to begin fifteen minutes ago, yet the response had been half-hearted at best.

A few of the taller boys had wandered over when she raised her voice, but most of them still had their phones out, thumbs scrolling lazily. Two others leaned against the wall near the bleachers, chatting and laughing about something completely unrelated to basketball. The rest of the team hadn’t even bothered to show up on time. Some were still in the hallway outside; others were probably still in the locker room wasting time.

Elena clapped her hands once, sharp and loud.

“Everyone, gather up. Now.”

A few more players drifted closer, but the energy remained low. One of the boys near the front finally looked up from his phone with a bored expression. Another stretched dramatically, as if the mere act of standing was an inconvenience.

Elena’s jaw tightened. She walked over to one of the players — a tall, broad-shouldered guy with short dark hair who had at least put his phone away.

“When is the next competition?” she asked directly.

He shrugged. “Next month, Coach.”

Elena stared at him for a second, then looked around at the rest of the group. Most of them weren’t even pretending to care. If this was how they treated regular practice, there was no chance they would be ready in time. They wouldn’t even qualify if they continued like this.

A quiet frustration settled in her chest. She had accepted this coaching role thinking it would be a light responsibility, something to fill her evenings and give her more reasons to stay on campus. She hadn’t expected the team to be this unmotivated. Elias had warned her they weren’t serious, but seeing it in person was different.

Elena took a slow breath and made a decision.

If they weren’t interested in basketball, she would give them something else to focus on.

“I’ll be right back,” she said firmly. “Everyone stay on the court. Do not leave.”

She turned and walked toward the women’s changing room without waiting for a response. Behind her, she could hear a few low murmurs, but no one followed.

Inside the empty changing room, Elena locked the door and stood in front of the mirror for a moment. Her regular teaching clothes — a blouse and knee-length skirt — looked professional and controlled. That version of her was the professor. The one who taught biology and maintained an image of composure.

But that version wasn’t going to get these boys to listen.

She opened the small bag she had brought with her and pulled out the basketball practice outfit the previous coach had left behind. It was a standard set — a tight-fitting sleeveless jersey and a pair of short, high-cut athletic shorts. The fabric was stretchy and form-fitting by design.

Elena stripped out of her clothes and put the outfit on.

The moment the jersey settled over her chest, she realized just how tight it was. The material clung to her breasts, outlining their full shape clearly. The neckline dipped just enough to show a hint of cleavage when she moved. The shorts were even more revealing — short enough that the lower curve of her ass was visible when she turned, and tight enough that the fabric hugged her hips and thighs without leaving much to the imagination.

She turned sideways in the mirror and studied her reflection.

She looked sexy. Deliberately so.

A slow heat began to build low in her stomach as she adjusted the shorts slightly higher on her hips. The thought of walking back out onto the court like this — in front of twelve young, athletic men who had barely given her a second glance earlier — sent a quiet thrill through her body.

Elena ran her fingers through her hair, letting it fall loosely around her shoulders instead of tying it back the way she usually did for class. Then she took one last look at herself, exhaled slowly, and unlocked the door.

When she stepped back onto the court, the change was immediate.

Conversations stopped mid-sentence. Phones lowered. Several of the players who had been leaning against the wall straightened up. One of the boys who had been half-heartedly bouncing a basketball let it roll away unnoticed.

Every single pair of eyes turned toward her.

Elena walked toward the center of the court with deliberate calm, feeling the weight of their stares on her body. The tight jersey left almost nothing to the imagination as she moved. The short shorts rode up slightly with each step, drawing attention to the shape of her legs and the curve of her ass.

She stopped in the middle of the group and looked around at them one by one.

“Now that I have your attention,” she said, her voice steady and clear, “we’re going to start practice properly.”

No one looked at their phones this time.

A few of the taller players exchanged quick glances. One of them openly let his eyes travel down her body before forcing himself to look back up at her face. Another shifted his weight, clearly trying to adjust himself without being obvious.

Elena felt a slow, dangerous satisfaction settle in her chest. The same restless hunger that had been growing inside her for weeks stirred again. She could feel their desire in the way they looked at her — raw, unfiltered, and barely restrained.

She clapped her hands once more.

“Form two lines. We’re starting with basic drills. Anyone who isn’t taking this seriously can leave right now.”

No one moved to leave.

Elena smiled faintly to herself as the players scrambled into position. The tight fabric of her outfit shifted against her skin with every movement, a constant reminder of how she looked and how they were looking at her.

She had their full attention now.

And she intended to keep it.

End of Chapter 49

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