The next day I was poolside five minutes ahead of time. I think the coach would have preferred it if I had been late. He seemed to be looking for a reason to increase the punishment. The look in his eyes worried me. I got the same feeling I had had in his office the day before. Even if I had been willing my ass couldn't have taken a fucking that morning. I was pretty sore from having my cherry popped by my buddies. The team had always found the way Stevens looked at us when he was an assistant creepy. Some of the more vocally anti-gay guys expressed their displeasure with being ogled by coach fag. I was pretty sure that talk was over now that Stevens was the head coach.
"Well I see you managed to learn to tell time, John. Very good," He snarled at me as he continued to look over my nearly naked body.
"Thank you, Sir," I said as calmly as I could.
The coach didn't say anything. He just kept looking me over. I was feeling increasingly uncomfortable and finally made the mistake of opening my mouth.
"Sir, is there something you want from me?" I asked in a tone that was a bit too cocky.
"What I want is for you to keep your wise ass mouth shut. However, now I have two concerns," He said as he reached down and ran his hand over the outside of my thigh. "The first thing I was concerned about was why you don't keep this fucking hair off your legs. In addition, I now have to wonder what you were just suggesting I might want from you."
"Sir, I only shave for meets. My old coach thought that was a good thing because that way we practiced with the resistance of the hair. Made us stronger he said," I replied nervously.
He just glared at me. I knew I had pissed him off or at least he wanted me to think he was pissed off. Either way I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. I also had no idea how to respond to his second concern. I had imagined he wanted sex from me. But I couldn't say that. If I was wrong it would infuriate him. If I was right it might give him leave to demand it of me.
"As to what you might have wanted, I truly had no thoughts. It just seemed that maybe you wanted something," I finally said in what I felt was a rather unconvincing manner.
"I do not care what your old coach thought. If you want to stay on my team you will remove all hair not covered by your trunks," He said sternly and then grabbed the waistband of my Speedo and snapped it against my waist. "I do not think you are being candid about my second concern. However, what I want is for you to get in the fucking pool and swim at sprint speed until your teammates arrive for practice."
He slapped my ass so hard it caused me to lose my balance and fall into the pool. In the process I scrapped my shin, but I didn't dare complain. He knew as well as I did that I could not do laps at sprint pace for forty-five minutes. He probably also knew as well as I did that I would die trying rather than refuse. Without a word I took off at full speed toward the far end of the pool. He was still standing there when I came back and made my turn. I was somewhat relieved that he was there. I needed a lifeguard in case I ended up in trouble.
I do not know how much time passed or how many laps I had swum when my legs started cramping up. But I do remember swimming through the pain. I had always been a short distance specialist. I never did well when I competed long distance because I didn't have a kick in the end. That day I attempted to swim a hundred meter pace for 5000 meters. As my legs became sorer I seemed to forget how to breathe. My chest began to pound and my lungs were on fire. Every muscle in my body ached. Somewhere in the middle of the pool I suddenly convulsed. If the coach hadn't been diligently watching me I would have died.
I awoke with his lips on mine blowing life back into my body. In the dreamlike state of returning to consciousness I saw a far different picture in my mind. That mental image was made worse by the fact that several of my teammates were standing around watching the coach give me artificial respiration. I heard my friend Jay asking what had happened. As I came to it was obvious that the coach was concerned. I figured it was more about getting in trouble for pushing me to the point of near drowning than my welfare.
"I was getting in some early laps alone before practice. I guess I over did it? Seems coach saved my ass," I said weakly.
The coach smiled at me before turning toward the team.
"Jacobs, lead the guys in warm ups while I see that John gets to the infirmary to be checked out," The coach said as he helped me to me feet.
I was pretty shaky and I had to hold on to him as we walked to the locker room. Once we got to my locker he helped me to the bench and sat beside me.
"Why did you let me off the hook, John?" He asked in an odd tone.
I don't know what you mean sir," I replied innocently, knowing that I now had something on him.
"You damn well do know what I mean, kid! I just need to know what your play is going to be."
"No play. But maybe we can come to an understanding."
"What did you have in mind, John," He said contritely and laid his hand on my thigh.
I realized in the space of a little more than an hour our relative roles had reversed. I also was feeling a bit more excitement than I liked over his touching my thigh.
"Not that," I said as I gently pushed his hand off my thigh, "I am not that kind of guy."
"I wasn't implying you were any kind of guy. I hope I didn't offend you. But damn fuck I hate this. I need this job. If you wanted it I would do it. If you are straight..." His voice trailed off. I actually felt sorry for him.
"Not really what I meant. I am bi and you are a pretty hot guy. But I am not the kind of guy that would use something I had on a guy to force him to do stuff like that. Fuck, Mike, if you weren't such a bastard I bet a lot of the guys on the team would be trying to get in your bed."
I wasn't sure if it was my use of his name or the subject but he looked totally stunned.
"Anyway," I continued, "Here is the deal how about you just dial it down some with the team? No one has to know what happened in the pool or here in the locker room either."
"Thank you, John. But I still don't get it. Why you being such a good guy when I was riding you so hard?"
"I figure you were just doing your job the only way you know how. I disagree with your methods but not your motivation."
"Well I will try to ease off. But I still want you to get this hair off," He said as he put his hand back on my thigh and began to rub me gently.
"I told you that wasn't necessary."
"What if I wanted to do something? John I am gay. As I am sure you can imagine I don't get many opportunities for sex with hot guys like you."