Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
When I woke, she was shaking me, “Are you okay?” she said.
“Yeah, yeah. Why?”
“You were making some noise in your sleep, acting like something was wrong.”
“It was just a dream,” I said dismissively, rubbing my hands over my face.
It had been another dream about Watts, a dream where we didn’t get to her in time. It was good to have her arms around me, reminding me she was fine, that she was healthy and whole, and we hadn’t lost her.
“I wish I’d been there,” I said finally. “When Leo confronted Watts at the store. I would’ve beaten the hell out of him. I wouldn’t have let up either, not until he was dead. He never could’ve hurt you again.”
“Don’t. Don’t say that. You’d be in jail, and I would’ve lost my job.”
“Let’s have a shower and go spar for a little bit, since it got cut short last time.”
“I don’t know if I have the strength. I’ve got two sex gods putting me through my paces in the bedroom, Rafe. I may not be up to sparring.”
“You’ve got to build up your endurance. You’ve got two men to satisfy now. We’ll let you rest—a little—but we both crave you too much. Go take a bath, get dressed,” I said.
“Okay, but you’re a total slave driver. I don’t want abs, I told you that. I just want to be able to defend myself if I have to.”
“So we’ll practice that. Although I want some stakes to fight for. If I get you in a hold you can’t escape using techniques I’ve taught you, then you’ll have to give me something.”
“Are we talking breakfast in bed or like fifty push-ups?” she said dubiously.
“I’d consider a kiss as payment.”
“So what about you? When I get away and prove that I’m a badass, what do I get?”
“Bragging rights. And maybe I’ll do push-ups with my shirt off. I know you like that.”
“That’s a deal,” she said, shaking my hand.
At the gym, I couldn’t believe how much she’d improved. Since the first time I’d worked with her when she was shy and anxious, she’d changed so much, gained such confidence, both in and out of the sparring ring. In and out of bed, as well. She escaped hold after hold, ducking under my elbow, striking at my nose and my ears. I was proud, but I mainly loved the flush of pride on her face, knowing she got away from me whenever I tried to attack.
“Push-ups!” she commanded, pointing at the mat.
I yanked my shirt over my head as Leo came in. “Ooh, are we doing it here now? Should I go tell the people in the locker rooms to leave?”
“Nah,” she said. “I bested him at sparring finally. So he owes me shirtless push-ups. We have a deal.”
“Want me to give you a shoulder rub or anything while you enjoy the show?” Leo said, “Or I can rub anything else you’d like.”
“Maybe not right now,” Lexi said. “I have push-ups to count. I have a feeling he’d try to cheat me out of some reps.”
“Hey, I’m a personal trainer. You’re insulting my professional integrity,” I said as I positioned my palms on the mat.
“Whatever get to work,” Leo chuckled, his arm slung around Lexi’s shoulders.
They kept roasting my form and miscounting on purpose until I finally doubled over laughing and gave up. The three of us went out for dinner, burgers and shakes, to offset all that healthy exercise according to Lexi.
13
Leo
We settled into a routine easily. We hung a dry-erase calendar in the kitchen to keep track of my shifts, Rafe’s classes, and which nights we had to be together. Some evenings Lexi and I went out to hear some jazz or find the best empanadas within walking distance of the house. Other nights when I worked, she and Rafe went to the movies or made lemon pancakes from one of their cooking shows. But the best nights were the ones we all spent together. We’d order takeout, catch up on our worst and funniest work stories and then fall in bed together after a bottle or three of wine.
After three months of that, of everything beautiful in a life I hadn’t known I needed to feel whole, I decided to take them out to a salsa club on our Saturday night. I even popped into a shop near the station and bought a ruffled turquoise mini-dress for Lexi—perfect for dancing and for showing off those gorgeous legs. I surprised her with it after work.
“I have the perfect shoes. I bought them at Goodwill two years ago, probably somebody’s prom shoes, but they’re these silver strappy heels that look like something a really coordinated hooker would wear. I had no idea when I’d ever need them, but tonight’s the night. I’ll have two big strong men who can carry me if my feet start to hurt,” she said.