“I’ve been going to this gym for a couple of years now, so if anyone is doing the stalking, it’s you.” I see the corner of his mouth lift slightly like he’s holding back a grin. “Since when have you been a member here?”
“A couple of weeks,” he shrugs his shoulders. “I had a home gym at my old place, but when I moved, I left it there for my brothers. I haven’t gotten around to buying more equipment, so I joined the gym until I do.” His grey eyes get serious as they study me. “Has that guy bothered you anymore?”
I blink, trying to remember who he is talking about. His gaze on me unnerves me, causing me to forget my own name, let alone try to remember someone else. “Nathan? No, I haven’t heard a peep from him. I think he got the message loud and clear that night.”
“Good. Make sure to tell your brother if he does.”
“I will.” I roll my eyes at him. “He’s already checked in on me a million times, asking me the same thing.”
“It’s not something to take lightly. I really hope you won’tbe stubborn and listen this time.” His eyes burn into mine, and I feel like a child who just got scolded.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ve got it under control.” I feel my irritation rise at being told what to do. “Have a nice rest of your workout.” I turn to go and feel his hand on my arm.
“Wait. Shit. I didn’t mean to make you upset again. I…I just don’t want to see you get hurt. I know you can take care of yourself, trust me, I know firsthand about that.” He gives a soft laugh. “Just…just be careful, okay?” His eyes turn a softer grey, and I feel my annoyance recede a bit.
“I’ll be careful. I promise.” I glance down at where his hand is still resting on my arm. He removes it quickly like he’s been burned, leaving a scorching path in its wake.
“Thank you.” He hesitates like he wants to say more but gives me a small nod instead and goes back over to the free weights.
I walk to the mat in the corner and put my earbuds back in my ears, focusing on stretching before going to a couple of the machines for some light lifting. I have no intention of bulking up, but I love to feel the burn of a good workout the next day. I work hard to keep myself toned and in great shape. I like to feel strong and in control of my body.
I can’t help but glance across the gym at him. My eyes automatically want to be pulled back to him. I catch him watching me and immediately look away. I can’t figure him out. I know there’s a sexual attraction between us, and most guys by now would have tried something with me or at least asked me out by now. Besides our kiss in the hallway and me dodging his by the car, he’s kept his distance. He doesn’t wear a ring, so I don’t think he’s married. Thank God. That would have been very awkward after our kiss at the bar.
If he has a girlfriend, I would think he would have said something the night at the bar. It’s like he wants to devour meone minute, and the next, he wants to be as far away from me as possible. I finish with my last machine and do a few more stretches before heading to the locker room to get my things.
Opening my locker, I throw my earbuds in my bag and take a drink from my water bottle. “How was your workout?” Travis’s voice fills the silence as he comes to stand behind me.
Turning, I see him staring intently at me. God, his eyes are beautiful. They can go from a light grey to the darkest storm in seconds. My heart beats against my chest with the way he is looking at me.
“It was good,” I say. “How was yours?”
“I was a bit distracted.” He steps closer, and I instinctively step back, hitting the metal doors behind me. There’s no one in here but the two of us, and despite it being a big locker room, his presence is so overpowering that I feel like I’m trapped in a small space. “I really should stay away from you,” he says in a low voice.
“Why?” I whisper. He reaches out and runs his fingers through my ponytail. I close my eyes briefly at his touch as he traces my jawline before his thumb goes across my bottom lip.
“It’s not just me I have to worry about. You have a way of getting under my skin, and I don’t like it.”
“I don’t understand.” My eyes search his for answers, but he gives nothing away.
“I don’t like wanting you.” Avoiding my questions, he steps even closer to where he is inches from me. Unable to stop myself, I hesitantly place my hand on his chest, wanting the contact. I feel his heartbeat beating rapidly like mine. He closes his eyes as if he’s in pain from my touch. I see his jaw clench tight as he opens his eyes. The greys are smoldering with heat as he grabs my hands and puts them above my head, caging me in against the hard metal.
His lips are on mine before I can register what is happening.His tongue invades my mouth as I hungrily kiss him back. He growls against my lips, stealing my breath with the intensity of his hunger. Dropping my hands, he grabs the side of my face to deepen the kiss, and I greedily run my hands over his chest before sliding them up his back.
I’ve never been kissed like this before in my life. If I could stay here forever, I would. He awakens things in me that have been missing with other guys I’ve been with. He breaks apart, and I immediately want to grab him and bring those lips back to me.
Panting hard, we both hold each other’s stare. I can see the turmoil in his eyes, but I don’t understand it. We both want the same thing, so why is he fighting this?
Someone walks in, and he steps back. He roughly rubs his neck, looking anywhere but at me. The room is quiet as the guy grabs his phone and keys from the locker before walking back out.
He finally looks at me and sighs. “I need to get back to work. I have an appointment in an hour and need to run by my house to shower first.”
“I need to get going too. I’m meeting some friends later for drinks at Rusty’s and need to get ready.” Maverick and Noah are watching a hockey game tonight, so Emma and Bella decided a girls’ night would be fun. I’m glad we’re getting together later because I could use some girl advice right about now. My head is spinning because of the man standing in front of me.
He reaches around me to get his keys and phone from one of the lockers. I fist my hands at my side to stop myself from touching him again. His eyes meet mine one last time before he breaks away.
“I guess I’ll see you around, then.” He hesitatesbriefly, and I see his hands clench at his sides. For a moment, I think he’s going to kiss me again, but he turns and walks out of the door.
I sag against the locker and try to get my heart rate to slow down. What the hell was that? I touch my lips, which are still swollen and tingling from the kiss. I know nothing about this man other than his first name, yet every part of my being wants him. The kiss lets me know he wants me to, so why fight it? And who is this person he has to worry about that keeps him from going after what he wants? The questions keep coming into my mind as I try to make sense of everything. The only thing I know for sure is that I haven’t ever wanted anybody the way that I want him.
