Page 81 of Connectio

Smiling, I take note of his chivalry, bookmarking it right next to his punctuality.

Will groans, low and carnal, so I glance over my shoulder, which is when his eyes rise from staring at my arse.

“Really?” I ask, eyebrow cocked.

He goes to speak, but Carly beats him to it. “Yes, really, your arse looks unreal in those pants. If you weren’t my best mate and a know-it-all superior bitch, even I’d want a chunk of that.”

My jaw drops. “I’m not a know-it-all superior bitch. Well… maybe superior.”

Will looks at Carly and she shrugs.

Growling, I storm out of the house, down the front path, and wait by the passenger side door of Will’s truck.

He follows and reaches out to open the door for me. “Don’t worry. I’ll help you release all that pent-up anger and frustration.”

“Ha! Funny you should say that, because you’re partly the reason I have it in the first place. Between you and Carly, it’s a miracle I haven’t been admitted to an asylum yet.”

He rubs his hands together. “This is gonna be fun.”

After climbing into the truck, I secure my seatbelt. “I’m glad you think so.”

“Have a little faith, Elizabeth,” he says before closing my door. “I’ll take good care of you.”

* * *

Faith?Faith is the absolute last thing I have when I step into the boxing studio not even thirty minutes later. Mirrored walls skirt three quarters of the large, well-lit room, and people of all ages, genders, and sizes punch each other and boxing bags suspended from metal stands and the ceiling, a constant slapping sound rhythmic in the air.

It looks barbaric.

“Master Will, Ms Hanson!” Dylan calls out.

I search in the direction of his voice until I see a small hand frantically waving in the air.

Will waves at the same time I do, then says, “Drop and give me ten.” He puts his bag down at the edge of a cushioned mat and fires me a sadistic grin. “That goes for you too.”

I point to my chest. “Me? Do push-ups?”

“You need to warm up to help prevent injury.”

“But I am warm. Feel me.” I hold out my arm.

He wraps his hand around mine and pulls me flush with his chest before turning me around and whispering into my ear, “I have every intention to feel you at some point, but for now, while you’re under my supervision in this gym, you will drop and give me ten.”

Heat rockets up my spine, and I can’t help but squirm in his embrace. “But I… I don’t know how.”

“I’ll make it easy for you.” He gently guides my bag off my shoulder and places it next to his. “On your hands and knees.”

The sheer sexiness of his command tells me this isn’t going to be any easier, but I do as I’m told, and he drops to one knee by my side.

“Your hands should be shoulder-width apart.” He leans over me and places his paws on my shoulders then slowly skates his fingertips down my arms to reposition my hands, my skin buzzing everywhere he touches. “Back straight.” He gently presses down on my arse. “Ankles crossed.”

Will scoots backward to my feet, so I glance over my shoulder and laugh, my arms already like jelly before even attempting my first dip. “I’m definitely not cut out for this.”

“From my angle, sweetheart,” he says, voice low, “you definitely are.”

My cheeks flame. “Behave, Will, or I’ll sit and watch.”

He chuckles and gets to his feet again then moves to stand at the helm of the cushioned mat. “Good morning, Beginner Boxers.”