Page 84 of Meet Me In The Dark

I close my eyes and force myself to focus.

On three, I lean my weight back into his chest.

As I shift, his fingertips graze the sensitive skin above my hip while he adjusts his hold.

Damn him, and how my body reacts to every accidental touch.

Before I can embarrass myself further, I drop my weight down, stomp hard, and throw my elbow back until it connects with his abdomen.

He grunts and releases me.

“Shit. Sorry.”

He shakes his head. “Good girl.”

I know he doesn’t mean it sexually, but memories assault me.

Not trusting my voice completely, I motion with my hand instead. “Again.”

His mouth twitches, but he dips his chin before stepping back in.

“Ready?” he asks quietly.

“Yes.”

We practice again and again until the movements start to feel natural. Each time he restrains me, he’s just a fraction closer, holds me a little tighter, and releases a little slower.

“Don’t think so much,” he says at one point, his mouth close to my ear. “Your body knows what to do. Trust it.”

“Dangerous advice in this situation.”

He huffs out a low laugh, but it fades quickly.

Each repetition and each touch fuels the risky tension sparking between us. The air thickens, pulling us toward a boundary neither of us dares to cross.

“One more,” he murmurs roughly, breaking the silence.

When “one more” turns into three, he finally steps back, something akin to pride shining in his eyes. “Ready to have some real fun?”

My lips curve in a shaky smile. “Define fun.”

He grabs a pair of boxing gloves and holds them up.

Oh, thisisfun.

“Do I get to punch you?”

“Don’t push it,” he says, grabbing my wrist.

After a moment of tense silence, I finally ask, “Did you grow up in this neighborhood?”

He straps a glove onto my right hand. “A few blocks over.”

Guilt hits me hard. I thought privilege paved his path. How hypocritical of me. I, of all people, should know that upbringing doesn’t define anyone.

“And this gym?” I push my hand into the other glove before he straps it.

“I used to be an angry little shit. I’ve been cominghere since I was fourteen. It probably saved my life.”