Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 100188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
I locked eyes with him and belatedly noticed my libido getting into a fistfight with my desire to stay gainfully employed. A part of me truly wondered which one would win if I stayed almost hip-to-hip with August Stiel on the mat.
He was still breathing heavy as he peered up at me with dark pupils. His chest brushed against mine on the inhale, and a sweet puff of air caressed my neck on the exhale. My eyes fell to his lips before I forced myself to look away and let him go.
I cleared my throat. “Just remember, flip your attacker and roll through the fall. Let’s try it again,” I said, standing up and reaching out a hand to pull him up. I must have pulled a little too forcefully because he came slamming into my chest with a grunt.
“Jesus, Saint,” Augie said against my shirt before pushing off me. “Did you double dose on the steroids today?”
“For your information, this is 100 percent natural, Mr. Stiel. Determination and hard work,” I corrected with a small grin.
He let out a reluctant laugh. “Duly noted.”
This time when I tried to topple Augie, he immediately yanked my arm forward and dropped his weight down, creating a little speed bump of sorts that rammed into my shins. I went tumbling over him onto the mat. By the time I jumped back up, he was in a defensive stance backing well away from me.
“Much better,” I said. “How did that feel?”
“Pretty awesome,” he said with a giant grin. I felt my mouth turn up in a similar smile. It was the first time he looked proud of himself, and my heart leapt. I knew that feeling well. Accomplishing something you set out to do was invigorating.
“Try again. This time I’m not going to go easy on you,” I said, assessing him as I stalked closer.
Chapter 11
Augie
I felt adrenaline course through me as Saint approached me. This time he didn’t go easy on me. He grabbed my arm and spun me around until my back was against his front and his arms were around me in a reverse bear hug.
He was so much bigger than I was that his giant body engulfed mine and wrapped around it like a shell. My arms were pinned, and I frantically tried to remember what to do. I tried throwing my ass back into his groin, but he bent out of the way in anticipation. I tried throwing my head back, but his arms were like tight bands around me, limiting my range of motion.
I could hear his heavy breathing in my ear, and it was making me hot. Sweat poured out of me as my body’s nerves fired sensations rapidly into my memory banks. The feel of his strong thighs pressing in behind my hamstrings, the sight of his thick forearm across my chest, the smell of his unique, fresh scent wafting off his hard body, only this time it was mixed with masculine overtones from our workout session. The combination was banging all kinds of pots and pans in my head, begging for my attention.
I struggled in his tight hold again, and his face came closer to rest against the side of mine with a scratch of beard against beard. My eyes squeezed closed, and I tried everything I could think of to convince my body to try and get out of his hold. But how the hell could I be expected to fight him when all my body wanted to do was stay right where it was—feeling the intoxicating man against me?
“Stop and think,” Saint murmured into my ear. “Do whatever it takes.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” I muttered as I reached up to grip the forearm he had tight around my upper chest.
I felt more than heard the grumble of a laugh. “Think I can’t defend myself against a little antiques dealer?”
As I continued to struggle without making any progress, my eyes strayed to the muscled forearm I held. I moved before I could stop myself, leaning my head down until my mouth landed on his warm skin. I teased the skin first with the tip of my tongue and felt his entire body stiffen before I opened my mouth and bit down.
“Fuck!” he grunted, jumping back while still trying to hold on to me with the other arm he had around my waist. I followed his momentum toward his center mass and threw my body weight against his massive chest. We landed together on the mat in a heap of arms and legs with me lying on top of him but moving as fast as I could to scramble off.
Once I was moving away from him in a defensive crouch, I finally noticed his shocked expression.
And the red bite mark standing out angrily on his forearm.