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As the day wore on, Veronica’s arms ached, and her legs were heavy with exhaustion. Still, she shook her head when Connelly asked if she was ready to call it a day.
“No,” she panted. “Let’s do it one more time.”
Connelly nodded and positioned himself in front of her, his breathing steady and calm despite the hours of physical exertion. “All right.”
Veronica steeled herself as he grabbed her once again. She’d done this enough times now that the initial shock faded, replaced by a newfound determination. She remembered his lessons and pivoted her body, hooking her leg through his just as he had shown her. There was a moment of suspended tension before he landed on the mat once more.
“Excellent.” He got back on his feet with a spring in his step. “You got it. You’re a natural.”
“My God.” She bent double and breathed out a long breath as sweat trickled into her eyes. “How are you still so energetic?”
He chuckled and tossed her a towel from his gym bag. “Years of training. Plus, I’m not the one doing all the throwing. Being the throwee is much easier.”
For the second time in as many days, she laughed. She was tired, yes, but there was a spark of joy that had been absent in her life for the longest time. It felt good to laugh.
“Well, I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck,” she admitted, pulling her ponytail free and running her hands through her sweaty, tangled hair.
“Bet you’ll sleep well tonight.”
She had slept pretty damn well last night with his arms around her. This thing between them—the spark, the heat…
She didn’t know how she felt about it yet.
“But for now, let’s call it a day,” Connelly suggested, already rolling up the mat. “You’ve done enough for one session.”
“No,” she protested, “I want to keep going. I need to be able to defend myself.”
He stared at her for a moment before sighing. “Vee, you’ve learned faster than anyone else I’ve ever trained. But you need to rest and let your body rejuvenate. We’ll pick this up tomorrow. Go take a hot shower to loosen up those muscles. You’re going to be sore.”
He was probably right. Her muscles were already singing with fatigue, and a hot shower was starting to sound like heaven. “All right,” she conceded. “ A shower would be nice.”
Alfie jumped down from the couch and padded to the door, glancing back with an expectant expression on his adorable little face. Rebel was much less equanimous about her need to go outside. She pawed at the door hard enough that it rattled in its frame.
Connelly stopped her from going to the door and pulled her in, pressing a kiss to her sweaty forehead. “No, I’ll deal with the dogs. You go take care of yourself.” Rebel barked impatiently and he released her. “Okay! I’m coming.”
The dogs almost tripped over each other in their hurry to get outside, and Connelly’s laughter filled the room before he shut the door behind them.
Veronica dragged herself to the bathroom and peeled off her workout clothes, dropping them in a pile on the floor before stepping into the steamy warmth of the shower. The jets of water massaged her aching muscles, and she let out a groan at the pleasure of it.
As she stood there, letting the warm water soothe her aching body, she replayed the afternoon—the way Connelly moved with such precision, the way his eyes sparkled when she picked up a new technique, the feel of his muscles under her hands. What it would be like to touch him, not in defense, but with affection and desire?
Touch him like she had this morning before Ash interrupted...
The memory of the kiss was so vivid, so real. She could still feel the warmth of his breath against her skin, his lips somehow both soft and hard on hers, promising so much more...
God, she desperately wanted more.
But was she ready? Could she actually take that step? She hadn’t slept with anyone since before the attack. She had barely been able to masturbate without the memories assaulting her all over again.
There was one way to find out…
She closed her eyes and trailed a hand down the front of her body, dipping her fingers between her legs. Her breath hitched as pleasure ignited deep inside her belly at the first tentative touch of her fingers. She leaned against the tiled wall, the water cascading down her body while her mind kept replaying that kiss—a kiss that was all-consuming, passionate, and heartbreakingly sweet. It had sparked something in her, something she hadn’t felt since... well, the last time they’d kissed.
She pictured his hands, strong but gentle as they had expertly guided her through the training. He’d take control in bed like that if she let him.
Could she let him?
Yes. Her body was one hundred percent on board with that idea if the sudden slickness between her legs was any indication. She touched her clit and a wave of pleasure crashed over her, leaving her legs trembling. She imagined it was Connelly’s hands on her, not her own, his touch exploring every inch of her body.
