Page 72 of What About Us

“It shocks the hell out of me, but I’m surprisingly not uncomfortable,” she says and slips under the bar, makes sure her feet are planted under her, and begins doing deep squats.

For fuck’s sake.

Her legs flex, her ass is nothing but perfection, and I have to look away before I fuck her right there in my squat rack.

“It’s your turn,” she says after she racks the bar.

“I beg your pardon?”

“It’s ten,” she replies and reaches for her tumbler. “Time to work.”

“Let’s do it together today.”

Ivy narrows her pretty blue eyes and then surprises me with “Okay.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

IVY

How have I not dissolved into a puddle of absolute humiliation by now? I’m shocked that I’m not only okay with Xander watching me work out, but I kind of love it.

He’s watching me with lust. With admiration. Not pity or humor. Okay, there’s a little humor because we’re teasing each other, and the banter is fun.

But I don’t want to freak out or run for the hills, and that’s a huge improvement because my anxiety would never have let Xander see me in these glasses, let alone stay to watch me work out. Especially when what I’m wearing leaves nothing to the imagination.

I’m enjoying the hell out of him. I don’t feel self-conscious at all, and I don’t feel the need to cover myself up.

“I bet you can’t do pull-ups,” I say to him. Okay, so mostly I just want to see him do pull-ups because his shoulders are insane.

“I’m sorry, but did you just lay down the gauntlet, Ms. Ivy?”

“Less talk, more action.”

He lets out a surprised laugh, and then he walks over to the pull-up bar, easily jumps up and executes ten reps, his back flexing deliciously, before gently falling to his uninjured foot.

“Your turn.” His face is so damn smug.

I lift an eyebrow. “Oh, you think I can’t?”

“I didn’t say that.”

I narrow my eyes, walk over to the bar, and the next thing I know, he’s behind me with his hands on my waist to give me a boost up because it’s high.

“Go for it, wildcat.”

I adjust my grip and then pull myself up five times before my arms start to shake, but then he’s behind me again, gripping my thighs, helping me.

“This is cheating,” I grit out.

“No way, this is me helping. You’ve got this. Fuck, your back is awesome, Red.”

I want to smile. I need to squeeze my thighs together, but I manage to concentrate for another five, and then he lets me fall to my feet.

“I, too, like your back.”

He smiles and reaches out to drift his finger down the ball of my shoulder.

“You’re sexy in those glasses.”