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Wren
Ishould have been on my way to grocery shop.It was what I did on Sundays. Instead, I was stepping inside Callum’s Krav Maga studio to watch some murder-fighting.
At once, I was hit by the smell of bodies and sweat and an underlying hint of lemon cleaning product. A class was taking place on the mat closest to the window, but Callum wasn’t among that group this time. He’d texted he would be on the mats in the back of the studio, which was far larger than I had thought from peering inside the window.
I hung my coat on a rack in the small lobby by the door and made my way on the path skating around the mats to the rear of the studio. A swarm of neurotic butterflies filled my stomach. I was more nervous now that Callum knew who I was than I was before. That could have had something to do with the way he’d declared me to be his last night. Crazy as it was, I had liked hearing that. But holy granola, I had not been prepared for that reaction out of him.
This thing between us needed to be slow and thought out. If it had just been me to consider, I might have dove headfirst. But I had Ezra, and he was my top priority. I couldn’t be a normal twenty-two-year-old running into the arms of my rock star fantasy. Especially since my rock star fantasy didn’t even know my boy existed. I promised myself that would be rectified soon.
A small group was circled around a mat in the back, watching with rapt attention as two men sparred. Callum was dressed in black like he’d been last week, but now, he had padded gloves on his hands and shin guards. His opponent wore Adidas athletic gear instead of a uniform and was a few inches shorter, but he made up for it in being broad and powerful.
I stood behind a row of men in black uniforms, a knot in my throat as I watched. Callum’s expression was vicious, and so was his attack. He followed Adidas around the mat relentlessly, kicking and jabbing. His opponent fought back just as hard, landing blows on Callum’s torso and face.
I winced every time Callum was hit, but when his jabs landed true, I had to hold myself back from cheering. Violence wasn’t the answer, but Callum might have been able to convince me otherwise.
The fighters grappled until Callum flipped Adidas over and they both went down to the mat. Callum rolled to his back, wrapping his long legs around the other man’s waist and throwing punches at his stomach and shoulders.
Someone called out for them to reset. Callum and Adidas hopped up from the mat and started over. Punching, kicking, going for the throat, rolling on the ground, unrelenting in their determination to kill each other.
It was so freaking sexy, I almost couldn’t stand to watch another minute.
Then, Adidas and Callum went down again, both on their backs. Adidas had his arms locked around Callum’s throat and his legs were holding his waist. Callum braced his feet flat on the floor, bucking upward and breaking free of Adidas’s legs, then he twisted his body around and rolled, sliding out of the choke hold. He laid on top of Adidas’s prone form, fully pinning him to the mat.
My pulse fluttered wildly when time was called and they walked off the mat, letting a new pair take the center. Callum stooped to grab a towel from the floor and wiped his sweaty forehead. No one spoke to him, though more than a few people were looking at him.
I stayed half hidden, twisting my cardigan with my fingers. After everything, I shouldn’t have been nervous. He had stated in no uncertain terms he wanted me, and he’d been more than pleased when I’d suggested for me to come here. But waiting for him to see me felt like the first time all over again. The horror show that was my mind kept running images of him walking right past me again.
He didn’t let me wonder for long. One last wipe of his face on the towel and his eyes were on me as he skirted around the mat to get to me. As soon as I was within his reach, one long arm shot out, snagging me around the waist and pulling me into his sweaty chest.
“Why are you hidin’ over here, Wren?”
Rin. Holy granola, how had I gone all my life without hearing him say my name like that?
“I was worried about blood splatter. It’s so hard to get out of wool.” I reached for his face, skimming my fingertips over a red spot on his cheek. “Aren’t you supposed to be pulling punches?”
He leaned into my hand until I was cupping his rough jaw. “That’s the idea, but I’ve never been the kind to be afraid of a little pain. That’s why I like to spar with Gregor. He doesn’t know the meaning of takin’ it easy.”
“So, you’re telling me he beat you? Maybe I should go find him.” With a grin, I moved a fraction of an inch before I was tugged back firmly against Callum.
“You really want me to kill him?”
I shook my head. “No, I don’t. I’m teasing. I never thought I’d be into watching a fight, but that was…” I sighed, and Callum’s lips tipped.
“Are you a bloodthirsty little bird?”
“Maybe I am.”
He dipped his head to nuzzle his nose in my hair and inhaled. The pained groan that came from him landed directly between my thighs. “You smell delicious. Wait for me to get cleaned up?”
“All right. I have to go grocery shopping, so I can’t really stay for long.”
“Just wait, Wren.” He took another whiff of my hair and backed away. “Wait.”
I nodded and pointed to the floor. His brow furrowed, and he lingered, almost glaring at me, then he nodded back and disappeared into the locker room.
I did stay in that spot for a minute or two, but then I felt too conspicuous waiting in the middle of all the action, so I returned to the lobby and grabbed my coat from the rack. I had just buttoned the second to the last button when rough hands grabbed my shoulder and turned me around.
“You were gone. I told you to stay.” Callum slipped the final button in place and tucked my hair behind my ear. “I thought you left.”
