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I counted to ten, then I started up. Halfway, my calves were already burning. My pulse quickened and my breathing got more difficult. By the time I reached the top, I was ready to bend over and catch my breath. But I knew that wasn’t an option. So I tried to catch my breath - and not fall on my ass - as I took on the decline.
Having Luka setting the pace in front of me helped. And he did have a fantastic ass. Especially in his gym shorts. I was going to need alone time with him after this.
Wondering if Luka and I could squeeze in a quickie during lunch kept me distracted for the first few rounds. I followed his advice, pumping my arms as if I were running even if I had to walk a couple steps here and there.
So far, I seemed to be avoiding drawing any attention to myself. I winced as Coach Miller grabbed a couple of people and pulled them to the side before sending them back into the line. He was making good on his threat.
I did not want to spend my time after dinner on this stairway to hell. I was pretty sure I’d throw up on the first round so at least it would be over quickly, but that did not sound like a good way to start your evening.
Someone’s shoe caught mine and I picked up the pace, worried I was dragging too slow.
Everything hurt.
I could feel my body wearing out. How much time had we been at this?
“Don’t stop,” Luka called. “I’ll rub every inch of your skin down for your tonight.”
I was breathing too hard to respond, but I flashed him a smile. When we got down and were waiting in line to go back up, I tapped him on the shoulder. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
“I can’t wait,” he said, then he darted up the stairs as if he weren’t tired at all.
I pouted to myself and whimpered a little as I slowly walked toward the step. As soon as I got to ten, I climbed, swinging my arms as if I was running. But the run had gone out of me. It was all acting at this point.
Suddenly, someone grabbed my leg and I went down, knocking my jaw on the step as I fell.
Pain shot through my face and I cried out as I desperately tried to regain my balance.
I failed.
My shoulder knocked against another stair as my body slid down. I landed hard. My head cracking against the wood floor.
I sat up slowly. Blackness blurred the corners of my vision and the room spun. Sounds were muted, as if they were coming from very far away.
Then, someone punched me in the face.
I fell backward to the ground again, and I’m pretty sure I lost consciousness for a second. All at once, noise surrounded me, and someone was helping me sit up.
“That’s for taking more than your share,” someone said in my ear. I didn’t know who it was but it was a female voice.
I turned toward the speaker and saw two of the same siren snarling down at me. I narrowed my eyes, trying to steady my vision.
Finally, she returned to one figure.
“Stay away from Zach,” she said. “He’s taken. Stick to your demon and your wolf, selfish whore.”
I sputtered out something nonsensical as I grappled with the fuzzy vision and screaming pain in my head.
“What the hell is going on over here?” Coach Miller asked.
“She stopped and I ran into her,” Delores said.
“That’s not true,” I managed.
“It is, if she moved her lazy ass, none of this would have happened,” Delores added.
“It’s true, coach, I saw the whole thing,” Melody, another siren said.
“No, I was moving,” I said, starting to wonder if I had stopped. Nothing seemed very clear right now. Then I remembered her threat. “She was trying to hurt me.”
