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“With the help of our allies of course.” Belle nodded towards the three men taking hit after hit, and willingly coming back for more.
“I have to admit, if I was cornered by those three, I’d probably beg them to do their worst.”
Belle burst out in warm, light-filled laughter. For the first time in a long while, she was relaxed and having fun. Her eyes caught with Bently’s and her smile quickly faded. Marcy took advantage of his distraction and twisted out of his hold and had him on his knees. Bently said something to her and then she released him with a smile as she jumped up and down. Belle averted her eyes to the other groups, drawing in a deep breath.
Some women left after they finished their turns. Katy went up against Mason. Belle cheered her on. When she was finished, she high-fived the giant and went back to sit with Belle.
“Who’s next?” Bently asked, searching the few women left against the mirrored wall. Belle looked over her shoulder. Everyone had gone except her.
Shit.
She stood to her shaky feet. “I guess I’m up.”
Awareness prickled her skin. The room suddenly seemed a lot warmer. She stood in front of him.
“Ready?” he asked.
Not really. “Yes.”
Bently grabbed her arm. Even though she’d come to expect the current of energy that snapped between them, it was still a shock to her system. There was no preparing for the onslaught of feelings that erupted from his touch—fire that promised devastation. Raw, unbridled sexual attraction spun her up like a tornado, whipping her around until she lost all her senses except one—fear. His eyes darkened with dense storm clouds blurring between them, crackling her synapses. She forced her breath in and out slowly and focused on the task—getting his hands off her.
Channeling her anger at the power this man held over her body, she grabbed his knuckles and swung her arm like he’d taught her. He didn’t go down quite as easily as he had when she’d first learned this move six weeks ago. She used her weight to push him.
He fell to his knees. “Great.”
She dropped his hand like it was on fire, but the blaze was inside her. She sucked in a staggered breath, wiping the beads of sweat that had formed on her brow. He directed her through a series of grabs that they’d learned as the dreaded choke hold drew nearer. Her muscles strained and flexed, shoving him to the ground again and again. Each position added fuel to the tension that wound around them.
“Perfect,” he commented, staying on his knees. “Last one.”
She steeled herself and lay on her back. Exposed and vulnerable, her skin lit with anticipation. He moved closer, situating himself between her thighs, every point of contact magnified by whatever this thing was between them. His hands reached for her neck as his scent washed over her. Oak and sin. She licked her lips, tasting it on her tongue. His eyes darted to her mouth. Her inner walls clenched. Arousal thrummed through her, so powerful, she worried he’d feel the vibration. His focused blue eyes locked on to hers—bright and pure and edged in darkness. Breathing came in pants as she fought the urge to grind against him. He leaned in closer still. Her mouth went dry. Was he going to kiss her? She wanted him to.
No! What had this man done to her? She was out of control. Anger swelled. No one could take that from her again.
Belle wrapped her legs around him and grabbed his elbows closer together. She used every bit of a lifetime of deep-seated anger to ignore the fact that she was now pressed against the hard ridges of his abdomen. She swung her legs over his shoulders and lifted her hips, making his arms bend at an unnatural angle as he released her.
She rolled away from him quickly. A few other women in the group laughed. Mason skirted past, almost as if he was running from the room, nodding to Bently before he exited. Katy’s mouth was turned up into a knowing smile as she handed her water bottle over. Belle didn’t bother to say anything—she grabbed her keys and hoodie and darted out of the room. She needed air—fast.
Pushing open the door to the parking lot, she inhaled, filling her lungs with crisp oxygen. Wood smoke with a hint of salt. She jogged to her car, her hands trembling so hard, she dropped the keys.
As she bent over to retrieve them, a shadow loomed over hers. Oh god, he followed me.
“You okay?” Katy asked.
Belle whipped up to standing, choking on her relief. “Uh—yeah. I’m fine.”
“It looked like you two had a moment,” Katy pressed.
“Nope. Definitely not. Hate to break your bubble, but he’s not my type.” She forced a strained laugh.
“You look terrified.” Katy’s brow furrowed as if concerned.
Belle wiped her forehead with her arm. “I’m just high on adrenaline from the workout.” More like rattled to my core.
“You sure you’re okay?”
Belle nodded. “Yeah, absolutely.”
Bently burst through the gym doors, his gaze locked on her.
