AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, I’ll do that. Thanks.”
I made my way down to the gym, and sure enough, the lights were on. When I peeked through the doorway, I saw Kyle lifting weights. He stopped and turned. “Hey. What’s up, Kayden?”
I cleared my throat and stepped fully into the gym. “Faye said you might be willing to spar with me?”
He smiled and set the weights down, then walked toward me. “Yeah, I’m up for that. Anything in particular you’d like to work on?”
Today, we’d paired off for more hand-to-hand combat training. While I felt fairly confident in my abilities, it was my favorite. I could always improve my skills. “Maybe a little booster lesson on what we learned today?”
Kyle chuckled. “Sure thing. Want to warm up with some punches?”
“Throwing punches sounds fabulous.”
He arched a brow, his lips twitching. “Let me grab some padding then.”
While Kyle went to get the equipment, I hopped in place to get my blood pumping, then stretched my tight muscles. Hopefully, the extra workout would loosen some of the tension that had set in.
“Okay, give me your best.” Kyle moved into the sparring ring, two foam pads strapped to his forearms. He held them up in front of him, taking a fighting stance, making the perfect target. “Just pound away as much as you like.”
“You aren’t going to spar with me?”
“I will. But for now, just warm up with some practice hits.”
For the first few minutes, I was just getting my bearings, getting a feel for how Kyle moved. I landed punch after punch into the soft padding, and he began to make things more difficult, dodging out of my way and making me work for it.
Fifteen minutes in, I was already sweaty and out of breath, but each time I landed a hit, some of my tension released. I rolled my shoulders as I took a step back, staying light on my feet as I decided where to strike next.
Kyle grinned. “You look like you’re just getting started. What has you wound so tight this evening?”
From the corner of my eye, I caught a movement in the doorway. Turning, I froze at the sight of Holden standing there, eyes blazing.
“Get out,” he growled.
My chest tightened, making it harder to breathe as he strode into the room, gaze trained on me, but I straightened my spine. Holden might be one of the most intimidating men I’d ever met when he wanted to be, but that didn’t mean he could act like an ass.
“Excuse me?” I narrowed my eyes, even as my body reacted to him, my wolf responding to the alpha. To my mate.
“Not you.” He whirled on Kyle, who stood, eyes wide. “I’ve got it from here.”
What I saw on Holden’s face as he stared down one of his best trainers shook me. Jealousy. Raw and unfiltered, as if he couldn’t control the primal reaction. At least I wasn’t alone in that, even if I despised the emotion.
Kyle immediately took off the sparring pads and nodded to his alpha. “Yes, sir.” Then he was gone, leaving the two of us alone.
“What the hell was that? I’m trying to burn off some steam here.”
Holden took a step closer. “I can help you with that.”
Heat flooded my core, images of what we’d done on the beach flashing through my mind. He must have seen it in my face because the fire in his eyes began to smolder.
“I mean by training,” I clarified, my voice breathy from my exertion. At least, that’s what I told myself. I certainly didn’t want to give him the idea that I was willing to go along with being his mistress.
“Like I said.” He pulled his shirt off, muscles rippling, cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders. “I can help.”
I watched him move back to the door, his movements graceful as a predator. He shut it and flipped the lock before walking back to the sparring mat.
He settled his weight back into a fighting stance, arms up. I just stared, my heart racing. He wanted to spar with me? My gaze roved over his broad shoulders, thick biceps, carved chest, and chiseled abs. Holy shit, the man was ripped. I knew it before, but now, alone, here, knowing he was my mate…
He held his palm up, then curled his fingers back twice. “Come on. Show me what you’ve got.”
