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We circled each other, sizing up our opponent. Dominic was faster than I expected, and he landed a solid punch to my stomach, knocking the wind out of me.
"Oh, so we're going to play it like that," I said, pressing my arm over my abs.
Dominic started forward with sympathy written across his face--and a wary look in his eyes because he was a smart man--and I let out another jab that almost contacted his hard side. He just grinned as he danced back.
I feinted to the left and landed a quick jab to his jaw, making him stumble for a second.
He recovered with lightning speed and launched a furious volley of blows that had me stepping back, giving up ground across the mat.
I dodged his next punch and landed a quick jab to his stomach. It was like hitting a brick wall. He didn't react at all, and since we were fighting without gloves, my knuckles stung from the contact with his rock-hard abs.
We circled each other, each waiting for the other to make a move. Dominic was bigger and stronger than me, but I was faster and more agile. I knew I had to use my advantages to my benefit.
He threw a punch, but I ducked under it and landed a solid uppercut to his chin. He staggered back, but I didn't give him a chance to recover.
It was all the opening I needed. I launched myself at him, grabbing him by the shoulders and slamming him into the mat.
We grappled on the ground, rolling and twisting, each of us trying to gain the upper hand. And then, suddenly, Dominic came out on top and he pinned my arms above my head. I could’ve kept fighting and tried to roll us over, but instead I found myself studying his blue eyes and the hard angle of his jaw.
He looked down at me, breathing hard. "You're a real firecracker, aren't you?" he murmured, pressing my wrists down into the mat.
I smiled up at him. “And you’re not as big of a wimp as I’d thought.”
Slowly, he lowered his face towards mine. I could feel his warm breath against my lips, and I found myself parting them slightly.
Just before our mouths met, he pulled back.
"I need a shower," he said, getting to his feet. I stared at him in confusion.
My breathing was still hard and wild, and my skin was flushed red--as much from my desire to kiss him as from the exercise. I didn't reply, just got up and walked back over to the mats.
"Not bad for a little bird, by the way," Dominic said, smacking my ass as I walked past him.
It was a weird reaction when he’d just leapt away from me as if I were dangerous. "Are we going to do that again?"
"Maybe."
I tilted my head to one side. "Maybe?"
"We can't make a lot of promises to each other," he reminded me.
I frowned at him, finding it hard to reconcile the suddenly cool and collected Dominic with the way his face had brightened when he first saw me this morning. Which was the real Dominic?
Part of me didn't want to even try. I didn't need anyone.
I spun on my heel to leave the gym. But the memory of Dominic's smile, of how much fun we'd had with Rocky, of how protective he'd been since I came to the house, all flooded me.
I spun back around. I wanted to understand him. No matter how hard it was for me to talk about feelings at all.
"What the hell's going on?" I demanded.
"What?" he asked, arching his eyebrow.
"You're being so weird!"
"I'm sorry," he said, his voice husky. "I don't know what you want me to say. I'm attracted to you. You're an amazing fighter. You're brilliant and beautiful."
"Why are you saying all that like it's a bad thing?"
