Ian, on the other hand, I could hardly put into words. He trained here at the gym six hours a day, six days a week, and had the body to prove it. His arms were rock hard, and his shoulder and back muscles were defined and firm. I wanted to trace my fingers along them and tickle his skin. And his abs—
Oops. I almost fell off the treadmill trying to see his abs. Anyway, his abs were flipping solid. I didn’t know why they call them a six-pack since he clearly had eight well-defined muscles there, and I would love to run my tongue over each and every one of them.
Don’t even get me started with his eyes. Cool blue, and always so serious and business-like, but deep. Sometimes I thought back to that night, the way he looked at me as if he was going to take care of me. As if he’d never let anyone hurt me.
It was so easy to fall into his gaze that night and lose myself. It made me wish I could get wrapped up in him again.
But I never would. Not after that night.
Two
Ian
I was having a hard time not killing Cade. It was easier blocking his hits than it was keeping him uninjured. “Take out your tampon and fight, you pussy,” I taunted.
Now that he’d pretty much given up fighting, I could wipe the floor with him blindfolded with both hands tied behind my back. But the guy was like a brother to me, so I took it easy on him. Or at least, I tried not to send him to the ER.
Cade threw himself at me harder. “I have documented proof that I’m no pussy. I know you’ve seen my videos. It’s all there. All ten inches of lady-loving meat,” he spat, hitting back at me verbally.
What a douche-rocket. He might be my best friend, but there was no way in hell I’d ever watch one of his old porn videos. I shuddered at the thought.
He almost got a hit in. It was hard to pay attention when MacKenzie was running on that damn treadmill. It was impossible to look away when she ran in those tight, ass-hugging shorts and that tank top—the kind with a built-in bra that hardly supported her beautiful tits as she bounced along.
I tugged at my own baggy shorts. Down, boy.
I knew it would be stupid to hire MacKenzie on as the gym medic. She was a distraction. But when I’d heard she was laid off from the hospital, I couldn’t stand the idea of her being without a job, so I’d talked Chris into hiring her. Not that she knew anything about my involvement with her employment here. It was better that she not know.
But I wasn’t the only one distracted by her. The minute she started, there was a spike in fight-related injuries. I didn’t know if her hot ass was distracting the guys, or if they’d deliberately ramped up their machismo to gain her attention—and got themselves hurt in the process. Hell, I wouldn’t have been surprised if the little shits were faking injury just to steal some one-on-one time with her.
Cade socked me in the gut.
“Oof.” I fought for breath and clutched my abdomen, which smarted like a bitch. And that was why you had to remain focused in the cage.
I turned my attention back to Cade, who was dancing around like a little boy, damn proud of himself for that last hit. Good for him. “You hit like a five-year-old,” I told him, but he could tell I was still trying to catch my breath.
Cade smirked at me. “Maybe if you stopped thinking about your dick and got into the fight, you wouldn’t be losing to a hobby fighter right now.”
Oh, it’s on.
I bounced around him as I got my breathing under control, then charged him, picked him up into a fireman’s hold, and took us both down to the mat. Still careful to not kill the poor guy. I easily pulled him into a hold and applied pressure.
“Who’s a pussy?” I asked.
He twisted around. “You are,” he grumbled with a smile.
I applied more pressure. “Who’s a pussy?”
His face turned red, but he held out a few more beats before he couldn’t stand it anymore. “I am,” he grunted through clenched teeth.
“Good boy.”
I released him and helped him back up on his feet. As we resumed sparring, I happened to glance over to the treadmill again. The owner of the gym, Chris, had stopped to talk to MacKenzie. He put his hand on her shoulder and leaned in. My stomach clenched again, and this time it had nothing to do with the earlier hit.
Cade took advantage of my newfound ADD and knocked me off my feet. Dragging in a deep gulp of air, I tried to fend off the sting of pain I knew was coming.
MacKenzie
“Shit,” I shouted as I jumped off the treadmill and ran to grab my medic bag from the office.
Cade had hooked Ian in the jaw, sending him to the mat. I’d only been working at the gym for a month, but I’d never seen Ian fall before. I was so shocked, it took me a second to realize why I was rushing over to him. He was still on the mat when I got there, awake and wincing at the ceiling.
“Ian,” I said, my voice unsteady. I put my hand on his chest, which rose and fell rapidly from his heavy breathing, then leaned over him. “Ian, are you okay?”
His eyes were open but he turned away, glaring at the wall as if he was pissed at something. When he finally turned up to look at me, his anger faded.
My breath caught. It was the first time I’d looked him in the eye since that night, and I couldn’t believe how intense it was. He seemed so serious, and yet so in need of my touch, that before I could restrain myself I put my hand on his cheek, brushing his skin lightly with my thumb. His jaw was rough with stubble and sweaty from fighting. Heat zinged up my arm as memories flooded my brain.