Page 149 of His Reckoning

“What’s with the face?” she asks.

I drop onto the couch, stretching my arm across the back like I just discovered the best show in Manhattan.

“I think you’re crazy,” I tell her. “But I’m enjoying the view.”

She snorts, and then she pushes up into another pose, lifting her hips higher as she straightens her legs.

My smile widens. “Especially that part.”

Kayla freezes mid-movement, slowly turning her head again. “You’re unbelievable.”

I shrug. “You’re the one who put your?—”

She hops off the mat and marches over before I can finish the sentence, swatting my leg. “Stop staring.”

I catch her wrist before she can pull away. The movement surprises both of us. One second, she’s standing over me, and the next, she’s pulled forward, landing squarely in my lap, straddling me.

For a moment, neither of us moves. My hand is still wrapped around her wrist. Her hair has fallen loose around her shoulders from the yoga poses. And my heartbeat kicks harder than it should.

Her breath catches.

“You did that on purpose,” she says quietly.

I lean back against the couch, studying her. “Maybe.”

Her knees press against my hips. I can feel the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of her shorts.

And suddenly, the entire room feels a lot smaller.

My thumb slides slowly along the inside of her wrist.

“Careful,” I murmur.

Her eyes flicker to mine. “Why?”

My voice drops. “Because you keep climbing on top of me like that, and eventually, I’m going to stop pretending I have any self-control.”

Her lips part slightly. For a second, neither of us breathes.

She glances down at herself and wrinkles her nose. “I’m sweaty.”

I laugh quietly. That sound alone seems to break the tension.

I loosen my tie, tugging it free. Guiding her off my lap, I stand. “Then go fix it.”

She folds her arms. “Excuse me?”

I pull the tie free and toss it onto the couch.

“Get naked,” I tell her calmly. “And get in my shower.”

Her mouth opens and closes again.

“Bossy pants,” she mutters.

I start walking toward the hallway. “You coming?”

She hesitates for exactly one second, and then she grabs her water bottle and follows me.