Page 22 of Fools in Love

She’d changed into gray tights with a soft pink leotard over it. Her good leg was stretched over her head as she lay on her back. Her toe pointed farther than he imagined he could ever stretch with his. She looked ever much the dancer. Even with her hurt leg wrapped up, she appeared in peak physical condition.

Quite literally every thought in his mind disappeared in a puff of steam, and his entire body was now on fire. He watched her move with the machine, slowly using the bands to stretch her good leg clear above her head in a split. All he could think about was how it would feel to have those legs wrap around him.

He didn’t know how long he stood there, watching her stretch, but apparently long enough that someone nudged his shoulder so he would clear the pathway to the locker rooms.

He moved towards her as if in a daze and stopped next to the machine.

“Hey,” he said. His voice sounded off slightly.

She sat up and smiled slowly. “Ready for your torture?”

Hell, yes, he was. His mouth had gone dry, and his entire body was already sweating. Thoughts of her tying him up, using him, played over and over in his mind until he realized that if he didn’t stop, he’d have to excuse himself.

He nodded slowly, trying to think of anything other than how sexy she looked.

“Okay, sit.” She motioned to the machine next to him.

He had yet to even look at the machine and somehow managed to sit down without falling over. His eyes were still glued to her.

“Do what I do,” she said, and for the next half hour, he followed along as best as he could. Her body was a million times more limber than his, even though she didn’t work with her bad leg at all.

The crazy thing was, after half an hour, he was sweating and knew that he would be sore the following day. Some of the muscles that he stretched on the machine had never been worked before. Hell, most of them he didn’t even know he had. He’d never worked them out before.

It took all his willpower to not limp towards the boxing bags. He helped Kate strap on a pair of gloves.

“Remember how to stand?” He leaned her crutches on the wall, then placed his hands on her waist until she was steady. Stepping back, he moved over and held onto the bag.

“Keep your shoulder up, elbow out a little more,” he said as she took her first swing. He coached her as she took a few more swings.

A few swings in, her form improved, and she actually had some power behind each hit.

She stopped and hugged the bag, and he noticed she was a little breathless.

“I think it’s your turn.” She motioned towards the bag. “Show me what you can do.”

She leaned over and took her crutches and then stood against the wall while he pulled on his gloves.

Today, the news about his father wasn’t as fresh in his mind, but still, he pulled up an image of his father the last time he saw him and took his first swing.

Ten minutes later, with sweat dripping down between his shoulder blades, he stepped back and met Kate’s eyes.

Instantly, he could see they were full of desire, just like his had been earlier for her.

He rested his gloved hand on the wall next to her and leaned in until he was a breath away. Her eyes moved to his lips for a split second, causing him to lower his gaze to hers.

They looked so plump and kissable that without thinking, he dipped his head towards hers as she moved towards him.

The kiss was quick, soft, and more damaging than anything he’d ever experienced. He knew that, now, he wouldn’t be able to go without more. Without experiencing just what it would feel like to explore her mouth, her body, all of her.

“Kate,” he said, closing his eyes and resting his forehead on hers.

“Are you done?” someone said, clearing their throat.

Tom glanced over and saw Reece Crawford motioning towards the bag.

“Yeah,” Tom said, straightening up. “We’re done here.”

“Hi, Kate,” Reece said with a smile.