Page 42 of Fractured

“You can’t handle me if I give you everything full force,” he throws at me with a challenge hidden in his words.

“Pretty sure I can, big boy,” I say with a depreciating laugh.

Vander lets out an irritated rumble. His fist comes at me and I throw up a block, countering with a jab before stepping back and putting some space between us. We circle around each other, waiting for an opportunity to attack or to defend at a moment’s notice. I spot my moment and land a kick to his stomach, but he catches my leg, sending me to the ground. I roll with the momentum of my body and pop up to my feet, bouncing on my toes with my fists held up.

“You have to be quicker, Remi,” he instructs. He moves in and I go to block a punch, but he fakes me out, instead going for my feet and swiping them out from under me. I land on my ass and don’t have enough time to move before he’s on top of me. I’m rather impressed I lasted as long as I did. I may be well versed in using weapons, but I’ve never had much in-depth training on hand-to-hand fighting until recently. It’s clear Vander has been holding back on me. “Have enough yet?”

“Not even close,” I tell him. There’s a whole hell of a lot of fight left in me. I haven’t even broken a sweat yet. Getting back to my feet, we start again. Over and over, he puts me on my ass. His eyes shine each time, and I just enjoy forcing him to touch me. It doesn’t take long for us to have a sheen of sweat covering us, which aids me when trying to slip from his holds. Eventually we end up grappling on the mat.

I get a moment of having the upper hand, when my grip slips and I end up crashing down on top of him. My tits land on his face in the perfect motorboat position. If only I was topless… I don’t do anything to help lift myself off him, but at the same time, Vander is slow to place his hands on my hips to help lift me. He presses me up and I take the opportunity to marvel at his strength.

“No fun, Vander,” I say, pouting at him. His lips twitch, telling me he enjoys every moment of sending me into frustration. I sag in his grip, so while his hands hold my hips extended away from his body, my upper half leans forward, and I place both hands on either side of his face. My lips are just over his, and much to his displeasure, I could close the distance at any moment. I won’t, but it’s only because I want him to prove he wants me.

“Ready to give up?” he taunts.

“Never!” I reply with a sly smirk.

“You’re obviously gassed. Your punches aren’t even at half strength anymore, and we ended up on the floor because your legs can’t even hold you up anymore. Give in and I’ll help you stretch out. Maybe you won’t pay as badly tomorrow for your cockiness.” He raises an eyebrow and gives me a half-smile that makes my breath hard to find. “If you admit I win, I’ll even consider giving you a rub down tomorrow.”

He plays a hard bargain, and I’m not sure I trust his motivations behind it. Vander seems like the type to twist my own games against me. “With oil?” I clarify. He gives me a nod. “Obviously I can’t wear clothes for it.” His eyes close and his lips purse in agreement with another nod. “Happy ending?”

Amusement shines in his eyes. “Now you’re just getting greedy. I’m going to start taking things off the table in three, two, o—”

“Okay, okay. You win. I still have a lot to learn,” I rush to say before he finishes his countdown. He lowers me to the side of him, and I lay there unmoving. My limbs feel like Jell-O. I’m not sure I can even move them into position for the stretches.

Vander shifts to his knees and lifts one leg first, moving it into different positions to stretch me out, then he switches to the other leg. He uses his body to hold it in position, and a thrill runs through me when his cock presses against my cunt. Keep denying me, buddy. You aren’t fooling anyone. “Vander?”

“Remington?” he replies, watching me carefully.

I wince as the stretch deepens. He releases my leg, but doesn’t pull his body away. He places his elbows on either side of me, caging me in with an all too familiar move. My hands land on his chest, and I wrap my legs around his waist. This time when I pull him closer into me, he doesn’t resist. His body is relaxed, sensing what’s coming next.

“I’m tired of fighting, Vander. Everything outside of my private bubble is always a game, and you more than anyone knows how few people I’ve ever invited into my inner circle.” I run my hands up his chest and wrap my arms around his neck. “I suddenly decided I won’t play those games with the men who make me feel like I can show them my true self.”

I pause to let the full weight of my meaning sink in. His eyes dart around my face, trying to figure out what my play is. It won’t take long for him to realize I’m being dead serious with him. “Are you one of those men, Vander? I’ve made it clear I want you to be, but you keep pushing me away. So if you don’t want to be, then I need to remove you from my circle. What’s it going to be?”

“Are you giving me an ultimatum? Give in or I’m fired?” He’s always been impossible for me to read, and I hate it.

“No. I just don’t want to wonder where we stand anymore. Against all odds, I’ve found a few men who give me the sense I can show them my real self. My blood sings around them. I feel alive when I’m with them. Just like I do with you. And I can’t make myself vulnerable with you anymore, if you don’t feel the same way. It’s a control I’m not willing to give up.” My words leave me raw. While I’m being honest, the only way to win is to get a definitive answer from him.

Vander closes his eyes and rests his forehead against mine. I let him think through his response. No sense in rushing it or trying to persuade him one way or the other. As much as I want to ride that fat cock he’s packing, it won’t be worth it to let him in any further if he isn’t into it. I can’t close myself off to him. Vander is unlike any person I’ve ever met. I’ve willingly turned a blind eye to it for years now.

“You’re putting my life in danger with this decision,” he tells me, eyes focusing on mine once more.

“Isn’t it always in danger? You know, it’s practically in your job description.” He gives me a wry laugh.

“Touché,” he whispers. One of his hands moves to cup me behind the neck. The other lands on my hip in a possessive hold. It doesn’t stay there long, it trails up my side, raising my shirt. His head tilts to the side and our lips brush. We both watch each other, not wanting to miss a moment. Our lips press together, and Vander starts to part his to deepen the kiss.

Just as his tongue swipes at the seam of my lips, the door to the gym swings open, startling us both. Jen walks in, and Vander jumps back, grabbing my leg in a show of stretching me out like we were originally doing. She glances between us with a confused smile. “Are… are you two finally happening?”

“Is what happening? I’m just helping her stretch after a training session.” It doesn’t surprise me that Vander is trying to deny anything between us. He has some reason why he thinks it’s a bad idea to give in.

“Oh,” she says with disappointment pulling at her smile. “Probably for the best. Grayson sent over some options the wedding planner put together. He needs you to sign off with your selection.”

“I’ll pick them out and send them back later today. Thank you, Jen,” I tell her, trying to get her to leave before Vander shuts himself off or changes his mind.

“They’re already on your desk waiting,” she says before turning around and shutting the door behind her.

Vander’s hands trail down my leg and knead at my hamstring. “I’m in your inner circle, Remi. I’d like to see you try to keep me out of your bubble. You’ll have to wait to get my body, but my soul… my soul has been yours from the first moment I saw you.” He leans down and presses a kiss to my forehead. “You’ve always been mine, Reginetta. I’ll never give you up.”

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