Page 42 of 4th Degree

And yeah, that’s not a zero percent chance look.

The moment I reach that conclusion, this class ends and my next one begins. I don’t have any time to dwell, because there’s a 185-pound man on top of me trying to break my arm and I can’t afford any distractions. So, I don’t think about Dominic for the rest of the night.

But then the gym empties out and we’re the last two left. And even when we’re in different rooms, the heat between us is stifling.

The closer I get to being done with cleaning, the more nervous I become. There’s just something about Dominic, something about the way he disarms me, the way he sees the real me…

I have no idea what to say to him. I know what I want to say, but that doesn’t mean that’s what I should say. Do I tell him I want him? Or that we can pretend nothing happened? Is it better if I don’t say anything?

Dominic takes the choice out of my hands when he walks out of his office and nears the mat I’m sweeping. His expression is too unreadable to know what he’s thinking, but at the very least, I can tell he couldn’t stop himself from coming out here.

After a moment’s hesitation, he asks, “Need any help finishing up?”

I look around at the gym. “No, I’m just about done. I’m getting pretty quick at this.” My eye catches on one of the dummies on the edge of the mat. “Actually, can you help me move BOB? I apparently need to up my strength training, because I could barely get that thing two inches down the mat.”

Dominic chuckles at that, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. “Yeah, I can move him.”

I start toward the dummy, but Dominic beats me there. And before I can motion for him to grab one end and I’ll grab the other, he wraps an arm under its middle and hoists it onto his shoulder. With one hand and zero effort.

“Did you want him somewhere specific, or just back in the corner?” he asks.

But I’m just gaping at the sight of Dominic being so effortless in his strength.

God, this man is so hot. And he has no idea.

When he lifts an eyebrow in question, I manage to stammer, “Uh…um, just the corner. Is fine.”

He turns and heads toward the corner, with me following behind him with one of the smaller medicine balls that goes in the same spot. He tosses the dummy on top of the others, and I do the same with the ball in my hand, but I miscalculate where he’s dropping BOB and end up tripping over its foot as the medicine ball leaves my hand. I let out a yelp and try to twist so I’ll fall on my hands instead of my face.

Except, I never make it to the ground. Because I’m yanked back into a hard chest.

My chest rises and falls with rapid breaths, shock freezing me in place. But when I finally take in what happened, and where I am, my skin lights on fire from my current position.

Every part of my front is plastered to Dominic. Not only did he pull me back, but he pulled me tight enough against him that there isn’t an inch separating us from chest to thighs. One of his arms is even wrapped around my waist, holding us together. The other is still clutching my arm where he pulled me.

The only part of him I can’t feel or read is his face, because he’s almost a foot taller than I am. But if the way his grip is tightening on my arm is any indication, he needs the contact just as much as I do.

Taking in a silent breath for courage, I slowly tilt my face up to meet his gaze.

And immediately lose every molecule of oxygen in my lungs.

His eyes…and his expression…it’s like he wants to burn. me. up. Like he’s holding himself back with a fraying thread of control. Like he wants nothing more than to give in to this heat and let it incinerate us.

I think I might be looking at him the same way because whatever he sees in my eyes, it makes his go wholly black and his grip around my waist to tighten until I can’t breathe. When his gaze drops to my lips, there isn’t a chance in hell that I could hold myself back.

Pushing up on my toes, reveling in every inch of my body that slides along his as I get the additional height, I bring my mouth so close to his, I can taste his want. And I can feel him tremble with his restraint.

So, I make the decision for us. Because I know he wants it, because I want it, and because, for once in my life, I want to take something good for myself without any thought of anything else.

Covering the last inch between us, I press my lips against his.

And immediately sigh at the feel of him, my body deflating with relief. He feels…right. If I thought this gym felt like my safe haven, it’s nothing compared to how it feels to be with Dominic.

Except, the sound I let out is like a starting pistol. In a split second, Dominic’s body tenses. I don’t even get to feel his lips moving against mine before he’s ripping away from me.

“What are you doing?” he says, his voice so loud in the silence, I can’t help but frown. His expression is stunned, and a little scared. He takes another step back to put more distance between us.

His reaction cuts into me like a knife, though part of me also understands it. But I know what I felt, and I’m not going to feel bad about going for it.

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