Page 71 of Savage Desires

“Hey, boss! Didn’t know you’d be in today,” Chad says with a wide, friendly smile.

“Boss?” Willow looks up at me with surprise.

“Yeah, Pulse is one of my investments.”

She takes in the gym, looking at it through scrutinizing eyes. When she’s done, she nods as if she approves. That approval means more to me than all the awards and accolades I’ve gotten for being the best gym in the city.

“Well, who do we have here? Looking for a personal trainer, doll?” Chad leans in close, giving Willow the same smile that has women throwing themselves at him for training sessions. Even though I know he’s happily married to a nice businessman that works on Wall Street and is harmless, it pisses me off. I don’t want anyone flirting with my woman. Not even a gay man.

“Back. Off.” I say through gritted teeth.

Chad immediately stands up straight and steps back, holding his hands out. “Sorry, boss. No harm meant.”

“Spread the word. Willow’s off limits.”

He raises his brow with a smirk. “Will do.”

Willow’s shaking her head, fighting a smile. “That was unnecessary.”

“No one flirts with you and lives. It’s for their own safety.”

She laughs. “You do know he’s gay, right?”

“How did you know?”

She rolls her eyes. “It’s obvious. He might’ve smiled and flirted, but there was zero heat in his eyes. He was playful like a puppy, not hungry like a wolf. Men who want a woman have a certain look to them that he is missing.”

“Very perceptive. I think you’re the only woman that’s figured out Chad’s little secret.”

She shrugs. “People see what they want. He flirts with them and makes them feel good about themselves. That’s enough for most. Who wouldn’t want to be flattered when they’re vulnerable? Most people don’t come to a gym because they are happy with who they are, so a little flirting helps them get past their insecurities.”

“Never thought of it that way.”

“Most people who are sexier than sin don’t consider how us mere mortals feel when we walk into a gym full of fit men and women,” she says sardonically.

I pull her into my arms, fisting her hair so her face is tipped up. “You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen. No one compares. I’m the mortal bowing at the feet of my goddess.”

Her face heats in a blush. "Yet I'm the one that wants to be on her knees."

I lean in and nip her bottom lip, then lick away the sting. "Just because you submit to me doesn't mean I don't worship at your feet. You own me as much as I own you, love. Don't forget that."

She wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me hotly. I lose myself in her lips for a long moment. The sound of a weight crashing to the floor has me pulling away before I ravage her right here in front of a gym full of people.

"Let's grab some workout clothes for you and get warmed up."

"Okay," she replies, breathless from our kiss.

She picks a hot pink and black sports bra and matching shorts. I try to get her to choose something with a little more coverage, and she argues that all her pertinent parts will be covered. I don't like it, but I don't fight her. She's too excited for me to put a damper on it. I think she's more excited about being in the gym than she was to see my million-dollar penthouse.

We change in my office instead of the lockers. When I showed her the locker rooms, she looked at me nervously. It only took me a second to realize the problem. She didn't want to go in alone, and since they aren't coed, I couldn't go with her. My office was the only option. Changing with her wasn't the best decision considering we barely left my office without fucking each other on my desk.

"Treadmill first?" I ask.

"That's fine. My endurance is going to be shit," she says with a sigh.

"It'll take time, but you'll get there. If you want to. You know you don't have to do any of this if you don't want to, right?" I ask.

"Of course. I'm the one that's pushing to be involved. I want to be back to fighting form. Even if I never fight professionally like I used to dream about. I want to feel strong again."

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