Page 33 of Protecting Hailey

“Good girl. Hit it again. And don’t stop until I tell you to.”

She let her punches fly. Grunting, punching, and moving her body along with her arms. Perspiration beaded her forehead and her cheeks shone red. She was glorious. The most fucking beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

Then she stopped.

Crossed her arms, grabbed the hem of her hoodie, and pulled it off.

Holy hell.

Hailey stood in front of me with nothing on but a black sports bra. Her chest rose and fell with every labored breath, and a few strands of hair clung to her wet nape. My throat went dry, and I stood there gaping at her like an idiot until she stepped back into position and called, “Ready?”

I don’t think I am. Not for this. Not for you.

I swallowed the desire inside of me and with a curse under my breath, I moved back behind the bag and grunted, “Again.”

She jabbed the bag twice and hooked her next punch. Her breasts bounced with the movement and her smooth stomach contracted. I don’t think I could have been more turned on if she were naked.

I closed my eyes. “Again.”

She punched and punched and I fought my desire just as hard as she hit that bag.

Harder, I think, because I was sweating now as much as she was. The heat inside of me burned for her, and I didn’t understand how this could have happened.

She stopped and dropped her arms. Wiping the sweat and hair off of her face with her forearm, she smiled at me. “How was that?”

I swallowed. “Fantastic.”

She beamed. “Thank you. I have a good teacher.”

She placed both hands on her hips and then made a sour face when she brought her nose close to her armpits. “I need to shower.”

I shook my head before she could move a muscle. “Not here. You’re not getting naked here. I’m taking you home.”

I grabbed her hoodie from the ground and put it on her. She giggled when her head got stuck. “This would be easier if you helped me take the gloves off first.”

Damn it.

I stepped back. “Sorry.”

I opened the gloves, and she slipped her hands out. After I wrestled the top over her head, she pulled her hair back into a ponytail.

“Great. Let’s go.”

Grabbing my arm, she smiled. “Thank you,” she said. “I really needed that.” Then raised herself on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek. My skin burned where she had touched it with her lips.

Damn.

I was in deep fucking trouble.

10

Hailey

The next morning, I stretched my body and smiled. I couldn’t remember the last time I smiled when I woke up. I enjoyed going to the studio, but it was more than that. I was happy. Excited to start my day.

I looked at the row of sweatpants in my closet and grabbed a pair of jeans and a crop top instead.

Walking toward the kitchen, the smell of bacon made my stomach rumble and immediately my smile grew bigger.

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