Page 18 of The Enforcer's Brat

As they ran, Enzo could feel Matteo's eyes on him, burning a hole in his back. The weight of that gaze sent sparks skittering across his skin, arousal coiling hot and heavy in his gut.

By the time they finished the warm-up, Enzo was already breathing harder than he should have been, and it had nothing to do with exertion.

"Alright," Matteo said, his voice clipped. "Let's see what you can do with this course. Remember, speed and precision are key."

Enzo nodded, eyeing the various obstacles – low hurdles, balance beams, and what looked like a climbing wall. "What do I get if I beat your time?" he asked, unable to resist pushing just a little more.

Matteo's eyes narrowed. "This isn't a game, Enzo."

"Isn't it?" Enzo challenged, stepping closer. "Come on, old man. Where's your competitive spirit?"

For a moment, Enzo thought he might have pushed too far. Matteo's eyes flashed dangerously, his hands clenching at his sides. But then a slow, predatory smile spread across the older man's face.

"Fine," Matteo growled. "You beat my time, you get to choose our next training session. But if I win..." He trailed off, his gaze raking over Enzo's body in a way that made the younger man's breath catch. "If I win, you do exactly as I say for the next 24 hours. No arguments, no sass. Just complete obedience. Deal?"

Enzo's heart raced, equal parts excitement and trepidation flooding his veins. This was it – the opening he'd been waiting for. "Deal," he said, holding out his hand.

Matteo's grip was firm, his palm rough with calluses. The touch sent electricity zinging up Enzo's arm, and he had to bite back a whimper.

"I'll go first," Matteo said, releasing Enzo's hand. "Pay attention. You might learn something."

With that, he was off. Enzo watched in awe as Matteo navigated the course with fluid grace, each movement precise and controlled. He cleared hurdles with ease, balanced across narrow beams without hesitation, and scaled the climbing wall like it was nothing.

When Matteo landed on the other side, barely out of breath, Enzo couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt. Maybe he'd bitten off more than he could chew.

"Two minutes, seventeen seconds," Matteo announced, a hint of smugness in his tone. "Think you can beat that, brat?"

The nickname, usually spoken with exasperation, now held a hint of something darker. Something that made Enzo's cock twitch with interest.

"Watch me," Enzo said, flashing his most cocky grin.

He took his place at the starting line, bouncing on the balls of his feet. At Matteo's signal, he was off like a shot.

Enzo threw himself into the course with reckless abandon, pushing his body to its limits. He cleared the hurdles with practiced ease – all those drunken escapades from angry boyfriends coming in handy. The balance beam was trickier, but he managed to stay upright, if not exactly graceful.

It was the climbing wall that proved to be his downfall. Quite literally.

As Enzo reached for the top, his foot slipped. He scrabbled for purchase, panic flaring in his chest as he felt himself start to fall.

And then, suddenly, strong arms were around him. Matteo had appeared out of nowhere, catching Enzo before he could hit the ground.

For a moment, they just stared at each other, both breathing heavily. Enzo was acutely aware of every point of contact between them – Matteo's arms around his waist, his own hands gripping Matteo's shoulders, their chests pressed together.

"You okay?" Matteo asked, his voice low and rough.

Enzo nodded, not trusting himself to speak. This close, he could see the flecks of silver in Matteo's steel-gray eyes, could count each of his unfairly long eyelashes.

"You need to be more careful," Matteo growled, his grip on Enzo tightening. "What if I hadn't been here to catch you?"

The genuine concern in Matteo's voice made something warm bloom in Enzo's chest. "But you were," he said softly. "You're always there to catch me."

Matteo's eyes darkened, his gaze dropping to Enzo's lips. For a breathless moment, Enzo thought he might actually kiss him.

But then Matteo was setting him on his feet, stepping back with visible reluctance. "You didn't finish the course," he said gruffly. "I win."

Reality came crashing back, and Enzo felt a mixture of disappointment and anticipation coil in his gut. "Right," he said, aiming for nonchalance. "So, what's my first order, boss?"

Matteo's eyes glittered dangerously. "Go take a shower. Then meet me in the study. We've got work to do."

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