Page 33 of Training the Heart

Twenty minutes later, I realize it’s inevitable and I’m not going back to sleep. I get up, throwing on my shorts, then, grabbing my crutches, I make my way out to the living room, trying to be as quiet as I can so I don’t wake Wade, but I’m immediately startled the moment I enter the space. Wade’s already here, lying back on one side of the sectional sofa, his long frame stretched out, taking up the entire thing. His eyes are closed and he’s breathing softly. The end ofBaby Driveris playing on the TV.

He’s only wearing dark sweatpants that hang low on his hips, dangerously low. My mouth turns to sand as I let myself take in the sight of him. The blanket that must have been covering him at some point is now on the floor. The noticeable bulge in his pants is a feast for my eyes and his muscled body glimmers in the light of the TV, one powerful arm stretched behind his head.

And the way his lips look right now … I bite my bottom lip to stop myself from breathing out an involuntary moan. He just might be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. A tight coil of heat begins to form in my low belly as I let my thoughts take over. I imagine myself running my tongue over every crevice of his chest. Ishouldturn around and go back to my room.I really should. I bargain with myself. Ten more seconds of taking in the sight of him and then I’ll go back there and take care of myself, because fuck it, there’s no turning back now. It has to happen or I may spontaneously combust.

Okay, so I stand there a little longer than I planned, because fifty-two agonizing seconds later he stirs and I can see the outline of his cock move in his sweatpants. Goddammit. He’s packing a fucking weapon in there.

Stop looking, Ivy. Jesus. What the hell is wrong with me?

I start to turn to make my escape but one of my crutches scrapes across the trim and Wade shoots up, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his palms.

“Christ. What are you doing up?” he asks as he adjusts himself, looks at the clock, then covers his lower half with the blanket.

Too late, I already got the full view.

“I couldn’t sleep, just felt like maybe watching a movie.”

He blinks at me. Can he tell how flustered I am right now? All I can think of is scaling him like a tree.

Wade runs a hand through his hair and stares up at me, his sleepy green eyes mesmerizing me from across the room.

“There’s one thing that helps when you can’t sleep,” he says, his voice so deep, so enticing.

Fuck, Chief, tell me what it is.

“W-what?” I stutter.

He stretches … Jesus, that body … those abs …

“Ice cream,” he says.

Oh.My desperate pussy dies a little. I almost whimper but I manage to control myself.

“Sit,” he commands as he gestures to the other side of the sofa. Even that turns me on.

He stands, his hardened cock still a bit obvious even as he tries to conceal it.

I feel like I might be actually drooling.

As he walks into the kitchen and flicks a light on, I make my way to the sofa and lean my crutches against it. I look up and really take in the sight of him. His sweats are hanging just low enough to let me see the two dimples in his lower back, over his perfect ass.

Yep. Definitely drooling.

“What’s your go-to topping?” he asks as he scoops chocolate ice cream into two bowls. The simplest action that causes his upper arms to flex perfectly. “M&M’s or sprinkles?” he adds. “Ivy?” My name on his lips forces me to blink.

Did I answer him?

No, I didn’t because I’m still just standing here. Staring at him.

“M&M’s,” I say quickly, forcing my gaze up to his face.

Wade’s eyes meet mine, tracking my gaze down his body. He looks up and smirks, before shaking his head. I instantly realize he knows I was staring at him.

I’m fired. He’s going to fire me.

I spin around in utter humiliation; there’s no taking back the way I was just eye-fucking him. I stand in silence for all of tenseconds. Wade doesn’t speak but I hear him as he begins to move toward me. I squint my eyes closed in anticipation of my termination, then a strong arm reaches around my body as his spicy scent envelops me. Just as my pulse starts to accelerate to deafening levels, I open my eyes to see a sundae and spoon in his hand as Wade holds my treat in front of me.

I take them from him, and spin around as best I can only to find him towering over me. Heat fizzles up my skin like Pop Rocks melting on my tongue as Wade’s eyes rake over my face then land on my mouth.

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