Page 9 of I Am Lioness

My brow quirked. “About?”

“What makes you think I’d let you help me?”

“Come again?” I asked slightly confused.

Hazel smirked. “You asked if I needed help with that. So, with that being said, what makes you think I'd let you” -she poked my chest- “help me.”

The sass on this one… Game on, baby.

“I'm a good gym buddy.” I grinned.

Unabashed and without hesitation, Hazel gave me a once over, her eyes moving at a leisure pace as she clocked in what felt like every tiny detail. I thought I saw a hint of appreciation flash across her face but it was long gone the second I blinked.

“Is that so?” Her question was laced with amusement. “How long have you been here?”

I dropped my gaze to the face of my watch. “Just over an hour. Why?”

“And you look like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like that.” She said, waving a finger up and down the length of my chest. “There's not a drop of sweat clinging to your skin. Gym buddiessweat.”

It wasn't so much the word itself that affected me but how she said it. The dash of sexiness swirling in her voice lit every last one of my nerve endings on fire. I wanted to snatch her up, run my hands along the curves of her body, and smash my lips against hers to silence her smart mouth...with my tongue.

With purpose, I let my eyes roam up the lines of her figure to meet her stare as I said, “My workout was cut a bit short today. I was a little distracted.”

Hazel shook her head, tsking between her teeth. “Ah, well, that explains it. Unfortunately, I'm not taking applications for a gym buddy right now, so I'm going to pass. But thanks.” She smirked and made way to turn around. “Oh, and for future reference, your lack of focus is a turnoff. I suggest you step your game up, Mr. Carr. Quite obviously you're not as qualified for the position as your little mind has lead you to believe.”

If her words were meant to burn, I didn’t take notice. I was far too enraptured with the way her perfectly bowed lips caressed each word. Taking several steps forward, I burst right into her personal bubble before she could turn away and snaked an arm around her waist, pulling her close. She gasped as my head dipped low beside her ear.

“That's not fair judgement, sweets. At all. You're not giving me any sort of credit for what I've quite obviously already accomplished. Missing one day at the gym isn't a big deal in the slightest, as I'm sure you've noticed.”

Hazel stilled, her small frame tensing in my arms. She turned her head away from me, granting me an unparalleled view of her neck. It was suddenly the only thing I could focus on. The longer I gazed upon it the more my mouth watered. Being this close to her was a dangerous thing in itself, but now, with all that fair skin so closely within reach, it was lethal. That we were in public was irrelevant. I had the urge to snake my fingers through those blonde curls, tug her head back, and expose it all for me to run my tongue along the curve..

To suck on it…

Bite down on it…

Fuck.

My self-control was hanging by a damn thread. Unable to contain myself, I leaned in closely and ran the very tip of my nose along the silky column of her neck, deeply inhaling that sweet scent of hers.

“I can assure you I'm much better than you’re thinking, Hazel. Considering it's my job to know what I'm doing, I’d say I’m the most qualified gym buddy you’ll find around here. And for the record…” I brought two fingers under her chin and turned her head back, looking straight into her eyes. “Isweatplenty.”

She held my stare and swallowed deeply.

“Fair enough.” Her voice trembled around the words as she set a small hand flat against my chest and pushed away, clearly wanting to add some space between our bodies. I couldn’t say I blamed her. The heat radiating between us could probably be felt throughout the entire gym. I obliged only to please her and released her from my grasp.

“So are you gonna let me help you out now?” I asked.

Hazel bit the inside of her cheeks, puckering her plump lips. I could see the wheels turning in her head, how she was internalizing whether or not to accept my offer.

After a beat, she rolled her eyes and sighed. “Fine, but I want to know exactly what this supposed job of yours is.”

“Supposed?” I chuckled. “I’m a personal trainer.”

An astonished expression flashed across her face. “Really?”

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