Page 8 of I Am Lioness

“Apparently not. She's never been seen with a man aside from her coach and her bodyguard, that is.”

The mere mention of a bodyguard elicited the most abrupt and overly irrational sense of possessiveness to rattle through me like a bomb ready to explode.

“The fuck does she need a bodyguard for?” I snapped.

Luis threw his head back and barked out a laugh. “Calm the fuck down, Hulk. It's nothing serious. Hazel’s fans multiplied with every season and some of them became a little too touchy. I can’t say I blame her for wanting a protective barrier from crazies likeyou.”

I shoved him off the bench and he fell to the floor with a loud thud, clutching his stomach as he went through another bout of laughter at my expense. Meanwhile, here I was trying to wrap my head around the extensity of Hazel’s fan base. I'd heard of her prior to last night, heard Luis and Reyna chat about her plenty, but until he mentioned a bodyguard, I had no idea she was such an icon.

It wasn't difficult to see why she had so many fans or even why they adored her though. Hazel obviously cared for them in equal measure. She seemed thankful for them, humbled by their praise and support, more so than any of the other fighters on the League. After almost each round, she took a moment to acknowledge the entire arena with a bow of her head and a genuine smile on her face.

That face.That beautiful face that even spattered with blood and covered in sweat had me taken from the moment our eyes connected. She was the most fascinating woman I'd ever met. Her strength alone was both admirable and alluring, but her beauty was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. It was raw, as natural as it comes. Rare and colorful, Hazel was a radiant gem in a sea of ordinary gray stones.

“Yo, earth to Knox. Hello?” Luis’s slightly annoyed tone snapped me out of yet another daze.

I shook my head to clear the residual fog and met his awaiting stare. “My bad, bro. What did you say?”

“I was asking if you were ready to bounce.”

“Yeah, we can go. I'm just not feeling it today.”

“No shit, Sherlock. The little you did accomplish could hardly be considered a workout.” He snickered.

“Shut the fuck up, man.” I hissed.

He rose off the floor, lifting his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright. I get it. Jeez, Carr, I was just fucking around. Don't get your panties in a bunch.”

Saluting him with the finger, I stood to my feet and mentally counted to ten in attempt to quell my rising anger. I couldn't pinpoint who I was more frustrated with; Luis and his stupid antics or me and this overnight obsession. This type of behavior was not the norm for me. I didn't pine over women, didn't date often. Random flings were all I'd allowed in my life after the disaster that was my ex, so why I was so hung up on a woman I’d know for all of five seconds was beyond me. Technically speaking, I didn't even know her. I'd been introduced to her, through mutual friends nonetheless.

But I wanted to know her.

“Looks like you're about to live out at least one of your fantasies.” Luis said, motioning behind me with a curl of his lips.

I glanced over my shoulder curiously to see Hazel sauntering through the gym. With a natural sway to her hips, head held high, and shoulders squared, she oozed confidence, authority, and a whole lot of sexiness. My heart jerked to a stop, then surged back to life at an alarming rate as I pivoted to face her and watched her maneuver her way through the afternoon rush. Clenching my fists at my sides and gritting my teeth, my eyes perused over every inch of her small frame. She was firm in all the right places, yet still deliciously supple and curved. Clad in only a black sports bra and the tiniest matching shorts that clung to her figure, she looked absolutely edible, and I was suddenly starving.

I spun around to find Luis grinning ear to ear like a damn fool, waggling his eyebrows.

“Five minutes, bro. That's all I need. Five minutes to talk to her.” I said as evenly as I could manage.

Luis nodded exaggeratedly. “Five minutes. Right. Go do your thing, lover boy.”

Irritated, I flashed him the middle finger yet again as I walked away, which in turn only caused him to howl louder.

Asshole.

There was no doubt he would be watching my every move, but I’d be damned if his presence was going to throw me off my game. Quickly scanning the room, I caught Hazel some ways away, stretching in front of the mirrors; bent at the waist with her hands clasped around her ankles,ass in the air.The erotic images that flitted through my mind had my dick twitching reflexively beneath my gym shorts.

Get a fucking grip, Carr,I admonished myself as I closed in the distance between us, stopping less than two feet away. My gaze instantly riveted to said perfect ass currently on full display. It was barely sheathed by those damned shorts, the curve of each cheek peeking out from the bottom, taunting me to the point I had to fist my hands again to avoid grabbing two handfuls.

“Need some help with that?” I mused aloud, unable to control my mouth or the vivid thoughts clouding my mind.

Hazel’s head snapped over her shoulder, her long blond ponytail slapping down on her back with the rapid motion. Chocolate brown eyes widened but she recovered quickly and spun around to face me.

“Mr. Carr.” She smiled. “What a pleasant surprise.”

“A pleasant surprise it is indeed, Miss Perry.” I agreed, flashing her a smile of my own. “How’s it going?”

“All is well, though I will admit, I’m rather curious.”

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