Page 59 of Dangerous Rhythm

“Come with me, love,” he whispered to her, but he doubted she heard his words.

Her breathing labored in short pants, Curtis felt her tightening around him like a vise. He pumped her hips over him faster as he felt himself joining her in a few more strokes. Like at the end of a fast song, everything picked up to get to that one last bang. It was a frenzy as their physiques merged with one soul-shattering climax.

He heard her shouting his name, only to be muffled as she buried her face against his neck.

“Fuck, Lina,” he groaned, as if he couldn’t say her name often enough, as the vibrations of their last note still played through their joined bodies.

They stayed in each other’s arms, needing to bask in the lasting energy surrounding them. Curtis didn’t want to let Lina go, ever.

twenty-five

“Okay. I need a break,” Curtis announced as he fell back on the mattress. “I’m officially worn out.”

Lina laughed. “Already? I thought you were the guy who could go all night.”

He turned his head to her with narrowed eyes. “Excuse me. I had a rough night and have burned more calories than I consumed all day. Hell, more than I consumed all week.”

They’d made their way to the shower after their training and happy-dance session in the ring before ending up in bed for a slow, prolongedworship. Curtis had really made her feel like an ancient goddess who was destined to be revered one inch at a time.

“Okay, I’ll give you that,” Lina said.

“Come here.” Curtis pulled her to him and covered them with the blanket.

Lina hesitantly laid her head on his shoulder and let herself relax.

This is pleasant.

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d cuddled with a man. She wasn’t sure she had. Her life had been so intense since she’d left high school, she hadn’t quite let herself be vulnerable around men when she’d been naked with them. It usually had been a fast, necessary relief like their first time in Barcelona, not the gentleness Curtis had shown her in the past hour.

Even in that moment, Curtis’ fingers caressed her arm as if he was strumming a slow song on his guitar, which reminded her what had led them to the gym and eventually here.

Lina took his other hand and ran her thumb over his bruised knuckles. “Why did you do MMA fight training? Your hands are precious. Why risk hurting them?”

He flexed and unflexed his hand. “I never quite thought about my hands that way.”

“Have you seen yourself play the guitar?” she asked incredulously. “The way your fingers move over the strings, it’s fascinating to watch. You have a style that’s distinctively you. I’d rather you keep your hands safe and leave the punching to me.”

Curtis chuckled. “Have you hurt your hands?” He studied her hand in his.

“Plenty of times. And other parts of my body.”

“I was gonna ask.” He traced a puckered strip on her left side. “What happened here?”

Lina went silent as the memory of searing hot pain burned her skin again. “Sniper bullet,” she quietly answered. The wound hadn’t been life-threatening, but it had caused her so much loss.

Curtis’ embrace tightened around her. “Where? When?”

“I can’t say. Classified.” That answer was always the easiest to stop inquiry.

He didn’t push for more information, but said, “I’m glad it didn’t…”

“Kill me?” she finished for him.

“Yeah.” He kissed the top of her head.

Me too.Though, at one time, she’d wished the bullet had taken her instead.

Pushing away the nightmare, Lina reiterated her original question, “So, why MMA?”

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