Page 10 of Wrestling With Love

Internally, she debated whether this was just physical attraction or if Luca was actually getting under her skin. She tried to sleep it off, shutting her eyes and willing her mind to go blank, but it didn't work. His voice lingered in her head, the way he said things to her, the intensity in his gaze, the way his fingers brushed against hers, the way he licked her skin.

Frustrated, she turned onto her side and punched the pillow.

This wasn't her.

She didn't overthink men. She didn't get distracted.

But Luca Ferrara? He’s a problem. One that’s slipping past her carefully built defenses.

Diamond exhaled sharply, forcing her body to relax. It’s nothing. Just physical attraction. Just chemistry. She could handle it. She had to. Because letting him in? That’s not an option.

But as sleep finally pulled her under, the last thing on her mind was Luca.

And that’s what scared her the most.

***

The next morning, Diamond’s head wasn’t in it.

She knew it the second she messed up her warm-up routine, fumbling a simple sequence she had done a hundred times before. Annoyance flared in her chest as she shook out her arms, trying to reset, but it didn’t help. Her body moved through the motions, but her mind—her traitorous, stubborn mind—was stuck somewhere else.

More specifically, it was stuck in Luca’s car.

She could still hear his voice, smooth and deep, laced with something she didn’t want to name. Could still feel the way his fingers flexed around her navel , his sharp jawline as he ravished her neck. And worst of all, she could still feel his lips on her, the way his knuckles had grazed her skin, the warmth still lingered on her body.

“Diamond, focus!”

The sharp bark of Vincent's voice snapped her back to reality, but not soon enough. A second later, Lena, landed a clean strike against her ribs.

Diamond staggered back, cursing under her breath.

“Damn, Diamond. Are you okay?” Lena asked, lowering her hands.

She clenched her jaw, nodding once. “Yeah. Again.”

Lena hesitated for a second but complied, resetting her stance. But no matter how hard she tried to focus, Diamond was a step behind. Her reflexes were sluggish, her footwork off. She didn’t see the next hit coming until it was too late, and Lena swept her legs out from under her.

She hit the mat with a harsh thud.

Laughter erupted from the sidelines. “Looks like someone didn’t get enough sleep,” someone teased.

“Or maybe she got too much of something else,” one of the male wrestlers chimed in.

Diamond ignored them, pushing herself up with gritted teeth. She wasn’t the only one who noticed her slip-ups, and that was a problem.

A big one.

Vincent wasn’t one for patience.

The moment she got back on her feet, Vincent was in front of her, arms crossed, eyes like steel.

“What the hell was that?” he demanded.

“I slipped,” she muttered, rolling her shoulders.

“No. You hesitated. You were slow, sloppy, and distracted.” His voice turned sharper. “You’re either here to win, or you’re not. Which is it?”

Her fists clenched at her sides. “I’m here to win.”

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