Page 8 of Saving Blood

“You wish,” she spits out the two words with more attitude, and, yeah, my cock is pressing against the zipper of my jeans.

“Doesn’t matter; I knew you were gonna win.”

“How did you know?” She sticks out her chest, and I can’t miss her nipples poking through the thin material of the sports bra.

“I’ve been watching you train in the gym with Diesel.”

“Nice, so you’re also a stalker.” She stands her ground, all sinewy muscle wrapped up in tanned, tight, silky skin. Her height gives her a willowy appearance, but her strength radiates off her in waves.

Nothing like a strong woman with attitude.

It pisses me off all over again that I missed what Diesel called her strike-like-a-rattlesnake, and it looks like a tongue of one too.

“No stalking necessary.” I tap my name patch on the front of my cut. “More like the guy who runs this shit-show.”

Her eyes zero in on my cut. “I know who you are.”

I nod as my smile grows wider. “Been checking me out, huh?”

She throws me a dramatic eye roll, turns on her heel, heads for the gym, and every red flag in my logical brain shoots up. Only one problem, my dick shoots up too, and since I made a point of keeping everything with the fights professional, I have some choices to make. Either I’m gonna have to fire her, or shut this down before it starts.

Dumb ass that I am when it comes to women—I pick up my pace and follow her.

4

CHASTITY/Five Years Ago

The limo stopped, the driver opened the door, and they all piled out. Chastity couldn’t believe her eyes. Tiny lights were spaced around the circular driveway with a fountain in the middle, and beyond that, brighter lights illuminated the biggest house she’d ever seen. Oh, yes, Tiffany was right. Tonight would be different than any other night.

“Come, come,” Manuel urged.

They climbed the stone steps and entered a foyer larger than the whole apartment she and Tiffany shared.

“Holy shit!” Even Tiffany couldn’t hide her amazement.

Manuel wasted no time grabbing a bottle of champagne from the full bar against the wall, then nudging a very willing Tiffany up the circular staircase.

Although Chastity encouraged Rafael in the limo, now she wasn’t sure she was ready to actually go through with sex. Again, it would’ve been another first, but Rafael didn’t push her. Instead, he gently took her hand and led her deeper into the house, then outside to a covered patio with a set of cushioned furniture and full kitchen. A freeform pool glistened in the moonlight, as the sound of the Pacific waves crashed in the distance.

“This is so beautiful. I can’t believe people really live like this.” The words tumbled out of her mouth before she realized how childish and inexperienced she sounded.

“Manuel and I have been very lucky.” Rafael didn’t mention her gushing. He really was a gentleman. “We each have our own wing in the house, and I have an apartment in Los Angeles.”

“I guess it’s true what they say about the richest people living in California. Are you a talent agent too?”

Rafael’s brow furrowed.

“Tiffany said Manuel is a talent agent for a big agency that represents all the A-list actors.”

“Right. Yes, he is.” Rafael’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it out of his pocket.

“And you’re an agent with the same company too?”

“Ahhh, no.” Rafael swiped at his phone, then tapped at the keyboard. “Stay here; I’ll be right back.”

Rafael returned to the house, and Chastity sat on one of the sofas scattered around the patio. She leaned her head against the cushion and listened to the sounds of the ocean. Coming from the Midwest, she thrilled at seeing the coastline for the first time last year and loved coming to the beach whenever she had a chance.

She closed her eyes and drifted off to the rhythmic sound of the waves. A few minutes later, she jolted awake and checked her phone. Thirty minutes had passed, not few minutes. She searched the patio area, trying to get her bearings, but there was no sign of Rafael.

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