Page 29 of Caught off Guard

When I entered Cairo’s basement workout facility, I gasped. The fresh-smelling space was five times the size of my guest bedroom. Cardio and strength machines were scattered across the floor. Mirrors and high-end weights covered the far wall. The noise of sportscasters’ voices filled the room and echoed off the walls as they argued about a game on a large mounted TV near the entrance to the gym.

Cairo perched downward on his arms, positioning his long body in a V. He wore a white, ribbed, sleeveless tank that showcased his firm muscles. When he stood, my eyes gravitated to his thick thighs and the beads of sweat that popped off his body like raindrops. Clementine orange basketball shorts hung low on his hips.

I stood at the door like a statue, taking in Cairo’s manly physique. As if sensing me, he lifted his head suddenly. I tried to play off my gawking but failed.

“Good morning, Doc. Are you here to stare at me or work out?”

I blushed.

“Good morning. I don’t want to disturb you.”

He rose to his full height and shook each of his legs before doing the same with his long arms.

“I’m wrapping up my morning workout. Help yourself to the space.” He toweled himself off and gave me a dashing smile that had my heart fluttering.

“I’m going to stretch before breakfast.” I shyly walked to a yoga mat perched on a shelf and picked it up.

Cairo picked up the remote near him and turned down the volume on the TV then came to me and took the mat from my hands.

“I’ll help you.”

“Uh…you don’t have to do that.” I turned my head to escape his heady scent.

Even dripping with sweat, he smelled divine. He stepped closer to me, freezing me in my tracks. When his broad chest was a couple of inches from my chest, he lowered his eyes to mine. He tilted my chin upward with his long fingers until my eyes met his.

Oh my.

“I want to help you. It’s the least I can do as your host.”

“Thank you.” I kept my voice low because Cairo’s attention to my needs once again made me self-conscious.

He laid my mat on the floor and got on his knees next to it. I lowered myself to the mat until my bottom was flat, and my legs stretched before me.

“Lie back.” Cairo slowly pushed back my shoulders as he positioned his body in front of my legs.

“Put your feet together,” he said.

I placed the soles of my Nikes together as Cairo opened my knees. Although the initial pull hurt, as Cairo gently pressed my knees toward the mat, my body relaxed.

“That’s it. Loosen up. And breathe.”

I closed my eyes and breathed in and out, allowing the heat of Cairo’s hands to still me. Several seconds later, he closed my legs, bringing my knees together. He tilted them to my left and gently pressed them down with his body, stilling me as I continued breathing slowly. When I finally opened my eyes, the intensity of Cairo’s gaze as he leaned over me almost took my breath away. His hair hung around his face as his eyes rested on my mouth.

I parted my lips and licked them nervously. When he bit his lips, I sucked in my breath and held it until his mouth touched mine. As our lips locked, he released my legs and slid to my side. He then grabbed my waist to draw my body into his. I steadied myself by holding his shoulders. As he deepened the kiss, I lowered my hand to his side and then his waist. He groaned when I reached behind him and grabbed his butt to pull him closer to me. He placed his hand behind my head and held it still.

When our lips parted, he whispered into them, “I’ve been wanting to do that since yesterday. You taste as good as I thought you would.”

I smiled, my heart leaping at finally fulfilling a fantasy of my own. I massaged his cheek with my thumb.

“Thank you. I thought you were going to kiss me last night, with all that flirting you did.”

“Believe me, I wanted to.”

I raised my body on my elbow and waved around the room.

“I’m supposed to be exercising.”

“We are.”

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