Page 56 of Bound by Vengeance
She nods with a glint of promise in her eyes. I’ll take it.
“And if you win?”
“Um … A kiss?”
I toss my head back and laugh hard and deeply. “So, either way, I’m gettin’ a kiss from you?”
Shyly, she says, “Yeah.”
“How ’bout a back massage?” I suggest. Any way to get my hands on her, the better. The thought of rubbing my hands down her body has my blood all going south.
Her pupils dilate, telling me she likes the idea. I do too. I do too.
“Okay.”
Squeezing her hip, I tell her, “I’m winnin’ this.”
“You’d rather rub me down than kiss me?” she accuses playfully.
I sweep a tendril of hair out of her face. “That rub down will hopefully end in a kiss.”
“Alright, let’s do this!” the instructor says.
I seriously want to punch him. Instead, I glare.
Breaking apart, we stand in front of the wall, and I strategize, plotting the steps and moves I’m going to make.
“I’m winnin’ this,” I tease.
“Oh, no. This is mine,” she challenges back, and I will my cock to stand down. No way I’m going to win this with a raging hard-on.
“Ready!” the instructor yells. “Go!”
I push my body hard and fast. She’s gaining on me, nipping at my waist. My height is an advantage, and I use it fully.
“Ryker!” she calls, my focus slipping as she smiles and reaches about a head above me. Shit!
“Not playin’ fair. I like it.”
She laughs as I gain on her. We’re neck in neck.
At the last moment, I pull ahead, reaching for the bell and slapping it hard.
“Ahhh!” she screams, hitting it next, only a few seconds after me. She glares. “Dammit!”
My laugh is deep and rumbles through my body like a vibration. “All’s fair in love and war.” Without another word, I push off the wall and fall back down to the ground, Austyn following behind me.
“You know it’s all because of your height.” This woman is fucking hilarious as she comes up with the reasons she lost. A little competition never hurt anyone, and she proved to herself that she could do it.
“Did you climb the wall?”
“Yes,” she snaps. From all the years watching her, I know she’s not mad, just frustrated with herself for not pushing a little bit harder.
“Did you do it the first time?”
“No.”
Stepping closer, I slide my hands up her arms. “The second you didn’t, either. Then you did it. Then you raced me up to the top and made me work for it. You. You’re stronger than you think, Austyn. You’re the strongest woman I know.”
