Page 89 of Bound by Wreckage
Truth be told, I’d do it again to be in his arms, in his bed with him looking at me like I hang the stars in thesky.
“I want to, Nox. I’ve missed you so much since you left me with Gunny and Sharon. Thought about you every minute of the day and tried to get my life in order. I know I can do it because I did have my shit together at one point, so I know I can do it on my own again. But I want to do it with you by my side. You there every step of the way.”
Nox’s smile lights up the room as hislips come crashing down to mine. When he pulls away, I try to follow him but he pulls back.
“This is just the beginning, Carsyn. I love you.”
I gasp. This man. This beautiful man loves me. Broken, damaged, and torn me. Tears stream down my face as the emotions clog up my senses.
“I love you too.”
“Then that’s all we need.” Nox’s lips crash down on mine.
Yes.That’s all we need. Love.
And I found it in Nox.
“I’m takin’ you out on a date.”
My heart thumps. On a date? I’ve never been on a date before.
“I can tell by the panic in your eyes that you want to bail. Sorry. Not happenin’. Want to take you out. Spend time with you. Find out more of what you like and don’t like.”
Calm washes over me. This is Nox. There’s noreason to be nervous.
But the only thing I can think isWhat the hell am I going to wear?
**
“Put your fuckin’ weight into it,” Princess barks at me from her side of the ring. She holds the paddles that I’m supposed to be hitting with my right then left hands on repeat. “You’re weak! We need to put some meat on you,” she continues.
“Tell me something I don’t alreadyknow.”
A smile crosses her face. “Sarcasm. I like. Now punch!”
Lifting my glove-covered fist, I lean in with my right foot as my hand goes out and punches, hitting the target.
“Again!”
That seems to be the only word she knows, but it works and pushes me to move faster and add my weight into the throws. She’s right though, I am weak. I’m better than I was with Buck,but still don’t have the strength I need.
But I’ll get it; it’s just going to take time.
“Pretend I’m Big Jim.” Her words halt me and she takes a swing at me, but I duck from it on instinct alone because I’m cold inside. “Good. Did you see that?”
I have to shake myself out of the thoughts of that man. “What?”
“Right. When I went to hit you, you ducked. It was out ofself-preservation and instinctual. That’s exactly what you want your movements to become. Extensions of your body. You know what you can do, and you do it without thinking. It’s the best way to keep yourself safe.”
“Right.”
“It’s still fresh in your head, Carsyn. This is a normal reaction, but in time, you won’t have it anymore. In time, you’ll know that no matter what you’re upagainst you can get your way out.”
My head nods. That’s exactly what I want. What I need, and she knows it without me saying a word. Yeah, the woman is wise.
“Break time,” she says, tossing me a bottle of water that I guzzle down. “How are you feelin’ now?”
“Good. These really help.”
