Page 62 of Heroes & Hitmen
“Holy shit,” I murmur, mouth still half-full. “You actually did it. You bought my love.”
A deep laugh rumbles from his chest. “If only it were that easy.”
I wash my bite of croissant down with a sip of the latte, doing my best to regain my composure as I angle a suspicious glare at him over the rim. “So, what’s the real reason you’re being nice? Are you buttering me up for something?”
He gives a lazy shrug, but there’s a softness in his eyes that makes my stomach do a weird little slip. “Just figured you could use a good morning.”
“Uh huh,” I mumble as I take another bite of the croissant, not buying it for a second. But it’s also hard to stay annoyed when he’s being so damn considerate. “I’ve got plans this morning,” I say, wiping crumbs from my hands. “Yoga class with Jordan.”
“Can I come?” Ares asks, and for a split second I can’t tell if he’s joking or dead serious.
I snort. “Not a chance.”
He grins and leans in closer, not at all discouraged. “Well before you go, you should probably rub up on me.”
He’s not wrong, but the smug look on his face makes me want to throttle him.
“Fine,” I huff, dropping the pastry back into the bag and setting it on my dresser with the latte. “Let’s get this over with.”
Ares spreads his arms wide, beckoning me with a lift of his chin, and I step in.
Though it’s become a familiar routine, it’s no less destabilizing when it begins. I press my body against his, chest to chest, tipping my head up so my cheek grazes his jawline. His hands settle low on my hips, fingers curling into the waistband of my yoga pants. He nuzzles into my neck, the rough stubble of his jaw rasping against my skin, and I swear to god I feel my knees threaten to give out.
We stay pressed together for a few seconds, bodies humming with tension and heat, and it takes all of my self-control not to melt into him completely. His scent is everywhere– warm, spicy, and a little wild. It seeps into my clothes, my skin, my damn soul.
Like always, it gets to be too much, too fast. I jerk back breathlessly, moving out of his orbit.
“Happy?”
“Ecstatic,” he replies cheerfully.
I grab my coffee and croissant, cut him one last glare for good measure, then head for the door.
“You know, this whole fake mate thing is a lot of work,” I toss over my shoulder.
He laughs, low and sultry. “Tell me about it.”
I don’t respond. I just keep moving, the heat of his body and the taste of chocolate lingering with me as I flee our apartment.
The yoga studiois uncomfortably hot today, the summer heat outside lending a few extra degrees to the already sweltering temperature. I’m more of a meditative, vinyasa flow type of girl, but Jordan swears by hot yoga– especially these sculpt sessions that incorporate free weights.
It’s anything but relaxing. Every time I set my palms on the mat, I feel like I’m about to slip and faceplant.
A wiry woman named Dahlia paces at the front of the room with the serene authority of a cult leader, instructing us to flow through warrior two and into an extended side angle.
My legs are already quivering.
Jordan, meanwhile, is completely in her element, long limbs stretched wide and hair yanked back in a tight bun that shows offthe sharp angle of her jaw. She’s a full three levels above me in both balance and stamina, which means she can hold a conversation without getting winded, while I’m struggling not to faint.
“Is it just me, or does she sound more like a dominatrix than a yoga instructor?” Jordan whispers, barely bothering to lower her voice.
“Definitely not just you,” I snort, attempting to twist my torso toward the ceiling and hold the pose. My side gives a warning twinge, muscles stretching uncomfortably. “Either that, or a sadist. These poses are killer.”
Jordan flashes me a grin. “That’s the point, sis. Full body annihilation.”
I roll my eyes, but a reluctant smile tugs at my lips. As much as I love to complain, I’m grateful for the normalcy of this. Sweaty, exhausting,normalcy.
“So, how’s Ares?” she asks, casual as can be, like we’re discussing the weather and not the most destabilizing part of my life.
