Page 14 of Between Secrets and Obsession
The next morning, I force myself out of bed. I slept longer than I intended but realized after yesterday that I needed it. I’m not much of a coffee drinker, but I make my way into the kitchen and put a kettle of water on the stove for tea while I cook breakfast.
Because I’m nice, I make enough food for Liam because the smell typically wakes him from his cave, or so I’ve learned from being here when Sophie cooks.
The kettle whistles, and I steep my peppermint tea, inhaling how good it smells. It doesn’t take long to make everything, and as soon as I split the scrambled eggs and avocado onto two plates, Liam walks into the kitchen, wearing jogging pants thathang from his hips. My jaw nearly hits the floor when those delicious muscles ripple down his body.
“Morning,” he grumbles, and I hurry and say it back before he notices me staring.
“Made you breakfast,” I tell him cheerfully, handing him a plate.
He glances up with a crooked grin. “Where’s the meat, Mads?”
“Beggars can’t be choosers, Hulk,” I playfully say. “Didn’t feel like cooking it. Trying to get some healthy fat and protein in before doing some yoga.”
“Yoga?” he asks, scoffing. “Wussie.”
I chuckle. “Oh really? Bet you wouldn’t last an hour.”
With a cocked eyebrow, he grins. “That’s a bet I’m willing to take.”
“Yeah? What’re the stakes?” I ask, plopping down and digging into my food. I nearly inhale it, considering I didn’t eat last night.
Liam runs his hand across the scruff on his chin. It’s clear he’s not awake yet, so I take the opportunity to study the tattoos lining his shoulders and chest. They’re impossible to miss, especially when I’m fantasizing about my tongue tracing them. “If I last an hour without messing up before you, then you have to cook dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow.”
“And what’s in it for me if I kick your ass?” I counter, knowing his big muscles won’t help him when it comes to balance and stamina.
“Then I’ll cook.”
“But I want breakfast tomorrow too. So, a healthy dinner tonight, then breakfastandlunch tomorrow. Do we have a deal?”
Liam holds out his hand and we shake on it. “Better bring your A game, Mads.”
A snort escapes me. “You’re going down, Hulk.”
“We’ll see,” he tells me, then sets his plate in the sink. “Okay, so now that I’ve had my appetizer…” He pats his rock-hard stomach. “Time for some real food.”
“Sure you want to do yoga with a full belly?”
“I can out-yoga you any day of the week.”
I laugh. “That sounds like fightin’ words to me. Eat up then. Stuff your face. I’m gonna stretch because you’re going down, big boy.”
Grabbing my tea, I sip it as I go to Sophie’s room and change clothes. I put on a sports bra and some yoga pants, then grab the two mats Sophie and I use when we work out together. I walk into the living room and search for my favorite yoga channel. Once I’m stretched and warmed up, Liam tells me to give him a minute to go change. If I had a vote,if we were voting, I’d say no clothes at all. Naked yoga with Liam sounds perfect.
When he comes downstairs, he’s wearing a tight-fitting T-shirt and shorts. I hand him a bright pink mat with a laugh.
He rolls it out, then glances at the screen before looking at me.
“No way. You don’t get to choose which one we do. It can’t be one you already know. Tryin’ to cheat?”
I scoff. “That wasn’t in the rules. And no, I don’t have to cheat to beat you.”
“Someone’s overly confident, aren’t they?” A laugh escapes him as he grabs the remote, then scrolls through all the yoga exercises On Demand until he finds an extremely advanced level one-hour class. I narrow my eyes as he presses play and wears a sexy little smirk.
“Wait. Do you know how to do yoga?” I ask as we move into a downward dog position, noticing how controlled his breathing is.
“You should’ve asked me thatbeforewe started.”
“Oh my God. You slimy bastard!” I growl.
