Page 16 of Marked
His baby blues are already fixed on me. They have been for most of the training session, and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been eating up his attention like candy. The distraction probably isn’t the best thing for honing the fighting skills required of a squad warrior, but it’s doing wonders for my ego.
The crowd on the practice field starts to disperse, and I find myself wandering in Iver’s direction, drawn to him like gravity. He strides over to meet me halfway, flashing a grin so sexy that my heart trips over its valves.
“You looked good out there today,” he comments, folding his muscular forearms across his chest. It makes the thin fabric of his t-shirt stick to his sweat-slicked skin, drawing even more attention to the hard lines of his physique, andshit, am I staring?
“Thanks,” I breathe, combing my fingers through my hair as I avert my gaze. “Turns out, sparring is a great outlet for all the pent-up rage. Who knew?”
“Definitely Madd,” Iver jokes, his grin widening. “Imagine how much angrier he’d be if he couldn’t let it out on the field.”
“You weren’t wrong about the phone thing,” I chuckle, recalling how Madd lost his shit on someone for being on their phone at the start of the training session.Glad it wasn’t me.
“So, why’d you have me bring my camera?” I ask, tilting my head in question as I peer up at him.
“For our second date,” he replies matter-of-factly.
I arch a brow. “And when’s that?”
His grin widens. “How about right now?”
“Are you serious?” I snort, assuming he’s kidding. Though with Iver, I suppose I should never assume.
“Yeah, why not?” he presses.
“I’m all sweaty.”
“So?” he scoffs, his gaze dropping down my form and slowly raking back up. “You look good sweaty,” he states with a wink.
My stomach flips, an unwitting blush rises to my cheeks.Shit, why is he so cute?I’ve had crushes on boys before, but not in a long time, and never likethis. I’m so damn enamored with Iver Anderson that I can hardly even stand it.
“What kind of date?” I ask coyly, batting my lashes.
Not sure whether I’m nailing this whole flirting thing– I’m terribly out of practice.
“Thought we could take a trip up to Pike’s Point,” he suggests with a wag of his brow. “It’s a nice hike, and the views from the top are killer.”
I narrow my eyes on him suspiciously. “Aren’t you afraid of heights?”
“Not if I don’t get too close to the edge,” he remarks, winking again.
A hoard of butterflies takes flight in my belly.
He’sgot the flirting thing down pat.
“Okay, sure,” I agree, my cheeks heating in another blush. “Let me just grab my camera from my bag.”
My long hair flutters in the breeze as I spin away, jogging over to where I left my duffel at the side of the building. I give myself a mental pep-talk as I retrieve my camera, pumping myself up for this second ‘date’ of ours.
Sure, it’s spontaneous, but spontaneity can be fun.
Lean into the possibilities of where this could go.
Be cool.
Securing the camera strap over my shoulder, I push up to my feet and pivot back around, sucking in a startled breath when I find Iver standing right in front of me.
So much for being cool.
“Sorry,” he says with a wince, backing up a step. “Didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”
