Page 86 of Bewitch

I blow out a breath. “Really? We can skip this.”

“Nope. Let’s go.”

I grumble and whine and bellyache about it, but I’ve been keeping a secret from him.

I’ve been practicing all the time to learn how to do real pushups. Not modified in any way.

So I get into plank position.

“We doing this?” I grumble.

“Yes.”

And we both go down and then push up and high five each other.

His eyes widen, and we continue and now high five with the other hand.

His jaw drops. My arms might be spread apart a bit wider than a traditional pushup, but that’s how I find it easier to do them. He says nothing, and we keep on going until my arms are shaking too much, and I can barely push up again.

“That’s good,” Lucas says, and he stands.

I groan as I stand, my arms not happy that I pushed off the ground to be able to do so.

Lucas looks like he wants to hug me, but he just lamely pats my upper back. “That…”

“Cat got your tongue?” I quip. “Not sure how to compliment me or say something nice, huh?”

“That wasn’t too bad, but how’s your core? You think you can do something really challenging?”

“I’m willing to attempt anything.”

He snickers. “Attempt, huh? Nice way to get around saying try.”

I wink at him. “What do you have in mind?”

Lucas puts his hands on my hips. “Ready? Jump up and wrap your legs around me.”

I gape at him, but he’s already lowering down, so I jump up and wrap my legs around him.

“Hang down,” he says.

I lower myself down, my head dangling, my ponytail probably touching the floor.

“Crunch up and stay at the up position.”

I do. It’s not easy at all, but I manage, and I stay up.

And he squats.

With me.

Holy shit.

He straightens as if I weigh nothing, and his hands shift to hold my thighs. The extra supports, and we keep going. It’s agonizing.

Not just because of the muscles used.

But because of how sexy this move is.

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