Page 1 of A Bit of a Bite

Chapter1

Liz

Elizabeth Savage, better known as Liz to her few friends and her coworkers, was always the ambitious one. She leaned deep into her studies in high school due to a lack of social ability. She was constantly being pointed out as the one that would rather learn about Greek history than go to a toga party.

It was the pressure more than the actual idea of socializing that had bothered her. She was fine with who she was. Her brain was a magical, infinite source of wonder. She adored dipping herself into the fountain of knowledge. Her mind was a sponge to anything and everything she considered interesting.

But the women around her were always focused on the social aspects of their existence. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy socializing at times. If the conversation was substantial and titillating, she would engage. She felt the same way when it came to dating, but the men who seemed to be drawn to her were always the few who actually wanted to save sex for marriage.

That wasn’t Liz’s cup of tea. Despite her outward appearance, about which people made assumptions ... tight, pulled-back ponytail, black circular spectacles ... Liz believed in indulgence and pleasure. She often wondered if anyone would ever be up to the task.

Liz worked as the front desk receptionist at an up-scale gym. It was a pleasant enough position that allowed her to work on her studies. Her goal was to become a lawyer, to help those in the most need of her empathy and intelligence, yet she had no clue how she was going to afford it all.

Her coworker, Christina, leaned on the front desk, gazing at the customers. “See anything you like these days?”

Outwardly Christina was a commonly attractive young woman who wanted to be a physiotherapist. She suffered from the opposite problem of Liz’s, and most people ... for example, men ... assumed that she was too pretty to be intelligent. The dichotomy of misogyny simply knew no bounds.

“Hmm?” Liz said, looking up from her textbook.

Christina flipped her radiant red hair in the direction of the main gym floor, where rows upon rows of treadmills, bikes, and stair climbers stood at attention like soldiers.

“Man meat,” she said with a cocked eyebrow. “Have you been on the prowl at all lately? It’s not like we have just a little to pick from here at this banquet.”

Liz blew over her lips, briefly gazing out at the gym floor. She wasn’t someone who would make assumptions about the men who came there weekly, sometimes daily, but never looked twice at her.

“Not particularly. There’s not exactly very many here who would consider me a meal anyway.”

Her coworker laughed, crossing her arms over her ample breasts.

“You’re mixing metaphors, darling.” Christina, the consummate supporter, laughed right as the front entrance door slammed shut. They both whipped their heads in the direction of the sound, then flicked their eyes up to the clock.

They knew who came in every single day at exactly 3:00 p.m. Liz’s heart rattled in her chest as Christina wrapped her fingers around her shoulders, then leaned into her ear to whisper sensually.

“Now there’s a man who could definitely eat you up.”

Liz’s skin broke out in goosebumps. The man coming in was Benicio Moretti, the leader of the security detail at the Sinsations Club, located not too far from the gym. He was the type of man who made women’s skirts fly up randomly, cheeks flush, and breaths catch in their throats by simply looking at him.

Liz gulped as he walked in and passed the reception desk, so well known to them and the establishment that he didn’t waste time flashing his ID card. Christina stood and did what she was best at ... taking her shot in the dark.

“Hey, Benny, what’s up?”

He silently floated away, all six foot four of him, a mountain for a back, thick tree trunks for arms, and a waist that seemed to go on for ages. Liz sat there, frozen, catching just a mere glimpse of his deep green eyes as he soared to the weight section.

Christina blew up at her bangs.

“Oh well, men like that are always trouble anyway.”

Liz sighed, leaning on her palms as Benny removed his shirt. It was against the gym rules, as it was for most gyms, but no one had the gall to reinforce it. Plus, it was a magnificent sight to watch him sweat, his muscles rippling in front of their eyes like Achilles preparing for battle.

“I would love some trouble,” Liz mumbled. “Every guy that wants me doesn’t seem to want to jump into bed with me the way I want them to.”

Christina shuffled back to her seat next to Liz, both of them in a daze gazing at Benny as he did his usual warm-up, like two captivated gawkers admiring the statue of David.

“Is that so?” she said, barely stifling a laugh. “Don’t they know that you have to take the car for a test drive before you sign the lease?”

Liz shook with a soft giggle, the statement shaking her briefly from her stupor.

“Apparently, no one gave them the update.”

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