Page 61 of Mafie Kings

“Woah there, you okay?” he asks me, searching my eyes with a pained expression on his face. It’s the first time I’ve seen him since he left the scene with Alexi. The way he’s looking at me, like I’m a toy that was broken, lights a fire in me. He doesn’t get to look at me like that, not after running away when he could have tried to stop the whole thing.

I yank my arm out of his grip and pull away to glare at him. “I will be as soon as I can get out of here,” I reply. I need space, and I don’t want him to see just how bad my ankle hurts after stumbling like that.

His brows pinch while his face falls. “Evie,” he starts, but I don’t want to hear what he has to say. I shake my head and shove past him to storm out the door.

When I get to the gym I see Damien before he sees me. His full upper body on display. Sweat glistens off of him as he lifts on the bench press. I want to mess with him the same way he messed with me.

I stroll in through the glass door, drop my bag on the bench, and head straight for him. Seeing his muscles flex has me mesmerized. He really is beautiful.

Just as he reracks the bar, I lift my leg up to straddle his hips on the bench.

“Well good morning to you too.” He grins.

I can’t help but smile back as he places his hands lightly on my hips. He’s so gentle, and as I look down into his brown eyes, I think I feel real happiness for a moment.

“Did you know,” I ask in a whisper, “you can lift more weight with increased testosterone?” I slowly get up and slide a single finger down his chest. “And did you also know,” I grab a ten-pound weight, adding it to one side of the bar as he watches me, “that the quickest way to increase testosterone,” I add another ten pounds to the opposite side, “is to be turned on?”

I get back on his lap, but this time he’s hard under me. I grind down on him ever so slightly. “You should give it a try,” I say, gesturing to the bar that I know was already at his max weight.

He bites his lip, groaning as he grinds up into me. A gasp escapes my lips, causing him to chuckle. “You gonna spot me, Little Shadow?”

“Of course,” I reply, leaning forward and bracing my hands on his chest, making no attempt to get into a spotter's stance. He’s got this, some of us just need a little push to reach the next level.

“Do I get a reward for testing out this theory?” he asks, menacingly.

I think for a moment, wanting to give him something. At the same time, I’m not ready to give him much more of me. He waits patiently for me to answer, letting me take my time.

“If you rep it, I’ll give you a kiss,” I offer.

He smirks at me, thrusting his hips again before grabbing the bar and getting into position. I can see apprehension cross his face as he grips the bar and my heart physically aches. I know he can do this, but I don’t think he believes he can.

“Come on, Sunshine, you got this.” I adjust myself on his lap, just enough to distract him as he lifts the bar so his lack of self confidence fades into the background. His muscles strain, and I can feel myself getting wet as I see the ripples of his muscles bulge under the weight. He brings it down to his chest, then pushes it back up. Once. twice. Three times.

The look that crosses his face as he re-racks the bar is enough to have me falling over him, smashing our mouths together. His hands go to my hips, squeezing them, making me moan in his mouth.

Before we can get too carried away, I pull back, biting my lip. “I knew you could do it,” I tell him as I stand up. He sits up, following me as his hands reach out to keep me close to him.

“I think I know why Lev calls you his Lucky Charm,” he says, his eyes darkening with heat as he pulls me closer. He stands up, towering over me then pinches my chin between his fingers. “That’s the most I’ve ever lifted, much less repped. How did you know I could do it?”

“I think,” I say, wrapping my arms around him, “we are more alike than you know.” With one hand, I trace the outline of a scar on his chest. “I could see it in your eyes, you want more than what you’ve got. You just needed a push, someone to believe in you.”

He pulls me in for another searing kiss. When our lips finally break, my heart hurts and I don’t know why. I push away and he lets me go.

We workout in a comfortable silence before he leaves, giving me his casual two finger salute. Part of me expected him to kiss me again, but I’m glad he didn’t. I have enough I’m trying to understand without these weird emotions getting in the way.

As much as I want the Kings on my side, I don’t want to hurt myself by falling for one of them.

I finish shortly after Damien and head for my old suite. I use my key to let myself in, going to my room first to throw my bag on my bed and set up my tablet at my desk.

By the time I go to knock on Laney's door, she’s already opening it. Her face changes instantly from ‘pissed off that it's morning’ to something like a child greeting their parents after their first day of school.

“Evie!” Laney squeals, launching herself into me. I wrap my arms around her. I may still have bruises all around my abdomen from the crash, and this just may be the most painful hug I’ve ever received. But it’s also everything I need at this moment.

I squeeze her back and hold her close, refusing to be the first one to pull away. After a minute, she leans back, scanning my face. “You sure know how to make a girl worry,” she tells me.

I just laugh. “I missed you, too,” I say to her. “Let’s make some coffee and catch up. I want to hear about your week.”

“Not as much as I want to hear about yours,” she shoots back, walking into the kitchen area. She begins to make a pot of coffee, pointing for me to sit. I take a seat on the stool at the breakfast island, and she pours us both a cup, then brings over the cream and sugar.

---