25. Chapter Twenty Four
Chapter Twenty Four
After work the next day I decide to give the gym another chance.
I find that during work hours, I'm able to distract myself. But as soon as I close the laptop, it's like a movie in my mind. Flashbacks torment me and the obsessive urges return.
The best thing I can do is go to the gym and run on the treadmill. I'll be too distracted trying not to die that I won't be able to think about him.
It's a little busier in the evenings — gym goers getting in a quick workout after their day before they head home for the night.
I head for the treadmills, turning the intensity up straight away. It's like I want to punish myself too — push my body to limits I didn't know existed. Maybe if I can make myself stronger, my mind will follow suit.
Through my rage and torture I manage to run almost three miles before my legs start to buckle. I'll be sore as fuck tomorrow but at least it's a different type of pain to focus on.
I wobble like a baby horse to the change rooms, barely taking notice of my surroundings as I concentrate on not face planting the ground.
Sitting on the toilet is the relief I need for my legs and I take my time, letting out a sigh of contentment before I fix up my hair and clothes. As I go to exit the single occupant change room, I jump as I nearly collide with a body at the door.
"Sorry," I start, but they push me back inside, slamming the door closed behind them.
My eyes widen as I stare at Kaden like he's lost his mind.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" I hiss. "Get out of the damn doorway."
Kaden rests his back against the door, blocking me. "You're going to hurt yourself."
I look at him confused, annoyed that he is even concerned. "What are you talking about?"
"On the treadmill," he says simply. "You're running wrong and going too fast for a new runner. You need to pace yourself otherwise you'll end up with a knee injury."
Rolling my eyes, I ignore him, nodding to the door. "Let me out."
"I can help you," he offers. "I don't want to see you get hurt."
"Well, you already accomplished that. I think I can handle it," I snap back at him. "Now, get out of the way."
He hesitates, my patience wearing thin.
"Just let me at least give you a few running tips before you go."
My eyebrows crease in anger. "I don't need you to mansplain things to me."
"I'm not mansplaining things," he argues. "I do marathons. I just want to help you before you get hurt. I know you are trying to deal with everything that happened, but I can't stand the thought of watching you run like that."
I cross my arms. "Then don't watch me. Simple."
Kaden sighs in frustration. "Start at a slower pace. Keep the machine elevation at ground level for now. Try to focus on your breathing. I find that two breaths in through the nose, then one in the mouth helps. I see you have headphones today which is good. You can create a playlist of songs that increase in tempo — slow beats at first, then fast, back to slow to finish."
I'm amazed at the tips, but it's not enough to extinguish my mood. "I'm fine, thanks."
He ignores me, continuing. "You need to run straight. Your knees are buckling to the sides. It's going to damage your ligaments. That's why you need to start off slow and keep your toes pointing forward. I'd also recommend bringing a water bottle to keep next to you so you can hydrate as you're running."
"Can I leave yet?" I say through clenched teeth.
Kaden pauses, scanning my face. "I really do just want to help, Skylar."
"You can help by leaving me alone. Even if you did mean well, you're nothing but a painful reminder of things to me, Kaden. Not to mention your part in this whole situation."
He looks down at the tiles, frowning. "I'm trying to fix it."
I'm sick to fucking death of these men trying to 'fix things'. Don't they realize that you can't fix broken glass?
"You can't," I mutter back, exhausted. "You can't fix this."
I'm having deja vu, repeating the conversation I had with Jordan. Kaden glances up, watching me carefully. He still doesn't move from the door so I decide to take matters into my own hands, storming forward to grab the handle next to his hip.
I tug on it, but he pushes back, pressing his weight against the door. Our bodies are practically touching as I jerk the handle, trying to shift his weight.
"Get out of the way," I growl at him. "I swear to God I'll knee you in the dick."
Kaden's arms launch out toward me, grabbing my waist as he forces me to take a step back. "Please don't do that."
"I'll scream," I warn. "I imagine the staff wouldn't be too happy about it."
He blinks at me, falling silent. I think he's trying to call my bluff, or figure out what to say. When he doesn't speak and refuses to move, I open my mouth.
I'm angry, feeling petty as hell, so I have no problem following through.
I start to yell, but as soon as sound exits my throat, Kaden's hand covers my mouth, muffling me. I shout against his hand, my fists whacking him poorly in the chest as I try to inflict some type of pathetic pain on him. Our bodies shuffle around the room and when I manage to strike his throat, his hand lets go of my mouth in shock.
Making a dash for the door again, he quickly realizes what I'm doing, moving to block me again. I open my mouth to scream again, but this time, he launches forward, pressing his face into mine.
This fucking asshole is kissing me!
My body freezes up in disbelief and panic, no sounds coming from my throat as I try to process the situation.
"What are you fucking doing?" I squawk into his mouth, fists clenching his muscle shirt tightly.
"Shutting you up," he shoots back, using the opportunity to stick his tongue into my mouth.
I make a poor attempt to curse him out, but our tongues end up meeting, and before I realize it, I'm kissing him back.
My hands are still bundled into little balls, anger coursing through my veins. Kaden snakes his arms around my waist, pulling me firm against his chest.
He swings me around, pressing my back against the door without pulling back from our kiss. I let go of his shirt, hands finding his tied up hair as I grip whatever strands I can grasp. I don't care if I hurt him, my hands and nails digging into his scalp, but he isn't fazed at all.
Ripping his lips away, they immediately latch onto my neck, sucking my delicate skin into his mouth. I tug his hair hard as his hands grab the side of my shirt.
Without warning, he pulls my shirt off me before I can react, my eyes flashing with angry disbelief. His light blue eyes scan my face, narrowing at my expression but he quickly kisses me again, pushing his body against mine.
I don't know what starts to come over me. I hate him. I hate Jordan. They can both burn in Hell. But I'm desperate for an outlet, and the petty part of me wants to hurt Jordan just like he hurt me.
So, I do the unthinkable.
My hands reach for his shirt, pushing it up his torso. He lets me remove his shirt and I fling it toward the toilet, hoping it lands in the bowl. I don't see where it lands as Kaden shoves his hand down the front of my shorts, fingers instantly pressing against my panties. He pushes them to the side, stroking my slit as he nips at my collarbone.
I rest my head back against the door, eyes clenched closed as my body reacts to his touch. I feel his finger slide inside, slipping into my pussy and I bite my lip, muffling any sounds that may echo around the tiled room.
Kaden slams his finger in and out of me, my legs shaking from the treadmill and threatening to hold me up. When I start to buckle, he rips his finger out of me, grabbing the sides of my shorts and pulling them hastily down my legs with my panties. I kick them off just as he grabs the backs of my thighs and lifts me up, pressing me back against the door.
Our lips smash together again and his hand snakes between us, pulling his cock out of his gym shorts. It digs into my thighs but he quickly positions it at my entrance, shoving into me.
I wrap my hands around his back, intentionally digging my nails into his skin. With each thrust, I claw my nails down his back hard, making him growl.
If he feels pain from it, he doesn't show it, his response a harder, deeper charge into me. I squeeze my legs around his waist as tight as I can, holding him close to me. Kaden rams our hips together, his cock hitting me deep as our tongues fight to the death.
I hate myself for this. But right now, I hate Jordan more.
I didn't know it was possible to hate someone you love, yet I take some sick pleasure in knowing I'm fucking his best friend.
"Are you going to come for me?" Kaden growls into my ear quietly.
I shake my head stubbornly. "Go fuck yourself."
"I'm fucking you," he snarls back, emphasizing his point by smashing into me with a force that sends me up the door.
"I hate you," I snap back, softly panting into his mouth.
Kaden reaches down, just managing to get his hand between our bodies as he presses his fingers into my clit. "Good. I deserve it. But I'm still going to make you come."
He rubs my clit while thrusting up into me, and despite my best efforts, I can't fight back my orgasm any longer.
A cry starts to leave my mouth but he quickly sucks it up, silencing me with his mouth. I clench down around his shaft, nails digging into his back hard enough to draw blood.
He growls back into my mouth, slamming into me a few more times before he stills, finding his own climax.
Before he has a chance to catch his breath, I unwrap my legs, letting gravity pull my weight to the floor. He lets me go, and I shove him backwards.
Quickly pulling my clothes on, I send a death glare his way, still angry, but equally exhausted now.
"Don't ever touch me again," I snarl at him.
Kaden tucks his cock back into his shorts, fetching his shirt from beside the toilet bowl. "I'm not making any promises."
I glare at him incredulously. "I mean it. I'm done with all of you."
"Or you could keep working your frustrations out on me."
"You're fooling yourself if you think I'd ever want to willingly touch you again," I laugh dryly. "Don't even come near me at the gym again, Kaden, or I'll report you to the staff."
Ripping open the door, I don't stop to wait for him to be fully dressed. I give Jessika a quick wave at the front desk before storming to my car and driving home.