Chapter 17
My bottom lip quivers. I scan the office for my bag and car keys. Javier’s expression is full of worry when he follows me inside. I freeze when he steps closer.
“Javier,” I say, breathless, like I was gut-punched. “I-I need to go right now. Please.”
“I’m sorry, Ari. Please don’t be scared. Rey... he would never hurt you. You know that, right? He’s my brother, and I know he would never… I would never hurt you. You’re safe with us.”
I don’t answer him and just point at the desk. I’m trying to calm down, but I can’t stay here.
“I-I was just trying… to get Tommy to sign the waiver. He can’t train until he does. There is another member who didn’t sign. I-I was trying, but he was rude and…”
My eyes widen in panic when Rey walks in. I back away. “I want to leave,” I demand in a shaky breath.
A pained look crosses Javier’s face, and then he glances at Rey.
Rey looks tormented when he sees my bag over my shoulder and keys in my hand, but all I can think about is running.
He steps in front of Javier, but Javier puts a hand on his chest to stop him and shakes his head. Rey looks at Javier’s hand on his chest and then at me .
Rey slides his phone out and begins typing. He looks up at me when my phone dings.
Rey: Are you afraid of me?
When I nod, his fingers fly across his screen, and he looks up.
Rey: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I was just upset about the interruption.
Ari: I want to leave.
Rey: Can we talk? Alone?
Ari: I have nothing to say to you. I’ll get my stuff and go. I don’t want to be here.
Tears escape. Fear. Hurt. How defenseless I felt with him.
Before I know what is happening, Javier exits the room and shuts the door, leaving me alone with Rey.
Rey: Please, let me prove that you shouldn’t be scared of me. I’ll never hurt you, Ari. Never.
He slides his phone into his pocket and tilts his head with a smile breaking his lips. He gives me a wink and motions for me to walk toward the door.
I move forward, and he steps behind me.
I turn around, and he cages me in, stealing my breath. My back is to the door, and his arms are on either side of my head. My chin quivers.
His eyes caress my face.
He reaches over and closes the blinds without breaking eye contact. He lowers his lips near my ear; his breath tickles my skin, washing away my fear .
The grip on my bag relaxes.
I close my eyes, willing my fast heartbeat to calm. Everything goes quiet except for the faint voices outside.
Then… I hear it.
“I’m so sorry, Ari. Please don’t leave me. I need you here,” he says, just above a whisper.
The deep, raspy, and perfect sound of his voice. Soft like a caress over my skin.
My head tilts. His eyes hold me captive.
His lips graze the skin below my ear. “Don’t move...”
His voice enraptures me as his hand wraps gently around my throat. His thumb is on the spot where my pulse beats.
His lips are inches from my skin, his breath feathering my cheek. His thumb slides back and forth, caressing my neck. His palm lays flat above me against the door.
His brown eyes turn to molten chocolate when they fixate on my lips. The power of his gaze draws me closer. Then… it happens.
His lips crash against mine, and I think I whimper when his tongue slides into my mouth.
I drop my bag with a thud. My keys with a clink. My hands land on his chest, sliding to his neck, feeling the hard‐ ness of his muscles. His tongue licks mine, the roof of my mouth, and then he sucks my lips.
We have to stop.
He is my boss, and I’m his employee.
A line has been crossed, but I don’t want to go back over it yet.
I want to stay.
Just for another moment.
His hands dig in my hair. My chest is pressed against his, and I want to hide in his warmth. Burn with the heat of his tongue.
I don’t want it to be all over when he stops, which scares me the most. It scares me because I’m not afraid of him. It scares me because I want more.
He pulls away, and we’re both out of breath. He feels it, but I hear it. What just happened wasn’t supposed to happen, but it did, and it’s boiling between us.
He rests his forehead on mine and whispers, “I’m sorry, but I’m not sorry. I know it shouldn’t have happened, but I wanted it to happen. It can’t happen again, and for that, I’m sorry. Please… Please don’t leave, Ari. I would never hurt you.” His voice breaks on the last part.
We are attracted to each other. He was frustrated and took it out on me, which I misinterpreted, thinking he would harm me.
I grip his gray shirt molded to his chest. My eyes find his. I reach for him on my tippy-toes. He knows what I want. His lips meet mine again, and I taste him thoroughly. I lick the seam of his lips and suck them. He groans in my mouth, gripping the side of my shirt in a fist. His lips skim my jaw, suck and bite my neck. My heart pounds. My nose fills with his scent. Sweat and cedar. My knees tremble, but he holds me to him, and I feel it was a promise. A promise not to let go.
When we break apart, he steps back and bends to pick up my bag and keys. He places them on the corner desk by the wall. He grabs the clipboard, looks at the two waivers, and slides his finger to the “X,” where it is highlighted needing a signature.
He takes his phone and sends me a text.
Rey: I’m sorry for not backing you up. You were just trying to do your job and looking out for our interest in the gym. I’m going to make it right.
Ari: Don’t scare me like that again.
Rey: I promise, Ari. If there is an issue, you come to me. I don’t want you to go to anyone in this gym without me.
My eyes lift.
Ari: I’m sorry for not telling you. I don’t want you to deal with gym-related paperwork while training Javier. This is important to him, and he needs you right now. He will win with you in his corner, but he needs every moment with you. Distractions cause mistakes. You needed someone here to work in the office while you trained Javier, and that was what I was trying to do. It’s why Javier hired me.
He nods and moves to open the door. He waves his hand for me to step out first. Javier is in the ring, sparring with Tommy. Javier has a lethal glare painted on his face, and I’m surprised he’s in the ring with Tommy.
Rey holds the clipboard, takes the waiver out, and motions for me to follow.
When Rey reaches the ring, he rings the bell. Javier pauses, but Tommy goes in for a punch. Javier sees just in time, blocks it, and then spits out his mouthpiece.
“What the fuck?” Javier spits.
Tommy waves his hands out wide and shrugs. This pisses Rey off. He rings the bell more forcefully and motions for Tommy to get out of the ring.
Tommy removes his mouthpiece. “What’d I do?” Tommy asks, glaring at me “What did you do, huh?” Tommy turns to Rey. “You fuckin’ her, champ?”
Javier comes up behind him and pushes Tommy. “Watch what the fuck you say, Tommy. Apologize to Ari.”
Tommy turns around and gets in Javier's face.
Having seen enough, Rey gets in the ring while crumpling the paper in his fist. I step back, my eyes going wide. Oh shit. The expression on Rey’s face as he steps up to Tommy has everyone in the gym rushing over.
Tommy turns around and sees Rey.
He points his glove toward me. “Don’t get mad, champ. It’s all good. I know you’re fucking her. She doesn’t even look at any other guy in this place. Now everyone knows why she isn’t with Jimmy. She’s quick. I’ll give her that,” he taunts.
Fucking asshole. I have never wanted to punch somebody so badly in their smug face. I thought hockey players were dicks, but boxers are bigger dicks.
“Get out,” Rey growls.
Oh my God. He spoke. Javier raises his eyebrows as he looks at Rey but remains quiet.
Tommy doesn’t agree, so he shakes his head. “Nah, I’m not going to go because you have a hard-on for your office girl.”
Rey curls his lip and gets in Tommy’s face. Tommy rears his head back, laughing sarcastically. “I struck a nerve. You’re always silent, but when I talk about her, you have no problem speaking,” he sneers. “Wait until Jimmy finds out that Rey Vicente is FUCKING his girl.”
“Get out, Tommy!” Javier shouts. “Don’t come back to this gym or this camp. You’re done.”
“Fuck that. You’re only fighting because your brother is the champ. I’ll take both of you pussies out. I can’t believe you’re getting pissed off because I didn’t want to sign a stupid paper when she wanted. She must be a nice piece of ass, Rey. What did she do, huh? Suck your dick in the office when you got mad at her for talking to me.”
He pushes Rey, placing his gloved hands on his chest, but Rey is like a solid concrete wall. He doesn’t budge. I’m grateful he can’t hear the crap Tommy is spewing about me .
I can tell Javier is worried that Rey might lose his composure. The tension on Rey’s face says it all. He wants to hit Tommy. I can feel it, and I think everyone else in the gym can feel it, too.
Tommy looks over at me, blows me a kiss, and makes a lewd gesture over his crotch. That’s when it happens. Rey hits him with a left hook, knocking Tommy’s headgear off his head, and he lands with a thud—knocked out.
“Oooh, shit!” one guy yells.
“Dayum!” another one calls.
“He deserved it. Tommy was way out of line,” Ben says.
I look around and see a guy in shock, placing his hand over his head.
I look up at Rey. He isn’t looking at Tommy or Javier. His chest heaves with pent-up rage, and he is looking directly at me.
I mouth, “I’m sorry.”
He shakes his head and walks over to the ropes. He opens and closes his hand, probably feeling the impact of his fist connecting with Tommy’s jaw.
Rey swallows, catching his breath. “I’ll never let”—he takes a deep breath—"anyone... disrespect you, Ari.”
His voice is louder than it should be. A little off pitch.
He battles his emotions, and I can't control mine. I’m powerless when he looks at me and cling desperately to the memory of being in his arms.