Chapter 5 #2
He clears his throat, and I quickly look up, finding amusement on his face. “Sorry, I was just…” I wave a hand around before pinching the bridge of my nose. “It’s been a long twenty-four hours.”
He nods in understanding and pulls the ropes apart, indicating for me to come up.
I hesitate before gripping the top rope and stepping between the two as I maneuver myself onto the platform.
Standing straight, I remove my coat and hang it over one of the corner poles, leaving me in my black leggings and a grey, fitted, long-sleeve crop top.
I spin around, finding Mauro taking in my attire, his eyes darkening, before he shakes his head and looks away.
I suddenly glimpse down, feeling self-conscious, and pull at the hem of my top. “Thank you for the new clothes. You didn’t need to do that. But I’ll pay you back.”
He shakes his head and signs, No.
I pause when I see him sign. He did it a few times last night, but as far as I’m aware, he doesn’t know how to sign… Or does he? “No?”
He nods once.
I huff. “Listen, I know I’m lacking in the money department, but I can still afford to pay you back for these clothes.”
He reaches into his pocket and types before turning the screen toward me. You’re not paying me back. End of story. And I did have to, because I wasn’t planning to send you home in the same outfit from last night.
A flush spreads over my cheeks as I stare at the floor.
“Well…” Damn, he got me there. I hesitate before saying, “Thank you then.” I bind my arms around my mid-section, suddenly hit with embarrassment, regret, and pure mortification.
Why, oh why, did it have to be him who found me on that stage?
I clear my throat. “Your note said you wanted to talk.” I glance up at him. “What did you want to talk about?”
He tilts his head to the side as if studying me before using two fingers to motion for me to meet him in the center. I take a few steps, leaving a foot of space between us, and the smell of him—that enticing, comforting scent—settles over me, sending warmth through my entire body.
He takes a half step toward me, eliminating the space between us, and with a gentleness I’ve never felt before, he circles his fingers around my wrists and pulls my hands to my sides.
My heart beats wildly beneath my rib cage as his deep brown eyes lock with mine, his head leaning forward. His warm breath washes over my skin as he presses a soft kiss to the spot right below my earlobe and then stands straight.
What… What was that?
I’m as still as a statue while he lowers himself to the mat, lying flat on his back. He gives me a come-hither motion with his index finger and then taps his lower stomach.
My eyes widen, and my jaw pops open as I grasp the meaning of his motions. “I…” I glance around at all of the men occupying the area. “I can’t…” I shake my head. “I can’t have sex in front of people,” I whisper with force, crossing my arms over my chest.
How dare he? Does he think because of what I almost did last night, I would do something like this?
My brows cinch together, my eyes narrowing in on him.
Mauro’s dark eyes widen, his lips parting, before suddenly a raspy, choking sound leaves him.
He sits up, rubbing his jaw as one of the biggest smiles I’ve ever seen appears on his face.
He reaches for his phone beside him and then shows me the screen.
Wasn’t planning on giving the men a show today.
Only wanted to teach you some self-defense moves.
“Ohhh.” Gradually, my arms lower as my cheeks burn with humiliation.
Real smooth, Alina.
He shakes his head with the smile still lingering as he lies back and once again pats his lower stomach.
I look around the room. Every man here is focused on their own task before them, too busy to give us a second glance.
Standing beside him, I take a deep breath and bring my right leg over him, leaving my left leg in place on his other side. “And now…”
He brushes his hand over his abdomen and waits.
“You want me to…straddle you?”
He nods.
God, I wish he had a shirt on. One that covered every defined muscle on his body.
Lowering myself, I stop once my knees hit the floor, my ass inches from his body, not making direct contact with him. “Okay, and now what?”
His fingers press into my hips as he tugs me down until I’m fully seated, using his washboard abs as my personal chair.
My throat goes dry. I place my hands on my thighs, steadying myself, and pray he can’t feel the throbbing currently overtaking my core.
He leans up and wraps his fingers around my wrists, pulling me forward, and I go with him willingly. With ease, he positions my hands so that they wrap around his wrists, so that I’m in control, holding him down.
I view our positions, suddenly realizing what he’s doing. “I take it I’m the bad guy in this situation.”
He nods.
“And now you’re going to teach me how to get out of this?”
He nods again.
“But how—”
In a flurry of swift moves, he bends his knees, bringing his feet close to his hips before suddenly lifting his hips in the air, sending me forward. I catch myself, my palms landing flat on the floor, Mauro’s face only inches from my… Oh my God.
He grips his hand around my left bicep, pulling me forward as his right leg bands around my left one, his hips once again lifting me in the air, but this time, I squeal as he rolls me to my back and positions himself above me.
I’m breathless as he gazes down at me.
“That was…” I try to think of the right word. Thrilling? Exciting? Arousing? I decide to play it safe with the word, “Fun.”
He arches a brow at my word choice, and we both laugh.
“Is it my turn now?”
He maneuvers himself until he’s straddling me, the size difference between us quite noticeable, but instead of leaning forward to grip my forearms, he pauses, staring down at me.
My pulse beats wildly. “Did umm… Did I do something wrong?”
He shakes his head, reaching for his phone and quickly typing on it. He pauses before turning it to face me.
I want to help you with your problem.
I shake my head. “I appreciate it, really, I do. But, like I told you, I’m not accepting any money from you. I can’t.”
He shakes his head.
My brows furrow. “Then how?”
He tosses his phone to the side and leans forward until his lips brush over my ear. A shiver runs over my body from the tips of my fingers to the bottoms of my toes.
He breathes deeply, inhaling as his nose touches the spot beneath my ear. My eyes close, my fingers curling against the floor, wishing I had something to hold on to.
“Marry…me?”
His voice. Raspy. Deep. Strong. It cascades over me, pulling me in like a tidal wave. I haven’t heard it in so long that it momentarily takes me back in time.
My eyes open, finding him staring down at me as my heart hammers beneath my rib cage.
He’s waiting for an answer.
My lips part, but just as I’m about to respond, someone clears their throat beside us.
“Umm, sir?” We both look over, finding one of the guards standing by the edge of the ring. He hooks his thumb over his shoulder. “Should I leave? Or…”
Mauro sighs and shakes his head before carefully removing himself from me.
He offers me his hand, pulling me up until I’m directly against his chest. His fingers reach out, pushing back some loose strands of my hair and tucking them behind my ear.
And then he turns and hops out of the ring, leaving me completely shell-shocked.
“Marry…me?”
The two words echo across my skull.
Like a pleasant melody I never want to forget.
And all I can think is… Yes.