“Injury is part of the sparring process. You never know what’s going to happen,” I lied. Injury wasn’t the norm for sparring. Sure, the opponents could get worked up and hit harder than intended, and by opponents, I meant me. I’d sometimes hit harder than planned, but I actively worked on keeping my emotions in check. Sometimes I’d failed, as was the case yesterday when Nico snatched my arm the wrong way and twisted. He’d realized his mistake seconds before my fist flew athis face. My retribution was a knee-jerk reaction, and luckily, we patched things up five minutes after the incident happened.
Sophie poured more oil into her hand and rubbed her palms together before she continued working on me. She stood so close, it was hard for me to concentrate, but I’d managed not to overstep in any way over this past week. And neither had she. We’d agreed our interactions wouldn’t become awkward, and they hadn’t. Not really. There was still a sexual pull between us, but we both worked to ignore it. I believed that in time, we’d let go of the attraction and build on the professional relationship between us.
Did I sound delusional? Probably.
“What happens if the guy you’re fighting does the same thing? What if he manages to pop your shoulder out? What then?”
“He won’t.” I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t worried about that exact scenario.
“But what if he does?” Her warm breath fanned the side of my face as she readjusted herself and started massaging my neck. The heat from her body wrapped around me, and all I wanted to do was give in to the desire swirling through every cell of my body. But I had to keep my promise to Trevor that I’d stay focused on my training and not allow any distractions to deter me from my goal, which was winning my next fight.
“Then I’m fucked. I have a high threshold for pain and have even fought with broken fingers and toes, but there’s no way I can fight if my shoulder comes out of its socket. I’m not superhuman.”
“Of course you’re not. Although, you’re probably pretty close,” she teased. Our gazes collided, and a flush spread over her cheeks, but she moved behind me before I could comment.
Moments passed in silence, and I gave in to the incredible feeling of what her hands were able to do for me. Everything wasgoing fine until I opened my big mouth and said something I should’ve kept to myself.
“Your sister thinks I’m hot.”
Sophie stopped massaging me. “I know. Sorry she was so blunt.”
“No apologies necessary. It’s kind of flattering to have an attractive girl compliment me.”
“Is that so?” she asked, her sickly sweet tone masking a hint of irritation. I might’ve misread her reaction, but when she pressed her elbow in between my shoulder blades with more pressure than she’d ever used, I realized I’d hit a nerve.
“Ow.” I jerked forward.
“Stop acting like that hurt.”
“It wasn’t pleasant,” I replied, shifting forward when she did it again. “What are you doing?”
“My job. The muscles in your back are knotted up. I need to use more force to loosen them.” I wanted to call her out but didn’t. Maybe it was a coincidence that she jabbed me with her elbow seconds after I mentioned her sister. “So, you think Abby is pretty?”
Maybe not a coincidence at all.
“Sure.” After two more painful jabs, I hopped off the table. “What’s the matter? And don’t tell me nothing, that you’re just doing your job.”
“She’s too young for you,” she rushed to say, narrowing her eyes at me as she clenched her fists at her sides.
“Who is?”
“My sister. She’s only twenty-three. And you’re what? Thirty-four?”
“Firstly, I’m thirty-two. And secondly, what makes you think I like your sister?”
“You agreed she’s pretty.”
“Wasn’t that the right thing to say?” I was so confused right now. What was happening? “Did you want me to say she wasn’t? Wouldn’t that be rude?”
Instead of answering me, she said, “Why did you bring her up in the first place? Why did you need to remind me that she thinks you’re hot?”
“Because I wanted to hear that you thought the same thing,” I blurted before my brain could stop my stupid mouth from saying those words.
If an awkward moment could result in death, I would’ve stopped breathing right then. What the hell was I thinking, saying some shit like that? I’d managed to hold my tongue for a week, and now this happened. Apparently, I hadn’t gotten a tight enough hold on my restraint.
“Your ego not big enough yet? Yes, I think you’re attractive.” She huffed, as if answering inconvenienced her. “But you already knew that. So, what’s the point of all this, Jackson? Because I’m really confused. You were the one who rejected me last week. Is this just some sort of sick game you’re playing because you’re bored or something?”
“No, of course not.” I edged closer, but she took a step back. “I’m sorry. I was just teasing.”
