“But she’s okay?”
He nodded. “Yes, Violence. She’s fine. It was averted by her leaving the room and Alex calling off his family.”
He watched me closely, those glittering eyes mysterious, his body looking ripped as fuck in his white button down with the sleeves rolled up. Like, why would he do this to my poor hormones? All men knew this was chick-kryptonite.
“When’s the next fight?” I pressed him.
He stepped closer, and I sucked in a deep breath, trying not to let show how much he affected me. “Did you not read my messages?” he asked softly. Deadly.
I cleared my throat, crossing my arms to try and protect myself. “I didn’t have a chance, what with being assaulted by my ex-fucking-boyfriend.”
When I lifted my palm reader, my hands were shaking, and I jumped as Rafe reached out and wrapped his hand around mine, engulfing it. Heat coated my palm as I closed my eyes briefly to get myself under control.
“Why do you let him do this to you?” Rafe murmured, so close now that I could smell him. He smelled fucking delicious, dark and spicy. His scent was as dangerous as he was.
“He holds all the power,” I whispered back, my eyes opening to lock with his. “I could kill him, sure; I probably have the skills to take him down, but then what? I’ll be hunted and executed for that crime. He knows there’s nothing I can do, and that makes me vulnerable.” My voice got harder. “I hate being vulnerable more than fucking anything else in the world.”
He yanked me closer; it was so sudden I had no time to brace myself. I landed hard against his chest.
“I know exactly what you need,” he said, the smallest of smiles playing across his lips.
Fuck.
Yes. Please may he be saying what I thought he was saying, because I needed that sort of distraction more than I needed air.
“Follow me,” he said, and then he let me go and disappeared into his walk-in wardrobe.
I blinked at that, because… the closet…?
Okay.
I was a few steps behind, and when I got in there, I slowed, swallowing hard at the bare back in front of me. Rafe had just shucked off his shirt, and as I watched the play of muscles, those curling tattoos that marked his body, I nearly bit off my own tongue so I didn’t moan.
He pulled on a tight black tank, leaving those arms bare.
Uh, wait a minute. Was he getting dressed again?
This wasn’t exactly what I’d thought we were doing.
Spinning around, he threw another shirt my way.
“Come on, Violence. It’s time for you to train.”
Well, fuck.
* * *
He ledme onto the soccer field, but we continued on through that, ending up in a large gym crossed with a dojo. I paused at the door, breathing in that familiar scent—sweat, chalk, and deep heat. Some of the panic that had been thrumming through my body faded. A hundred memories hit me, and I wondered if a portion of my unease over the past few months had been because I’d stepped away from this life.
The indoor running track, mats, weights, and a bunch of other shit that I’d used every day for the last ten years were scattered about, and I was so here for it.
“I had no idea this room existed,” I said breathlessly, looking around with a gleam of excitement. “I’ve missed training.”
Rafe let out a low laugh. “I figured.”
I wasn’t exactly dressed for it, clad in Rafe’s shirt that was miles too large. I’d tied it in a knot just under my breasts, exposing my stomach, and I wore my skirt with boy short underwear beneath, so I wasn’t in danger of flashing anyone. But still.
Whatever. He’d seen me naked.
