She blocked it.Of courseshe blocked it. Hooking her leg around my calf, she shoved off my chest and managed to separate us again.
We circled each other now, both panting and flushed, but the excitement thrumming through my veins was mirrored in her eyes.
Tori’s cheeks were pink and a strand of hair was sticking to the sweat on her temple. She looked delectably,deliciouslyalive.
Alive, dangerous, and beautiful in a way that left an ache at the pit of my stomach. Fuck, I wanted her so bad.
“Come on,” she taunted, hands up. “Show me what your rugby instinct can do.”
Like a bull seeing red, I charged at her, relishing the squeal I forced out of her before she dodged me.
We collided anyway, chest to chest, and the impact sent a jolt through me — half adrenaline and halfsomething I wasn't sure I'd be able to name, even if I wasn't distracted by all my wet dreams coming to life.
Tori’s hand shot toward my collarbone, going for a snap-down, but I caught her forearm, stepping in close. Her breath hit my throat, sending shivers of pleasure racing down my spine.
Beautiful green eyes flicked up to meet mine and I almost got lost in their depths. Almost.
I jerked myself back into the moment, forcing my mind to focus on the here and now.
Showing me just how good she was at her job, she used the momentary distraction to sweep my leg.
I stumbled, caught myself, and growled, “Cheap shot.”
“Should’ve been paying attention.” Tori shrugged, a smug smile playing around her lips.
That was it. My patience had run out and I stopped holding back.
I feinted high and she took the bait. In one swift movement, I wrapped an arm around her torso and pulled her flush against me. She tried to spin out again, but I locked my weight onto her, grounding her.
“Kai—” Her voice suddenly sounded all breathy.
She fought me with everything she had — elbows, shifting center of gravity, twisting hips. She almost broke free.Almost.
But I outweighed her, and I wasn’t letting go this time.
With a controlled pivot, I hooked her thigh, lifted her and eased her down onto the mat. My arm was there to brace her head and prevent her skull from banging against the floor.
We hit the floor hard enough to make the mats thud, and the little gasp escaping her was music to my ears.
I hovered over her, my breath coming in fast pants, and my arms caging her in. Her chest rose against mine with every inhale, the hard points of her nipples outlined by the stretchy material. Green eyes met mine, pulling me under their spell once more.
Something charged, heavy and positivelydangerouspoured between us in the quiet.
“Got you.”
Tori’s lips curved into something that was not quite a smile or a scowl. More like she wasn’t sure whether to push me away or pull me closer.
“You got lucky,” she panted.
“Pretty sure I didn’t.”
She swallowed hard, and for one precarious, suspended second, neither of us moved.
“Prove it, then.” Her tongue darted out to wet her lips, and I tracked the movement greedily with my eyes.
“Prove what?” I asked dumbly.
“That you didn’t get lucky. Prove you can handle me, Pretty Boy.”
