Victor shared so much with me. The girls who were ogling him at the gym said he liked to keep to himself. But that’s not the Victor I know.
“When I saw you spar yesterday, you were so focused. There was this dedication in your eyes. A spark. I don’t believe you’re doing it only because of your dad.”
Victor flashes a smile. “Perceptive.” He stands up and takes small but deliberate steps toward me, taunting me.
“When I step into the cage, it’s only me and the other guy. Two men. Fight or tap out. You stand alone at that moment.” His voice takes on a seductive tone. “You have to face your problems. And your biggest problem is the other guy.” Victor takes his last step and invades my personal space. “No more running, Tia.”
He leans in, his face almost touching my neck.
“Just remember, the fight is more mental than physical. After you’re pushed to the brink of exhaustion, your body is at the point of giving up.”
My head falls back as his warm breath tickles my neck. My eyes close.
“Then you have to reach deep down into your soul and find a way to snatch a victory.”
He kisses the spot where my neck and shoulders connect, and my skin flushes. His lip leaves a wet trail as he places small kisses from the bottom of my neck to my earlobe.
“It’s not about hurting the other person at any cost, although that’s the stereotype. Fighters fight because it’s the ultimate form of competition between two people. I like to push myself, constantly improving. I feel in control. That’s why I do it. Not because my dad is pushing me, although I’ve let him believe that.”
Victor exhales into my neck. A quiet moan escapes my mouth and my eyes snap open. My cheeks are warm.
He brushes my skin with the back of his hand. “I love it when you blush.”
There’s not one rational cell left in my brain. Every time Victor is near or is touching me, my body reacts to him as if on autopilot. All my body wants is him. I’m falling for Victor. Hard. But every time my heart flutters in Victor’s proximity, it simultaneously drops to my stomach. I’m doing whatever I’m doing here behind Alek’s back. It was never like this with my brother before.
As if Victor detected hesitation on my part, he says, “I don’t care what your brother thinks about us. I’m only hiding because I think that’s what you want. Do you want me to talk to him?”
“No. First I need to tell him about Charlie.” I try to swallow because suddenly my throat becomes dry. “He’ll need some time to digest that, and then I can tell him about us.”
Us. So there’s us? As if to confirm that, indeed, there is an us, Victor leans in and kisses me. His soft lips barely touch mine.
“Now, let’s get to work.”
I follow his instructions about positioning my legs to do high and low kicks. He teaches me the proper form for punching, first in the air and then into his palms. He shows me additional combos I haven’t covered in the kickboxing class at work. And when I think we are ready to head back home, Victor insists we do jumping jacks, sit-ups, and push-ups. Four sets of each. Every single muscle in my body protests but I complete the entire workout. I smile at him, although I’m a panting mess with wet hair plastered to my neck.
Victor shows me the women’s locker room, and I walk in while he goes next door to the men’s. I won’t be able to splurge on a long hot shower, since I don’t want Victor to have to wait for me. The only sound comes from my loaner flip-flops. I grab a towel, and my backpack containing clothes I packed before work, and walk to the shower cabin. I strip and place all my belongings on the hook and step in.
I’m quickly lathering up with body wash when the squeak of a door opening and shutting pierces my ears. My pulse triples. I stop breathing. I pop my head out and shout Victor’s name. The second time my voice is even louder, edgier.
Victor wouldn’t just walk in here without calling my name or giving me a heads-up.
“What’s wrong?” I hear his voice before I see him. “I’m here. What happened?”
He’s here all right, in front of me, in nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.
“I heard a door.” My body is shaking and so is my jaw.
“Stay here. I’ll check.” Victor’s eyes are filled with worry.
What if it was Charlie? He could have followed me here. What if he’s out there and hurts Victor? Especially if he has a knife. I can’t breathe. I need to stop with the what-ifs. Victor will be back any moment now. And as if on cue, a light knock comes from the outside and Victor’s silhouette appears through the frosted window. I open the shower door slightly.
“I checked the locker room and the gym. All locked. No one is here.”
I’m unable to respond, my body frozen.
“Tia? Talk to me. Oh jeez, you’re pale.”
Victor gently pushes the door open, takes off his towel, and adjusts the temperature of the water. I need to adjust the temperature of my body becauseohmigodhe is naked and inches away from me.
