It was bad enough that I speculated someone was selling my information to the public. If my new bodyguards can really help investigate this…
Oh, god. I don’t want them snooping into my personal life. It was bad enough in high school, but now? They would know every nasty detail down to how many hospital visits I racked up in a year when I was fifteen. The broken bones and deep scars were enough to raise the eyebrows of the nurses on staff, so I always left before the cops could show. Roman, Kairo, and Maddox would see it all.
I don’t think I have much of a choice at this point.
After the active break-in the other night, I was so rattled that I moved my Glamletics shoot to lunchtime today. I keeplooking over my shoulder, scared to make the wrong move in case someone else is waiting right around the corner for me.
I haven’t felt this shaken since…
I blink quickly, not allowing my mind to go there. I have more pressing matters to deal with. If Roman, Kairo, and Maddox want to knock themselves out with this, then they can have at it. I’m washing my hands of it.
I riffle through my walk-in closet, then pull out a matching set of pink athletic tights and a sports bra. I grab my yoga mat from the workout room before choosing to do my morning warm-up outside on the deck.
The sun hasn’t risen yet, and the calm, cool air causes serenity to wash over me as I stretch. This is my alone time, and the only time I allow my brain to turn off. I take my time, feeling the burn and pull of my muscles as I hold different poses until a small sweat breaks out on my brow.
Just when the first ray of light breaks over the skyline, that awareness tickles at the back of my neck. I frown slightly, my eyes closed as I do a back bend. My hands hit the mat, and I release my breath as my eyes slide open.
Kairo is standing in the glass sliding door, his arms crossed and his hip propped against the frame as he watches me with a smirk.
He looks so…different.
The sides of his hair are faded, and I can see the dark, geometrical tattoos that cover his head and trail down his neck. He’s filled out more with bulging muscles that are covered in even more sharply defined tattoos. Paired with the dark jeans, white t-shirt, and rugged boots, he looks dangerous.
If it weren’t for the cute little wire-framed glasses sitting across the bridge of his nose, that is.
“Ugh,” I sneer. “You weren’t just a bad dream?”
He snorts. “I’m your worst nightmare, Thorn.”
“Say it louder for the people in the back,” I mutter before pushing myself back up into a standing position. I close myeyes again, blocking him out as I switch to another pose.
“You know…” he drawls, stepping slowly onto the deck.
Would it be wrong of me to take off my tennis shoe and smack him in the face with it?
Don’t choose violence, don’t choose violence, don’t choose violence…
He leans around me, chasing my eyes and blocking the spectacular view with his giant ass head. “You’re really flexible, Thorn.”
I give him a saccharine sweet smile. “And you’re blocking my light with that forehead. Move.”
His mouth falls open as his lips quirk in challenge. “Ooooh, good one! My turn. Why don’t I bend you over the railing and give you a real workout, hmm?”
I scoff, planting my hand over his forehead before shoving him away. “You wish. Go find someone else to terrorize.”
He tilts his head, fighting against me. The charming Cheshire grin he sports makes something ignite in my lower belly, and a blush paints over my cheeks as I side-step him and snatch my mat.
As I squat down, I stare at the ground with wide, unseeing eyes.
What the fuck is wrong with me?!
I didn’t just find him attractive…
“That’s right,” he taunts in a gloating manner. “Run away, Thorn.”
That strikes a chorddeepin me.
I roll up my mat, rising before rearing back and smacking him across the back of the head with it.
