“Sorry. I’ll ease up.”
He nods. “Good. Perhaps Tony could take you through some pad work.”
“I’ll ask.” I force a grin as Seth walks away even though I’d rather not be stuck in close proximity to Tony. I haven’t spoken to him since he had his arm around Camile. When I’d seen them like that, I’d wanted to physically tear her away from him. It was for that very reason I’ve stayed away. I had no right to act like a possessive asshole. Camile and I shared one kiss, fueled as much by anger as lust. She clearly didn’t enjoy it as much as I did, so I need to back the hell off and leave her alone. Unfortunately, even with a few angry jack-off sessions, I can’t get her out of my head. Her lips haunted me all night, and everywhere I go, her scent seems to follow me. I know I’m imagining it because I showered twice, but I could swear I still smell it.
It means nothing.
“Uh, Leo?” A hand appears in front of my face. “Dude, are you okay?”
It’s Tony. I jerk in shock. He’s standing a few feet away, but I failed to notice him approach.
“Sorry, I’m in my own world.”
“I’ll say.” His brow crinkles. “You were out of it.” He holds up a set of focus mitts. “Seth said to go through some combinations. You up for that?”
“Yeah. Thanks, man.” I bump my gloves against his mitts and we take up positions opposite each other.
“Jab, cross,” he instructs. An image of him and Camile flicks through my mind, and I smash my fists into the mitt harder than intended. He doesn’t flinch. “Sixty percent power.”
I repeat the motion with less oomph and manage not to demand to know what his plans are with a certain luscious blonde.
Almost as though he reads my mind, Tony asks, “What happened with Cami yesterday? You dragged her off and then sent her back in tears.”
“She wasn’t crying,” I snap.
“No,” he agrees. “But she wasn’t far off.” He shifts the mitts to his belly. “Knee.” I thrust it at him, and he catches it easily. “The other one.” He edges backward as I move forward, throwing one knee and then the other. “So, you’re not gonna tell me?”
“Nothing to tell.”
He raises a brow. “She was in a weird mood yesterday, and you’re in a weird mood today. Seems like more than nothing to me.”
“Fine.” I push kick one of the pads when he gestures for me to do so. “We kissed, and now I can’t get her out of my fucking mind.”
A laugh booms from his chest. “Wait, you have the hots for sweet Cami? I didn’t see that coming.” He stops for a moment and a strange expression flits over his face before he doubles over. “Wait. You kissed her, and she nearly cried? Your kiss is why she had the sad puppy eyes?”
Honestly, can I just kick this idiot?
“You about done?”
He holds up a hand to gesture for me to wait a minute while he belts out another round of laughter. I glance over my shoulder, noticing a few curious stares. Tony straightens, panting. “Okay, I’m good.” His face is red, and he’s smirking. “But seriously, what did you do to the poor girl?”
My neck hunches into my shoulders and I look away, recalling the callous remark I made afterward. I’d acted like a jerk, and I wasn’t proud of myself. “I’d rather not talk about it.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
I raise an eyebrow. “About?”
His eyes widen. “Cami. Duh.”
I shrug. Mostly, I’ve just been cursing the space she’s taken up in my head. “I wasn’t planning to do anything.”
He rolls his eyes. “For a smart guy, you’re an idiot about women. Luckily for you, I happen to know that she’ll be at Mercy’s tattoo parlor at 2:00 p.m. on Friday. Bet she could use some company.”
My stomach flips. “Tattoo parlor?”
“Yeah.” He grins. “She’s getting her first ink.”
My lips part as dozens of images flash through my mind. Camile’s soft, satiny skin beneath a needle. Sexy ink decorating her already breathtaking body. Where would she get it? Back? Legs? Arms? Somewhere else…?
