Machine placed his hands on his hips and took a breath. “This is one of the most elite gyms in the area, and you know it. Is this how you treat all your members? Because if you’re the welcoming committee, your boss needs to rethink his strategy.”
I let out a mock laugh. “If you want a welcoming committee, you’ve come to the wrong place.”
Machine rolled his eyes. “Clearly.”
I scoffed and went back into the ring to continue my workout. I tried my hardest not to look in his direction, but I could still feel his gaze on me.
When I was finished kicking Buddha’s and Arrow’s asses, I finally decided it was time to call it quits for the day. I had a self-defense class at the women’s shelter tonight, and I needed to be on my top game.
Able Heart’s “Whisper It” blared through my headphones as I walked into the co-ed locker room, my head bobbing to the music. My body was spent from the workout, and I couldn’t wait to shower, go home, and snuggle on the couch watchingThe Bachelor.
I opened the locker and grabbed my towel and toiletry bag before walking to my usual shower stall, the second-to-last on the right. I’d used the same stall since I had started working with the team, and most of the gym knew I’d claimed it and just considered it mine.
The song’s chorus continued, the tune making me swing my hips to the beat as I walked. I arrived at my stall and peeled my clothes from my skin. The song changed just as I pushed down my damp yoga shorts and thong. I wiggled my ass to the beat as I pulled the shorts over my feet and dropped them in my pile of clothes.
I put my hand in the stall to turn on the water, continuing to hum to the beat, eyes closed, lost in the music. Instead of the faucet handle, I found my hand wrapped around something else. I jolted my hand away, realizing my mistake.
The curtain swung open and revealed a very naked,verychiseled, and very wet Machine. His furious expression quickly morphed into that of amusement.
I squealed, jumped back, and covered my eyes with my hand. It was too late. A brief glance was still long enough for me to take in the massive appendage between his legs, which sported seven barbells along its shaft.
“Want to join, Bunny? Or are you just going to eye-fuck me some more?” he asked with a smirk.
“Oh my god! Fuck! Sorry!” I yelled, mortified.
I went to grab my towel but slipped on the wet floor and tumbled to the ground, head smacking against the tile. Stars blinded my vision before a sharp agonizing pain ricocheted through my skull. Groaning, I squeezed my eyes shut. Fuck, that hurt.
Machine cursed, the curtain rustling before I felt warm, calloused hands covering mine. When I opened my eyes, I about passed out at the new view before me. Thick muscular legs straddled my body, and in between them was the largest cock I had ever seen. I wasn’t losing my mind; the man really had piercings through the appendage. Several of them. I blinked, trying to focus on Machine’s voice but finding it hard to concentrate. Where were my headphones?
When I looked up, a steely gaze met mine. Gone was the playful Machine, and in his place was a calculating, concerned man. He moved his hand to the back of my head, making me wince. When he pulled it away, a red substance coated his fingers.
Moving with methodical precision, Machine checked over my body for any more injuries and prodded my neck to see if I had hurt it in the fall.
“Are you okay? Badger, can you hear me?” His voice echoed in the stall and felt like a sledgehammer in my head.
I tried to sit up, but felt like I’d been hit by a freight train. I groaned. At least I think I did. It sounded more like a dying animal crying out.
I heard Machine curse before moving with speed that my eyes couldn’t seem to track. I closed my eyes, nausea rolling through me. When they reopened, I was met with a now towel-covered Machine and a first aid kit. Somehow, I was sitting with my back resting against the cool tiles.
“You’re probably concussed,” Machine said.
“What are you, a doctor or something?” I grumbled as he cleaned the cut on my head.
“Or somethin’,” he mumbled back.
He efficiently packed up the first-aid kit and pulled off his latex gloves. For some reason, I was mesmerized by the movements. I imagined the second-in-command of the Mafia would be a brute who only brought chaos, but in this moment he seemed to be proving me wrong.
“I think you’ll be okay, but you should probably go to the emergency room.”
The mention of the emergency room was enough to snap me out of my stupor. I attempted to shake my head, which was the worst thing I could have done. I groaned.
“N-no, I am fine.”
Machine let out a humorless laugh. “Yeah, you are doing a bang-up job proving that, Bunny.”
I glared up at him.
“Oh, there she is, maybe you are fine,” he teased. “Okay, well, I’ll bring you home. I can’t in good conscience leave withoutmaking sure you get home safe.” When I didn’t respond, he continued. “We just need to pick up my girl, and then I’ll drop you off.”
