Page 20 of Cruz

“Not much.”

Cruz stands watching the whole thing, arms crossed over his chest. It makes him look even bigger, and I can’t help the way my eyes linger on his bulging biceps. There’s not a bit of Cruz that isn’t gorgeous in that big, burly tough way. Up until now my brain has gone straight to imagining just how easily Cruz could manhandle anyone with all those muscles. In a violent/protective way, and in more personal/far more fun/without clothes on ways. What would those arms feel like wrapped around me?

I shouldn’t want to find out.

I try to focus on what Liam is saying before I miss parts and humiliate myself by failing spectacularly.

“It’s pretty much the same with tape,” Liam is saying. “Maybe we don’t have to do that one. Just the ties. Assuming that the tool bag puts them on you correctly, and they’re tight, and that you have nothing to interrupt the little lock square with… you’re going to want to make sure the ties are tight.” Liam slips the thick plastic around my wrists and ratchets it closed with practiced ease. “Like this. If the lock is on the bottom, you’re going to have to use your teeth to get it on top, although generally, it’s the easiest way to get it onto someone and people are sloppy.” He points to the little plastic square. “You can tighten them by using your teeth to tug on the end sticking out, but I made them pretty tight as it is. Cruz? Want to demonstrate?”

Cruz shrugs, but even though his face is placid, there’s that sparkle in his eyes again.

“Come on,” Liam coaxes. “You can’t make me do all the hard work. You’re supposed to be the instructor anyway.”

“You’re doing fine.”

Liam’s nose scrunches up. “Fine,” he sighs. “Put a tie on my wrists then. We might as well make the demo authentic.”

Cruz ratchets one on, and after seeing how tight it is on Liam’s skin, I’m glad that Cruz wasn’t the one to bind me. Those light gray eyes stay locked on me the entire time. They’re so intense that I’m glad I get to look away and focus on Liam’s demonstration.

“You’re going to bring your arms up by your face, like this. Fists over your head.”

I follow Liam’s motions.

“You want to bring your hands down by your waist, fast and hard. Don’t worry if you don’t get it on the first try. You can always give it another go. Just don’t wrench anything. I promised you that this wouldn’t hurt, and now I’m second guessing myself.”

Liam swings his arms down in a tight, controlled motion, breaking the ties easily when his hands are near his waist.

“You made that look so easy,” I groan.

“I’ve had some practice, but that’s what we’re here for. Go ahead. You can try it. I have faith in you kicking zip tie ass.”

I’m all too aware of Cruz watching. Thankfully, when I bring my arms down, the tie breaks way easier than I thought it would. My wrists burn a little, but it’s not bad.

“Yes!” Liam high-fives me. “Now, the back?”

He gets Cruz to put the tie on his wrists, holding them like he’s being handcuffed. I don’t like this at all. I’m half worried for Liam and half for me.

“This one’s a little harder, and it’s awkward. It’s not always a first try thing, and it might sting a little.” Liam bends forward, then lifts his hands and brings them down against his lower back. The ties hold. He tries again, whacking himself roughly, but his shout is pure triumph. “There we go. I know it looks weird, but you’ll get it. Want me to tape your wrists first so it doesn’t hurt so much?”

“I think that would wax all my hairs off, so no thanks.”

I let Liam zip tie my wrists, though having my shoulders back like this isn’t comfortable. Still, I’ve apparently done enough yoga that when I lean forward and try to lift my arms, it doesn’t hurt. The ties break even easier than the first set did.

“Whoa, mom!” Liam claps. “That was amazing.” His eyes flick to Cruz. “Ready to teach her a few more things?”

I don’t know if I can handle that. I’m going to have to shed this sweater or risk overheating. As Cruz’s gaze wrenches back to me, I start sweating double time. I quickly unbutton the sweater. Even if wanted to, the extra layer and Cruz’s hands are going to be on my body, and on my skin now, it’s way too hot in here for the knit beast.

Liam laughs. “Mom’s clearly ready.”

We run through more drills and scenarios for the next hour, until even my tank top is soaked and my jeans cling to my legs uncomfortably. Liam did most of the explaining, and Cruz most of the demonstrations. While I’m a panting mess, Cruz still hasn’t even broken a sweat.

The man is a tank with the endurance of a… tank.

Liam mops his face up with a black hand towel and passes me one. “I think that earned us drinks from the kitchen. The fridge is stocked full. They have snacks in there too. If one of the old ladies did some baking, we might even get cookies.”

“Ugh.” The sound is all mock outrage. “It’s like you don’t live above a café with a mom who makes baked goods every day, just about all day, for a living.”

Liam quickly backpedals. “Your cookies are definitely the best. Everything you make is the best. It’s just that we’re here now. At the clubhouse. It’s easy. It’s not like I’m cheating on your baked goods or anything.”