Breaking Ryann(12)
“Keep it off.”
Tossing it behind him, he strides toward me, looking as if he’s battling something. Then he takes my chin in his hand. I think I stopped breathing before he even touched me. His thumb glides across my bottom lip, and his eyes follow the movement. “You’re nervous,” he says, just above a whisper.
Unable to speak, I nod in admission. Even after all that sweating, I can smell a hint of his body wash mixed with his manly scent. He’s no good for you. You’ve moved on.
“Why?” he asks.
“I—I don’t know.” Why’d you choose her? Was it worth it? Do you have any
regrets?
The corner of his mouth tips. “Don’t worry. I’ll be gentle.”
I force a smile, pretending that’ll solve everything.
We’ve gone through several types of chokeholds. In this one, we’re standing with my back pressed against the cage. Luke’s hands are wrapped around me, lightly squeezing. I raise my right hand high and turn my body to the left, bringing my arm down quickly. This traps Luke’s arms under mine, but is meant to loosen his grip a little. With my free arm, I swing my elbow toward his face. I didn’t expect to make contact, but there’s a crack, and Luke grunts, stumbling over.
My eyes widen, and I look for blood. “Are you okay?” Unable to find any, I breathe a sigh of relief. He can’t be hurt that bad, though I really felt it.
He backs away with a light chuckle, covering his face. “I’m fine.”
“Let me see it. Does it hurt?” I try to move his arm, but he won’t let me.
“If I say yes, are you going to take care of me?”
When I frown, he chuckles again.
“Nah, if anything, you shocked me.” He moves his hand, and his right eye shows faint bruising already. I got him good.
A new wave of confidence rolls over me. “Maybe next time you’ll pay better attention. Looks like you’ll have a shiner.”
His eyes drift to mine. “Yeah, well maybe you distract me.”
My cheeks heat, but I pretend I didn’t hear him, offering to get him an ice pack.
He kindly declines, then cracks his neck from side to side. “Don’t act like you don’t enjoy this,” he says, breaking the tension. I fight a smirk, but he sees it. “Uh huh.”
“Okay, I’ll admit it feels good, but just a little.”
Crossing his arms with an unreadable expression, his feet are shoulder width apart. “You ready to keep going?”
My brows lift to my forehead. “Can you handle it? Now that you’re injured, I mean?”
He barks out a laugh. “I’ll show you what I can handle.”
“Let’s go then.” I grin.
A half-hour in and I’m sweating. Luke’s got me pinned flat on my back, his chest pressing against mine. I don’t think his ego’s going to let me win this time.
“You sure you don’t want to start over?” His tone is light as I try to move him off me.
“Why would I want that?” I gasp, my energy near depleted.
His laughter blows against my skin, and my body reacts, spreading goose bumps all over my flesh. My body’s a traitor. I’m angry—angry for liking this too much, angry that I can’t concentrate with his shirtless body between my legs, angry that every second I lie here, I have to remind myself of what he did, of how he betrayed me, of how I won’t do the same to Sean. And finally, I’m angry that he smells so devastatingly delicious.
“You’re wasting a lot of energy getting angry.”
“Pssh, I’m not angry.” I squirm, panting, wishing he couldn’t hear how tired I am.
“Then you’re frustrated.”
“Only because you’re talking,” I say, hooking my foot underneath him. His face is way too close. I want to flip him over, but know that I don’t have a chance. I’m too exhausted.
“Do you want me to stop?”
“Talking?” I lift my hips, doing a crunch, trying to get enough space between us. So I can push him off. It doesn’t work. “Yes! Please, stop.” I’m too stubborn to give up.
“Focus on your breathing. You’re too tense.”
I lift my hips and grunt. “Can’t you see that I’m trying?” I’m disgusted that I sound like a baby, but I’m panicking. I can’t catch my breath, and I feel helpless. Flickers of my past start to haunt me. I’m losing all control.
“Look at me,” he says sternly, and I do, staring at him like he’s my lifeline.
“Relax,” he says more softly. “Breathe with me.” I feel his steady heartbeat beating through his chest. Together we breathe in sync, in through the nose, out through the mouth.