We stared at each other, breathing harshly.
“I think this was enough training for one day,” Diego muttered.
Savio straightened with obvious reluctance and pulled me with him. I quickly took a step back. Diego’s phone rang again. He cursed and picked up, nodding grimly. “I’ll be there in five minutes.”
He hung up. “Fuck.”
“What’s the matter?” I asked as I climbed out of the cage.
“The stupid stove again. That thing is only giving us trouble. We should have bought a new one a long time ago. I need to get over there immediately.”
“I need to shower and stretch,” I said.
“I can take Gemma home,” Savio offered at once.
Diego glanced between him and me, obviously suspicious of my fiancé’s motives, and probably for good reason. “All right. But I probably won’t be long. I might be able to pick you up.”
I nodded. “Help Dad. I can handle this.”
Savio cocked an eyebrow.
With a last warning glance at Savio, Diego left. I sank down to the ground and stretched out my legs, then touched my feet with my fingertips, feeling the slight tug of my hamstrings.
Savio lowered himself beside me. “I didn’t think Diego would agree. He’s been slacking with his guard duties recently.”
“You’re my fiancé. That’s why. It’s only a matter of time before we’re married and I’m no longer his responsibility.”
Savio nodded, but as usual, didn’t comment when it came to our wedding. He touched his feet as well. As a kickboxer, you needed to be flexible, and Savio was. That was why he could do the most amazing high kicks.
My eyes kept checking Savio out as we went through the stretching routine, and I caught him doing the same with my body. I was flushed when we were finally done.
Grabbing a towel, I headed for the locker room but stopped when Savio followed close by. “I need to shower and get dressed.”
He grinned. “I know. So do I. There’s enough room for both of us, don’t you think?”
I stared. “I won’t change in front of you, much less shower.”
“Scared?” Savio murmured, leaning down. The challenge in his eyes was a trap, and yet I stepped into it.
“Of course not.” Savio pushed the door open and motioned for me to step in.
I shook my head. “I’m not going to be naked in front of you.”
“Then go ahead and change. Once you’re in the last shower stall I can’t see you if I stay in the front.”
“Don’t you dare take a peek. I mean it, Savio.”
“Go in, Kitty. I won’t take a peek, don’t worry.”
I entered the changing room. My stomach was buzzing with a billion butterflies from the feel of it. What was I doing? Every night I lay awake, touching myself in the dark as I imagined Savio’s touch.
Savio closed the door, waiting outside. “Hurry up. I need a cold shower.”
I quickly got out of my gym clothes, keeping an eye on the door, then grabbed a towel and clean clothes. The moment I was in the shower, I called for Savio to come in. My voice was croaky.
I turned the water on but regretted it when I couldn’t hear Savio anymore. What if he didn’t keep his promise and came to the last stall. I was proud of my body. I knew he’d be pleased, so it wasn’t that, but I was scared like Savio had said. Not of him doing something I didn’t want. Savio wasn’t the type to force a woman. I’d never heard those kinds of rumors about him. He was too vain for that. He wanted the girl to yearn for his touch, not fear it.
And I yearned for it, despite my traditional upbringing, despite Nonna’s and Mom’s and Dad’s and Diego’s warning words.
I washed my hair quicker than ever before then turned off the water. Savio was still showering from the sound of it. I dried off and got dressed. I was pulling my sneakers on when the water in the stall at the other end stopped. Savio reached outside and gripped the towel.
I could have left the room without tying my laces. I could have turned around. I could have…
Savio stepped out of the shower stall, the towel slung loosely around his waist, only held up by the hand holding it against his body.
I let go of my laces and straightened.
Savio stood still, allowing me my appraisal. The towel hung much lower than his boxing shorts and half of the horns and the top of the bull’s head teased me. My mouth ran dry, but at the same time heat pooled between my legs. I needed to get away, needed to turn around, but I was immobile.
Savio took a step closer and I stiffened, scared of his effect on me, of my body’s reaction, of my lack of restraint.
Savio stopped, searching my face. I wasn’t sure what he saw, but he shook his head with a harsh exhale. “Kitty, you only need to say the word and I’ll give you what you want.”
I wanted him, only not in the way he thought. Not only in that way. I wanted him to be mine first, only mine. Savio had been doing this with too many girls. For him, it was nothing special. Even the ring on my finger didn’t change that.
He lightly tugged at his towel, one corner of his mouth lifting upward. “How about I give you a little decision help? You have been eying my tattoo in secret for a long time. What do you think?”
I stared, unable to form a coherent word. I shook my head no, because I needed to get a grip as long as I still could but it was too late. Savio had already released the towel. It fell to his feet.
I couldn’t breathe. My eyes took in the tattoo of the bull’s head, magnificent and imposing, right above his… Oh help.
Savio chuckled. The dose of reality I needed. Anger replaced my surprise and desire. Not bothering to grab my gym bag, I stormed out of the changing room.
“Kitty, come on! It’s not going to bite!”
His obvious amusement only fueled my fury at him. He thought I was his toy, another one of his girls. Bastard. I didn’t stop running until I was outside. My hair was wet, so I shivered as the cold February air hit me, but I didn’t care. I needed to get away from Savio, his arrogance and most of all, his body—which was sin turned to flesh.
I’d left my phone and everything else in the gym, so I couldn’t even call Toni—calling Diego was absolutely out of the question.
It was starting to turn dark, and despite my fighting skills, I wasn’t comfortable walking in this area by myself. Home was too far away. That left me with only one choice: going to the Arena. It was the closest to the gym.
I kept jogging, even if it meant my shower had been for nothing. After fifteen minutes, I reached the bar. I could only hope that Toni was there by some stroke of luck.
I froze in my tracks when I saw Diego’s car in the parking lot. Hadn’t he said he had to help Dad in the restaurant?
Frowning, I entered the Arena through the front door. The bar was still deserted as it wouldn’t open for another hour. I walked past the bar and into the back area. The corridor was as quiet as the front of the place, but clanging came from the kitchen. That wasn’t what caught my eye though. The door to Roger’s office was open a gap. I headed in that direction and peered in.
The second shock of the day hit me square in the face. Toni was sitting on her father’s desk and Diego stood between her legs, kissing her, his hands on her waist.
I gasped. Both turned to me. Toni’s face flashed with horror, then guilt. Diego grimaced. Could this day get any worse?
I backed away, completely shaken. How hadn’t I noticed anything? How long had this been going on? I turned and walked away.
“Gemma!” Toni called. “Wait!”
Diego caught up with me and grabbed my elbow. “What are you doing here?” He took in my wet hair and ruffled appearance. “What happened? Did Savio do something?”
I stared at him, then at Toni. She was biting her lip, looking like she was about to cry. Did she think I was mad at her for dating my brother? It was an icky thing to consider, but nothing I’d get mad over. That she hadn’t told me bothered me.
Diego shook me slightly. “Gemma, tell me right this fucking second what happened. Did he touch you?”
Toni approached us slowly.
I shook my head.
Diego forced me to look into his eyes. “What the fuck did he do?”
“Nothing,” I said.
“You don’t look like nothing!” he snarled. “Fuck it. I’m heading over there and talk to him. I swear if he touched you, I’m going to rip his dick off.”
He stormed away. “Stay with Antonia! I’ll pick you up later.”
I stood, stunned. When he was gone, I looked at my best friend.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry, Gemma. Please don’t be mad at me.”
“I’m not.”
“You look mad.”
I was mad. Not at her. I was mad at myself and Savio, and Diego. “How long has this been going on?”
Toni shrugged. “A few weeks.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I thought we could tell each other everything.”
She blushed. “I was worried about how you’d react.”
I linked our fingers. “You know I’d support you with anything. Even if seeing you kiss my brother makes me want to bleach my brain.” I grinned and finally she smiled back.
“Come on,” she said, tugging me into the office, even if the desk now held disturbing images for me. We sank down on the couch.