In Your Corner
Page 28

Ah. That’s why Fuzzy was still pissed off after I said “sir.” I only said it once. Nice of no one to tell me.
“Amanda. Push-ups.” Jake’s voice drops low with warning and I immediately drop into position.
After five man-style push-ups, I collapse on the mat and moan. “Kill me now.”
Jake laughs. “I’ll let you take a break because I’m such a nice guy.”
“Gee, thanks.” I rest my chin in my hands and look up at him. “You’ll be here all night if you have to wait for me to do fifty push-ups. I thought you had classes to teach.”
He brushes a finger over his bottom lip, considering. “True. I only have half an hour. Maybe it’s your form.” He leaves the weight bench and stands over me. “Here, I’ll help you.”
“I don’t need help…”
But before I can finish my sentence, his feet are on either side of me and his hands are firm around my hips. “Yes you do. Up we go.”
I push myself into the torturous push-up position and Jake holds me in place, his fingers pressed tight against my hips. My body goes from hot to boiling in a heartbeat.
Jake gives me pointers about hand and foot placement, weight distribution, and elbow angle. He is thorough and patient. A good teacher. I go down. I go up. He takes most of my weight, his hands tightening when I wobble. The most erotic form of torture I have ever experienced is so delicious I don’t want it to end. But my body has other ideas.
“Keep going. You’re up to twenty,” he murmurs when I begin to shake.
Oh God. That voice. Deep and warm, his voice wraps around me like a blanket, reminding me of dark sultry nights, twisted sheets, and…oh. My chest tightens and a rush of emotion sucks away the last of my strength. But before I can collapse on the mat, Jake slides his hands around me and pulls me up off the floor and against his bare chest.
For a long moment we don’t move. Fuzzy glances over, raises an eyebrow, and then crooks his finger gesturing me back to the class. But I can’t tear myself away. Longing suffuses every pore of my body bringing with it the deep ache of desire.
Curiously, Jake doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to let me go. His hands tighten around my rib cage, his thumbs only an inch below my br**sts. I tilt my head back and look up at him. His sensuous lips are only a whisper away. What would it be like if I had a little lick?
As if he can read my mind, his eyes darken to an azure blue and his body stiffens. So warm. So hard. I feel so safe in his arms.
“Amanda…” His voice is low, husky, and so damn sexy. Heart pounding, I lick my lips and strain up the tiniest bit.
“Is this a new kind of push-up?” I murmur, unable to resist teasing him. “I’m not sure where to push.”
He growls deep in this throat. “You started pushing when you walked into the gym dressed to leave little to the imagination.”
Sweat trickles down my spine. Whether from his hard, hot body pressed up against me or the exertion of the push-ups, I don’t know. “Sports bra and gym shorts? I’m dressed like all the other women.”
Jake leans down and presses a kiss to my neck that sends all sorts of wrong messages to the right parts of my body. “You don’t look like the other women. You’re all soft and sexy and f**king cute when you’re frowning at Fuzz behind his back. And none of the other women needed my hands.” He caresses my bare midriff while his thumbs move higher to trace the underside of my sports-bra-squashed br**sts.
“Your hands were very…helpful.” Moisture pools between my thighs and I swallow hard and look over my shoulder, unable to stop myself from pushing him. “Now…not so much, unless you’re planning on getting me down on the mat for something other than push-ups.”
Jake groans. “God, don’t tempt me. When I saw you on your knees in front of Fuzz, and then doing your push-ups all wrong with your sexy little ass in the air…” He draws in a ragged breath. “I promised myself I wouldn’t touch you, but when I saw you needed help…”
“I still need help.” I lean up and press a soft kiss to his cheek.
His breath catches and he freezes, his fingers digging into my waist as a pained expression crosses his face.
“You’re off the hook for the last thirty. I’ll tell Fuzzy you gave it your best shot.” He lets me go so abruptly I stagger back.
And suddenly I’m alone on the mat, heart pounding, mouth dry, masochistic streak glowing like a beacon in the night. I only have myself to blame.
Fuzzy says nothing when I rejoin the class. For the next half hour, he tortures us with circuit training, weight lifting, and yet more running. I throw myself into every exercise as I try to exorcise the memory of Jake’s arms around me. By the time Fuzzy calls it quits, the entire class is groaning on the floor. Sex is the furthest thing from my mind.
Shayla and Sandy laugh as they stop beside me to refill their water bottles from the cooler.
“He went easy on you today.” Shayla’s gaze darts over to Fuzzy and then back to me. “But he’ll get you in shape. I thought I was fit until I took one of his advanced classes. The next day I couldn’t get out of bed. But now look at me.” She flexes both arms and her biceps bulge.
“He’s a sadist,” I mutter. “I think he enjoys seeing us suffer in class.”
Shayla holds out a hand to help me up off the mat. “Maybe, but he’s a hot sadist.”
“I’ll tell you who’s hot,” Sandy sighs. “Renegade. He’s so sexy when he’s teaching. Patient but demanding.” She glances at me out of the corner of her eye and smirks. “Too bad he has a new girlfriend, some cute little brunette, or so I heard.”