I try to yank my wrists free but it doesn’t work.
Zane’s grip tightens slightly, holding my hands firmly while we both catch our breath.
My chest rises and falls quickly, he’s too.
The room feels warr now or maybe that’s just the adrenaline still rushing through .
I shift my weight again, trying to break his hold, slightly trying to wriggle my way out of his hold which makes unintentionally run my ass on his front pants and that’s when I notice it.
I freze then slowly look back over my shoulder.
"...Are you fucking serious right now?"
Zane raises an eyebrow.
"What?"
I glare at him.
"You’re unbelievable."
His expression turns mildly confused.
"What are you talking about?"
I huff out a breath, shaking my head.
"You’re literally restraining during a fight and sohow you are getting a hard on."
Understanding finally dawns on his face ad ththe bastard actually smirks.
"Not my fault, you are the one rubbing your ass on ." he says lightly.
I stare at him like I might actually kill him.
"You’re disgusting."
He shrugs slightly.
"I prefer the word honest."
"Oh my God."
I wrench my wrists again
"Let go."
He studies for another second, then finally releases my hands.
The second he does, I shove his chest hard and step away from him.
My face is hot not from embarrassnt though.... Definitely not embarrassnt.
Just irritation.... Pure irritation.
"I’m done," I say hotly.
Zane folds his arms.
"Already?"
"Yes."
"That wasn’t even ten minutes."
"Congratulations. You ruined it."
I turn and start walking toward the exit of the training room.
"Elaine."
I don’t stop.
"Elaine!."
"Goodnight, Zane."
I push the door open and walk out before he can say anything else.
My heart is still beating too fast, my hands are still shaking slightly and I’m not entirely sure if I’m more angry at him... Or at myself.
Zane’s POV
The door shuts behind Elaine harder than necessary, the sound echoing across the training room.
For a few seconds, I just stand there.
Sweat runs slowly down the side of my ribs, and my chest rises and falls as my breathing settles back into sothing steady.
I rub a hand across the back of my neck, exhaling slowly.
She got a few hits in, more than I expected. Mt ribs still ache faintly where her fist landed earlier.
Lucas must’ve actually taught her sothing useful.
I glance toward the door again, she didn’t even look back when she left. Just stord out with that stubborn set to her shoulders like the world owed her a fight.
Sothing twists faintly in my chest, I push the thought away imdiately. Instead, I turn toward the far wall where the security caras sit tucked high in the corners, rembering I have sothing to sort out...
"Aaron." I call knowing he is sowhere outside.
And true to my words a few seconds later the side door opens.
Aaron steps inside.
He must’ve been waiting just outside, which is Not surprising.
"You called?"
I nod toward the mat.
"Step on."
Aaron pauses. Jusy a slight hesitation... then his brow furrows.
"...Boss."
"On the mat."
His shoulders stiffen a little.
"With respect," he says carefully, "I don’t want to spar with you."
"That wasn’t a request."
The room goes quiet again.
Aaron exhales slowly through his nose and I can practically see the calculations running through his head.
How bad this could get, how badly he might lose and how refusing might be worse.
Eventually he steps forward.
The mat depresses under his weight as he walks toward the center. Rolling his shoulders once, loosening his arms.
"You’re serious."
"Yes."
Aaron glances at my bare torso, then at my hands.
"You want gloves?"
"No."
His mouth tightens slightly.
"Right."
I take two steps toward him.
"Co at ."
Aaron huffs out a short breath.
"You sure about that?"
"Don’t hold back."
"I wasn’t planning to."
Good.
For a mont neither of us moves. Then Aaron lunges first and fast.
He’s bigger than most of the n I employ and faster than people expect soone his size to be. His fist cuts through the air toward my jaw.
I lean back just enough that it misses and his other hand cos imdiately after.
I block it. The impact thudding against my forearm.
Aaron’s good, very good. That’s why I kept him in charge of Elaine. But I’m starting to rethink that decision, amd I’m not one to usually do that.
He swings again, this ti lower.
I sidestep and drive my elbow toward his ribs. Be catches the movent halfway, twisting his body to take most of the force on his side instead of the center.
It stil hurts. I can tell from the way his breath catches.
"Fuck," he mutters.
We circle each other again as Aaron wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Should I assu this has nothing to do with the last thirty minutes?" he asks.
I don’t answer and that’s answer enough cause he nods once.
"Thought so."
Then he charges again and this ti it’s not testing blows.
It’s a real fight
Aaron throws a heavy right hook, I duck under it and drive forward, shoulder slamming into his chest. We crash together, montum carrying us two steps before he shoves back.
He tries to sweep my leg, I step over it and drive my fist into his stomach.
The impact folds him slightly but Aaron recovers fast, grabbing my arm and trying to twist into a hold. I break it before he finishes the movent, my elbow catching his shoulder on the way out.
The crack of impact echoes off the walls as Aaron stumbles back two steps.
"Christ," he mutters.
We circle again.
Sweat drips from his hairline now..... mine too.
He spits to the side of the mat and lifts his fists again.
"You’re in a mood today."
"Focus."
He grins slightly.
"Right."
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