He jabbed his thumbs into her shoulders. Then he proceeded to show her how to build those muscles.
She questioned his motivation just as she questioned everything about him. But she needed to be patient. She’d only just met him last night. Less than twenty-four hours ago.
It’s going to be a long week.
Once she got the hang of the repetitions, he left her to it and moved toward the heavier iron on the other side of the room.
For the next hour, they worked out in silence. She transitioned to the machines while he tossed around some deadly weight. His physique glistened with sweat, swelling and flexing obscenely.
The barbell loved him, and he seemed to love the punishment it put on his upper body. His chest, shoulders, and triceps contracted with every heave and pull. His lips curled back from his teeth, his grunts and pained breaths making it impossible to ignore his presence.
He was an erotic destination, a trip she had no business taking with her eyes. But the impulse couldn’t be denied. She looked long and often, and he caught her every time, because he was looking, too.
Plenty of men had stared at her, here and before. But not the way he did. Not at his level of predatory intensity.
He reminded her of a big, sleek cat, with an air of smugness and danger that came from being well-fed yet always hunting. And why wouldn’t he look at her like she was his next meal? He’d bought himself a week with her to do whatever he pleased outside the reach of the law. He didn’t need to ask her permission, for anything, and he wouldn’t.
But you’re also realizing there’s more to me than that moment.
Maybe.
Maybe that was what scared her the most.
CHAPTER 14
Standing at the vanity in his bathroom, Luke scraped a razor across his jaw and watched his little warrior in the mirror. The view was no less than stunning, and his blood simmered with appreciation.
Beneath the spray of the shower, she rinsed the soap from her hair, smoothing the long coils into a black velvet curtain. Water sluiced down her tawny body, running sensual rivulets around toned curves and muscle.
Her gaze found his in the mirror, and swear to God, that look had a punch, hitting hard enough to make his balls shrivel. Her dark eyes blazed with righteous censure and judgment. But there was desire as well, no matter how hard she fought to hold it at bay.
More than anything, he wanted to see that desire win out.
It was dangerous to hope for such a thing. He only had one week with her, and during that time, his focus needed to be on Vera Gomez.
Dinner with Alejandro was approaching, and he counted on Vera being there. The sexual chemistry between Gina and him was so potent it wouldn’t go unnoticed. Not by Vera nor Alejandro nor anyone else present tonight.
He would flaunt it, not hide it. Let them obsess over his relationship with the fighter. Better that than on the real reason he was here.
Even Tomas detected the energy ricocheting between him and the woman in the shower. His friend leaned against the wall beside the vanity, wearing a scowl full of opinions.
“Shut your fucking mouth.” Luke tossed the razor aside and rinsed his face.
“I didn’t say anything, you twat.”
Gina turned off the faucet, snagged a towel, and strode toward the doorway as if she couldn’t get away fast enough.
“Your dress is on the bed,” Luke called after her. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
With a middle-finger salute, she disappeared around the corner.
Tomas stared after her with smoldering interest in his unmasked expression. A jolt of aggression shot up Luke’s spine, and he slammed a hand down on the vanity.
“That woman is fucking beautiful.” Tomas blinked and finally dragged his eyes away from the doorway.
“That’s the last time you’ll notice.”
Tomas huffed a disbelieving laugh. “Have you lost your goddamn mind?”
A sharp inhale stretched Luke’s nostrils, and he pushed away from the sink.
“Oh, shit.” Trailing after him, Tomas whispered harshly, “She’s getting to you.”
“Don’t be a moron. I’ve known her less than a day.”
“It only takes a look, man. You’re fucked.”
Luke whirled and shoved a finger in that smug mug. “Back the fuck off.”
“Save it.” Tomas leaned in, putting their faces an inch apart. “I’m the last person you want to fight.”
That much was true. Tomas would mop the floor with his ass.
“I’ve got your back.” His friend stood taller, using his height to drive home his