Page 33 of Reckless Games

"Always," he said, his gaze intense. I feigned a left hook, but Lorenzo saw through my move, effortlessly sidestepping and catching my wrist. Using his momentum, I twisted around, trying to flip him, but he was quicker. In one swift motion, he had me pinned against the wall, his body pressing against mine.

"Nice try," he murmured, his breath warm on my ear. "But you’re going to need more than that."

I felt a thrill of excitement. "Oh, I have more," I whispered, using my free hand to push against his chest, creating just enough space to slip out from under him.

We squared off again, and the room charged with tension. Lorenzo's eyes were dark with desire but also with a challenge. "Show me," he commanded.

I launched at him with a combination of punches and kicks, each one blocked or deflected with ease. His movements were fluid, almost effortless, but I could tell he was enjoying the dance. I attempted another feint, aiming low but quickly switching high. This time I managed to land a solid hit to hisside. He grunted, and a look of surprise mingled with approval in his eyes.

"Not bad," he admitted, rubbing his side. "But now it’s my turn." Before I could react, he swept my legs out from under me. I fell back onto the mat, but Lorenzo was already on me, pinning my wrists above my head. His face hovered inches from mine, a triumphant grin on his lips.

"Got you," he whispered.

I looked up at him, breathless and exhilarated. "Maybe you did," I admitted. "Wouldn’t you like your reward now?" I teased, lifting my face just enough to inch closer to his lips. He scoffed, bending to close the gap. But just as our lips were about to touch, I pushed hard and rolled around, catching him off guard and pinning him under me in seconds. I ground my hips on his, feeling something poke my heat immediately.

Bending down to his ear, my lips skimmed over his skin. “Rule number two, Mr. Martinez,” I whispered seductively. “Do not show your weakness to the opponent. Or they will use it against you.”

"Good," he replied, his voice husky and clear, amused by my little act. "I’m glad you are a quick learner. Now take your reward."

He captured my lips in a fierce, passionate kiss. The intensity of it made my heart race, and I kissed him back with equal fervor. The room, the training, everything else faded away as we lost ourselves in each other. His hands roamed over my back, pulling me closer as I felt the heat between us grow.

Our breaths mingled, making me moan at how intoxicating he was. I could feel his heart pounding against my chest, matching the rhythm of my own. Every touch, every caress ignited a fire within me. We moved together, the world around us dissolving into nothingness. His hands found their way to myhips, guiding me, as we deepened the kiss. I felt a sense of power and vulnerability all at once.

Breaking the kiss, he looked up at me. "You’re amazing, Angel," he murmured. "You’ve got me completely under your spell."

I smiled down at him, feeling a surge of triumph and love. "And you, Mr. Martinez, are my favorite opponent."

With a laugh, he pulled me back down. “What are we learning next?” I asked.

“Shooting.”

We stood in his private shooting range, facing the dummy targets set at least seven meters away. My stomach did flip-flops; the excitement bubbling inside me barely contained. Gio and a few men stood at a distance, guarding the area.

Lorenzo moved, snaking his arm around my waist from behind and jerked me backward until my back was plastered against his chest. I gasped, feeling the tightness in his pants—he was that close. He drew his gun from its holster, loaded it, and guided my hands to hold it. His grip enveloped mine to keep my hands steady.

"Remember, the impact of the bullet is strong when it leaves the gun. Hold it tightly to avoid jerking your shoulder," his hot breath fanned against my neck. I tilted my head to catch his eyes. "Eyes on the target, Angel. You can’t miss." The way he said that so seductively should be illegal. I could almost hear the teasing in his voice, knowing he was savoring every bit of this.

"Relax your shoulders," he murmured. I gulped as his hot breath tickled my earlobe as his lips brushed against my skin deliberately.Yeah, relax my foot. How was I supposed to relax when this man was being impossibly hot? "Focus, Angel," he whispered. "Take a deep breath, and when you're ready, push the trigger." I nodded, trying to calm my racing heart. I took a deep breath, aiming at the target. But just as I was about to pullthe trigger, my nerves got the best of me, and I squeezed my eyes shut.

The gun kicked back as the bullet left the barrel, and the sound echoed in my ears. I felt Lorenzo's arms tighten around me, steadying my stance.

"Did I hit it?" My voice was trembling slightly.

Lorenzo chuckled softly, the sound vibrating through his chest against my back. "Open your eyes and see for yourself."

I opened my eyes hesitantly and saw the target with a fresh bullet hole near the edge. It wasn't a perfect shot, but I had hit the target. I couldn't help but smile as relief washed over me.

"Not bad for your first shot," Lorenzo’s voice laced with approval. "But next time, keep your eyes open."

I turned my head to look at him, his face inches from mine. "I'll try," I promised.

"Good," he replied, his eyes darkening with a mixture of desire and pride. "Let's go again."

He guided my hands once more, positioning them correctly on the gun. "This time, keep your eyes on the target. Trust yourself."

I took another deep breath, my body still buzzing from the proximity of Lorenzo's. This time I focused on the target, keeping my eyes wide open. I squeezed the trigger, and the gun fired with a powerful kick.

The bullet hit the center this time, and I felt a rush of exhilaration. "I did it!" I exclaimed, turning to Lorenzo with a triumphant smile.

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