Page 17 of Corrupt Me

While I channel an ostrich sticking its head in the sand, his shadow casts over me. He rolls me over, and I peel one eye open. He towers over me like a ripped, gorgeous god who hasn’t even broken a sweat. That’s so unfair. I am pretty sure I resemble a tomato. Heat burns me up from within. I am seconds away from imploding.

It was that determined look and imposing posture when he crashed into my room earlier that revealed our fighting lessons would change, but this is something else.

He stretches out his hand for me to take.

“Are we done?” I ask hopefully.

He shakes his head, and I slap his palm away. A low laugh escapes him, and I roll my eyes at him. Asshole. I am sooo glad my misery entertains him.

The moment I am on my feet, my knees shake, threatening to give out on me. Swaying, I try to attack him, but in a swift move, he has me back on the mat, pinning me there. My heart ping-pongs from my throat to my chest. Another kind of heat travels up and down my body as his silver eyes bore into me. Lashes of tension crackle between us, making us aware of our position. On instinct, my thighs clench. My pulse picks up, an erratic rhythm thundering in my ears. And when I inhale his masculine scent, it drugs my senses. It’s too much, yet not enough, and this cacophony of sensations tears at my sanity.

He keeps watching me with that intense look, eyes sweeping from one side of my face to the other, from my chin to my forehead. I feel so exposed, yet having all his attention is so potent—I’d be his willing captive.

“You’re weak,” he snaps, springing away from me as if I were a can of deadly viruses while I stand there, eyes closed.

This is all he sees. This is all I am for him.

“You’re very generous with your disapproval of me.”

“I wish you’d also put that bite into our fighting lessons.”

One day, I’m going to take his ass down. That’s my motivation, which is stupid, considering he’s teaching me.

After how hard he went on me, I try to stand up, but my limbs tremble, so I decide to lie still until it gets better.

My mind goes to a place it has no business going. Why the sudden change? Could it be because of Eric? No, that would be stupid, and he knows it’s fake. Maybe Hunter is tired of going easy on me. If I’d known, I would have appreciated those gentle moments more.

He’s still here, glaring at me, likely thinking I am wasting his time, as per usual.

“Stand up,” he commands.

I try again. I really do, but my body trembles so badly, I can’t help myself. A tear falls down my cheek. My chest fills with vulnerability. Of course, I have to fall apart in front of him.

He sighs, and it’s that sound that reverberates through me, making me so damn emotional. I’ll never be good enough, worthy enough. I wish the ground would split and swallow me whole.

“Come on, tell me how weak I am. And how you’re wasting your time. Again.”

Our eyes clash, his grays devouring me.

I brace myself for his usual nasty reply. It’s one of his favorite games, rattling me; he gets his kicks by shaking my composure.

He crouches in front of me and tenderly dabs at the corner of my eye with his thumb. “You surprised me tonight. I went harder on you than on anyone else.”

My mouth opens with a surprised gasp.

Without another word, he places his arms under my knees and back and scoops me up. His chest, while all hard, is the perfect cocoon.

“I can walk on my own.”

“Sure. Anything else, kitten?”

I used to hate that pet name, but I got used to it like I got used to him. They snuck up on me like a master thief.

“How many times a week?”

“Six.”

“Kill me, please,” I groan.

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