Page 121 of Saving Her

Fuck me for being the prick who noticed.

I shove to my feet, needing an additional set of reps to drag my attention away from something that will get me killed. Something that’s a fucking dick move to even think about.

She deserves better.

Decker trusted me with her protection. He didn’t give me an all-access pass to ogle his sister.

I drag myself up and over the bar, punishing myself, pushing so fucking hard my arms scream in protest. And still I can’t stop the imagery taking over my mind. Can’t drag my fucking gaze away.

She’s completely oblivious. She keeps running, surpassing the mile marker to plow straight ahead.

There’s never been a more remarkable woman. More powerful. More inspirational.

I’m caught up admiring the perfection until I finally gain the restraint to drag my attention away. I stare out the window in front of her, wishing I had the power to give her a better life. To solve her problems.

I’m stuck in the daydream of making her smile… until my gaze catches on her reflection in the glass, those dark eyes staring back at me.

Shit.

I force myself not to look away and announce the wicked shit filling my head. And I try even harder not to readjust my cock. To put the fucker back in his place—into deep, dark confinement far away from her, all while she keeps staring, keeps undoing me.

“That’s enough for today.” I release the bar and drop to my feet. “You don’t want to push yourself too hard when I’m going to make you come back tomorrow.”

Fucking tomorrow—the necessary vicious routine that will help her, and slowly kill me.

“Yes, boss.” She thumps a hand against the treadmill dashboard, making the conveyor stop. “Same time, same place?”

I ignore her sarcasm, too fixated on the nickname she gave me. If only she knew how bossy I could be. How demanding. How dominant.

A man like me isn’t meant for a woman like her, no matter how incessant my attraction.

“Same time, same place.”

The music cuts off mid song as my cell starts to ring. Torian’s name is written across the bright screen while the device vibrates on the floor.

“Are you going to answer that?” She steps off the treadmill and raises the long length of her shirt to wipe the faint hint of moisture from her face, exposing sweat-slicked skin.

“Yeah.” I snatch the cell and connect the call. “What’s up?”

“How kind of you to finally answer your phone,” he drawls. “Does that mean you’ve stopped holding a grudge over me sending you home?”

“Still holding tight, asshole. What do you want?”

He chuckles, the tone laced with aggression. “I thought you’d appreciate an update.”

“I don’t need one.” I walk from the exercise room, leaving Penny alone, and continue down the hall to shut myself into my bedroom. “Decker calls me on the daily. He’s kept me posted on your progress in Greece. Progress I deserved to be a part of.”

“And from the progress reports I’ve received, it sounds like you’re coping just fine in your cozy isolation,” he counters. “I’m told the role of protector suits you. Maybe a little too well.”

Fuck Sarah and her big mouth.

“What do you want, Torian? I’ve got shit to do.”

A lengthy sigh travels down the line. “There are two things. First, I thought Penny would like to know your brother is returning the first of her friends home today.”

I pause a beat. “Why are you telling me this? Why didn’t Benji call me himself?”

“He’s busy. And you told me he struggles to handle his wife, let alone look after three rescued women. He’s also been out of range. But the process of returning them home has started, and I assume the information will be a relief to Decker’s sister.”

---