Page 3 of Love Punch

“Yes, you. Go spar.” I walked away with a confidence I didn’t actually feel. If any one of these men decided they wanted to knock me out, I’d be on the floor. So, I had to act like I owned the place, and that every decision came from up high. I made a mental note of the fresh towels on the shelf as I left the building.

It was drizzling gently, and I ran as fast as I could to the nearest shop. When I got inside, it had the measliest selection of sandwiches I had ever seen. But what was there was…perfect. It was time for some malicious compliance.

When I walked back into the dark gym, I snagged one of the fresh towels, ready to see Bradley fucking Tyler struggling against the boss I’d sent to spar with him. Instead, the guy I’d found was slumped against the ropes with Jason tending to his wounds. Bradley was nowhere to be seen.

“He’s over there.” Jason told me, pointing towards a door in the corner that readCHANGING ROOM.

“I’m not going in there,” I muttered.

“He needs his fresh towel and his food. Don’t keep him waiting,” Jason said.

I tried my best to internalise my eyeroll, but walked over to the door and pushed it open--hesitantly. The changing room was filled with steam. The tiles were white, if a bit grotty, and a plain wooden bench ran along one wall.

The steam seemed to emanate from another room to the side where I could hear the shower running. I hurried over to the bench and dropped the sandwich and towel but before I’d taken two steps away, the shower stopped and a figure emerged from the steam.

And what a figure it was. Bradley Tyler, in all his…nakedglory. Not that I was looking.. He was dripping wet, hair sticking out in all directions—and I would keep my thoughts on that image to myself.

I kept my eyes firmly on his as I backed away like prey from a predator. He smiled, and it only reinforced that image in my head.

Finally, Bradley broke eye contact to pick up the sandwich. Why, God, couldn’t he just pick up the fucking towel?

“Really?” he asked incredulously.

I allowed myself a smile as he looked at the sandwich, then at me. “Broccoli and cress. I’ve heard it’s the perfect vegan substitute for most common protein,” I said, an innocent air to my voice.

“And what made you think I was vegan?”

“Well, your body is a temple…” I said, waving a dismissive hand towards him and giving him a quick once-over. Big mistake. Everything about his body was perfect, from the wideexpanse of his chest to his stomach to his perfectly trimmed…anyway.

“See something you like?” he asked.

“Yes. The broccoli. Very healthy.”

I took another step back, and Bradley stalked toward me. Every step of mine was matched by one of his large ones until he had me pressed against the changing room door. My only small mercy was that our proximity made it much harder for me to steal another look. His finger brought my chin upward, and the condescending act made my heart beat faster—for so many reasons.

He repeated himself quietly. “I asked if you saw anything you like...aside from the broccoli, of course.”

I hated that he’d gotten the measure of me so quickly. “No,” I spat, feeling the need to retaliate. “Because hyper-masculine homophobic bullshit doesnotinterest me. So eat the fucking sandwich I gave you and get that towel around your waist before I report you for sexual harassment. Then you’ll let me know where to go and unpack my bag.”

He chuckled quietly—dangerously—and his breath ghosted over my lips. “You’ll do. I’m masculine, yep. And this might be sexual harassment if you really want to put a name to it. But before you call me homophobic…do your research.”

With that, he stepped away to grab the towel and began drying himself. It was clear I was dismissed, and I didn’t know how to feel about it.

I let out a sigh and spun around to open the door.

“Hey, Arthur?” Bradley said, halting me in my tracks. He’d covered himself with the towel but it left very little to the imagination.

“Yes?”

“Ask Jason for the address. He’ll get you set up with a key. I’ll be home around seven, so if you can raid the cupboards forsomething to cook…” His eyes dropped back to the sandwich. “Anything not-vegan will do.”

I nodded, unsure of what to say—what tofeel. But it seemed like I had a job.Such fun.

Chapter 2

Arthur - Now

Bradley was pacing the little boxing ring like he always did with days to go before a fight. He’d been sparring with a partner, but they needed some time out after a particularly rough knock to the head that warned anyone else away from getting into the ring. He was wearing a black vest and head padding, as well as shorts that showed off way too much of the muscular expanse of his thighs. I’d taken my usual seat at the edge of the spotlight that surrounded the ring. It let me keep my emotions and blushes hidden.

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