Page 22 of Keep Your Guard Up
“If that man needs somewhere to get a peaceful night’s rest, he ismore than welcometo come and stay in our guest room.”
She raised her eyebrows at me. “You were raised better than to let your libido get in the way of being a good person.”
I gawked at my grandmother talking about my libido of all things. Gus moved and lay at Nan’s feet, as if even he could smell the burn she’d just delivered.
I sighed, running a hand over my face. “The fact that I find him attractive”—extremelyattractive— “has nothing to do with me not wanting him to stay at my house. What would the others think? It’s unprofessional.”
“I believe you have offeredourhouse to others before, dear.” She emphasised that I was not the only one in ownership of the house, scolding me with my mother’s eyes. “Like when Liv was in-between houses? Or before JJ’s parents moved out and were having all kinds of troubles? What about when Wazza needed—”
“Those were different!”
“Why? Because it wasn’t Chance asking to stay? Because there was no opportunity for anything in your life tochangefrom that occurring?” She tilted her head at me, and I should have just agreed with her from the start. She was in no mood to argue today. “I know change is scary for you, but sometimes we have to put that aside and help the people who need it. It’s exactly what your father would have done.”
I discreetly rolled my eyes at the mention of his name.
“Fine. I’m not offering though—it’s your offer,” I huffed.
Nan patted my shoulder and walked out. Gus trailed along behind her, worshipping the ground she walked on.
Chapter 10
Mari
“Get a drink!” Chance squirted water into his mouth, a few droplets falling loose onto his grey shirt.
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
“Timer’s on!” He pointed the long, slim remote at the clock to start the countdown. “Grab a partner!”
Glancing around the room, my stomach dropped and filled with butterflies at the same time.
Everyone else had a partner, except …
“Trevino,” Chance called, that cocky smirk lifting his lips as he beckoned me forward with two fingers, “you’re with me.”
My wrestling boots pattered as I walked over to the middle mats he was occupying. His arms fell relaxed by his sides, hisface that fusion of arrogance and superiority. The smirk on his lips was long gone, his head dipped slightly to the side.
He reached a hand to slap and bump, signalling an unofficial beginning. I immediately reached one back but locked it in a tight grasp around his extended wrist instead. Pushing my opposite arm behind his tricep, I drove my weight through and moved around so we were standing parallel.
Too parallel.
Chance pummelled his arm through to an overhook, and in half a second I was flying. Rolling over his hip, I threw my arm out at the very last second to catch the momentum of my fall. The impact knocked the air out of me, but I refused to stop. I pushed my foot onto his thigh and spun myself to square with him. Hooking my feet behind his knees, I used my hands as a wedge and drove my hips up and over, forcing him to fall on his ass. The second he hit the mat, I knew he’d let me have it. He sprung up so fast— sliding a hand over my inner thigh and cupping my hip, setting enough pressure on it that I couldn’t move. He caught my counter before I struck, taking an undergrasp grip on my opposing wrist and pinning my arm down with his weight. I struggled against him, fighting for any inch of movement. But he’dcompletelydisarmed me. The corners of his lips tipped up in satisfaction.
“What next, Sunny?” he asked, cockiness and victory lacing every word.
With a very unladylike growl, I shoved my top wrestling boot into the gap next to his inner thigh, freeing my bottom leg and pushing the other foot on his knee. Using his undergrasp grip against him, I laced my top arm over his in a semi-tight overhook. Semi-tight because his arms were gigantic, and I could barely get one of mine over his. Mustering a push-pull motion with my legs, Chance landed flat on his back as Istraddled him, holding on to the arm I’d isolated in as much of a death grip as I could muster.
A low rumble skittered through Chance’s chest, and I was being rolled over the overhook I’d grabbed to sweep him, the arm now trapped and leaving me unable to post out on it. It was my turn to land flat on my back, and Chance rolled directly between my legs, hips higher than mine and pinning them down once again.
“You need to use moves less predictable than that if you have anopponentcoming after you,” he said lowly, his face so close to mine a bead of sweat dripped from his forehead onto my chest. It smelled of everything Chance—salt, fresh air, and authority.
He must have caught onto my confusion,
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed the littleratwe have in here,” he hissed, completely bypassing the heat I knew was burning in my eyes from his proximity.
Stupid flaring libido.
I froze. The only person he’d calledratwas Jayden.
