“Aren’t you?” He stops walking and pulls me against him, backing me up against the wall. “My sweet, dirty girl who gets wet at the thought of people watching her fuck.”
Before I can protest, his mouth is on mine, and any coherent thought evaporates. This kiss is different from the frantic, desperate ones from earlier. This one is slow and thorough, his tongue exploring my mouth like he has all the time in the world.His body cages me against the wall, and I can feel the evidence that he’s already getting hard again.
Ugh, these pregnancy hormones are going to kill us both.
When we finally break apart, I’m breathless and probably looking thoroughly debauched. Koda’s dark eyes are heavy-lidded as he stares down at me, his thumb tracing my swollen bottom lip.
“Charlotte?”
The voice cuts through our bubble like a knife, and we both freeze. I turn my head to see Adrian standing at the end of the hallway, his expression unreadable but definitely not friendly.
I can’t help the blush that spreads across my chest as I pull away from Koda’s embrace.
“Oh, hey Adrian.” I try to sound casual, like I wasn’t just pressed against the wall being thoroughly kissed by my boyfriend.
Koda’s arm tightens protectively around my waist. “Hey, Adrian. I’ll be down in the gym in a minute. Just want to walk my girlfriend out.”
Wait. My brain stutters to a halt. “You two know each other?”
“Adrian’s in my beginner boxing class,” Koda explains, his voice casual but I can feel the tension in his muscles.
Relief floods through me, washing away the spike of panic. Of course. It makes perfect sense that Adrian would be at a gym. I force my shoulders to relax. “That’s great, Adrian. I didn’t know you’d taken up boxing.”
Adrian’s dark eyes dart between Koda and me, something flickering across his face that I can’t quite read. His usual charming smile seems strained. “Yeah, well. Thought I’d try something new.”
“How do you two know each other?” Koda asks, and there’s something in his tone that makes me glance up at him.
“His parents own the beauty school,” I explain, then turn back to Adrian. “Adrian works in the IT department there. He fixed my laptop.”
Adrian nods, but he looks uncomfortable, shifting his weight from foot to foot. “I need to go,” he says abruptly, not quite meeting my eyes. “I’ll see you around, Charlotte.”
He disappears down the hallway toward the main gym area, leaving an awkward silence in his wake. I stare after him, confused by his strange behavior.
“That was weird,” I say, looking up at Koda.
He’s watching the spot where Adrian disappeared, his jaw tight. “Don’t mind Adrian. He’s a little intense.”
There’s something in his voice that makes me want to ask more questions, but before I can, Koda is cupping my face in his hands and kissing me softly.
“I should get back,” he murmurs against my lips. “But I’ll see you at home tonight. We can continue our celebration.”
The promise in his voice makes me shiver.
“I’d like that,” I tell him.
Koda grins. “Drive safe, baby. Text me when you get home.”
I nod and watch as he heads back toward the training area, his long strides eating up the distance. Even in sweaty workout clothes with his hair mussed from our impromptu encounter, he’s the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen.
And he’s mine.
SEVENTEEN
KODA
I standin the center of the training floor, watching my beginner class form a circle around the boxing ring. The fluorescent lights bounce off the polished floor, casting harsh shadows across twenty eager faces.
Nothing gets students’ attention faster than the word “sparring.”