As she’s gaping, trying to come up with a reply, I decide to save her. “And you’re Maggie O’Neal… well, Margaret, but everyone calls you Maggie, so I’m assuming I can call you Maggie.” I don’t know why my voice drops an octave and I keep repeating her name, so don’t ask me.
But I do love the way she swallows hard and lets out a small squeak as a reply.
“How about we try out these moves, huh?”
She nods and then licks her bottom lip.
Fuck.
I felt that little move go straight to my dick.
Clearing my throat, I hold out my hands, silently asking permission to touch her. The move we’re supposed to be practicing requires me to grab her from behind. When she gives me the go-ahead, I tentatively step behind her and lightly wrap my arms around, closing my eyes at the sensation of her softness under my skin and trying not to imagine her in a more compromising position.
Shit.
Without warning, Maggie brings her hands up to my wrists and executes the move.
One second, I’m inhaling her sweet scent and memorizing the feel of her skin.
And the next, I’m flat on my back, wheezing for air.
Chapter 6
Maggie
Looking down at my feet in shock and horror, I gasp.
“Oh my God,” I sputter, my hand covering my mouth. “I’m so sorry… I—”
“Executed perfectly,” Vali forces out, his face pulling together in a wince, but then he smiles and breaks out in a glorious laugh. It’s a struggle at first, but then he twists onto his side and hops to his feet, all of those rippling muscles on display. And suddenly, I’m not so regretful about my knee-jerk reaction.
Besides, I couldn’t help it.
He was touching me.
And I was feeling things.
And I was sure if I allowed it to happen much longer, I would spontaneously combust or he would hear the way my heart was pounding in my chest.
Or God forbid, I’d moan at how good his strong arms felt wrapped around my shoulders.
“I’m sorry,” I repeat, offering him an apologetic smile. “Really…” I can’t help the nervous laugh but swallow it down quickly. “I just reacted.”
Vali’s eyes are dark and hot and I can hardly stand being this close to him.
You know that saying about if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen… or if you can’t run with the big dogs, stay on the porch? Yeah, well, I’m not a big dog and I can’t handle the heat. I’m Maggie O’Neal, a twenty-four-year-old woman who’s only been kissed twice and never by lips that look like Vali Erickson’s… so full and plump and oh God, I’m staring.
Averting my gaze, I swipe my hair behind my ear and talk to the mats at my feet. “Do we need to do that again or am I good?”
“You’re good,” he says, and that heat I felt in his eyes is now flooding my body and I don’t know what to do with myself. Thankfully, Vali winks and walks off.
I’m really only thankful about the fact he walked off because the wink nearly did me in. My eyes involuntarily roll in my head and I turn to find something else to direct my attention to, finding Tempest giving me a small smile.
“Great class,” she calls out, clapping her hands together. “Thanks for coming. If you feel like you need to work on the move we learned tonight, feel free to stay as long as you’d like. I hope to see y’all next week!”
Letting out a breath of relief, I walk to the corner where I stashed my bag and retrieve it. I’m glad I put a towel in here, because my forehead is covered in sweat. And my mouth is parched.
As I’m guzzling some water, I overhear a conversation that the reporter in me won’t allow to be ignored.
“Drinks at Genie’s tonight,” Gunnar, the younger one, says, and I hear a loud smack like he punched someone or slapped a back.
There’s a grunt and then a responding whack. “You keep that up and you’ll be buying all the rounds,” Cage replies gruffly.
These Ericksons are very hands-on.
I like it.
“Vali, you in?” a voice I don’t recognize asks, but I’m very much interested in anything and everything pertaining to the person in question.
Scooting just a few inches over, I use the large mirrors to get a visual without being noticed.
I’m really good at this—observing, watching, noticing, but never being seen. It’s what makes me good at my secret side job. Pathetic, I know, but it’s mine and it’s what makes me happy. So, sue me for being a low-key stalker.
“Where else would I be?” Vali asks, that thousand-watt smile blinding me, practically knocking me on my butt, even in a reflection and twenty feet away.
“Thanks for coming to the class,” Tempest says, making me jump. I barely catch myself from crashing into the mirror in front of me and Tempest grabs my shoulder. “I’m sorry.” Her laugh is contagious and I can’t help letting one of my own escape.
“It’s okay,” I tell her, standing to my full height, at least four inches taller than her. That’s not unusual, I’m taller than a lot of women, even my mother. I took after my dad in more ways than one—taller, bigger boned. I’ve heard that my whole life… bigger boned. When I was little it bothered me because I knew it was people’s nice way of saying I was chubby. But now, I’m cool with it. I am who I am. All I can do is embrace my curves and the fact I’m not a petite person and roll with it.
Tempest chuckles again and rights my bag on my shoulder. “Well, as I was saying, I’m really glad you came to class tonight. I hope you’ll come back.”
“Definitely,” I tell her, nodding as I try to not look over her shoulder at Vali and his brothers cutting up on the other side of the gym.
She swats behind her. “Don’t pay attention to them. They’re basically twelve-year-olds dressed as giants. And I also wanted to tell you I’m sorry about matching you up without asking you if you were comfortable with it. I should’ve asked first.”
“Oh,” I say, shaking my head. “Don’t worry about it…” That nervous chuckle is back and I’m swiping my long hair behind my ear. “It was fine… I just hope I didn’t hurt him.”
“Ha!” Tempest slaps her leg. “Do not worry about that. Vali might not be as big as Gunnar and Cage, but he can definitely take a hit. Actually, next time, you should try a little harder.”
She winks and I swallow, trying not to let my true colors shine through. “Well, I better get going…”
I almost say because my parents will send out an APB if I’m not home in the next thirty minutes, but that makes me sound like a child. And I suddenly want to be included and seen as an equal with Tempest and the rest of the people at the studio… Vali, most of all.
“See you next week?” Tempest asks and I feel like she’s asking on more of a friend level than an instructor to a student.
Nodding, I smile. “I’ll be here.”
Fighting the urge to turn back to Vali, to say something to him… make a connection… something I absolutely don’t understand, I turn and walk out of the studio.