told her that the other half of the basement was Zavier’s playground—in other words, a computer and security room. However, Z offered to share his space with Elle, turning half of the space into her own studio.
About two feet inside, she froze. Markus stood with his back facing her in the middle of the room, shirtless and wearing a pair of joggers that conformed to his tight ass and thighs. She swallowed. Slowly, he turned to face her and her heart skipped a beat. His face was set in hard lines and his eyes bored into her like a lion—or rather a dragon with his prey.
“Come here, Gwen.”
She had to force her feet to move, but was proud that she actually managed to square her shoulders and make her way to him. As she stopped in front of him, he took a deep breath and briefly closed his eyes.
“You will need to relax. Your fear and anxiety only make me want you more.”
The thought never crossed her mind. Of course he’d be driven by scent, his inner beast was a predator. By the way he focused on her and took slow even breaths, she know he was battling his dragon and instinct to chase.
And she want ed to spar with the dragon.
Good gods, s he must be insane for wanting to challenge one of the beasts from her nightmares.
“Give me your hand,” he said in a husky tone.
She did as he commanded without question. When he caught her hand, she couldn’t hold back a soft groan at the contact. Her skin tingled and warmed where he touched it. The heat traveled up her arm to spread through her whole body.
Meeting his intense stare, she somehow knew he felt the same thing. Yet neither of them spoke. Instead, Markus grabbed a roll of white tape and proceeded to wrap her hands like a boxer would.
Curious, she watched how his hands tenderly glided over and under hers as he worked.
After both hands were wrapped, Markus gripped her shoulders and turned her around until she faced a large sand bag hanging from the ceiling. He stepped around her and stood behind the bag. “You need to build your strength first and learn how to hit your target.”
Narrowing her gaze, she propped her fist on her hips. “I know how to hit.”
His lips lifted along with one dark brow. “Prove it.”
She made a low growl-like sound in her throat and narrowed her eyes at him. “Make sure you hold onto that bag.”
An hour later she stood under the hot sprays of the shower, and her whole body ached. Markus was insane.
And brutal.
Every muscle in her body had a work out, he made sure it. After she finished several rounds with the punching bag, he switched her to the treadmill where he increased the speed and the incline every couple of minutes. Just when she thought he couldn’t torture her any more, he broke out the yoga mats.
Now she liked yoga , and had spent many hours a week flexing and stretching her muscles, but the crap Markus had her do was not yoga. It was more like twister, by herself, with no spotted mat.
The man was crazy and trying to kill her.
A knock sounded on the bathroom door, making her groan. “Go away you, evil man.”
“Meet me in the gardens when you’re done.” There was a laugh in that statement. Okay, so he wasn’t evil like his brother Garrick was, but he had seemed to enjoy every torturous exercise he put her through.
She turned off the shower and got out, feeling a lot better than before. It was only the beginning. Her muscles were going to be stiff and sore in the morning. Letting out a sigh, she dried off then went out into the bedroom—Markus’s bedroom—to search for clothes.
Deciding that she’d rather be comfortable, she picked out a pair of black leggings and an oversized red sweater, and then headed down to the gardens where she and Markus had shared their first kiss.
She shook that thought off. This was only dinner. It didn’t matter that she had to share a bedroom with him —she wasn’t sharing the bed.
Stepping out into the cool night air, Gwen drew in a breath, taking in the
About two feet inside, she froze. Markus stood with his back facing her in the middle of the room, shirtless and wearing a pair of joggers that conformed to his tight ass and thighs. She swallowed. Slowly, he turned to face her and her heart skipped a beat. His face was set in hard lines and his eyes bored into her like a lion—or rather a dragon with his prey.
“Come here, Gwen.”
She had to force her feet to move, but was proud that she actually managed to square her shoulders and make her way to him. As she stopped in front of him, he took a deep breath and briefly closed his eyes.
“You will need to relax. Your fear and anxiety only make me want you more.”
The thought never crossed her mind. Of course he’d be driven by scent, his inner beast was a predator. By the way he focused on her and took slow even breaths, she know he was battling his dragon and instinct to chase.
And she want ed to spar with the dragon.
Good gods, s he must be insane for wanting to challenge one of the beasts from her nightmares.
“Give me your hand,” he said in a husky tone.
She did as he commanded without question. When he caught her hand, she couldn’t hold back a soft groan at the contact. Her skin tingled and warmed where he touched it. The heat traveled up her arm to spread through her whole body.
Meeting his intense stare, she somehow knew he felt the same thing. Yet neither of them spoke. Instead, Markus grabbed a roll of white tape and proceeded to wrap her hands like a boxer would.
Curious, she watched how his hands tenderly glided over and under hers as he worked.
After both hands were wrapped, Markus gripped her shoulders and turned her around until she faced a large sand bag hanging from the ceiling. He stepped around her and stood behind the bag. “You need to build your strength first and learn how to hit your target.”
Narrowing her gaze, she propped her fist on her hips. “I know how to hit.”
His lips lifted along with one dark brow. “Prove it.”
She made a low growl-like sound in her throat and narrowed her eyes at him. “Make sure you hold onto that bag.”
An hour later she stood under the hot sprays of the shower, and her whole body ached. Markus was insane.
And brutal.
Every muscle in her body had a work out, he made sure it. After she finished several rounds with the punching bag, he switched her to the treadmill where he increased the speed and the incline every couple of minutes. Just when she thought he couldn’t torture her any more, he broke out the yoga mats.
Now she liked yoga , and had spent many hours a week flexing and stretching her muscles, but the crap Markus had her do was not yoga. It was more like twister, by herself, with no spotted mat.
The man was crazy and trying to kill her.
A knock sounded on the bathroom door, making her groan. “Go away you, evil man.”
“Meet me in the gardens when you’re done.” There was a laugh in that statement. Okay, so he wasn’t evil like his brother Garrick was, but he had seemed to enjoy every torturous exercise he put her through.
She turned off the shower and got out, feeling a lot better than before. It was only the beginning. Her muscles were going to be stiff and sore in the morning. Letting out a sigh, she dried off then went out into the bedroom—Markus’s bedroom—to search for clothes.
Deciding that she’d rather be comfortable, she picked out a pair of black leggings and an oversized red sweater, and then headed down to the gardens where she and Markus had shared their first kiss.
She shook that thought off. This was only dinner. It didn’t matter that she had to share a bedroom with him —she wasn’t sharing the bed.
Stepping out into the cool night air, Gwen drew in a breath, taking in the
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