When Carter caught me on the jaw with a left hook, I blinked my surprise.
“Concentrate.” He grinned.
I shook my head, my eyes narrowing.
My concentration was back, and although, when I had the opportunity to spar, I held back, Carter was going to hit the mat today. Something told me that he’d be pissed if I held too much back.
We hadn’t been sparring long, when the doors opened and my head whipped around to watch as Evie walked in…pain exploded in my jaw as I hit the deck.
“Fuck.” I laid there stunned for a minute, and then glared at a grinning Carter. “What the fuck?”
He laughed and offered a hand to help me up. “I told you to concentrate.”
“I was.”
“Like hell. The girls are back, and the redhead distracts you.”
“She doesn’t,” I snapped and turned away.
“Oh yes, she does. I’m not blind…and neither are they.” Carter moved his eyes to the camera, and back to me. “Be careful, Stryker. I don’t know what’s really going on here with you and them, but they’re watching… Don’t forget.”
Carter jumped from the ring and made his way over to Evie and her friend. They smiled in greeting, but it was Evie that I couldn’t stop looking at. My heart raced knowing she was so close. Her scent had been all over me last night. The sap that I was had slept with my T-shirt on the pillow to feel her close. I wasn’t sure how wise that had been considering my dick had woken me, wanting Evie’s touch.
Evie
AFTER WHAT HAPPENED LAST night with Patrick, my nerves were all over the place. I’d snuck into Millie’s apartment around two in the morning, telling her I’d explain later and that we both needed sleep.
I’d avoided her gaze since I’d appeared from the room that she’d designated mine, but I knew Millie and she wouldn’t wait too much longer. I was surprised that we’d made it to the gym without her prying the information out of me.
While she spoke to Carter, I tried to edge away to the stepper before she could corner me for answers, but that didn’t work. Her hand reached out and grabbed hold of my wrist. She laughed. “Oh, no you don’t. Even Carter can’t distract me from what I want to ask you.” She smiled, her attention back on Carter. “Can you give us five minutes?”
He looked between us
, a frown marred his brow. “I can.”
Millie watched Carter walk away, her eyes trained on his ass.
“He’s going to turn and catch you,” I commented.
“I hope he does.” She grinned.
I rolled my eyes, and finally admitted to her what happened last night from arriving at Julio’s up to Stryker walking me home. I left out the part about what ‘actually’ happened with Stryker, and didn’t want to think about what followed that, but…
“And the rest,” Millie raised a brow. “I’m not stupid. You don’t come knocking in the middle of the night when there’s no reason.” She didn’t miss a beat. “What happened with Patrick?”
Hearing his name, my shoulders sagged and tears threatened to fall. Then one escaped, which I swiped from my cheek in a mixture of fear and anger. I was scared of Patrick and what he did and I was angry…at him…at myself for allowing him that close…for not fighting harder.
Millie moved to hug me, except before she could I was tugged around. Stryker’s gloved hands cupped my face; his worried gaze met my startled one.
He cursed, tore his gloves free before he let them drop to the floor. Then he was cupping my face as his gentle fingers brushed my tears away. “Evangeline, talk to me,” he whispered.
“I love hearing my full name on your lips, it sends goose bumps through me,” I whispered against his lips. “I’m fine,” I mumbled, hoping they’d both accept that even though, deep down, I knew they wouldn’t.
Stryker stepped closer, and the minute I placed my hands at each side of his waist I felt his body tremble and watched as his eyes dipped with pleasure.
“I really am, okay.”
“No, you’re not,” Stryker insisted.