Breaking Beast (Pounding Hearts 4)
I’m so distracted that when we reach the mall I somehow let Alex talk me into letting him buy me not one but two new pairs of shoes. He claims the shoes I’m wearing are gross and I need a pair solely for running. He’s not wrong but I still don’t like him spending his money on me.
I already owe him so much.
After winning the argument over the shoes, he pushes me into letting him buy me a few new pairs of yoga pants, and before I realize what’s happening, I’ve got an entire new wardrobe.
“It’s too much,” I tell him as we eat cheesesteaks in the food court. Our table is surrounded by bags filled with clothes for me. I’ve got new yoga pants, leggings, running shorts, tank tops and sports bras.
“You’ll pay me back,” he says easily before taking a big bite out of his sandwich.
“How?” I ask before popping a french fry into my mouth. I chew quickly then swallow. “You won’t let me see the receipts.”
He can’t look me in the eyes when he says, “We’ll figure it out later.”
I snort softly and mutter, “Sure we will.”
Crumbling up his wrapper, we stack up our trash on the tray before standing.
“Is there anything else you need before we leave?” he asks, and I shake my head.
What more could I want?
Besides him.
* * *
We spend the rest of the day doing errands together. We get his car cleaned, grab Muffin’s gourmet treats and food at the pet store, and do the week’s grocery shopping. On the way home, we pick up a bucket of fried chicken for dinner with all the trimmings.
After putting everything away, we enjoy our dinner on the couch in the living room while watching an old Night of Fights on his huge flat screen.
I’m only half paying attention to the fight, focusing most of my attention on the chicken on my plate, when the crowd starts roaring.
Glancing up, I see the underdog has the big guy everyone thought would win in a choke using his legs.
“What’s he doing?” I ask Alex between bites of chicken. “What move is that?”
“That, my dear girl,” Alex grins while pointing his drumstick at the TV. “Is a triangle choke.”
The underdog sinks the choke for the win. Alex grunts and uses his teeth to tear a bite off his drumstick.
“Do you know how to do that?” I ask, wiping my greasy hands off on a napkin.
“Sure,” he answers. “But I’m not much for grappling. I prefer to pound my opponents into submission.”
I eye his massive arms and hands. Yeah, he sure looks like he could do some serious pounding…
“Do you think you could teach me how to do it?”
“Now?” he asks and starts to lick his fingers clean.
“Uh, sure…” I respond hesitantly. I didn’t exactly mean right now but what the heck?
Alex stands from the couch first, carrying his plate into the kitchen, and I follow after him. We both rinse our plates off in the sink and wash our hands.
Walking back into the living room, Alex stops in the doorway and frowns. “Let’s move the coffee table out of the way and do it on the floor.”
“Okay.” I nod, and help him move the table by grabbing one end.
Pushing the table up against the wall, we now have the entire living room floor to work with.
“Alright,” he says. “Lay down on the floor and open your guard.”
I feel really weird doing this but I walk into the middle of the living room and drop down to my knees before stretching out on my back.
Bringing my knees up, I look up at him. “Like this?”
Alex walks over to me and shakes his head. “Spread your knees.”
I try to calm my thundering pulse as I spread my knees with him towering over me.
“Wider,” he growls as he sinks down to the floor. “I need to fit between them.”
Oh god. What did I get myself into?
Alex goes to his hands and crawls over me, positioning himself between my thighs. “Now, wrap your legs around me and lock it.”
Trying my best not to hyperventilate, I wrap my legs around his waist and cross my ankles.
“Good,” he grins down at me and my heart does a little flip flop. “Now if I’m in this position, I’m going to take some shots at your head and face. You need to deflect the shots and push one of my arms between your legs. Got it?”
I nod. “Okay.”
Alex swings his fists slowly at my face. I deflect his left arm and push it towards my thighs.
“Good,” he says. “Now, you need to bring that leg up higher and over my shoulder to trap it.”
I frown at him as I unlock my ankles and open my thighs.
“Use your hips. This is where you gotta be fast.”
I bring that leg up and over his shoulder.