I know he’s married. To one of my best friends. And I’m in love with his brother-in-law. But for the love of all that’s holy, he’s in a black tank that shows off perfectly toned muscles that stretch beneath that delicious tattoo that runs down the length of his arm. His hair is pulled back at the nape of his neck, showing off his square jaw and bright gray eyes.
Everything about this man screams sex.
Screams. Sex.
And it doesn’t hurt that he’s one of the sweetest men I’ve ever met, and to top it all off, he’s completely in love with his wife.
Is there anything sexier than a hot man in love with his wife?
No.
“Remember, if they manage to get their arm around your neck, you pull your arm up and jab down, hard.” Nate murmurs in my ear from behind me. His arm is wrapped around my neck, as if he’s surprised me from behind.
“Right,” I confirm, not sure that I’ll ever remember any of this later.
“Okay, I want to show you some fighting techniques.” Nate smiles reassuringly and turns to the side of the ring. “Hey Craig! Come up here and help me out!”
The man named Craig easily pulls himself up the side of the ring and through the ropes and walks confidently to our side.
“What can I do?” he asks with a grin. He’s handsome, in a boy-ish kind of way. His body is hard and bulked up, but he has a young face. I bet he was called baby-face all through school.
He’s good looking, but not what I want.
What I want is standing at the edge of the ring with his sister.
I glance over to find Caleb scowling down at Jules who has her arms wrapped around his waist and is hugging him close. I wonder what they’re talking about.
“Pay attention, Bryn,” Nate calls me to attention and motions for Craig to move behind me and show me how to place my feet and hands. We go through several minutes of instructions, with both Nate and Craig laying their hands on me, showing me how to hold my arms, spread my feet, tilt my hips.
“Okay, are you ready for me to hit you?” Nate asks.
“I’m gonna die,” I whisper, earning a laugh from Craig behind me.
“I won’t let him kill you,” he murmurs into my ear. “Besides, you know how to deflect this. Just remember what he told you.”
Nate comes at me, and just when I think I’ve outmaneuvered him, he sneaks in with another jab, and I’m flat on my back with the wind knocked out of me.
“Shit!” Nate and Craig both squat beside me and take my hands in theirs, helping me up to a sitting position.
“You okay, sweetheart?” Nate asks.
I nod and drag air into my lungs. “Knocked the wind out of me.”
Nate steps back, but Craig smiles gently down at me and tucks my hair behind my ear and glides his knuckle down my jawline, sending goosebumps down my arms. “Nothing sexier than a sweaty woman,” he mutters.
“Sweaty women are not sexy,” I respond with a wrinkled nose, smiling up at him and then quickly glance guiltily around for Caleb.
“I think that’s enough for today,” Caleb announces as he bounds into the ring, his face tight with anger. He glares at Craig who immediately backs away and takes my hand in his, helping me to my feet. “Are you okay?” He asks me.
“I’m fine. I can keep going.”
“No, that’s enough for today.” He shakes Nate’s hand. “Thanks, man.”
“Anytime.”
“I want to play too!” Jules announces as she pulls herself into the ring. “C’mon, Bryn, I’ll spar with you.”
“No!” Both Nate and Caleb yell at once.
“She won’t hit me hard,” Jules mutters with a pout.
“I’m not hitting you at all. You’re pregnant for Godsake.” I shake my head at her and laugh. “You can go nine months without kicking ass, Jules.”
“Nine months.” Her eyes go wide before they land on Nate. “You’d better get ready for lots of verbal ass kickings if I can’t kick your ass in the ring.”
“Yeah, you scare me.” Nate smirks and pulls her into his arms.
“You’re sweaty,” Jules complains and tries to squirm away, but Nate holds strong.
“C’mere,” he mutters and buries his face in her neck, making her giggle.
“I’m out of here,” Caleb announces.
“Hold up,” Nate calls out and kisses Jules’ head before sauntering over to Caleb. “If you have time, I’d like some one-on-one time with you in the ring. You look like you could use something to take a swing at.”
I look up in surprise to see Caleb considering Nate’s invitation. He glances down at me with hot blue eyes and then back at Nate.
“Yeah, I’ve got time.”
“Don’t hurt him too much, ace,” Jules grins and kisses Nate’s cheek before taking my hand and leading me to the side of the ring.
“Have they done this before?” I ask her.
“I don’t know,” Jules shrugs. “I don’t think so, but Caleb comes to this gym when he’s in town, so they might have.”
“Helmets?” Nate asks.
Caleb shakes his head no and reaches over his shoulder, grips his t-shirt and pulls it over his head and tosses it my way.
“Damn,” I whisper at the sight of him. Every time I see his bare skin is like the first time.
A crowd has gathered around the ring to watch the two athletes go at each other. They circle each other, both the same height, broad-shouldered, but where Nate is dark, Caleb is fair.