Pulling himself upright, he sat for a few more minutes in the cooling water until the matter pressing between his legs eased, the throbbing pulse reduced to the faintest of beats. Lifting himself from the water, he stepped out of his briefs, kicking them to the opposite end of the bathtub. He turned on the shower and allowed the spray of cold water to wash over him. When he finally felt more in control, he stepped from the shower and reached for the towel to dry the moisture from his skin.
Moving into the bedroom, Alexander found Sarai sitting on the edge of his bed. She held a bowl and a spoon in her hand, stirring something in a slow rotation. The candles in the room were lit, and she had turned the lights down low. The gas fireplace was turned on, flames dancing in brilliant shades of orange and red. He stood staring at her for a brief moment, in awe of how the light reflected across her face, highlighting the fine lines of her profile. She was exquisite, every dip and curve of her features picture perfect, if such a thing was possible. But more than her physical beauty, she exuded a level of warmth and an energy that lifted his spirit to new heights. He cleared his throat to announce his entrance.
Sarai lifted her gaze to his, pausing to stare at the man. He stood with that white towel wrapped around his waist. His bare chest was broad, his skin like decadent chocolate. Every muscle rippled, the sinewy threads evidence of much hard work in the gym. The sight of him took her breath away. She smiled as she moved onto her feet and gestured for him to lie across the bed.
“Are you feeling any better?” she questioned.
He nodded. “I really do. I’m still a little sore but not nearly as much as before.” He crawled up onto the mattress, resting on his hands and knees before he slid onto his stomach, his arms outstretched over his head. He glanced back at her over his shoulder. “What’s in the bowl?”
“It’s a restorative blend of coconut oil, ground cloves, helichrysum, peppermint, and wintergreen. My father swears by it.”
Alexander lay his head back down as he watched her kick off her shoes. She also undid the buttons to the white cotton blouse she was wearing, exposing a lace-edged tank top beneath. She folded the garment carefully and laid it atop the nightstand. As she climbed onto the bed to join him, he bit down against his bottom lip, fighting the constriction of muscle that pulled taut for the second time.
Straddling his body, she sat with her buttocks against his, her knees pressed against his sides. His white towel and her Lycra leggings lay between them. She rested the bowl of massage oils to the side, dipping her fingers into the mixture.
“You need to take slow, deep breaths,” she said, her voice a loud whisper. “And relax.”
He chuckled. “That might be a little hard,” he whispered back.
“Why is that?”
“Because I’m a little hard, if you get my drift.” He lifted himself up on his elbows, turning slightly as he tossed her another look. He was amused by the color that suddenly tinted her cheeks. “Are you blushing?”
Sarai gave him a slight eye roll.
“I’m sorry, I maybe should not have said that.”
A wry smile pulled at her thin lips. “When I’m done you won’t even notice that anymore,” she said. Her gaze danced with his as they stared at each other for a brief moment.
He laughed, resuming his prone position. He closed his eyes as he took one deep breath and then another.
The first pass of her hands across his bare shoulders made him shudder. The sweeping sensation was unexpected as it sucked the breath from his lungs. He gasped loudly. Her touch was heated as she kneaded the melting oils into his skin. On the second and third pass, he heard himself moan. The guttural sound was deep, an expulsion of breath and voice that sounded foreign to his ears. Each stroke of her palm and fingers manipulating his flesh was firm, and teasing, everything about Sarai’s touch mesmerizing.
“Breathe,” she whispered softly, the word a soft brush of air against his ear. “You have to breathe!”
Alexander hadn’t even realized he was holding his breath until she said so, pointing out that he’d been holding air in his lungs for longer than he’d imagined. He took a deep inhale of oxygen just as her fingers inched into his lower back, the pressure instantly relaxing the tightened muscles.
Sarai found herself wishing she’d come earlier. Wishing she had forgone dinner and a movie with Zachary. Wishing she’d laid hands on the beautiful man beneath her well before the moment they were sharing. Being with Alexander had her wishing all kinds of things for the two of them, and not all of it was G-rated.
His skin was heated from the bath and her touch, and caressing him felt like the most natural thing in the world. She kneaded his shoulders until the tightened knots beneath his skin and along the line of his neck were gone. Her hands danced the length of his back, pushing and pressing until she felt the tension give way. When she reached his lower back, lifting her body enough to hover slightly above him, she pressed and rolled the palm of her hand until she felt him collapse fully, his body deflating every ounce of anxiety and tension that had plagued him.
Alexander snored softly, slipping into the deepest sleep. Easing off to his side, she lay beside him and watched him for another hour, unable to fathom how she’d been so blessed. Each exhale of air came with the slightest whistle, the sound moving her to smile. He needed the rest, sleep the best healing balm for all his hurts.
Easing her body from his, Sarai slid off the bed, being careful not to disrupt his sleep. She reached for the coconut oil and with the tip of her finger gently brushed a layer of the moisturizing seal across his bruised lip. Leaning, she allowed her cheek to glide against his just briefly before leaving him with the gentlest of kisses against his cheek and lips.
Moving around the room, she blew out all the candles and extinguished the light. She left the fireplace burning, the glow of logs warming the room. Hours later, when Alexander woke from the best night’s rest he’d had in ages, Sarai was gone, slumbering comfortably in her own bed across town.
* * *
Alexander literally skipped into work. He was amazed at how he felt, not an ounce of pain in any of his steps. The crew at the front desk greeted him warmly, one of the assistants passing him a stack of messages that had come in the early morning.
“Have you seen Dr. Montri?” he asked, eyeing each of the staff members preparing for their day.
One young woman nodded. “She’s with a client. I think they were headed toward the cardio room.”
“Thank you,” he said, his bright white smile gleaming.
As he headed in the direction of the gym, he actually kicked up his heels, his excitement palpable. Sarai stood jotting notes into a three-ring binder as her client, a middle-aged woman with two spare tires around her midsection, walked the treadmill. The woman was sweating profusely, but her smile was eager as Sarai periodically looked up to give her a few words of encouragement.
Alexander stood in the doorway, watching as Sarai moved her from the treadmill to the exercise bike, making the appropriate adjustments to her routine and the equipment before promising to come right back
“I need to run these papers over to the office. You need to ride the bike for twenty minutes. No stopping, Mrs. Woodman!”
“I promise.”
“You’re doing really well. I’m so excited by your progress!”
“I couldn’t have done it without you, Sarai. You’ve been a lifesaver!” The woman named Mrs. Woodman clapped her hands.
Sarai smiled. “Thank you. I’ll only be a quick minute,” she concluded as she turned an about-face, moving toward the door.
Alexander’s standing there surprised her, her smile widening as he lifted his hand in a slight wave. “Good morning!” he exclaimed as she moved to his side. He slid his hand into her hair as he leaned to kiss her lips. His touch was heated and possessive, the intensity of it causing her knees to shake with excitement.
“Good morning,” she said, as she took a swift inhale of air to stall the quiver of e
nergy that surged through her body. She skirted her gaze from side to side, suddenly conscious of the people who were watching them curiously.
As if reading her mind, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into the hallway outside the gym area. Tossing a look in one direction and then in another, he led her to a quiet corner near a utility-room door, where they were out of sight of prying eyes.
“You left!” he exclaimed, a hint of attitude in his tone. He took a step toward her, easing her against the eggshell-colored wall.
She laughed, grateful for the support against her back that kept her standing. “You fell asleep!”
Alexander pressed his left palm to the wall above her head, leaning his body into hers. He rested his right hand against the curve of her hip, drawing her body to his. His cologne mingled with the light aroma of her perfume. His voice was low and deep, a loud whisper of air teasing her ear. “You should have woken me up. Even better, you should have spent the night and woken up beside me.”
“You needed your rest,” she muttered. She pressed her palm to the side of his face, her thumb gliding lightly over his lips. “It’s still a little swollen but it looks much better than it did last night.”
“It feels better and I feel great! You’ve got some serious skills, woman!”
She giggled again. “It helps that you’re in good shape overall.”
Someone moving down the hall caught her attention. Sarai shot Alexander a look just as he tossed a glance over his shoulder to stare where she stared. If she’d been able to take a step back, she probably would have. Since she couldn’t, she slid back into the heat of his body instead. Whoever was passing didn’t bother to look in their direction. He turned his attention back to her, his fingers still teasing the side of her waist.
“I actually had a great time last night,” he whispered softly. “I’m really glad you came over. Although, I have to admit you had me nervous at first.”
Sarai giggled. “Nervous? About what?”
“I thought you might have been trying to work some witchcraft or voodoo on me. I almost didn’t get into that tub!”
“You’re silly!” She brushed her palm across his broad chest, her fingertips tapping at the fabric of his T-shirt.
“But I really wish you’d gotten into the tub with me. That’s what I really wish.”
She giggled again as he leaned to nuzzle his face into her neck, leaving a trail of damp kisses across her jawline. When he pulled back, she pressed her own lips to his and kissed him warmly.
“I need to get back to work,” she said, blowing a soft sigh. “Will I see you later?”
Alexander leaned to kiss her mouth one more time. “You’d better see me later!”
* * *
The twins stood toe-to-toe as Alexander wrapped his brother’s hands in gauze tape. He was painstakingly meticulous with the over-and-under, round-and-round covering that would afford his twin a semblance of protection from the elements in the ring. Zachary’s eyes skipped from his sibling’s face to the process and back again.
“You sure you don’t want to get back into the ring with me?”
“I’m sure.”
“You didn’t do too badly yesterday. I need competition like that.”
“You need to focus more. I got in way too many hits. That kid’s going to be punching harder and faster when you get in the ring with him.”
Zachary nodded. “I hit hard too! Ask your face,” he said with a low chuckle.
Alexander grinned. “You did that on purpose. Just jealous that I’m prettier than you.”
“Says you.”
“Says everyone.”
Alexander tied on the first of the gloves, ensuring that it fit properly, with no slipping and sliding over his brother’s hand. When he was satisfied, he did the other. “You’re only boxing this afternoon. Keep your feet on the floor and your eyes on your opponent, please.”
Zachary eyed the young man who stood ready in the ring. He was punching his two gloves together, his expression stern as he tried to appear intimidating. “I swear,” he said, his head waving from side to side. “They keep getting younger and younger, don’t they?”
Alexander cast his eyes toward where his brother stared. He shrugged his own broad shoulders. “It just looks that way because we’re getting older, Z.”
The two men exchanged a look.
“How are things going with you and my girl?” Zachary asked, changing the subject.
Alexander smiled. “How does she say it’s going?”
“She likes you. She likes you a lot.”
“Then it’s all good. We’re still getting to know each other and . . . well . . . I like her a lot, too.”
There was a moment of pause as Zachary seemed to drift off into thought. He shifted his gaze back toward his brother. “So, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Alexander was adjusting the last tie on his brother’s glove. “What?” He lifted his eyes to meet the look Zachary was giving him. His brother’s expression was sheepish, something like regret seeping from his gray eyes. Alexander rolled his own eyes skyward. “What the hell did you do this time?”
Zachary shrugged. “I made a pass at Sarai.”
Alexander bristled. His jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed. He dropped his hands to his sides, curling them into tight fists.
Zachary held up his gloved hands. “Before you go crazy, it was a mistake and she shut me down hard. And I mean really hard! I just wanted to apologize to you because I know I was wrong.”
His brother took a deep breath, his eyes still locked with his twin’s. “Why would you do that?”
Zachary shrugged, his shoulders jutting skyward before his whole upper body dropped from the weight that burdened him. He took a step closer to his twin’s side, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I was jealous.”
Alexander took a step back, the tension through his torso easing ever so slightly. “She didn’t say anything to me about that.”
“And she won’t. She doesn’t want us to go back to fighting and not talking. But trust me, she handled it.”
There was a momentary pause that grew full between them.
“Just how hard did she shut you down?” Alexander widened his stance as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Zachary grinned. “I’m still bruised. She seriously hurt my feelings. But I was wrong and I should never have done that to her. Or you. I just lost my head for a minute.”
“Is there anything else you need to tell me?”
“No. But I can assure you that I was stupid once. I won’t be stupid twice. I just . . . well . . .”
“What?”
Zachary took a second to gather his thoughts, a wealth of weight seeming to drop across his shoulders. “I’m just having a hard time getting it all to make sense. It’s why I needed to come back home. And it’s why I need you.”
Alexander took a quick moment to reflect on his brother’s words. In the ring, the young boxer was jumping up and down on his toes, anxious to get started. Zachary looked like he was ready to give it all up without fighting at all. His brother’s somber expression pulled hard at his heartstrings. He nodded. “Just keep your hands off my girl.”
“You just remember what I told you. If you hurt her you’ll have to deal with me. I wasn’t kidding about that.”
Alexander laughed. “That goes both ways. You remember that too and we’ll all be good.”
Zachary smiled. “Personally, I don’t know what she sees in you. You’re not that good-looking, not that smart, and definitely not that rich. She could do better.”
Alexander pondered the comment briefly. His expression was smug as he responded, “She probably could. I’m glad she doesn’t want to. Now get your ass in that cage!”
Across the room Sarai stood watching, her mouth easing into a warm smile. The brothers were laughing, both looking completely at ease with each other. Their joking back and forth together was a sign that things had changed between them. They were be
tter together, and she imagined from this point forward there would be nothing they couldn’t accomplish together.
As Zachary stepped into the ring, everyone in the room stopped talking. The quiet lull rippled heavily through the space, and then he threw his first punch. The harshness of it echoed in the warm air. Alexander’s deep voice calling out instructions was the only other sound to vibrate through the space.
Minutes later the young man who’d been eager to spar with the champion stepped out of the cage, looking like he’d gone up against something demonic. The color had drained from his face, sweat poured from his body, and the areas where the blows had connected with his flesh were starting to swell black and blue. He was visibly shaking, and Sarai actually felt sorry for the young man. Over all the years she’d known him, Zachary had broken many an aspiring fighter, their dreams crushed after sparring with the man for ten minutes. As she watched Alexander pull the kid aside, the conversation between them for his ears only, she was grateful that for once, there was someone to build them, and their hopes, back up.
She had punched out and was just minutes from her home when her cell phone rang. She pushed the button for the car’s Bluetooth and engaged the unit.
“Hello?”
“You left. And you didn’t say good-bye.”
She laughed. “Why are you always fussing at me, Alexander?”
“I wasn’t fussing. I was stating fact.”
“Well, you were busy and I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“You can always interrupt me. And you should. I hate it when you leave me and don’t say good-bye. I’m really starting to have issues with it.”
There was a thick pause, only the exhalations of their deep breaths cutting through the quiet.
“Are you still there?”
She nodded as if he could see her. She’d pulled into the home’s driveway and had shut down her car. His comment had her thinking, and she hadn’t been sure how to respond. “I am,” she said finally, her tone soft. She hesitated a second time before voicing her thoughts. “Aren’t you concerned about what people might say? They already whisper about you and the women they think you’re seeing. I wouldn’t want them saying anything bad about you and me. Doesn’t it worry you?”
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