Body Lock

by Kimmie Easley

  I jumped when Boss let out a deafening whistle. “Ford, haul ass!”

  My knees weakened. My shirt moved with the hammering of my heart in my chest. I tried to maintain my composure, but the bustle of the gym still made me queasy. Blood rushed up the back of my neck as I watched Ford march across the room. He was built like a brick wall. He stood well over six feet tall with broad shoulders and a bare chest that appeared to be solid muscle. As he moved closer, I could make out his steel blue eyes and his strong, chiseled jaw. The way he wet his full bottom lip with a swipe of his tongue was mesmerizing. Even the sweat glistening off his dark, tanned skin had me captivated.

  What the hell have I gotten myself into?

  “Ford here is our head trainer. Since you’ve had some experience, we’ll have him give you a run through and go from there,” Boss said.

  I nodded in reply, unable to look directly at Ford. I felt like a kid trying to avoid looking at an eclipse.

  “Ford, this here’s Dakota. Take good care of her.”

  “Boss, I don’t think...”

  “Son, not now. You’re on deck.” Boss narrowed his beady eyes, drawing his bushy brow together. It was clear that it was his way of putting Ford in check.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Boss gave a curt nod before vanishing back into his office, closing the door behind him.

  “So, you’ve had some training?” Ford towered over me. His thick, baritone voice gave me chills. He placed his huge hands on his hips. The kind of hips with defined lines leading into a mouthwatering V, making a girl forget her own name.

  I tried to sound nonchalant. “Yeah, some. It’s been awhile though, so I’m sure I’m rusty. But I’m ready to jump back into the gym. I’ve taken some time off because of, well, something personal, but I’m ready.” I clapped my hands, sounding like an eager, rambling idiot.

  An annoyed expression crossed his face. “Yeah, okay. What’s your background?”

  My mind went blank. I tried to draw up some sort of authenticity. What the hell was wrong with me? I’ve been in a damn gym before. I drew in a deep breath. Okay, I can do this. “Well, some kickboxing. Oh, and some Krav Maga.” One class of each to be exact, but I wasn’t going to tell Mr. Testosterone that. I tried both classes on a guest pass and decided they were too violent for me.

  Go figure.

  Ford’s dark eyebrows rounded, revealing the intoxicating blue of his eyes. “Nice, okay. Now we’re getting somewhere. Any grappling experience?”

  I tried to focus on his words, but in reality, I was lost in the way his hypnotic lips moved when he spoke. Grappling? What the hell was grappling? I decided to take a time out on that one and shook my head.

  “Rolling?” He asked with an expectant gleam in his mesmerizing eyes. My body flushed with blood soaring to all my most sensitive areas.

  Feeling like I had just been caught with my pants down, I glanced around the room, surprised to find it now empty.

  “Was that a yes or no?” Ford clenched his hard jaw and folded his arms across his Adonis chest.

  “I’m sorry, what was the question?”

  He narrowed his eyes and muttered something under his breath before responding. “Rolling. Have you done it?”

  “Oh, sure.” I lied. “Well, just a little.” My insides tingled as if I was having an out of body experience. I was embarrassed and ashamed at my sudden hypersensitive sexual radar. I tried to envision Scott. His lips. His smile. The way he held me in his own well build arms. My chest tightened as the fuzzy images were becoming harder to recall.

  “Why don’t we get you started on a heavy bag? Did you bring your wraps?”

  My eyes glazed over.

  “Your hand wraps?” He questioned.

  “No, sorry. Do you have them for sale here? I’d be happy to buy a pair.”

  Ford shoved a chair into a table. “Forget it.” He reached underneath the table and pulled out a bag. He dug around inside and tossed something in my direction. “Here.” He brushed past me, leaving me to fend for myself.

  I unrolled the pieces of cloth and started wrapping my hands the best that I could. I was actually impressed with my skills until Ford saw the pathetic attempt.

  “It doesn’t do you any good if you don’t cover your knuckles.” He took off the fabric and wrapped them himself. The heat from his colossal hands gave me goosebumps.

  “There. Now let’s see what you got.”

  I eyeballed Ford, who clearly was not amused. Taking a hesitant step towards the bag, I rolled my neck and drew in a deep breath.

  “Ford, make sure you lock up,” Boss hollered from the front door, causing her to jump.

  “Will do. Have a good one.” Ford waved one hand in the air before his gaze fell on me. He nodded towards the bag indicating that he was waiting.

  I held my breath and threw a punch. Wide eyed, I was surprised at how good it felt. The bag didn’t budge, but my hand sure felt the impact.

  “Go ahead. Keep going until I say stop or you drop.”

  I hit the bag. My shoulders eased and I hit it again. I threw one punch after another. Months of tension dripped away with every grunt. Beads of sweat broke out across my forehead. It was euphoric. The pain and sweat. The release. It was like medicine for the soul.

  Ford grabbed the bag. “Not too shabby. Let’s step into the ring and check your blocks. I know you said it’s been awhile, but it should all start coming back to you. Hands up and chin down.”

  I ducked under the rope and stepped into my very first ring. I tried to replay ever TV show I had ever seen that had a hint of boxing or martial arts.

  Hands up. Chin down.

  The words raced through my brain like a freight train.

  “This is going to be simple. Nothing too intense, okay?”

  I nodded. I tried to conceal my rapid breathing.

  Ford’s impressive frame slipped into some kind of stance. I tried to mimic his moves. I stumbled backwards as his fist shot out. With every shot, he pumped his fist back to the sides of his face, so I did the same.

  His balled fists barreled towards me again, only this time I tapped it, knocking it to the side.

  “Good, just like that.”

  We went a few more rounds. My legs were like jelly, but I managed to hold my own.

  “Now I’m gonna throw a few combinations. Remember, tuck that chin and block. That’s all you have to do.”

  Ford threw a punch, followed by a right hook, both of which were predictable if you’ve ever watched an action movie. He nodded, and for the first time, curved his seductive, full lips into a grin. Two sexy dimples were nestled deep in his beard stubble.

  The combinations kept coming. I started to get comfortable with his punches and hooks. I even blocked an upper cut. A glimpse of approval sparkled in his pools of blue. That’s probably what I was paying attention to when he threw a punch that collided with my bottom lip.

  An unexpected wave of nausea washed over me, leaving me lightheaded. Hot tears sprang to my eyes as a hiss escaped. My vision was shaky, but I could still make out Ford and the way his mouth fell open.

  “Oh, shit,” he stammered. He stepped towards me and tipped my chin, tilting my face up, sending pain jolting through my jaw.

  “Why didn’t you block? You dropped your hand!” His tone wasn’t angry like I thought it would be. He dabbed at my lip and rushed me out of the ring. “Sit, let me find something to put on that.”

  In the midst of the pain, my insides stirred watching him frantically search the cabinets and shelves, tossing stuff onto the floor.

  I swiped my tongue across my lip, tasting the metallic tinge of blood.

  “Shit!” He hustled back across the room. “I can’t find anything.” He swooped down and picked me up into his arms.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” My body tensed up, but I couldn’t bring myself to resist.

  “My place is upstairs. I have a first aid kit. There’s an ass load of stairs. Hold on tight.”
<
br />   He cradled my small frame in his flexed, bronzed arms. Once I saw the steep, narrow staircase, I threw my pale arms around his bulging neck. The intoxicating smell of spice and sweat made my pulse race.

  I could feel his heart racing in his sculpted chest.

  “You okay?” He asked as he pulled me into a tight embrace. His long, muscular legs bound up the steps three at a time.

  I mustered up a nod. Somehow he pried open the door with me still in his arms. He crossed the room and gently placed me on what appeared to be an iron futon.

  It took him only seconds to find the kit and start doctoring on my lip. His touch was tender as he seized my face in his hands. My heart hammered in my chest with his rough, but gorgeous face next to mine. He traced my lip with a cotton ball. I flinched from the sting of the peroxide.

  “Sorry.” The hard lines around his eyes softened.

  “It’s okay,” I whispered. He was so close I could feel the heat radiating off his glowing skin.

  “Damn, Dakota. I am so sorry.” He rocked backwards onto his knees. His shoulders slumped forward.

  “Hey, it’s not your fault. I should have kept my hands up.” I offered a faint smile, but the throbbing pain made me wince.

  “Shit, it’s swelling up pretty quick.” He shot up and disappeared, returning with an ice cube. He leaned in and skimmed the melting cube along my swollen lip. The heat from his hands caused little droplets to drip down his solid arm. Using the pad of his thumb, he wiped the water from my lips, now numb from the cold.

  “Does that feel any better?”

  I nodded. “Thank you.”

  He didn’t move his hand. Not that I wanted him to. His electric blue eyes were locked on mine. His gaze of concern gave way to intense smoldering.

  I couldn’t move as I watched his hand move to my face, gently caressing my cheek. My heart hammered in my chest. I saw it coming, but my body was frozen. His face drew closer and Ford’s delectable lips grazed my own. He gently teased my throbbing lip with his hot tongue. The little voice in my head screamed at me to stop, but I tuned it out. His mouth grew hungry, sweeping his tongue, exploring my mouth. Electricity jolted through my body.

  One hand was on my cheek while the other cradled the nape of my neck. My body reacted in ways it never had before.

  Not even with Scott.

  A pang stabbed at my heart. I place my palms on Ford’s bare chest, shoving him backwards. I shook my head. “I can’t.”

  “Shit, I am so sorry. What the fuck is wrong with me?” He jumped to his feet and stalked across the room.

  “It’s okay, really. I wanted you to.”

  I watched Ford run his hands over his head. “I’m such a dick. I hit you in the face and tried to take advantage of you all in the same thirty minutes.”

  “That wasn’t the way it happened.” I tried to reassure him.

  He stopped pacing long enough to pierce my insides with his gaze. For a second, I contemplated diving back into his embrace, but worked up the restraint.

  I headed towards the door. Ford seized me by the wrist, clearly unaware of his own strength. The wounded looked was almost unbearable.

  His face fell. “I really am sorry,” he said as he brushed a stray curl from my forehead.

  “I know. It’s okay. I’m not upset. I just have a lot of baggage. You don’t want to get tangled up with me. I promise it’s not worth it.”

  “Something tells me you’re wrong about that,” he whispered.

  I had no words. My mind was fuzzy static, like trying to find a radio station in the middle of the desert. I scrambled down the stairs and out the front door, gasping for air.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “Hey, how’d it go?” Megan was in the kitchen digging through the fridge.

  “Good,” was all I got out before she turned and spotted my lip.

  She tossed the dishtowel on to the counter. “What the hell happened to you?” She rushed to my side and started inspecting my embarrassing injury.

  “It’s fine, really. No big deal.”

  “No big deal? You have a busted lip, Dakota!”

  “It was an accident. It happened at the gym.” I grabbed a bottle of water and kicked back on the couch, attempting to downplay the insane events of my day.

  “How’d you manage to bust your lip on a damn treadmill?”

  I squirmed in my seat. Megan was no fool. If she got to looking too hard, she would see Ford all over me.

  “It wasn’t that kind of gym. I went to see an MMA trainer.” There it was. I waited for the ass chewing.

  Megan’s face fell.

  “Don’t look at me like that. I know what you’re thinking and it’s not like that. I’m not up to something crazy or suicidal. I just want something different. I can’t go to a regular gym with regular equipment. I’m not ready. And if it helps,” I grinned at my friend. “You were right. It felt amazing.”

  I was pleased to see her eyes soften. “Really?”

  “Yep, it was a great workout and a huge stress reliever. Exactly what I needed.”

  Megan waved her hand in front of my face. “So, what’s all this about then?”

  “Like I said, it was no big deal. I was in the ring and I dropped my hands. This itty bitty cut is a reminder to block my face.”

  “You didn’t use a mouth guard or safety equipment like pads or shields?”

  I peered at her as if she had two heads. “How do you know about that stuff?”

  Megan rolled her eyes. “Anyone’s who’s watched TV knows that shit. And what kind of douchebag would let you step into the ring on your first day?”

  I twisted my mouth to one side. “Well, I may have told him I had experience.”

  “What the hell, Dakota?”

  “What? You weren’t there. I didn’t want to look like an idiot in front of Ford.”

  A sly grin tugged at Megan’s lips. “Ford? Do tell.”

  My tummy fluttered. “There’s nothing to tell. He’s the head coach at Champs. We worked the bags and went a few rounds in the ring. That’s it.” Heat crept up the sides of my neck.

  “Oh my God! You’re blushing! Something happened and you’re going to ‘fess up, right now.”

  “How do you do that?”

  Megan shrugged. “It’s a gift. Now spill.”

  Gift my ass. Stupid pale skin.

  I buried my telling face in my hands. “I’m so ashamed. I can’t believe I kissed him.”

  “You kissed him,” she shrieked.

  “Well, it was more like he kissed me, but I didn’t exactly stop him.”

  Megan slowly shook her head. Her round doe eyes were full of shock and amusement. “What’s he like? Good looking?”

  “Seriously, he’s so freaking hot it’s ridiculous.” I spent the next hour gushing about Ford and replaying every detail of the make out session for Megan.

  “So why’d you leave?”

  I dropped my head. My heart stirred in my chest. “I kept seeing Scott.”

  Megan’s head snapped back. “Excuse me?”

  “Not literally. Don’t freak out. I just mean images of him, in my head.”

  “Honey, that’s to be expected.”

  “No, that’s not the problem. It’s getting harder to see his face. Everything’s blurry. I can’t even hear his voice anymore. I’m losing him.” My voice cracked as I choked back the sob welling in my throat.

  “Oh, sweetie. I think that’s natural. I know that doesn’t make it any easier, but it’s the truth. You know that all Scott ever wanted was for you to be happy. He wouldn’t want you to turn into some old spinster.

  My stomach pitched. “I feel like I’m cheating on him.”

  Megan sighed and wrapped her arms around me. “There’s nothing I can say, sweetie. Everything is just going to have to evolve at its own pace. But I will say this, today was a turning point for you. Your subconscious is trying to tell you something. It’s up to you whether you listen or not.”

  She planted a
kiss on top of my head before sashaying back to the kitchen. “Want a sandwich?”

  “No, I’m just going to have a salad, but thanks.”

  A salad would do me good since I had every intention of stepping back into that ring. In the meantime, I intended to Google everything possible on MMA. I spent the remainder of the night researching and making mental notes. And for the first time in eight months, I didn’t cry myself to sleep.

  ***

  I wiped my sweaty palms across my athletic shorts. Normally I would have worn sweats or yoga pants, but today I put extra thought into my wardrobe choice. I opted for my favorite pair of Nike shorts because they made me look like I had a decent ass. The black tank top revealed my full breasts. The curly headed demons had mercy on me today. I sported a tame, however bouncy, ponytail. Thinking it would make me appear pathetic in the ring, I decided against wearing any make-up.

  I waited outside and counted to ten before walking inside. I looked around for Boss or Ford, but couldn’t see beyond the crowd gathered around the cage in the center of the room. I waded through the mob trying to get a glimpse of the excitement.

  Butterflies exploded in my stomach when I caught sight of the main attraction.

  Ford was in the middle with another guy comparable in size. Their bodies were twisted into a ball, rolling and grunting. The man kneed Ford in his abdomen, knocking him off. Once he was back on his feet, the man got in a couple of punches, drawing blood. Ford appeared unphased. He put the man in a chokehold and flipped him over his shoulder, rolling him into a pretzel and pinning him to the mat.

  Heat rushed through my body. My knees weakened watching him take down the other man in the cage.

  After a few seconds, Ford popped up from the ground and pumped his arms. “Hell yeah!” He hollered. His nose was bleeding and he had a small gash across his cheek.

  As if his body looked like it could get any harder, every vein in his body pressed against his damp skin.

  Boss addressed the group. “Alright, it was a good show. Now everyone needs to get their asses back to work.” He winked and shuffled his way to his office.

  Ford helped the man up from the mat and said something that I couldn’t make out. He managed to climb out of the cage even though everyone was trying to congratulate him, shaking his hand or patting him on the back. The wild spark in his eyes was intoxicating. He was wired. I felt myself beaming like an idiot when my breath stalled.