Bait

by Kasi Blake

During the next hour, Bay-Lee learned a lot. When Nick wasn’t being a total jerk, he was sort of fun to be around and extremely informative. Bruce finally got the other students to spar with each other instead of ogling the two of them, and Bay-Lee was able to relax without them staring at her.

  Sparring quickly turned to sweet torture. Was he doing it on purpose? Instead of telling her where to place her legs or how to move her arms, he physically arranged her limbs where he wanted them. His hand slid from her elbow to her wrist. Strong fingers grasped her waist as he maneuvered her. It was difficult to concentrate on fighting him when all she wanted to do was melt in his arms. She went several rounds with Nick before class ended.

  “Let me show you one more thing,” he said. Moving fast, he placed a hand on her shoulder and put a leg behind hers. He pushed with his hand while his foot struck her behind the knee. She fell backwards, but she managed to cling to him long enough to take him with her. His eyes widened in shock as he fell.

  Nick put his hands on either side of her and kept his large body from crushing her. This was becoming a thing with them, him landing on top of her. A harsh grunt burst past his slightly parted lips. It disturbed the hair framing her face. Their gazes locked. Everything around them seemed to melt into oblivion until they were the only two people left on the planet.

  Bay-Lee swallowed and her eyes went to his mouth. More than anything she wanted to feel those lips on hers, kissing her breathless. Her head lifted off the ground, almost there. Boots stepped over their prone bodies. Mike coughed into his hand and spoke at the same time. “Jail bait.”

  Nick rolled off her with the speed of a cheetah and bolted to his feet. It was an embarrassing situation. She jumped up. Neither of them wanted to make eye contact. They both looked at their feet and distanced themselves from each other.

  She mumbled, “I think I’ve had enough for today.”

  “Yeah.” He put his hand out to shake hers, but changed his mind at the last second and brought it up to scratch his chin instead. “Good job.”

  “I’m tired.”

  “Go hit the showers.”

  Without another word they shot off in opposite directions. She hurried back to the dorm and didn’t stop running until she was safely inside. After locking her door, she leaned against it. The pulse throbbed in her throat, wild. What was wrong with her? Why did Nick Gallos affect her in such an extreme way?

  And what could she do to stop it?