Fight For Me by Claudia Burgoa

Chapter Twenty-One

Harrison

My body is buzzingfrom all the sexual frustration accumulated last night. Tiago stayed with us and Luna spent the whole time flirting with me to irritate her brother, laying it on thick with her smart mouth and flirty gaze. She probably would’ve ignored me if we had been alone. Or maybe I would have finally gotten lucky.

I might have the chance to get lucky again, if Tiago wasn’t on me like a bloodhound. Needless to say, he didn’t let me out of his sight, and when I told him I was going to Luna’s yoga class, he decided to come along.

“Step your feet out, standing on the side of your yoga mat and reach your arms wide as well,” Luna instructs. “Now keep your gaze to the front of the room and bend over without arching your back.”

Every muscle in my body shakes as I switch from one position to another. My forehead drips with sweat. Who practices yoga while the humidity is at seventy-five percent and the heat cranked all the way to hell?

I guess now I know what Hot Bikram stands for. Next time, I’ll follow Luna’s advice and do some research before I choose her classes.

“Be mindful of your body,” Luna says, stepping right beside me. “Find your breath and let everything go.”

Tiago starts wheezing, masking his laughter, again. It’s not like he’s doing it right, but he doesn’t have the hot teacher hovering over him and telling him that he’s useless. Well, she hasn’t said that to me, but I swear each time she adjusts my position, it feels like I can’t do anything right. And then she has the fucking nerve to say, “You’re doing great.”

If I’m doing great, why the hell are you fixing what I’m doing?

“Inhale, and as you lower your body, exhale. Keep your hips straight, back straight, and continue bending forward.” I feel her hands adjusting my waist, her fingers move slowly up and down my back, tracing a line through my spine.

Stop touching me.

Her hands are like velvety rose petals, caressing my skin. Awakening my body like the first bit of sun as it rises in the morning. Her touch reminds me of everything I want, everything I know I can’t have but still can’t resist. I can’t tell if she’s doing this on purpose, to tease–me or Tiago–or to ignite the sexual frustration that rises up in me like a wave. Whatever it is, I need her to stop. I should’ve worn a shirt.

“Concentrate on your breathing,” she orders, her mouth close to my ear.

I want to reach out to her, hold her in my arms, and take her mouth with mine. I want to show her what her hands—what her voice is doing to me, but I fight it. Well, until she runs her hands back to my hips, and pinches my ass.

I tense, my back straightens up, but I lose my equilibrium and fall. She promptly moves away, but I catch a glimpse of her mischievous eyes. Luna winks at me as she continues walking toward the center of the room, biting her cheek to keep from smiling.

“Relax and breathe.” Luna’s mellow voice fills the entire room. Her eyes, though, remain on me. “Stay in the present.”

This is war.

One of these days I’ll have her tied up, naked, and under my command. I’ll be the one ordering her to relax and breathe. As I’m about to stand up, I notice my phone flashing. I move to reach for it and unlock the screen.

Bradley: I have a job for you or T. Call me.

“Big guy, the boss is calling us,” I whisper, picking up my mat, my water bottle, and my towel. “Let’s hit the showers.”

He looks at the phone and then at me and nods.

I tip my head toward the beautiful girl in the front of the room. I tilt my head toward the door and she nods. Tiago leaves behind me.

When we’re in the locker room I say, “Bradley has a job for either one of us. Can you take it?”

He already promised to take my cases for the next couple of months, but I have to make sure he’s going to do it. Mostly, because he will have to leave town. I want to spend more time with Luna, and with Tiago breathing down my neck, it’s impossible.

“This will save you from all the shit that Hazel scheduled for you,” Tiago comments.

“Yeah, but your sister needs the help.”

“You’re a good man, Harrison.” He pats my shoulder, and I feel shitty.

I only want to stay because I want to break the cardinal rule: Do not fuck thy best friend’s sister.

“That’s crazy talk, T. This is nothing.”

“I owe you, man,” he says while I confirm to Mason Bradley that Tiago will be the one taking it.

“Please, don’t mention it. That’s what brothers are for.”

I hope he doesn’t notice my wince. I feel like a complete asshole, but I won’t let anything come between me and Luna.

I takea shower and wait for Luna’s class to be over. She has only a few minutes free between classes, but it’s enough time to give her a kiss and make some plans to meet for lunch. She only works a half-day today and tomorrow she is off, which I’m fucking thankful about. I’m not sure how I’ll be handling tomorrow. When I saw the date, it hit me why Mason found a job for me. He knows I try to be away from the city when it’s the anniversary of my parents’ death. I used to spend it with my brothers, which was the worst fucking idea.

We always started the day well, but by the afternoon we were having petty arguments, and by dinner, one of us was in the ER, likely with some broken bones and a few bruises. If we managed to avoid the fighting, we’d go clubbing and end up fucking too many women in one night. That went on for way too long, until Hazel noticed the pattern and forced us to travel instead.

Not this year, this year I have… Luna, I say to myself as she walks through the glass doors of the studio once her last class is over.

“Hey,” Luna greets me, pushing herself on her tiptoes and combing my hair. “What’s going on?”

“Hmm—” Anything else I could say is cut off when I realize that I can see through her dress. Fuck, she looks hot, but she needs to cover up or I’m gonna end up fighting the first man who stares at her too long.

“You looked a little lost and sad.” She smiles wider, looking at me.

“Your dress is see-through,” I say through gritted teeth.

She winces. “I forgot the slip that goes under this dress, but my yoga clothes are soaking wet.” She bites her lip, trying not to laugh at the expression on my face. “Believe me, I’m not a fan of showing this much skin. Don’t worry, I’m sure no one will notice. Tell me what’s wrong while we rush back home.”

I take off my shirt and hand it to her, holding her big tote bag. “Just don’t do this during winter or I might end up with frostbite.”

“Thank you,” she says softly as she slips on the shirt. “Now tell me, why are you sad?”

“Nah, I’m good. Just… thinking about tomorrow.” I hand her the purse as I grab a quick kiss and she lets me. “Regretting not going on that mission, but not too much since I would’ve missed our time together.”

“Are you planning on going to the 9/11 memorial, maybe take some flowers with you?” She takes my hand, entwining her fingers with mine and squeezing it. “We can go to church to light a candle. Maybe St. Patrick’s Cathedral?”

“That’s where my parents married,” I mention, bringing her hand to my lips for a kiss. “I think they’d like that.”

“Why don’t we do it today?” she offers. “That way it won’t be as crowded. Tomorrow we could go somewhere else, maybe get out of the city?”

I release her hand to put my arm around her instead, pulling her tight to me as we walk. My heart swells with affection for her. I wasn’t aware of how tense I was until she offered to take me away, brightening my day in the process.

“I might kidnap you and never let you go,” I whisper in her ear when we stop at the light.

She sighs, turning to look at me. “Have you noticed how many men and women turn to stare at your bare chest?” Luna scrunches her nose. “Not sure I’m happy about this. Keep my mind busy and tell me what you did after class.”

“Work.”

“You have another job?”

“Yeah, one that you might like… and if you’re good I might let you help me.” I kiss her ear and continue walking down the street to her building.