Chapter 27: Heat Everywhere

Ethan had never seen a smile quite like hers.

Her eyes narrowed just slightly whenever she looked his way, carrying a charge he couldn't quite name like she knew exactly the effect she was having and enjoyed every second of it.

In all his years working the gym floor, he'd never met anyone like her.

Beautiful, obviously. But there was something else too an easy, magnetic confidence that made it nearly impossible to look away.

He knew exactly what she was doing. That didn't stop him from falling for it anyway.

He'd trained plenty of attractive clients over the years. None of them had ever managed to unravel his composure quite this thoroughly.

Ethan felt his focus slipping with every lap she ran, every glance she threw his way.

Watching her reach up to wipe the sweat from her neck the elegant line of her collarbone catching the gym lights did absolutely nothing to help his concentration.

This woman, he thought, equal parts frustrated and captivated, is going to be the death of me.

His pulse spiked, blood rushing somewhere unhelpful, and before he'd fully thought it through, he found himself walking up behind her.

He caught her waist and lifted her clean off the treadmill, pulling her back against him.

"You've been running a while. Take a break."

His mouth grazed her ear as he spoke, voice low, breath warm against her skin.

Claire's breath caught. She leaned back into him instinctively, feeling the solid heat of his chest at her back.

His arms stayed wrapped around her middle, and for a moment neither of them moved.

Claire took in the warmth radiating off him, the clean scent of his skin, the sheer size of him at her back. Standing this close, doing nothing more than being held, still managed to feel charged with something.

"Coach Sutton," she said, voice soft, feigning innocence, "isn't this a little close?"

"Why do I suddenly feel so warm?"

Even as she said it, she pressed back into him slightly, letting her hips shift just enough to make her point.

Her fingers, meanwhile, traced idly along his forearm, then up over the firm line of his chest through his shirt.

Ethan's pulse kicked hard.

His breath went uneven, every rational thought narrowing down to exactly one.

He was done pretending to be the composed professional here.

"Yeah?" His voice dropped lower, his mouth brushing the shell of her ear. "Where exactly do you feel hot?"

Claire swayed lightly against him, feigning a soft complaint. "You're too close. I'm... warm everywhere."

He laughed quietly at that, low and rough. "Maybe you should lose a layer, then."

Claire blinked, caught briefly off guard by how quickly he'd shifted gears.

Well. She smiled to herself. So much for the shy, flustered act.

Turns out the golden retriever routine was just for show.

She'd expected to spend the night gently teasing an innocent, blushing gym trainer.

Instead, she'd apparently found someone who'd been waiting for his moment the entire session.

"Coach Sutton," she said, feigning offense, "you're terrible."

She gave a token wiggle, more playful than serious, watching his gaze track every bit of it with open interest.

Ethan huffed a quiet laugh against her neck, clearly enjoying himself now.

"Coach..." she murmured, voice sweet, still putting up a token protest more for effect than anything else.

He pressed a slow, deliberate kiss to the side of her neck, and whatever was left of the conversation gave way entirely to something far less verbal.