Chance wrapped his arms around me and nodded, his eyes drifting down to my mouth and back again. "And you know how bad I wanna kiss you, right?"

I hummed as I leaned in, "Then do it."

When Chance pressed his lips to mine, I felt all the passion between us. My dream may not have been real, but this certainly was. 

I gasped into his mouth when he squeezed my hip with one hand and tipped my head back with the other. My whole body went rigid when we heard pounding on the other side of the bathroom door.

"I need to pee!" Shayne squalled loudly. "Who's in here?"

Chance pulled away from me slightly and pressed his forehead to mine. "I guess...we should open the door?"

He had a look of apprehension on his face. We were most certainly undefined at this point and there was no way to hide the fact we had been in here alone, together with the door shut. I wasn't sure if Chance would want Shayne to know what was happening between us. Hell, I didn't even know what was happening between us.

"Hello!"

Chance sighed and stepped away from me and I couldn't help but be disappointed that our long-awaited kiss had been cut short. "Hey," Chance greeted Shayne as she danced outside the door. "Sorry about that."

Chance ducked away quickly and Shayne shoved past me in an effort to reach the toilet. "Don't think I'm gonna forget about this," she called out as I scurried out of the bathroom, knowing I wouldn't be able to avoid her for long.

I paused at Chance's door, eager to define whatever this thing was between us. Nerves got the best of me and I wandered off to the kitchen in search of food. I found Chance standing at the counter, shirtless and chopping up fruit. I silently observed his muscles flexing in his back, his upper half free of clothing. I longed to approach him and skim my fingers over the ink beautifully covering his flawless skin. 

"You gonna keep staring at me or what?" Chance called over his shoulder, never making eye contact with me. 

I chuckled to myself as I made my way over to him. I rested my backside against the counter next to him and watched as he dumped the ingredients into the blender and started it. He added more ice and some almond milk. I couldn't take my eyes off him, hating that we were alone and he still wasn't touching me.

The confident me, the one from my dream, was long gone. This was the real me, afraid to take a chance. Scared as fuck to be rejected by a man I had been dreaming of being with for way too long. I wanted Chance badly. But dammit, I needed him to want me just as much.

"Taste this," he smirked, pulling me from my thoughts. 

I blinked up at him, suddenly noticing how close he was standing. "It's green," I complained as I made a face.

"It's kiwi," he scowled.

I took a sniff and grimaced. "What else?"

Chance sighed and replied, "It has kale in it."

"Kale?" I echoed. "Kale is not food. Kale is a garnish!" I laughed, thinking of the time I worked in a grocery store deli and we used it to decorate the meat case. People really eat this shit?

"Just take a sip."

I growled playfully, but finally gave in. I curled my fingers around his as he held the glass up to my mouth. I locked eyes on him, watching him as he watched me. I took a small drink of the bright green concoction and nodded. "It's not too bad," I smiled.

I pressed my lips together and licked some of the smoothie from the corner of my mouth. I loved the way Chance's gaze drifted from my mouth to my eyes. He placed the glass on the counter behind me and closed in on the small amount of space between us. His arms caged me between him and the counter. His stare had me breathing faster. I willed him to make some sort of move. I wished I were more secure because every part of my body was screaming for him to touch me.

"Hey, kids."

Fuck. Shayne.

Chance pulled his lower lip into his mouth, bit down and moved away from me. "I'm gonna get a shower," he announced before grabbing his smoothie and sauntering away. 

"Girl," Shayne began. I turned away from her, moving in front of the fridge so I could dig out the eggs. "What the fuck was that?"

I shrugged as I pulled out a skillet and began chopping up mushrooms for my omelette. "What?" I feigned ignorance. I didn't really know what to tell her. 

Shayne tugged on my sleeve and scowled when I finally faced her. "Why do I keep catching you two in each other's faces? Are you fucking or fighting?"

"Oh wow," I scoffed. "Neither, okay? God. You have quite the imagination, don't you?"

I knew I was being defensive and it probably wasn't really necessary, but somehow talking about this thing with Chance seemed wrong. It was too new, too raw and it felt like if I talked about it, it would slip through my hands. "I'm making me an omelette, do you want one?"

"Yes. But no mushrooms in mine please."

As we sat down to eat, Chance breezed back in and poured himself a cup of coffee. He glanced between Shayne and I, giving me wink. She didn't seem to notice. "Going to the gym?" I mused as I took another bite.

Chance nodded and approached me slowly. He leaned down and opened his mouth when I held my fork in front of mine. "You want some?" I whispered. 

Chance put his hand over mine and guided the fork into his own mouth. He smiled as he backed away and chewed. "That's not too bad," he mimicked me from earlier. 

I rolled my eyes and went back to eating. "Do you have a class later, Shayne?"

Shayne nodded and stood. "In about an hour. Can I get next in the shower?" she asked me before I nodded and she darted off to the bathroom.

I moved toward the sink, reaching over Chance to put my plate in with the other dirty dishes. I glanced up at him as he leaned against it with his hip. "I need to do the dishes, Chance," I told him, but my gaze didn't quite meet his.

I glanced at his chest, tattoos peeking out everywhere from under a shirt he had cut the sleeves off of, leaving big gaps under his arms. I finally looked at him when I felt his fingers twisting a stray lock of hair next to my temple. "Come to the gym with me," he blurted. "I'll wait for you to get ready."

"No," I sighed. "I really have to make some headway in my next article or my boss is gonna flip out."

Chance sighed dramatically and slid over just enough to allow me to start washing the dishes in the sink. "Can you grab the skillet for me? It should be cooled down by now." 

I pulled in a quick breath when Chance stepped behind me, gripping my hip with one hand and sliding the skillet into the sink with the other. His breath was warm on my neck and I held back a shiver when he wrapped his hand around my ponytail. "I have to go and I know you have to work, but I'd love it if you'd stop by the gym and see me later."

I could feel his lips barely touching my skin near the nape of my neck. He squeezed my hip once and was out the door before I could answer.

"Fuck," I breathed out when I heard the front door shut.

…

A few hours later I was dodging texts from Shayne, who wanted to know when I'd be coming down to the gym. She started off by offering me a ride before she left the house, but I declined. 

I wasn't lying when I told Chance I  had a lot of work to do. For the past few years I had been writing freelance magazine articles. More recently I had been hired on by a lifestyle magazine to do a series of articles that led me to do a little traveling and some restaurant reviews. Everything was great until the editor changed her mind and decided I should change my topic to relationships.

Shit.

That was a subject I was definitely no expert in. I had been staring at this blank screen for way too long. I had no inspiration and zero ideas. I skimmed through a list she had given me and found one idea that might work, but it would mean getting my fat butt out of this bed and into a workout outfit. Oh yay.

I didn't hate going to the gym...well that's a lie. I do kinda hate it. I love it when Chance is there because he makes working out fun. But more often than not, I find myself feeling self-conscious. I'll never understand why people who are fit and trim feel intimidated by someone a little larger working out. I mean...don't we need to workout more than they do? Geesh.

This article could be interesting. It would involve me delving into the world of guys using pick-up lines at the gym. I don't often have that problem, but what the hell? Let's see what happens. 

…

When I arrived at the gym later, I was greeted at the front desk, scanning my membership card and heading to the lockers. I casually glanced around to find either Shayne or Chance. I spotted Shayne directing her yoga class and I paused to wave at her before moving on to go stretch.

"Hey, Cami."

I could feel my skin crawling as a hand smoothed across my shoulders from behind. I dropped the leg I had been stretching and pulled my zip-up hoodie tighter around my body. I was finally brave enough to come out in my sports bra top and matching capri workout pants, but I grabbed a jacket at the last minute because I'm just not there yet.

"Hey, Greg." I forced a smile when his smarmy face came into view. I could feel him trying to follow me as I made my way toward the treadmills.

"Wanna work out with me?" he asked with a wink. 

I shrugged and nodded, knowing that once I got running on the treadmill, we wouldn't be able to talk. When Chance began to walk this way, I could feel my heart pounding and it wasn't from the workout. 

He was walking with Kara, one of his regular personal training clients. She was exactly the kind of person I tried to avoid when I came here. I never understood how these girls would come in here in full make-up and never look smeared or have it melt off. I knew I was already probably red faced and sweaty, hairs from my ponytail coming loose and hanging in my face. 

Chance caught my gaze, smiling brightly and veering my way as he sauntered by. "You finally showed," he smirked in that sexy way of his. "I was starting to think you were avoiding me."

I pressed the buttons necessary for slowing down and climbed down from the treadmill. I mopped my sweaty face with a towel, knowing I was probably as red as a tomato. '"No, I'm not avoiding you at all."

Chance gave me a little smile as he yanked on the sleeve of my hoodie. I had unzipped it all the way, but still didn't have the courage to take it off. "I told her to take that jacket off. She's hiding that thick body under it," Greg groaned as he moved to stand next to me. 

Chance clenched his jaw and growled a little. "Take it easy, Greg. Don't scare away all the ladies, okay?"

We stood there a little longer until Kara started tapping her foot impatiently. "Chance," she whined. "I have a nail appointment at 5:30 that I just can't miss."

"Come see me before you leave," Chance ordered as he licked his lips. I wanted to follow him, trip Kara and jump into his arms, but I simply nodded and smiled as they walked away.

Greg continued to follow me as I used the recumbent bike and then some weight lifting with the small dumbbells. I was making a mental note of all of his lame come ons. I was so tired of hearing 'how hard I was making it for him.' Ugh. 

"So you wanna go get something to eat after this," Greg prompted as he followed me to the locker room. 

"I don't think so," I stammered when I felt him tugging on my arm.

"Cami, wait," he demanded forcefully, raising his arm to block my way. "Fuck, I'm just trying to talk to you."

I swallowed thickly, glancing up at his beady eyes and wishing I could just disappear. "I'm sorry, Greg. I'm just tired and I'm getting a ride home from Chance anyway…"

"Chance?" he scoffed. "You think he wants you? Looking like that?"

My mouth dropped open as he reached under my jacket and pinched the fat on my midsection. "Have you seen the knockouts he works with you? You'd be smart to take me up on my offer. Best one you're gonna get with an ass as fat as yours."

"Get the fuck away from me!" I spat when he leaned in closer. 

I held my breath when he wedged his forearm under my chin and held me firmly against the wall. "Shut up, Cami. You don't have to be such a bitch about it." His voice was eerily calm as he held me against my will. I was frozen in place, eyes wide in horror. 

How in the fuck did I get here?

Greg huffed and stalked away like I was assaulting him. I immediately reached for my throat, praying he didn't leave a mark. I let my head fall back against the wall as I tried to catch my breath. My hands were still shaking as I pushed my hair away from my face and moved toward the locker room door. 

"Cami," I heard a voice call out from behind me. 

"Hey, Chance," I replied, not quite making eye contact with him. "I was just about to get changed and then I can come find you."

"Wait," he gasped, lowering his face to seek out my gaze. "What happened?"

I forced a laugh and turned away from him, hoping to escape his intense stare. "Nothing happened. I'm fine," I insisted.

"Bullshit," Chance sighed, hooking his hand around my waist and pulling me across the hall to his office. After he closed the door, he guided me to sit on the edge of his desk as he lowered himself into his chair below me. "Tell me why you're shaking so bad."

Chance's tone and expression was nothing less than the most serious I had ever seen him. I glanced away from him and shook my head. "I wish you would just drop it."

"Tell me," he urged, gripping my hips and pulling himself closer to me. I looked down to catch the way his eyes drifted to my neck and I knew he must have seen the mark.

"Who the fuck touched you?" he growled. "No more stalling. Tell me now."

I blinked quickly, feeling the tears forming in my eyes. Chance clenched his jaw and reached past me, opening his laptop and typing away furiously. When I tried to move away from him, his arm curled around my waist and held me tightly. I watched his face as he studied the laptop in front of him. I glanced back to find him watching the cctv footage of what happened in the hallway. 

Shit. 

"Are you fucking serious?" Chance fumed. He pointed at the screen, which showed the back of Greg's head and my face, clearly frightened and upset. Another minute went by and I knew he would see how Greg had pressed his forearm into my throat. Chance's eyes went wide and when he bolted up out of his seat, I reached for him. 

"Just let it go," I pleaded, grabbing his bicep and pulling hard. "Please don't make a scene."

"You're joking, right? That motherfucker has the nerve to put his hands on you and you actually think I won't say anything?" he demanded.

I trailed after him when he made a dash for the door. "Just forget it!" I cried. "I don't want anyone to know."

Chance paused with his fingers gripping the doorknob tightly. I saw my chance to wedge myself between him and the door. With my hands still shaking, I held his face in my hands and urged him to look at me. "Let's just forget it. Please?"

"How can I?" he gasped. "Look at your neck."

I held my breath when Chance ghosted his fingers over my throat. "I can't understand why you would want him to get away with this," he murmured, his tone a little softer now. 

"I just don't…" I began and then paused. "I don't want anyone to know, okay?"

"Why?" he demanded.

I swallowed back the lump in my throat as it started to form. I couldn't make eye contact. I didn't want him to pity me. Fuck, I just wanted to disappear. "I'm...humiliated. I just want to forget it."

Chance pressed his cheek to mine as I hung my head in shame. I couldn't let him see me cry. "Tell me what he said." I could feel his breath on my ear lobe and his arms encircling my waist. 

I tucked my face into his neck and told him what happened. "...and then he said I should take him up on his offer...because I have a fat ass."

I could feel his whole body stiffen and his muscles flex. "Motherfucker…" he swore under his breath. "I'm gonna kill him."

Chance pulled me away from the door, gripping my wrist and guiding me toward the front door. I was dragging my feet, wanting nothing more than to run home and hide in my room. I had no idea what Chance might do if he caught up with Greg. I could only pray the dumb fucker was long gone.

"Hey!" Greg scowled when Chance shoved his shoulder. He had been leaning over the front counter, creepily talking to the poor receptionist, who looked relieved to see Chance approaching. 

Greg turned fully, pulling his shoulders back when he glanced over at me. "What's up, man?" Greg asked tensely, his jaw twitching.

Chance sighed deeply. "What's up is, you put your hands on my girl...and I'm not having it." His girl?

"I…" Greg began, holding up his hands in surrender. "I didn't mean anything by it."

Chance let go of my hand and reached for my neck, using his thumb to tip my head back. I wasn't sure how bad it looked now, but the look on Carrie, the receptionist's face, said it all. It looked bad. "You choked her in the hall and left this fucking mark on her."

"I didn't…" the asshole lied.

"I saw the surveillance video, asswipe! Don't fucking lie," he growled.

Greg glared at me and then shook his head. Chance snatched his keys away and yanked Greg's membership card from the ring. "Consider your membership revoked," Chance snarled as he shoved his keys into his chest. "You'll get a refund check for your membership dues. But don't ever set foot in this gym again."

Greg's jaw tightened and I could tell he wanted to say something more. As he began to stalk off, Chance added, "Tell Cami you're sorry."

Greg was passing by me now, his eyes narrow and hateful. He muttered under his breath, "That bitch can suck my dick."

Chance lunged after him, kicking him behind his knees and sending him sprawling to the ground. "What did you say to her?" he demanded as he turned Greg onto his back and punched him square in the jaw.

"Get off me!" Greg whined, shoving Chance back and wobbling to his feet.

By now, most of the gym's occupants had gathered near the front desk as it was nearly closing time. Shayne rushed up to me and hugged me tightly. "Shit, girl. Are you okay?"

I swiped a lone tear away as I watched Chance talking to the security guard. They were both watching Greg as he stomped to his car. I heard Chance tell the guard to make sure he never set foot in the gym again. Even a few of the other female members thanked me for standing up to him because he had been creeping everyone out for a while now.

The crowd finally started to disperse and Shayne told Chance she would lock up and meet us at home. I felt Chance grab my hand as I started down the corridor to his office. "I need to grab my bag," I explained as he pulled me toward the boxing equipment. 

"Later," he mumbled. 

I stood in front of him with my arms crossed over my chest. "Let's just go home."

"No, not until we talk first," he countered.

I didn't wanna talk. I wanted to hide. This whole day was nothing but a mess I'd rather forget. When I turned away from him, he held me close, sliding his hands up to my shoulders and pushing my hoodie off my body. "Stop hiding behind this stupid jacket, Cami. You don't need to cover your body, not for me. You've worked too hard to get where you're at to feel ashamed."

I used my forearms to cover my midsection, sighing when Chance took both of my hands and held them in his. "I don't look like the girls you train. I'm not thin enough to be standing here in front of you."

"I didn't ask any of those girls to stay with me. I didn't want anyone else here but you." Chance pulled my hands to his hips and let his hands glide up to cup my jaw. "Don't let what that fucker said get to you. You are amazing and beautiful and I happen to love your ass," he smirked.

I could feel the blush rise in my cheeks under his intense gaze. When I let my head fall forward, he brushed his lips against my skin and laughed. "You are everything, Cameron Cole. And don't you ever forget that."

I pulled Chance tighter to me, holding him closely and feeling myself falling even harder for the man in my dreams.

.....

A/N: I wanted to wait to continue this story until my other stories were finished, but this book was calling to me. I don't know where this is going but I hope you'll stay around and find out! ❤