SARAH Aaron might have been right about a lot of things he said last night. Yes, I fear failure even more than I fear death. And yes, maybe my greatest fear is being alone. But I am not alone. I mean, I have a brother halfway across the globe willing to hop on the first flight to come and “save” me. And I have employees who… I chuckle at the mere thought. Last night was a lot, but when I managed to drag myself from the floor onto the couch, I realized my phone was blown up with a lot of notifications. I was tagged to the post Debbi Rose made about me. But the comments didn’t seem to go the way she thought it would. I recognized ten of Wellspring’s employees, including Luke, calling her out in the comment section. They stood up for me without being asked. That means something, right? Why do I have to forget all the good in the world just because I ended up in the devil’s bed? I am standing in front of my bathroom mirror, my bare feet on the cold tiles, as I slowly massage my mosturizer into the skin of my face. It’s clear Aaron isn’t going to change. He was right when he said that I hoped he would. There’s nothing to hold on to anymore. The longer I wait, the more he’s going to pull me down with him until I become a shadow of myself that even I will not be able to recognize. I swallow the sob in my throat as I look down at my wedding ring. It’s been on my finger for six years. It was as a symbol of hope, of the love I once shared with Aaron. All of that is gone now. Slowly, I reach for my ring finger and pull the ring off. I stretch my fingers out in the light so I can see clearly. It feels odd, but free. I smile to myself and place it on the toilet sink. He can do with it whatever he wants when he sees it, but I am never touching it again. People will talk when they realize I no longer have it on, but with the trending video and everything, I’m sure they’ll understand. I wrap my long red hair into a ponytail, grab my gym bag from the bed, and head over to my boxing gym. Once I walk into the facility, a catch a glimpse of a very familiar figure. Tall, short blonde hair wrapped in a messy ponytail, lean back and skinny butt. Hailey freaking Dawson. My brother’s ex-fiancée, and my former boxing instructor. Her blue eyes light up with surprise when she sees me. She immediately lets go of the man’s right arm, excuses herself, and jogs towards me. “Oh my goodness! Am I seeing right, or are my eyes deceiving me?” I chuckle as she throws her arms around me, pulling me into a hug. “Is it you, Sarah? Do I need to get my contacts?” “No, no.” I shake my head as I laugh. God. It feels so good to see a familiar face that isn’t Aaron’s or anyone from work. The hug lingers for a while, and I move away slowly when I notice my eyes start to tear up. Hailey and I used to be very close until…well…her wedding with Kevin was called off. My brother might be able to win brother of the century, but he wasn’t the best romantic partner. At least that’s what Hailey would say. “It’s been four years. Didn’t your husband insist you build a gym close to home or something?” Hailey asks as she leads me into the gym. I chuckle dryly. As a matter of fact, he did. In the second year of our marriage, Aaron practically cut me off from any and every social activity that wasn’t work related. I was only twenty three with an urgent desire to please my husband, the only man physically present in my life, that I obliged. I feel so silly thinking about it now. “That’s besides the point. I thought it’ll be good to come out a bit. To be honest, I thought you’ll have sold this place out by now.” We approach the boxing ring and I notice a couple of gazes linger on me. I look so good in my black gym set. The leggings grabs my butt firmly, giving it a nice, round look. And the tube top? A smirk forms on my lips. I don’t even want to talk about that. “Haven’t been able to find a buyer who can pay the price. What do you say? Would you like a little game? Like the old times?” I can’t help the laugh that erupts from my throat. “You say it like it’s been thirty years.” “Girl, I feel like it’s been fifty. I figured with everything that happened…” “Yeah, okay.” I wave the rest of her sentence off. “Surely, you don’t think I’ll pass on an opportunity to beat you.” Hailey scoffs and raises her right brow. “In your dreams, princess. Just warm up, and I’ll be all yours in ten minutes.” My smile drops to a sad one. She still calls me princess. I watch her leave before I jump into the ring. I haven’t done this in four years, but I need some sense punched into me for letting Aaron talk down on me last night. I raise my hands above my head and slowly bend my waist to the right. All of a sudden, warm hands cup my waist on both sides. I should turn around and fight, but I freeze when I catch the scent of the cologne. It’s haunted me for several nights. My eyes widen. How the hell did they know I was here? Slowly, he leans into my right ear. I feel his warm breath fan the skin of my neck, and my lips part on their own accord. “Nice form, kitten. If you wanted to sweat, you could have just texted us.” Heat creeps rushes up my spine from my stomach. Any attempt to look at him will knock my breath out of my lungs. He already looks so good in clothes, I don’t want to imagine him without. “Are you stalking me, Jaxon HawkThorne?” I whisper. He chuckles. It’s a deliciously deadly sound that dampens my panties. “I should be the one asking that, Sarah. You’re the one in my gym after all. Did you come here knowing I was going to be purchasing this place today?” What? I turn swiftly to face him. My eyes meet his chest, then slowly drops to his abs…all eight of them. I lick my lips. Fuck me. “Sir, this is for you.” The intruder’s voice has me looking up at his face. Jaxon’s lips a curled in a smirk. Shit. He caught me drooling, didn’t he? “Since when did the HawkThornes own gym facilities?” He takes the file and pen from the man outside the ring, and scribbles into the paper. His eyes never leave mine in the process. I watch him hand the file over to him. “Since now.” I roll my eyes. I refuse to let him see the effect he has on me. First it was Ronan at the charity gala, now Jaxon at the gym? “Go away, Jaxon.” I say, even though every bone in my body wants to pull him to the bathroom and ride him silly on the toilet seat. It’s his building now, after all. I lean against the ropes, and he moves forward, caging me. His right hand grazes the skin of my back, and I can’t stop the moan that slips from my lips. Jaxon closes his eyes as though it’s the most beautiful sound he’s ever heard. “You make the prettiest sounds when you’re out of breath.” Fuck. I want him. I want him so bad, it hurts to even breathe. But I can’t betray Kevin. “Leave me alone, Jaxon.” I push past him and walk away, completely out of breath, hoping he would come after me. He doesn’t. I am as disappointed as I am horny. Okay, maybe not. I’m sweating profusely when I run into Hailey. “Are you leaving already? You’re sweating. Did you have a match?” I had a match, alright. But not the kind she’s thinking of. A smile plasters on my lips as I pick up my bag. “Work emergency,” I lie. “I’ll see you some other time.” I’m out of the gym before she can say another word. I walk into the elevator and press my back against the wall. My eyelids close as I suck in a deep breath. Finally, some… The scent hits me again. I open my eyes to find Malachi strolling into the elevator. He doesn’t look at me, but when a man tries to come in, he presses the button, shutting the doors in the man’s face. I watch him in silence. God knows if he tries to make a move, I wouldn’t stop him. I need them so bad I’ll let him take me here and now, even if it’s alone. He looks so sexy in a casual black shirt that hugs his biceps, and grey sweatpants. I look away when his eyes meet mine. “Why are you running from us, kitten? You clearly want us so bad.” “I don’t.” Lies. All lies. “Really? Cause I can smell your pussy juices from here. You’re that wet.” Fuck him. In every way he can be fucked. I turn to him, ready to snap. “I’ve told you time and time again. I’m Kevin’s sister, and you are his best friends. Can’t you see what’s wrong with that?” He doesn’t care that I’m frowning. He doesn’t care that I’m a breathless mess. All he does is tuck his hands into his pocket and smile. It infuriates so much, I’m forced to move closer to him and punch him, to let him feel a quarter of the frustration that’s building up inside me. I close the distance between us by taking two steps towards him. “Do you have any idea how annoying you are when…” I raise my right hand to land a punch, but he seizes my wrist and pulls me towards him. My body crashes against his chest, and Malachi digs his two hands into my butt. He grabs them like he’s been wanting to. I part my lips in a breathless moan that doesn’t come out, because Malachi’s soft lips crashes against mine, snatching my breath as well as every bit of sense left in me away.