Page 46 of Bloodlust

"Believe it or not," he says, breathing heavily. "Clubs aren't the only establishments open twenty-four seven."

"Well, finish early!"

"Or—" he pauses, "—you can come here."

"To the fucking gym?"

"Yes," he says. "Cardio is scientifically proven to reduce stress. You sound awfully stressed to me, Camilla."

I laugh. "I don't run."

"Don't or can't?" he taunts. "Ah, I forgot...smoker's lungs."

I grit my teeth. "Oh,I can run!"

"Prove it then. I'll text you the address." He pauses. "Oh, and dress appropriately, meaning no heels."

"Oh, I'll dress appropriately,Doctor."

"See you soon, Miss Bianco," Hayden coos.

I hang up and call Zoey.

"Zoey, I need you to send Bunny into room two," I say, a sour taste on my tongue. "Oh, and I need my sluttiest sports bra and shorts."

"Sports bra? Why?"

"Just do it!"

Holy fuck, Iamstressed.

Chapter 12

Journey

"What a bunch of morons," I mumble in pity as I tug open the suctioned door to FitLand. Musky, cold air blows up my nose. I cringe. "Why am I here? Seriously? Why?"

Exercise is a joke and people who spend hours running on a treadmill are idiots. There are alternative methods by which a person can burn calories. Methods that are way more fun andwaymore pleasurable. I've heard the term runner's high before, but I doubt it comes anywhere close to that of an orgasm.

That's the ultimate stress reliever.

Cardio...but with a happy ending.

My determined gaze floats around the gym as I walk inside. I could use a happy ending right about now. I unzip my hoodie and slide it off, tucking it under my arm. My chest rises as I spot the walking stress reliever pounding his feet against a whirring treadmill.

I greedily take him in, starting at his slender ankles and slowly making my way up to his lithe body. Hisquads contract and expand as he runs, arms bent at a perfect 90 degree angle. I tilt my head, licking my lips as I watch his ab muscles pulse in and out, a sheen of tempting sweat glowing under the fluorescent lighting.

"Oh my," I hum to myself, smirking as I strut toward Hayden. "Now I know why I'm here." He doesn't notice me at first as I circle the treadmill, his face tense in concentration as he continues to run.

Jesus, he's hot. Like a perplexing combination of God and Satan—a seemingly innocent aura brimming with clouded darkness that's pulling me in. I stop in front of the machine, dropping my shit on the floor. His magnetic gaze snaps up, and he removes his headphones. He doesn't stop running.

"You know, Doc, there's something to say about a man who can keep a fast and—" I can't help but check out his heaving pecs, "—rhythmicpace."

"Years of practice, Miss Bianco," he says in a breathy tone, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

"Do you apply this practicejustat the gym?" I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear, my lower gut clenching at all the possibilities. "Or is this atransferableskill?"

His green eyes darken like a couple of snitches. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."