The gym smelled like rubber mats, metal, and clean sweat—the good kind, the kind that promised effort and release. Lila arrived just before closing, when the place was half-empty and the front-desk girl was already counting cash drawers. She wore black high-waisted leggings that hugged every curve, a cropped tank that left a strip of midriff bare, and her hair pulled into a high ponytail that swung like a whip with each step.
She’d chosen this gym deliberately: high-end, members-only, known for trainers who looked like they could bench-press regret. Tonight she wanted someone who could match her fire.
She spotted him near the free weights.
Kai.
Tall, built like he lived in the squat rack—broad shoulders, thick thighs, arms corded with veins that stood out even at rest. Dark skin gliste
