It’s that realization that prompts me to ask the question that’s been waiting on my lips for days. As she crawls off the bed, I prop myself up on my elbow. “Hey, Shelby,” I call.

She turns and smiles at me, finding my sudden formal greeting weird. “Yeah?”

“How’s Ezra?”

She freezes. Her eyes dart around the room, not really focusing on anything as she picks up her pants and starts to pull them on.

“He’s fine,” she answers stiffly. “Why?”

There are so many more things I want to say. I should tell her that there has been some activity around his shop. But I can’t bring myself to say anything other than, “Good.”

She grabs her phone from the nightstand and stares down at me, still looking tense from my sudden awkward question. “Can we workout again tonight?” There’s an eager look on her face, and it’s a real fucking turn-on to see her working like she did last night.

“You’re not sore?”

She flaps her arms slowly like a bird and lets out a little wince. “A little, but I like it.”

“You would,” I say, smacking her ass.

Then I remember today is Thursday, and I promised Vic I’d fight tonight. “I can’t. I have a fight.”

What I expect is for her to look at me with some sort of disapproval. Instead, I look up to see an expression of excitement in her eyes. Her brows are raised, and she’s biting back a smile.

The word no is already falling out of my mouth before she can even ask.

“Can I come?”

“Absolutely not,” I say.

“Well, too bad you’re not the boss of me. See you tonight,” she calls before leaving my apartment. I’m on her before she can even reach the front door.

With my arms around her waist, I lift her off the ground, and her legs tuck in like a child as a squealing laughter escapes her lips.

“Why are you such a bad girl?” I growl, carrying her back to the bedroom.

She tries to fight, but it’s a weak attempt. Still, she squeals with laughter as I drop her on the bed, her perfect round ass in the air.

“Don’t make me get the rope,” I bark, but even I hear the humor in my tone. She shrieks, but I notice the way she turns and glares back at me with her lip tight between her teeth as I rear my hand back and land a delicious smack right on her ass.

She lets out a cry, shoving her face into the bed. “Are you going to listen to me?” I ask, pressing my weight on her to put my lips next to her ear.

“No,” she whispers back. Then, she actually lifts her hips backward, inviting my palm as it lands another smack.

She groans again, almost sounding like she’s getting off to the pain. Fuck, I better stop this little game now before we both end up late to work. Quickly, I lift her up and press my mouth to hers.