Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
Troy, a retired heavyweight boxer, is awestruck when a gorgeous young man enters the gym where he works as a trainer. Troy immediately takes Avery on as a client, and after one lesson, he's drawn to do more than teach and protect him.
But Avery has to protect his heart as well as his body, and has built walls which Troy must climb to discover secrets and surprising shared needs. If they're willing to fight for each other, their love could be a knockout.
This low angst story is full of sweet moments and steam. It contains no cheating or cliffhangers and has a very happy HEA! *Trigger warning - this story contains instances of body shaming and mention of physical and sexual assault.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Prologue
Avery
I peered out the window as I walked down the long hallway which separated my classes. The campus was beautiful, and it was my favorite time of year; the scorching heat of summer was gone, and autumn’s chill was creeping in.
The leaves on the maple trees around campus were changing from green to brilliant shades of orange and red. A gentle breeze shook them, and some tumbled to the grass below.
I grunted when a force slammed against me, rocking me back on my heels. Thankfully, I was able to stay on my feet, but I dropped the books I was carrying.
“Watch where you’re going, Manorexia,” a familiar voice barked.
I sighed in defeat. I wasn't a stranger to insults. I was on the short side and very slim, partially due to a health condition I'd had all my life. But bullies never cared about the reasons. They only wanted to point out my differences. Unfortunately, I also wasn't a stranger to these particular bullies; Riley Shultz and Brant Ferguson. They'd been a thorn in my dick since high school.
Lord only knew how the two of them made it into college in the first place. They were both as dumb as a box of turds. I assumed it had something to do with their families’ wealth, and the rumored sizable donation they'd made to the university.
“Wow, I haven't heard that one before,” I replied sarcastically with an eye roll, as I bent to pick up my books. “Did you stay up all night thinking of it?”
“Who the fuck do you think you're talking to, Skeletor?” Two heavy hands landed on my shoulders and shoved me back. I fell onto my ass, dropping my belongings once more.
I gulped hard and looked up, finding the two men looming over me. Riley smirked and cracked his knuckles as my heart thumped wildly. These guys had made fun of me for years. They'd shoved me around countless times, but this felt…different; menacing. They were older and bigger, and looked angrier.
Laughter drew my attention to my right, where three young women appeared from around a corner. One of the girls’ eyes widened when they landed on me. “Hey, are you alright?”
“He tripped,” Brant replied before I could say anything. He gripped my shirt collar and roughly yanked me to my feet. Riley collected my books, which he slammed into my chest. To our onlookers, the guys would appear helpful, but I felt the threat bubbling beneath their actions.
The threat became clearer when Riley picked up my pencil and leaned in closer to whisper, “Watch your back.” He snapped the pencil and dropped the pieces to the floor before turning to the girls. “Can we walk you beautiful ladies to class?”
“Sure,” they answered through giggles, and Riley and Brant hurried to their sides.
As they disappeared again, I overheard the women telling them they were “so sweet” for helping me out.
I'd roll my eyes again if I weren't so freaked out. It was obvious that the duo had the desire and ability to beat the hell out of me. They were bigger, stronger, and tougher. I had to do something to protect myself.
Chapter One
Troy
“Great session today,” I told my client Jason as he grabbed his gear bag. “Your form is really coming along. You’ll be fight-ready in no time.”
He slung his bag over his shoulder, and a proud smile crossed his sweat-soaked face. “Thanks, Mac.” With a wave, he headed for the exit.
Jason was my last client for the day, so I grabbed my own bag and started to leave as well, when my attention was snagged by someone standing at the counter in the entryway. I’d never seen the man before; I certainly would have remembered.
The man was short and slim, and didn’t look like the gym’s typical clientele. He did, however, look like just my type, so I sauntered my nosey ass right up to the counter to see what the little cutie was doing.
I reached his side in the middle of his conversation with Caleb, the gym manager. “...So, I would like to sign up for training as soon as possible.”
Caleb flipped through the schedule in front of him. “You’re welcome to sign up for the open gym hours, but all of our trainers are pretty booked up. It’s a busy time of year, but I can probably squeeze you in next month-”
“I…I can’t wait that long,” Cutie replied sadly. He must have been on an upcoming fight ticket, though if that were the case, I was unsure why he didn’t have a trainer already. “Is there another gym closeby?”
There was no way in hell I was going to let him go so soon. I was invested in his story, even though I hadn’t even heard it. I was also invested in the sight of his cute little ass in his gym shorts. Was that a professional thought? No. Did that keep me from having and enjoying it? Also no.