Chapter 0291


    Luca’s gym is…loud.


    My eyes go wide as Conner and I step inside, as I take in the dozens of people all working out.


    There three boxing rings spread out across the long room, and then at least fifteenrge punching


    bags hang from the ceiling in the area to my left. Weaving in between them are a group of teenage


    boys, each concentrating hard as they punch the bag in front of them, being cheerfully yelled at by


    the man who is clearly their coach. Loud, heavy music pulses through the air, and no one turns to


    me as Ie in.


    Despite the fact that each of the rings is upied with boxers sparring with each other or working


    with their coaches, my eyes go immediately to the middle one. Because I know Luca’s form when I


    see it, and he’s there, working alone with an older bald man who barks out orders as Luca punches


    the pads on his hands.


    A smile breaks out on my face and I nce up at Conner, who’s looking down at me. He gives me


    another wink and then raises his chin towards Luca, clearly suggesting that I move boldly forward.


    So I do, remembering my dad’s words that I’m a Princess and a Sinir, and that I was invited here


    today. Even if I do find this ce intimidating as hell, there’s nothing here I can’t handle.


    Luca concentrates hard in the ring as Conner and I walk over to it,ing to stand quietly ringside


    and watch him finish his exercise. Neither he nor his coach give any indication that they realize that


    I’m here, the coach continuing to shoutmands and suggestions for Luca. At each one Luca


    changes something slightly, standing straighter, or hitting harder, or ducking more quickly.


    I’m amazed, again, at how fast he is. I mean, I know that Luca is the national champion for a


    reason, but god he’s impressive. Luca’s hands move so fast that they’re nearly a blur to my vision


    and I can tell by the way that his coach’s hands snap back that each of his punchesnd with one


    hell of an impact.


    I smile as my eyes move over my mate, taking in his tanned, sweaty skin, the lines of his torso as


    they disappear in to his cute boxing shorts. I raise my eyes to admire the line of his jaw, clenched in


    his determination, and the way the muscles shift in his powerful shoulders as he delivers punch


    after punch.


    God, but he’s hot.


    And mine, the fact of which is its own personal thrill.


    My smile deepens, and Luca flinches, a little bit, ncing to the side where I’m standing.


    When he does, his coach reaches out and cuffs him, hard, over the head.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    I gasp, but Luca justughs as he stumbles to the side. “Okay, okay,” he says, rubbing at his head


    and grinning at his coach. “You got me there – I was distracted.”


    “Better not get distracted tomorrow night,” the coach mutters, gruff, clearly not happy about the fact


    that Luca lost his concentration. Then he flicks his eyes to me. “She’ll be there, you know. I won’t


    have her ringside.”


    “She’s not gonna be ringside, she’ll be in the box,” Luca mutters, waving a hand dismissively at his


    coach before turning fully to me, a wide grin taking over his face as hees to lean on the ropes


    of the boxing ring. “Hey!” he says, his eyes crinkling in delight as he sees me. “I’m so d you’re


    here! Just let me finish this workout and I’ll –“


    “You’re done, you’re done,” the coach sighs, pulling the pads off his hands as he shakes his head.


    “You’re tired, and you’re not going to get any work done with her here anyway.”


    Luca grins at the coach before passively holding out his glove, palm up. The coaches forward,


    reaching for Luca’s boxing glove and helping him with theces on his wrist. “Ariel, this is my uncle,


    Bruce Grant,” he says, nodding to me and then to the burly man who I can now see has a passing


    resemnce to Luca, though far gruffer.