Stone Cold Knockout (House of Pain Book 1) by Lavender Parker Read Free Book Online

her precious days off. Running on a treadmill, maybe. A gym session, most likely. But swimming laps?
    No way.
    If that wasn't bad enough, she hadn't even had her morning latte.
    He surfaced with a splash, shoving back the bug-eyed goggles that covered his face. Then he folded his arms on the side wall of the pool, smiling up at her.
    “Rise and shine, little girl,” he said, drops of water beading on his face. “Where is your suit?”
    “ You didn't say we were swimming,” Gennifer said, glancing around.
    “ We train today. Swimming. Jogging. Weights.” He nodded decisively. “That is training.”
    “ You should have said that!” Gennifer exclaimed, her voice echoing around the big empty pool. Gennifer was a city kid, through and through. She'd learned to swim at the Bronx Y when she was eight, but as an adult, with no access to pools most of the time, she didn't even have a suit designed for actual swimming. She had several skimpy bikinis that she'd worn on trips to see her mother's family in the D.R., but that was the extent of her bathing suit collection. Besides, she wasn't a strong swimmer in the least. Not that she was going to tell Mikhail that.
    “ Are you wasting my time, Gennifer?” he asked, his eyes darkening. He pushed off from the wall, doing a languid backstroke towards the center of the pool as he stared at her. He was a perfect swimmer, of course. He moved in the water like it was second nature to him. Her brain was telling her she should turn right back around and go back to the Bronx. But her feet wouldn't move. He was daring her, she realized. Daring her to waste his time. She glared down at him, lips pursed. She could turn and walk away, true. But that would be admitting defeat.
    Lifting her T-shirt over her head, she tossed it onto a chair against the wall. She kicked off her shoes and socks and shimmied out of her workout leggings. Tying her hair up in a messy bun at the top of her head, she marched over to the side of the pool in her black sports bra and panties. Turning her back to the Russian, she stepped down the metal pool ladder, gasping as the cool water hit her calves. Grumbling to herself, she immersed herself fully, shivering involuntarily when she felt Mikhail's hands on her hips under the water.
    “Tomorrow you bring proper suit,” he said in her ear, pulling her against his bare chest.
    “ Tomorrow?!” Gennifer shot him a sharp look, a scowl implanting itself on her face.
    “ Take these,” he said, pulling his goggles over his head and handing them to her. Grumbling louder, she put them on as he dipped under the bobbing lane divider and left her alone in her own lane. Gennifer stared down the lap lane and swallowed hard. It looked miles long. It was then that she remembered how much she hated swimming. “You good?” he asked, running his hand over his bald head, sending drops of water flying.
    “ Yup,” she said, feeling his eyes on her as she made her way to the wall. After a moment, she sighed in resignation and got in position. She kicked off and her body cut through the water. She was rusty and it was early, so her muscles and her lungs cried out in protest as she broke the surface of the water and began to swim. She barely made it to the other side, but she didn't stop. She turned in the water and headed back, her heart pounding in her chest. The only thing that kept her going was her complete refusal to look weak in front of Mikhail. He was watching her every move, she knew.
    When her palm hit the wall of the pool, she burst from the water, breathing hard. She felt like she was going to die, truth be told, but she kept herself tight and in control. Her pulse pumped and if she wasn't awake before, she surely was now. After what felt like hours, she turned her head to look at him, practically daring him to say something. Daring him to call her out on her dedication.
    “Again,” was all he said, his steely eyes intent on her.
     
    ***
     
    Mikhail slowed his pace