Sexy Love by Michelle Leyland

embarrassed this
time and it’s still sore.
    Mick catches
sight of them and I look away shyly.
    “ Dude, nice
one,” he says, sounding amused. “Looks kinda painful
though.”
    “ It is,” I
reply, blushing a little, and quickly pull on my sports vest before
anyone else can see them.
    “ Let’s hope I
don’t find rope burns on your wrists next time,” he jokes, loving
to tease me.
    “ No way,” I
cringe. “I’m really not into that…” Although I’m starting to think
the idea of Starlet in handcuffs is pretty sexy.
    We walk out of
the changing rooms and start on the treadmills as a warm
up.
    “ So what’s Star
like in bed?” he asks me cheekily. “Not ‘cause I’m interested or
anything…just curious.”
    I know there’s
a big chance he could have fancied her if I hadn’t made a move, but
Mick is loyal and a good friend. We’d never do anything with each
other’s partners or ex-girlfriends, so Mick only ever sees her as a
friend, despite how stunning she is. I doubt he could ever look at
her in a potential girl kind of way, especially when she’s one of
his self-defence students.
    “ She’s totally
amazing,” I tell him, keeping it vague.
    I know he’s my
best friend and I trust him, but there’s no way I can give him full
details to what me and Starlet get up to. That’s private and just
between us.
     

Chapter
20
     
     
    “ Are you sure
you’re feeling okay?” Starlet asks me worriedly the next
day.
    Today has been
eventful. I’ve just had to save people working at our rescue
centres, after we were given a tip off that Snider’s troops were
planting hidden bombs. Luckily I managed to get everyone evacuated,
with the help of Starlet, Sarah and Kat. I had to return inside the
building when Kat’s little sister, Lulu, had stayed inside to find
her favourite doll.
    We only just
got out in time before the explosion happened and destroyed the
whole building. I somehow heard the bang and pushed Lulu to the
ground just in time, shielding her body with mine. The blast
vibrations hit us seconds later and parts of rubble flew down on us
and hit my back hard. I just had to grit my teeth and hope that we
were safe from any more damage.
    Poor Lulu was
terrified, clinging onto me and whimpering in fear. I felt so sorry
for her and knew this experience would scar her for
life.
    “ It’s okay,” I
tell her softly. “We’re both safe now.”
    She’s still in
shock, her little body trembling. After a few seconds she bursts
into tears.
    I look up to
check the situation. The building is now in ruins, just two half
shattered walls remaining, with the rest scattered around into
piles of rubble. I cough with the smoke that’s flowing over our
heads and stay down until it’s passed and the air is
clearing.
    I carefully get
up, feeling my back sting with pain where bricks had fallen onto
me. I hold onto Lulu and help her stand to her feet. She looks
totally shell shocked and holds onto my hand tightly.
    “ Let’s go find
your sister,” I say, giving her a reassuring smile.
    She seems eager
to get back to Kat, and we see them both waiting anxiously, looking
upset. Kat is already crying, but she looks so relieved when she
sees that Lulu is safe. She runs over and scoops her up in her
arms, hugging her tight with tears of relief.
    “ Thank you,
Rickie,” Kat says to me, tearfully, still holding Lulu. “I’ll never
be able to thank you enough.”
    Starlet runs
over too and goes straight into my arms, hugging me
tight.
    “ Rickie, we
thought you were still inside,” she said. I notice tears in her
eyes and feel guilty for worrying her.
    I smile with
relief and hold her close, “we had to get out the back way,” I
explain. “I didn’t want to risk wasting time going to the front.
Luckily we managed to get a safe distance away before it
exploded.”
    She notices me
rubbing my back where it still aches.
    “ Are you hurt?”
she asks me, immediately concerned.
    “ I’ll be fine,”
I reassure