Page 15 of Spatially UnawareWolf

Apparently, my sense of self-preservation was stronger than I thought, that fucker.

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and tripped on the top step, the only way I was able to launch myself without chickening out. I pulled my knees up to my chest and braced myself as I bounced down the stairs, smacking the pointy bit of my elbow on the bottom step as I landed in a heap with my face pressed to the floor. It stung like a motherfucker, and it was loud and messy and undignified, but as I stood and dusted myself off, checking for injuries, I found myself grinning.

I’d made it down the fucking stairs after all, and I was taking it as a win.

The upside of training with Hunter was, well, getting to watch Hunter.

Like, the guy looked like he belonged on a stage with a cowboy hat, a pole, and some body oil. Possibly in a G-string with dollar bills poking out. He was that hot.

It was the only upside to training, though, because I sucked. First, I failed to climb a ramp that a toddler could have managed. Then I tripped over my own feet while battling a jump rope.

I failed at everything, and it was fucking embarrassing. I’d hoped to impress Hunter with my physical prowess, for reasons that were about as deep as a mud puddle. I wanted the hot guy to like me, okay? But I was failing at that too.

I sat down on the park bench and kicked at a stone that was lying there. I missed.

Great. I couldn’t even sulk properly.

“Don’t worry, it’s only your first day,” Hunter said. “No need to panic yet.”

Yeah, I didn’t love the yet in that sentence.

“I swear I’m trying,” I said, kicking the stone again. This time I made contact, and the stone went flying—and hit Hunter in the shin.

“Shit, sorry!”

“No, it’s fine,” Hunter said, rubbing at his shin and wincing. “In fact, it’s progress! You coordinated!” He shot me a smile that was more of a grimace.

It felt a bit like he was awarding me one of those nothing prizes that kindergarten teachers handed out—Luke coordinated today!—but I appreciated the sentiment behind it.

Besides, I had coordinated.

Hunter had the bruise on his calf to prove it.

My gaze traveled from his calves up to his tree-trunk thighs and then higher, and I found myself fixated on his nipples, which were clearly visible through his too-tight tank top. I wondered if they were always that perky or if it was just the cold.

Then I wondered what it would take to find out.

“Luke?” Hunter raised an eyebrow, and I got the feeling this wasn’t the first time he’d asked me something. I dragged my gaze away from his muscular chest and those tempting nipples.

“Sorry, what?”

“I asked if you wanted to shift and try the course again,” he said.

I kind of did, but I hesitated. I thought briefly of the way I’d torn my bedding to shreds and hoped Hunter wouldn’t judge me too harshly if I did something dumb.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ve dealt with plenty of shifters. You won’t scare me.”

“I’m not worried about that,” I said, feeling a blush creep up my neck. “It’s—my wolf’s kind of a dumbass, and I don’t want you to judge me if I start chasing my tail or something.”

Hunter let out a noise that was trying its hardest not to be a snort of laughter and failing.

“Shut up,” I said, but I was laughing too, and I decided that fuck it, if I was ever going to get a handle on this coordination thing, I was going to have to put my embarrassment aside.

I stood and kicked off my sneakers and peeled off my shirt. “Okay. Let's do this,” I said, shoving my sweats and underwear down.

Hunter’s eyes widened and I didn’t miss the way his gaze swept over my body before he quickly turned his back on me. I grinned to myself. I might not have been able to work a jump rope, but I knew I looked good naked.

“Shift when you’re ready,” he said, his voice rough, “then hit the agility course.”