4. Rule #4 Just Breathe

Rule #4: Just Breathe

Zoe

S ounds of grunts and thuds came from one of the smaller training rooms at the back of the gym, and not the sexy kind. Curiosity peaked, I ambled over, leaning against the door frame as I watched two grown-ass men try to fold each other into what could only be called sandwiches. I cocked my head to the side trying to figure out how this was an actual sport. There was a lot of headlocking and groping going on. What a joke. But Lewis was right, the white boys loved this shit and there were at least six of them paying for this nonsense. The dizzying scent of pine needles and fresh rain hit me before I noticed Daniel strolling over to me. He kept his gaze on the two guys going at each other like they were on a damn playground.

"Impressive, right?" He smirked.

I raised a decidedly unimpressed eyebrow in response. "They look like they're trying to fold clothes while there are still people inside of them."

He huffed a laugh. "Rude… but kinda accurate," he responded. "Jiu-jitsu's actually great for self-defense."

"I prefer a swift punch to the throat," I replied.

"And what if you weren't in the position to throat punch someone? "

It was my turn to scoff. "Never gonna happen." I straightened up, securing my training bag on my shoulder. "Well, have fun with your folding or whatever crap this is. And don't forget to wipe down. The last thing we need in here is a staph infection because y'all have been rolling around with each other."

Before he could reply, I left to change before my next class. I had a full day today. I had a weekly session with the local preschool as an extra mural activity. It was nothing hectic, but seeing five-year-olds in little Muay Thai shorts melted even my ice cold heart. Then I had some private lessons before my beginners class this afternoon and an advanced class this evening.

The preschoolers were low-key my favorite class of the week. They were equal parts chaotic and adorable with how they tried to impress me. It was mostly a fitness class with some light padwork and at the end of the year each of them got a shiny medal and a certificate. After they had left, I tidied up a bit before getting ready for my private lesson. Jodi was a single mother who had moved to town recently to escape her ex-husband. She worked so hard to never be powerless again and Lewis charged her half-price fees. This was one of the reasons I loved Muay Thai. Not only were you able to fight and defend yourself, but it gave you a sense of confidence and control. You could walk around with your head held high knowing that you could look after yourself.

"That was hands down the cutest thing I've ever seen." The lilting British accent came from behind me and I turned to see Daniel standing in the doorway holding two smoothies. He strode toward me, with sparkling eyes and a smirk that made my panties damp. Fuck this guy and his attractiveness. I didn't need this mess. Men were not to be trusted. The last time I did, the bastard had stolen my coven. Lewis was the only person I could rely on and even he didn't have my full trust no matter how much I loved him. Daniel, with his gorgeous eyes and flirty smile, was trouble walking. I would not give someone the power to destroy me again.

"Here," he said, thrusting a smoothie at me. "Training the next generation of hellraisers must be hard work."

What was he doing? Why did he get me a smoothie? We weren't friends and I didn't want to be.

I eyed the smoothie and spotted the Jamie's Juice Bar logo on the front.

"Does it have bananas in it?" I asked, folding my arms. I knew for a fact that it did have bananas in it. I could smell my favorite peanut butter and banana protein smoothie from a mile away.

"Yes?" Daniel sounded uncertain. I loved it. He was always so sure and cocky. I lived to unbalance him.

"I'm allergic to bananas," I said as I breezed by him and out of the room.

"Oh shit, Zoe I didn't know!" he said, jogging after me.

I spun around. "Yeah. Thanks for trying to kill me."

Mortified, his cheeks flushed. I tried to find it in myself to feel bad, but I needed to keep him at arm's length. It was for the best. I glared at him then strode towards the locker rooms, leaving him behind.

"Hey Lewis," Daniel called out. "You want a peanut butter and banana smoothie? I didn't know Zoe's allergic."

"No, she's not," Lewis replied as the door to the locker room shut behind me.

Stupid fucking Lewis.

The rest of the day was blessedly Daniel free. Mostly on account of me doing my utmost to avoid him and also because he had no more classes till this evening. Jiu-jitsu sign ups were still low, but much to my chagrin, steadily rising .

My body ached as I pulled on a comfortable pair of leggings after my shower. I'd had a last minute private training session tonight which I wouldn't turn down because this bitch was teetering on broke. Thank Hecate, Lewis kept me fed. Right on cue, my stomach growled. I'd skipped dinner and wracked my brain thinking about what I had left in my kitchen. It would probably be ramen again if I was lucky.

A knock sounded at the door and I turned in time to see Daniel sticking his head through the gap.

"This is the women's locker room, Daniel. Get out."

His bright smile brought out his dimples and I cursed my traitorous lady parts for doing a dance. Calm down, bitch. It's just a dimple.

That I would like to drown myself in.

No. Control yourself!

Great. Now I was arguing with myself.

"Lewis had a meeting. He asked us to lock up," Daniel said, explaining his annoying presence.

"A meeting?" I asked with eyebrows raised. "Was this meeting wearing a short skirt by any chance?"

He shrugged, looking unbothered. "No idea."

"I can lock up by myself. You can go," I said, turning my back on him. I couldn't look at his gorgeous green eyes for too long. They'd make me do something stupid. And I couldn't afford that.

"No can do. He wants me to learn the lockup procedure in case I'm the last one here."

I groaned in frustration and his answering chuckle went skittering along my skin. I liked the feeling entirely too much.

"I'll meet you in the front," he said, letting the door thud close behind him.

Resigned to my fate of having to deal with Daniel for a little while longer, I pulled on a slouchy t-shirt then took my sweet time tying the laces of my black Converse. But now I'd run out of time and I guess I couldn't hide in here forever. Best to just get this over with.

I found Daniel leaning against the reception desk, scrolling through his phone and I took a moment to take him in. His messy brown hair had been pushed back, the gray sweatpants he wore hung low on his narrow hips and when he raised an arm to scratch the back of his head, his white t-shirt rose up revealing a sliver of smooth, pale skin. Holy Hecate! His abs had abs.

"You done staring?" he asked, not looking up from his phone. I glowered as my cheeks heated at being caught.

"Did you check that all the windows are closed?" I asked, avoiding his question.

Tucking his phone away, he replied, "Yes, ma'am."

"All of them? Even the one's upstairs?"

He hit me with one of those smiles that made my insides feel like jelly.

"All of them. Upstairs, both training rooms, men's locker room and Lewis's office. I assumed you'd have checked the women's locker room."

I nodded, hoisting my training bag more comfortably on my shoulder then walked over to the keypad located behind the reception desk.

"I don't know why he asked me to show you. It's simple. An idiot could do this in their sleep."

Daniel hovered behind me as I punched in the code. Two-Six-Zero-Zero-Five.

Our birthdays.

"Wait!" Daniel yelled as I pressed the last digit, making me jump.

"What the fuck?" I screamed at him. But the man was halfway to the front window next to the reception desk that was slightly ajar. It was a tricky window. You had to pull it super tight before locking it or it would pop open.

"No!" I yelled .

But it was too late. Daniel had pushed the window open before yanking it shut and locking it. Immediately the security gate slammed closed over the exits and the alarm blared.

"You idiot!" I said, rushing back to the keypad. The piercing noise of the alarm sent my anxiety into free fall. I hated the fucking sound. It made my skin crawl and I couldn't think straight. Quickly punching the code again, I prayed for it to stop. But as I was about to punch in the last number, it went silent. The entire gym was thrown into complete darkness.

"What happened?" Daniel's voice came from somewhere to my left.

"You opened a fucking window when I'd already armed the place!"

"I told you to wait," he replied.

"You said you closed all the windows," I shot back at him.

"I did. I'm sure I closed that window."

"Well, obviously you didn't." Not bothering to tell him it was a problematic window. I should have checked it myself, but I wasn't in the mood to be understanding.

"Why's it dark? Did you punch the code in correctly?"

I hadn't finished putting the code in at all and now the keypad was dead. Like there was no power.

Oh no.

I rushed to the front door but the steel security gate was firmly in place. I rattled it in futility, looking through the glass of the front doors.

"Everything's dark," I whispered. Panic surged through me, making my fingertips and toes tingle. My heart raced as realization kicked in. "The power is… oh fuck. The power is out. We're trapped."

The panic had clawed its way up my throat and I struggled to draw a breath. I couldn't be trapped. Not again. It wasn't water this time but the feeling was the same. I had to get out .

"I have to get out!" I screamed, tugging on the grill of the security gate. "I have to… I have to…"

A set of strong arms banded around my chest and pulled me close.

"Hey. Shh. You're okay. It's okay." His soothing voice washed over me, but I started shaking.

"I need to get out," I whispered. The tears were threatening to join the party, and with the way I was struggling to breath, it wouldn't be long before they did.

Daniel spun me around, bent down and slid his hands beneath my thighs, lifting me easily. My legs automatically wrapped around his waist and I held on tight. He deposited me on the top of the high reception desk and stood between my legs, putting us at almost the same height. My breathing was shallow and my eyes darted around the space. It was so dark, I couldn't see anything. The only light coming in was the faint light of the moon. My magic sputtered, then died. Most days it was a quiet hum beneath my skin, the feeling brought me comfort. But the longer I went without a coven, the quieter it became. And it had just winked out completely. Not that I would have been able to do anything with him around. There was no way I could expose myself like that. But panic attacks always had it going out completely. It was like the panic blocked my access to it.

Strong, warm hands gripped my face. "Hey. Look at me. Look at me, Zoe. You're okay. Yeah? I've got you."

I didn't want him to have me. I was a strong, independent woman dammit. Why did this have to happen in front of him?

"Breathe with me okay? Come on. Deep breathe in. Hold it. Now let it out. Again."

I struggled to take a breath. Daniel took a deep one and I followed his lead, my eyes focused on his green ones. They were soft and kind and I didn't deserve them. Not with the way I treated him. He continued coaching me, his thumbs stroking my cheeks as my breathing settled to a steady rhythm.

"Good girl," he whispered. And why the hell did those two words unravel me like that?

Raising my hands, I clutched his wrists and pulled them from my face. "I'm fine now. Thank you," I said in a small voice, still holding onto him. For some reason I couldn't seem to let go. Like he was an anchor in this darkness.

His mouth twitched in a small smile and he was absolutely beautiful in the soft moonlight. "You're welcome."

I couldn't seem to drag my eyes away from his. They darkened with a kind of hunger that made my heart gallop. He was so close. All I had to do was tilt my head a few inches forward to feel his lips on mine. They looked so soft. Would it really be that bad to let someone in?

My phone rang, breaking the spell and he stepped back. Literally saved by the bell. Because yes, it would be a terrible idea to let him in.

I hopped off the high reception desk and rummaged in my bag for my screeching phone.

"Lewis?" I answered.

"Zoe! Are you okay? Are you home? Where are you?"

"I'm still at the gym. We got locked in. The security gate came down and the keypad is dead."

"Shit. There's a town-wide blackout. They don't know when it'll come back on."

"Shit. Fuck!" I swore.

"Um, I'll come get you. I'll crawl through a window or something."

"Have you seen how tall you are? You can't fit through a window!"

"Well, I can't leave you there alone!"

"I'm not alone. Daniel's here."

"Oh. Yes. I forgot I asked him to hang back. "

"Yeah, thank you for that," I replied, sarcasm lacing my tone.

"You're very welcome. Otherwise you'd be alone. I can breathe easier now."

"You and me both," I muttered under my breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," I replied.

"Well, okay. You guys are just gonna have to sit tight and wait."

"They didn't give a time frame for this?"

"Yes and no. They said it could take anywhere from two to twelve hours. They suspect one of the trees hit a powerline so they have to get someone out to clear it first."

"You have got to be kidding me!"

"Unfortunately not. The couch in my office pulls out and there's snacks on the very top shelf in the cleaning supply closet."

" That's where you've been hiding the snacks?"

"Yes. You eat all the good stuff and leave me with trail mix."

"Should teach you not to buy trail mix then."

"It's healthy," he protested.

"Whatever," I grumbled. I actually didn't have it in me to argue with him right now. The effects of the panic attack left me exhausted and all I wanted to do was curl up into a ball and fall asleep.

"Love you, Zo. Stay safe. I'll check in again."

"Love you too, Lew. I'll be fine."

We hung up and I breathed deeply to center myself. I was fine. Everything would be fine. Great even. I didn't have a choice. I'd never had a choice. Survive or die. Quite literally.

Steeling myself, I turned toward Daniel whose eyes seemed to glow in the dark. But I must have been hallucinating because when I blinked they were their usual green hue.

"What did he say? "

"Town-wide blackout. A tree came down or something," I replied. "They have no idea how long it's going to last so we have to stay put. Come on, Lewis has snacks hidden in his office and his couch pulls out," I said, turning on the torch of my phone then stalking toward said office, flinging the door open harder than was necessary. I couldn't believe that rat had hidden snacks from me.

"Lovely! Our first sleepover!" Daniel said as he followed me. I spun around to glare at him, finding him much closer than I had anticipated. I stumbled, and my phone fell out of my hands as his hands shot out, landing on my waist to steady me. His warm touch seeped into my skin and I fought so hard not to melt into him. What would it feel like to just let go? It would feel like betrayal, that's what. I ripped myself from his hold and took a step back.

"This is not a sleepover," I said, pointing my finger in his face. "You can sleep on one of the mats."

"Ha! No, I don't think so. I had a hard training session this evening and I am not sleeping on the floor."

"Well, you're not sleeping next to me either!"

"Guess you're sleeping on the floor then," he replied, mischief dancing in his eyes.

I glared at him. He was so fucking annoying. I was too hungry to deal with him right now. Bordering on hangry, and if it got any worse there would be murders in the building tonight. Reaching down, I grabbed my phone and resumed my mission.

There was a door leading to the supply closet in Lewis's office and another one that could be accessed from the main floor of the gym. I looked around the room, marched towards the highest stack of shelves then started climbing.

"What the bloody hell are you doing?" Daniel's voice was far closer than I expected. The man moved like a ghost .

"Getting the snacks," I said, reaching my arm into the top shelf and feeling around for anything I could get my hands on. Of course that tall fucker would hide them up here. We would be having words when I got out of this nightmare.

I froze my search when his warm body pressed up against my back and he reached up.

"What do you want? He's got Doritos, Sour Patch Kids, Butterfingers–"

"The filthy rat!" I exclaimed, momentarily forgetting that Daniel's hard body was pressed up against mine.

"Definitely the Butterfingers then," Daniel said, swiping a couple of bars along with some chips and a few sleeves of Oreos before stepping back. I wouldn't admit it out loud, but I mourned the loss of heat. When was the last time someone had even touched me like that? Ugh, I was pathetic. I jumped down and gasped when I surveyed the haul in his arms.

"I can't believe that traitor hid the Toffee Crunch Oreos from me!" I grabbed the sleeve from his hands, ripped open the packet and stuffed two in my mouth. I glanced up to see Daniel rolling his lips in a vain attempt to not laugh.

"What?" I snapped.

"You look like a feral racoon. No wonder he always keeps you fed."

"But he hides the good snacks," I said, waving the sleeve of cookies at him. "Come on, let's go raid his mini fridge. I'm pouring all his expensive beer down the drain."

"Whoa, let's not get crazy now," he said, running after me. Daniel dumped the snacks on Lewis's desk and crouched down next to me as I shone the light of my phone's torch, illuminating the contents of the mini fridge .

"Pick your poison," I said. "We've got Mountain Dew, Sprite, Pepsi - gross - and Dr. Pepper," I said, reaching for the last vanilla Coke. My heart softened toward my best friend a touch. He always kept vanilla Coke on hand for me, even though he thought it was vile.

"What about that vanilla Coke?" Daniel said, reaching for the can in my hand.

"Unless you feel like dying tonight, don't touch my Coke," I seethed.

"Don't threaten me," he said with a wicked smile, "it turns me on."

I rolled my eyes then stood, taking the light with me and leaving him to fend for himself. Grabbing a bag of Doritos, I threw myself down on the couch.

Daniel scuttled around in the dark, cursed as he knocked into something, then plopped down on the couch beside me.

"Huh. Mountain Dew, not a bad grab," he said, popping the tab of the can and taking a long drink.

"Said every unwashed dude bro ever," I replied, crunching on my chips.

Daniel swiped the bag from my hand.

"Hey! Those are mine!" I cried.

"And I got them down from the skyscraper you were scaling, you're welcome by the way, so I get at least half of it."

I grabbed it back. "I don't share food. Get your own. And I would have managed just fine without you."

"Sure, aside from a few broken bones when you fell off." He stood to collect the rest of the snacks from the desk and deposited them on the coffee table. He popped a can of Pringles before pouring some into his hand. There was no way his large paw was fitting in the tube.

"So, now that we've established that you don't share food and will cut my head off if I touch your Coke, why don't you tell me about yourself. "

Shocked, I burst out laughing. "That sounded like a job interview question, and no. That is not happening. You don't need to know about me, and I most certainly don't want to know about you. We're colleagues. Reluctantly so on my part, I might add. And that's what we'll stay. The power could come back any minute now and then I'm out of here."

Daniel extended his arm along the back of the couch, twisting his body to face me. I suddenly found the bottom of the Doritos bag particularly interesting and refused to look at him. His arm was so close to my neck that the little hairs along the back of it rose. But this man had the patience of a saint and would probably outstare an owl. I huffed in annoyance then stood, disposing of the empty chips bag and my soda can.

"Get up," I said. "I want to go to sleep. I'm not talking to you."

To my surprise, he didn't fight back and got up from the couch. What didn't surprise me was how he watched me struggle to pull out said couch. There were a couple of pillows and a blanket stored in the base for nights when Lewis worked late on the business side of things and whatever the hell he had to do for his grandfather's hotel empire. He hated it and tried to get out of it as much as possible, but it was some rich people thing I didn't understand. Whatever. All I was concerned about now was getting this thing set up. I was bent over, tugging at it but it was stuck somewhere.

"You're not even going to help?" I huffed, blowing at a stray piece of hair that had fallen into my face.

"Nah," he replied. "I'm enjoying the view from over here."

I whipped around to find him eyeing my ass with a kind of hunger that ignited something in my core. They were filled with dirty promises, but Daniel's attention was addicting and dangerous. It would be too easy to lose myself in another man. I was blaming my hormones. And the fact that it had been ages since I'd gotten laid. I hated the small talk that came before. Didn't seem worth the effort. My vibrator didn't require a conversation and got the job done better than most men.

I straightened up and threw a pillow at him. "You're a dog!"

Daniel laughed as he caught it. "I'm not, but close enough. Besides, how am I supposed to just ignore that delicious arse?"

Holy Hecate. His stupid accent made my cheeks heat. "You're right. Dogs are too good to be compared to you. You're a pig."

"Well, pigs are rather smart animals, so I'll take it," he said proudly.

I scoffed and turned back to the offending couch, put all my strength into it and it finally popped out. Unfortunately, the force had me flying back and I braced myself to hit the floor. Instead, a hard chest met my back and I gasped in surprise. He smelled so damn good. Why did he have to smell so fucking good? It was frustrating. His large hands gripped my hips, steadying me.

"Got you," he whispered. His lips caressed the shell of my ear and his breath on my neck made me shiver. His knowing chuckle had my hackles raising though and I pushed away from him. He couldn't know how much he affected me. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

Crouching down, I swiped the pillow from the floor then toed my shoes off before making myself as comfortable as I could. I sadly realized that this pull out couch was more comfortable than my bed and I punched the pillow in anger. I wondered what Lewis would do if I just slept here. He'd physically move me in with him, that's what. As I pulled the blanket over me, the bed dipped beside me.

"What are you doing?" I hissed.

Daniel lay stretched out next to me on his back, eyes closed with his hands folded behind his head.

"I'm trying to sleep, if you don't mind," he replied in an infuriatingly calm voice.

"Not here, you're not. "

"I'm not sleeping on the floor. I told you that. Now be a good girl and go to sleep. Hopefully the power will come back soon."

I huffed in annoyance and gave him my back. How the hell was I supposed to sleep when he was next to me? Apparently, very easily. His deep breathing and the scent of his cologne was soothing. I didn't know what it was, but it was woodsy and fresh. Like the forest after the rain and it calmed my racing thoughts. I'd never fallen asleep so easily before.

I woke slowly, feeling comfortable and cozy and I wanted to stay like this forever. In that hazy dream state between sleeping and awake, all my defenses were down. A heavy arm was slung across my waist and a thumb gently brushed the underside off my breast, making me snuggle closer to whoever lay behind me. This was nice. This was safe and I burrowed back into the warm body holding me.

"I knew you were a cuddler," a raspy voice said in my ear.

I had never moved so fast in the twenty-six years I'd been on this earth.

I stumbled off the couch, falling to the floor.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?"

Lewis stood in the doorway, looking like the cat who got the goddamn cream.

"Nothing!" I said, scrambling to get my sneakers and pull them on.

"Aww come on, Zoe. Don't minimize what we have," Daniel said, looking far too sexy for someone who had just woken up. His voice was all scratchy and it tickled me in just the right way. Leaning up on one elbow, a cheeky grin flashed on his face and his sleep rumpled hair had me wanting to crawl back into bed with him. But actually, fuck that. Men – except Lewis – were the devil walking and I wouldn't allow one with a charming smile and panty-melting cologne to take me down.

I stomped over to where my bag lay and grabbed it before getting the hell out of Dodge.

"Where are you going?" Lewis yelled after me.

"Home!" I replied. "And I'm taking a mental health day!"