The Wrong Brother's Temptation novel Chapter 165

Chapter 165

Sienna

B35 youcher

The heavy bag kept swinging under the force of his fists, chains creaking. In fact, it felt like he was hitting the punching bag even harder now that I had arrived.

Sweat flew with every impact and the sound of his punches echoed through the space.

I cleared my throat louder and said his name this time but again it got me nothing.

A spark of irritation cut through the nerves fluttering in my stomach. I stepped around the bag until I was directly in his line of sight, close enough that the next time it swung a bit too hard, it would have to go through me.

“What are you doing?” I demanded.

Connor’s eyes stayed locked on the leather as he pulled his hand back and another vicious combination of fast flying punches attacked the bag hard enough to make it shudder.

I looked up at the chain and the hook that swung wildly and creaked horribly like it would break into pieces any second.

“That punching bag will fall on your head at this rate!”

He completely ignored me but I noticed how he was punching the bag bare handed, without wearing the boxing gloves. There was blood smeared across his knuckles, some cuts deep enough that even a breeze would make it hurt. But he continued pounding on the bag relentlessly, ignoring the blood trailing down his wrist.

My gaze flicked to the bag that had dark, flaky patches of red splattered across it as well.

There was no need for him to overexert himself because there was no physical test today.

“Stop it, Connor” I said again and when he didn’t reply, I added “Why are you punishing yourself?”

I took a step closer towards the punching bag, willing him to look at me.

“I’m asking you something.”

“Leave me alone.” He finally replied in a gruff voice but still hadn’t looked my way.

The words were flat, devoid of his usual dry humor.

Plus he really sounded like he hadn’t slept much. The thought sent an unwanted twist through my chest.

Was he anxious about the interview today and this was his way of coping up? Even if he pretended to not care, I knew he really wanted the alpha title.

I lifted my chin. “No.”

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The Wrong Brother’s Temptation

35

He finally glanced at me. The look lasted less than a second, but it was enough. His eyes were darker than usual, rimmed with exhaustion, and there was a tightness around his mouth that made my pulse jump for reasons that had nothing to do with fear.

“You’re bleeding,” I said softly.

“Step out of the way.”

“What’s gotten into you today?” I tried to keep the irritation off my voice.

“If the bag hits you, then that’s on you, not me.”

ned. “Aren’t you in a really charming mood this morning?”

dnt say a word but simply drove a powerful kick into the bag, turning around on a foot without trippin

chain creaked audibly due to the impact and the bag swung towards me but didn’t reach me. It just flew towards him and he scowled.

Step out of the way, Sienna”

He didn’t hit the bag but kept holding it, hoping for me to leave but I placed my hands on my hips, jutting m chin up to show him I wasn’t afraid of him.

He punched it again and the heavy bag swung straight toward my face. I braced on pure instinct, my eyelids fluttering shut as I felt certain I would get hit brutally right in the face.

I held my breath, my fingers curling into fists uselessly at my side but the attack never came.

Slowly, I opened my eyes and noticed that the punching bag had stopped a hair’s breadth from my nose, held back in one of his hands, the muscles straining visibly.

Connor’s bruised and battered knuckles held it there and I only stared at him wide eyed.

He was breathing hard, water and sweat still running down his throat. We were close enough that I could see the rapid beat of his pulse under his jaw and feel the heat rolling off his bare skin.

My mouth went dry.

“I asked to be left alone.” His voice was low and rough. “You’re bad at listening.”

“And you’re bad at taking care of yourself. Your knuckles are split open for Goddess sake.”

“They’ll heal.” He replied gruffly.

Just what had pissed hi

“That doesn’t

Somethi

feelin

m worse, especially not today.”

been annoyance or the effort of holding whatever he was

The Wrong Brother’s Temptation

He released the bag slowly, a muscle in his jaw ticking as it swung once more between us and settled.

But I refused to be intimidated like that.

I didn’t step back and his gaze roamed over me, looking at me properly for the first time since my arrival.

Every place his eyes touched seemed to burn. I was suddenly, vividly aware of the yellow dress I had chosen, of how much of my legs it left bare, and of the fact that I had spent the entire walk here imagining how relieved he would be when I told him the meds were working.

He didn’t look relieved. In fact, he looked pissed.

“Maria said you refused breakfast,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. “Twice.”

“I am not hungry

“I brought food

“Then take

The dry

entang

I cr

have felt familiar because that’s how he would talk to me back when we weren’t e relationship.

mostly to give my hands something to do.

face the elders later. You can’t do it running on no sleep and no food and…and whatever this

e dropped briefly to my mouth, and I forced my body to stay still as he dragged his eyes back to again.

was quick, but my skin still prickled with a mix of unease and anticipation.

should have applied the ointment before coming to meet him.

he said quietly, “is me dealing with the stuff that’s annoying me.”

called the last time I had seen him bare chested like this in the garden, sweating profusely when I had directly called him a creep who would take advantage of me by messing with my drinks.

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