I stopped hitting the bag and rested my gloved fists on my hips as I took heavy breaths. Walter picked up the water bottle and held it to my lips for me. After another long drink, I stepped back.

“Thanks,” I panted.

“How are you feeling?” Walter asked me.

“Tired,” I smiled at him breathlessly. “Already.”

“You’ve been going for a while actually,” Walter told me. “You’re getting better.”

“Thanks,” I said again with a raise of my brows.

Walter’s lips shifted into a sweet smile, “You want to do some more?”

“Of course,” I replied with a smirk. “I’m paying for this membership and I barely even come as it is. I have to do more.”

He chuckled and regained his position behind the large punching bag, holding it in place for me.

“Alright, give me ten left hooks and then ten right hooks,” he told me. “Then do that all over again twice more.”

I nodded and with a short intake of breath, I started. Walter counted for me as I delivered the blows and the only sounds in the room were the pounding of leather against leather, my panting and Walter’s low voice.

“Uppercuts,” he called when I finished.

I started using my arms to punch upwards, as if aiming for right under my opponent’s jaw. My muscles felt like they were on fire and I clenched my jaw in efforts to keep on going. I would definitely feel it tomorrow. I was sweating like crazy.

“That’s good, Coral,” Walter let go of the bag.

I still hadn’t had the chance to catch my breath when Walter came up behind me and started to help me take off my gloves. His body was warm, pressed up against mine. I found myself leaning back into him as he freed my hands and unravelled the hand wraps.

“Walter, I’m sweaty,” I murmured as he started planting soft kisses on the side of my neck.

“I don’t mind at all,” I felt his breath on my skin as he chuckled lightly.

His hands slid down my sides, making me shiver. Walter didn’t attempt to slide his hands up my top like I usually did to him, he held my hips instead. I wanted to turn around and kiss him, but the kisses he was giving me were making my knees weak. Walter could be so gentle sometimes and I loved it as much as I did when he was being heated. As long as our clothes stayed on. I couldn’t help the flashbacks and fear whenever I was put in a situation similar to those I’d been put in during my childhood, but the counselling was helping. I didn’t freak out anymore if I was just in my underwear in front of Walter, not that he made any moves to touch me when I was in any state of undress. He was careful like that.

I turned around and Walter’s hands stayed low, finding my behind. He gripped it tight and I gasped as I leaned up to kiss his lips. Walter tasted good, he always did. His mouth was hot and we kissed slowly as I ran my hands up and down his toned arms. I wanted more and I could tell Walter did too.

“Pick me up,” I broke away from his mouth and breathed raggedly.

Walter’s brows were creased the way they were when he was turned on and I could feel just how much that was, when he picked me up so that I could wrap my legs around his waist. We kissed again, harder this time, and the feeling of being lifted off the ground in Walter’s arms was amazing. I gripped his dark hair and he groaned quietly.

“I have to stop,” Walter panted, opening his hazel eyes.

“Okay,” I said, not wanting to push things too far.

I knew it was difficult for him, physically, to go so far but then not go any further. I didn’t want to make him too uncomfortable, especially when I wasn’t ready to take things to the next stage.

“Sorry,” I said as Walter set me back down on my feet again.

Walter smiled at me as he regained his breath, “Don’t worry about it. I love you and everything you do to me.”

I nodded and then threaded my fingers through his once he had picked up our bag.

“I love you too,” I said to him.

Walter kissed the top of my head and we left the small side room, turning the lights out behind us.