Rowena “Take it easy.” Eric’s strong arm easily looped around my waist, steadying me before I could stumble from our sudden impact. He smirked down at me, his blue eyes catching the warm sunlight streaming in from overhead. “What are you doing out here?” he asked, glancing past me. “Visiting the combat manager’s office?” I blinked up at him, my heart stuttering at his sudden proximity. Eric was dressed in his combat training uniform—a simple black t-shirt and gray joggers that hugged his muscular form in all the right places. Beads of sweat glistened at his temples, evidence of a recent workout. Seeing him like this made my blood run hot. I felt something deep and primal stir in the pits of my stomach, and I hated that my body was reacting like this. “I… I was just at the

