Chapter 2:
Lucien had lost count of the number of pull-ups, push-ups, curls, and squats he had done. He just knew he had to keep going until he collapsed from exhaustion.
Lucien was no stranger to this type of exercise. After losing so much weight and strength in the POW camp, he had worked his muscles almost every day to ensure he would never be that weak again.
Now he pushed himself to get even stronger. If he was going to marry Jean, he vowed he would protect her and keep her safe from anyone or anything that might wish her harm. He had seen too much violence as both an Army Officer and a Police Surgeon. Just thinking about protecting Jean made Lucien work even harder.
Lately, there had been another reason he forced himself to physical exhaustion. He was frustrated. Jean insisted on sleeping in her own bed until they were married. Ever the gentleman, Lucien never pressured Jean to do anything she didn't want to do. That didn't mean it was easy for him. In fact, he was close to boiling over on most nights. He found relief, albeit temporary, in the physical exertion he sought in the garage.
Lucien was so absorbed in his routine; he almost missed the quiet gasp that floated from the doorway. He turned and saw Jean staring at him, her mouth agape. He could tell by the scarlet color that crept over her cheeks, that she had been watching him for some time.
He expected her to turn around and run through the door, but to his surprise, Jean started walking towards him. There was a look in her eyes he had never seen before. It was pure desire, bordering on lust. It almost matched what he felt inside.
He knew if she continued to walk towards him, the gentleman in Lucien would not win tonight. Just as a broom being swept over a dirty floor kicks up dust, so too had so much strength training wreaked havoc on his testosterone levels. He would love Jean like she had never been loved before. He knew he should stop her or walk away, but he was stuck, frozen in place.