KNOCKOUT: An Opposites Attract Romance (Unlikely Matches Book 1)

by Gabrielle Snow

  With a blatant look of victory on his face, he took a big gulp and slammed his bottle down on the wooden table.

  “Are you done?”

  “Have you even tried flirting with her?”

  “I’ll have you know that I did.” Raising an eyebrow, I took a sip while jokingly inflating my chest.

  His expression suddenly became flat. “And?”

  “Nothing.” I widened my eyes and shrugged, quickly shaking my head as if he had just asked an incredibly stupid question.

  “What if she asks you out?” He tilted his head. “I mean, flirting did pave the way for that.”

  “I’ll let her down easy.”

  Agitatedly raising both hands in the air, he opened his mouth for a second before his palms held his head, clearly at a loss. “Why?”

  “I simply don’t have the time,” I enunciated. “Or the mental space. Or the emotional capacity, for that matter.” Frustrated by the very reality I had just vocalized, I took a bigger sip.

  “And is that what you’re gonna tell her?” He skeptically narrowed his eyes at me.

  What was I going to tell her?

  “I—”

  I was lost for words.

  “Connor?” Leaning forward, he pressed the tip of his index finger on the table. “I can’t even remember the last time you talked about a woman, let alone said that you liked her. I think you’re making a big mistake.”

  Chapter 7

  Azaria.

  THE MEMORY OF MY SENSATIONAL night with Connor had begun as a breathtaking recollection that sent delicious shivers down my spine.

  But as the days went by, growing into two full weeks, that remembrance slowly and agonizingly transformed into a source of concern, worry, and finally, anger.

  Connor hadn’t called or texted me since that night, nor had he been showing up to any of his classes. In fact, he hadn’t even set foot in the studio since his last session before our date.

  As my mind began to wonder about what could have happened to him, awful worst-case scenarios plagued my vivid imagination, leaving my training sessions over the top and aggressive.

  Every time I thought about the prospect of Cute Connor getting hurt or being in trouble, I resorted to my boxing bag and let it all out, punching and kicking until my limbs hung limp and I was drenched in sweat.

  And when my body was beat, that was when my demons would resurface, stabbing at my self-esteem and sense of worth, telling me that I wasn’t good enough for Dr. Cute.

  I was about to fall prey to another whirlpool of self-pity and toxic penance when, on the fifteenth night, I attempted to distract myself with a meaningless run of social media consumption.

  As midnight approached, I laid in bed with my thumb mindlessly swiping along the bright screen, scrolling through dozens of uninteresting posts.

  And then my eyes grew wider.

  Connor Kelly had posted about a new research study he had stumbled upon and thought was worthy of sharing.

  1 hour ago, the timestamp declared.

  My stomach was immediately tied into a knot.

  An entire research paper about fracking being linked to a rare birth defect in horses was worthy of his precious time. But Azaria Gonzalez clearly did not deserve a ten-minute explanation when he decided to disappear immediately after fucking her on their first date.

  Seeing red, I felt nothing but the rush of hot blood upward as my heartbeats deafened me with their roaring echo resounding in my ears.

  Oh, no.

  Connor Kelly, you were not about to get away with disrespecting me like that.

  As if I were out of my own body, I saw myself leaping out of bed and jumping into the first pair of joggers and hoodie my eyes landed on. Without much thought, I texted my mother and sister who were already asleep.

  Went out for a late-night walk. Don’t worry.

  And I rushed out of the apartment.

  I couldn’t remember how my feet had landed me there, but as I stood outside his door, my fist banged against the solid wood loud enough for me not to hear his mumbled verbalization as his hurried footsteps approached.

  The door flew open and there he was, his hair in disarray and his eyes puffy.

  “Oh, did I wake you?” My palms shoved him by the chest as I marched into the apartment before swinging the door shut behind me.

  I turned around to face him while he stood there, completely baffled with eyes wide open and mouth agape. “Azaria, I—”

  “You don’t get to say my name, cabrón!” I hissed. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”

  “Wha—” He instinctively raised his hands in the air.

  I immediately stepped forward, bitterly narrowing my eyes as he took a step back. “I thought you were different.” My index finger pointed at him in utter indictment.

  “Will you give me a chance to ex—”

  “Explain what?” I raised my voice. “That you thought I’m some sort of zorra you could fuck and ditch?”

  “No!” Shock was evident in his big eyes.

  “Then what? What was that? You disappear for two whole weeks? Not a call, not a word on text, nothing? I thought you were fucking dead!”

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered and I could see that his whole body shook like a leaf.

  My eyes regarded him in sheer disgust. “Sorry.” I shrugged, taking a step away from him as I could barely tolerate being near him at that moment. “Look at you, you’re such a coward.”

  “Aza—”

  “Don’t.” I gritted my teeth. “Just when I thought that you were the most decent man I’d ever met, you go and disrespect me like that. You’re making me sick.”

  My body mirrored his trembling, but for different reasons.

  While his astonishment threw him off balance, my insides were being torn apart. I had truly believed that he was a good man who would never hurt me, yet there I was, feeling cheaper than anyone had ever made me feel before.

  “I said I’m sorry,” he yelled, his voice breaking while his face turned red. His hands stopped shaking as he pressed them into tight fists beside him.

  “Do you have anything else to fucking say to me?” I shouted, frustration getting the best of me.

  “I was scared,” he declared from between his teeth. “And far too comfortable with the way my life was until you appeared and then I no longer knew where I began and where you ended!”

  He spoke quickly, distress visible in every twitch of his body.

  “Get a grip, doctor, and level with me.” My eyes challenged him. “Tell me something I can understand.”

  “I—” Shaking his head in defeat, he took a step closer, covering the distance between us until his face was only a few inches away from mine. “I think I’m in love with you,” he bitterly whispered.

  Unable to absorb what he had just said, I had to swallow past the lump in my throat. My eyes skeptically studied his face, and I was aware of how defensive my stance was in the moment.

  “Miss Warrior,” he shook his head once again, “you had me from the moment you walked into my life with that dog in a carrier.”

  Straightening my shoulders, I pulled my head back an inch, deepening our eye contact as I did.

  Was that a lie?

  “You’re so...” His palm touched my cheek and his fingertips softly fiddled with a lock of hair by my temple. “Beautiful.” A bitter smile took over his face as he slowly blinked. “A total knockout.”

  He fixed his eyes on my lips and my knees grew weaker.

  “I should knock you out for being such a fucking idiot,” I whispered, barely keeping up my defenses against his touch and the sincerity in his clear eyes.

  He raised his gaze to meet mine. “That wouldn’t be too hard for you.”

  Violently shaking my head, I lifted my hand and pushed his wrist away as I took a few steps back. Grateful for the couch behind me, I threw my weight down backward, letting myself land with a quake.

  “What were you thinking?” I leaned forward,
impatiently rubbing my forehead with both hands.

  “Thinking?” he scoffed, still standing in the middle of the living room. “I’ve been torn, Azaria. The effect you had on me shook me to my core.”

  I scowled up at him with a head tilt.

  “I couldn’t tell my friends or family, I couldn’t focus on work, I couldn’t focus at all.”

  Sneering, I threw an arm in the air, “And decided that I didn’t have a say in the matter. Like I wasn’t even a person.”

  “I wanted to, but I didn’t know what to say!”

  “You could have tried, Connor, or do you think I don’t deserve an attempt?”

  “Of course, I—”

  “And what, you think I don’t have my fears? Meeting someone and facing that...” I waved my hands in the air, “that incredible chemistry just out of nowhere? You don’t think that kind of shift affects my life, too?”

  “A—I...”

  A sorry gaze filled my eyes. “You only think about yourself.”

  “I thought of nothing but you in the past two weeks.” He sat down on the coffee table a foot away. “I wanted nothing more than to be with you, and I have never felt that way for anyone before in my life.”

  “And radio silence was your solution.”

  “I knew I messed up and I didn’t know how to fix it!”

  Sighing, I closed my eyes for a moment. The sight of him in such a state was distracting me.

  “I love you, Azaria.” The candor in his voice made me open my eyes.

  It reminded me of my impression of him on our date.

  Straightforward and uncomplicated.

  And now that he had declared it again, my heart was raging against my chest. I had been fighting the same urge since he said it the first time.

  Oh, how I wished he meant it.

  “I love you, too, Connor,” I whispered, keeping my eyes on his, searching for the trick behind the emotion.

  He raised his eyebrows, almost in disbelief. “What?”

  Regaining my composure, I lifted my chin. “I do. But you’re not off the hook, Dr. Kelly. You really hurt me.”

  Chapter 8

  Connor.

  DESPITE HER BEST EFFORTS to conceal her vulnerability, I could somehow see through my beautiful Miss Warrior’s high-rise walls.

  I had hurt her, of that I was certain.

  But her presence on my living room couch was nothing but a testimony to her strength and authenticity. When she said she loved me, my mind fought hard against believing her, while my heart leaped out of my chest in an attempt to go over to her and nestle within her arms.

  For the first time in my entire existence, I was willing to give my heart to someone, knowing full well that it would be taken care of.

  I couldn’t think. I couldn’t speak.

  My whole being propelled me forward, channeling all of the conflicting energies within me into my lips as I pressed them against hers. She was quiet, her hands coming up around my shoulders, body leaning into mine. I bit on her lower lip and swallowed back the gasp as my tongue darted into her mouth, the two of us moving backward, so she was spread out across my couch.

  “Let me make it up to you,” I whispered against her mouth. “Let me show you how much I love you.”

  “Connor, I—”

  I pressed a finger to her lips. “Please.”

  Slowly, her head bobbed up then down, a sigh escaping her lips. I pressed my forehead to hers, took a deep breath then leaned back on my thighs. Her eyes remained on my face, emotion pooling in their depths as I undressed her, taking my time as I peeled her clothes off her body. Once she was naked, I motioned for her to flip over, and I shimmied forward, resting my hips against her round ass.

  I placed both my hands on her shoulders and kneaded the muscles there, pressing and grazing, delighting in the little moans of pleasure she made. She gave herself up to me as I moved my fingers down her back, tracing a pattern only I could see until I stopped at her waist. Then, I moved back up, focused on her, and her alone until the tension seeped away.

  Soon, she was completely relaxed and twisted over to face me. Hungrily, I pressed my lips to hers, pausing only to slide my shirt off my back and chuck it onto the floor. I pressed myself atop her, hard nipples digging into my chest, and groaned.

  She ran her fingers through my hair then yanked, claiming my mouth with hers, all at once soft and searing. Her legs wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer and guiding me into her. I placed my hands on either side of her, then thrust, a soft hiss passing through my lips.

  She was amazing.

  Every inch of her powerful, and capable, and beautiful.

  I thrust even further, grunting as her nails ran across my back, leaving marks on my skin. My head came to rest in the crook of her neck, catching a whiff of coconut as my mouth tugged on her earlobe before I sank my teeth into her shoulder.

  Underneath me, she writhed, panting, and impatient with desire. In the next instant, I had both of her legs up over my shoulders, catching the surprised look on her face. Quickly, it was replaced by a more primal look, one that struck me straight to my core.

  She was mine, and I, hers.

  I moved slowly at first, watching her face as indecision gave way to hunger then acceptance. Little by little, her defenses slipped away, and she gave herself to me with wild and reckless abandon, skin slapping against skin.

  Our moans echoed back to us, loud and sensual in the confines of my apartment. Soon, I was slick with sweat as I flicked my hair out my face, and took her finger into my mouth. Her lips parted in surprise, eyes wide with hunger as she moved against me, meeting thrust for thrust.

  All at once, she thrashed underneath me, her body twisting and writhing as she rode out her orgasm. I slowed my thrusts until she tossed her head back, hair matted to her forehead, and eyes half-open. Her lips curled into a half-smile as she placed her hands on my chest and pushed. Startled, I stumbled back and watched as she eased off the couch, and slid onto the floor.

  Without warning, she lifted her hips up, craned her neck over her shoulder, and gave me a heated look. I scrambled up off the couch, positioned myself behind her, my hands on her back, and thrust in.

  She threw her head back and let out a deep throaty moan, one that made the blood in my veins sing. I eased out then thrust back in, lost in the feeling of her warmth, of her round, firm ass beneath my fingertips.

  Holy shit.

  Suddenly, she leaned back into me, and my hands went to her breasts, twisting the nipples between my fingers before I moved onto the other one. I rested my head against her back, her low and husky voice echoing in my head, the feel of her imprinted on my soul.

  Unexpectedly, she reached behind and threaded her fingers through my hair, the gesture sending delicious shivers racing up and down my spine. Then, her hand fell into a fist at her side, her entire body reacting to me, over and over and over.

  She let out a strangled cry as she bent forward on her elbows, shuddering as the force of her pleasure ripped through her. I bit down on my lip, grunted, and emptied myself into her, still warm and inviting.

  Afterward, she curled against my side, with my arm wrapped around her shoulder. I pressed a kiss to the side of her neck, and she threw a leg over mine, her entire body thrumming with satisfaction.

  “Well, that was not what I expected,” she admitted.

  “No?” I brushed back her hair. “What were you expecting?”

  “I’m not sure,” she murmured. “But not this.”

  “I know it’s crazy, but I know how I feel, Azaria, and if you’ll give me another chance, I know I can make you happy. I won’t hurt you again, and it’s not just because you’d storm in here and kick my ass if I did.”

  Azaria snorted. “You bet your ass I would, papi.”

  I tilted her chin back and looked into her eyes. “So, what do you think? Will you give me a second chance?”

  “It’s not crazy,” Azaria replied, eyes searching my face. “I feel
it too.”

  “So, is that a yes?” I asked hopefully.

  “It depends.”

  “On?”

  “Do you like pineapple on your pizza?” Azaria wondered seriously.

  “Not really.”

  Azaria grinned. “I knew I had a keeper.”

  THE END.

  I hope you enjoyed Connor’s & Azaria’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it!

  If you’d like to read more of my work, check out my other books below and a free sample of Forbidden Attraction!

  Want a FREE Gabrielle Snow book?

  Click here to sign up for my mailing and receive a free copy of Deadly Arrangements (a steamy billionaire romance for subscribers only!). In addition to the free story, you will also get exclusive stories and news of new releases.

  About the Author

  Gabrielle Snow writes intriguing and sexy contemporary romance novels (often featuring alpha billionaires) - also her personal favorites to read.

  Gabrielle loves all things romantic and steamy - she is, for the lack of a better word, a hopeless romantic with a little bit of spice added to the mix. Sometimes real life doesn't deliver enough of it, so books and films are her favorite pastime.

  You could say that Gabrielle finds opposites attractive: she enjoys sunny weather but finds more inspiration for her novels during rainy days. One of her favorite ways to spend a rainy day is indoors, writing a romance novel with a glass of wine in hand (red, without a doubt).

  More books from Gabrielle Snow

  SECRET SERIES

  SECRET LIES (BOOK 1)

  Secret Deal (Book 2)

  Secret Affair (Book 3)

  SECRET OBSESSION (BOOK 4)

  Secret Ways (Book 5)

  MY BILLIONAIRE BOSS SERIES

  Forbidden Attraction (Book 1)