She nodded. “We’re not supposed to be dating . . . if we’re dating . . . and I guess I’m just wondering—”
He bent and cut her off with a soft, lingering kiss, his hand coming up to cup her face. “I don’t care what we’re supposed to be doing or not doing. I only care about being with you.” He grazed her nose with his. “Tomorrow morning, for me, nothing changes.” He dipped his head, kissing a trail from her neck to the corner of her mouth. “You’re mine, and I’m yours. Now that I’ve found you, I’m not letting you go.”
Relief and happiness filtered through her at his words, the butterflies in her stomach doing a celebratory dance. She loved the idea of belonging to him, of having a claim on him. She didn’t want to give him up, not now that she’d found something so big and so bright with him.
“But we’ll have to keep it quiet,” she said, weaving her hand through his hair. “I could lose my job.”
He pressed his forehead to hers and sighed. “Would that be so bad? You don’t need a job. I would take care of you.”
It was the second time he’d said those words to her, and she stilled, not sure what to do with them. A flicker of fear rose up, licking like cold flames up the center of her chest. She didn’t need anyone to pay her bills or her mortgage or buy her groceries. She’d worked damn hard to make sure she could look after herself, something her mom had drilled into her since childhood.
“What do you mean, take care of me?” Her smile felt a little stiff.
“That I want to make sure you have what you need. What you want, what will make you happy.” He sighed and trailed a hand down her body. “You make me feel . . . not defensive . . .” He shook his head, his brow furrowed.
“Protective?” she suggested, and he nodded.
“Yes. I don’t want you to have to worry about things.” He swallowed thickly, and she got the distinct impression that he was debating saying more, but he simply licked his lips and waited for her to speak.
She nodded, knowing that what he’d said came from a good place. “Well, I like working. I like my job and the career I’ve built, and I don’t want to mess it up. I want to work for the WFC, but Craig will flip if he finds out we’re together.”
“But we are together. He’ll find out eventually.”
She sighed. He was right. If she had a future with both Leandro and the WFC, the truth would have to come out at some point. She pursed her lips, mulling it over. “I feel like now isn’t the time to spring this on him. Let me finish out my contract, let’s get through your title defense fight, and then we can figure out what to do.”
“Figure out what to do about us?” he frowned, his eyes taking on a worried glint.
She stroked his cheek. “No, I just mean about work and Craig. I want to be with you, Leo. I’m in.” She was surprised at the lump welling in her throat, but she swallowed around it. He’d shared his family nickname with her yesterday, and she loved the way his entire face lit up when she called him Leo.
The light shifted in his eyes from worried to something hot and triumphant. “Você é meu,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you’re mine.” She was surprised how much she liked his possessiveness, and she realized it was because it didn’t feel stifling or controlling. It made her feel safe and cared for in a way she’d never experienced before. He cleared his throat, his fingers skimming over her neck, his eyes bright with emotion. “I’ve never missed someone the way I miss you when I’m not near you. I never knew I wanted this, but with you, I do. You make me see things in a new way, Ashlynn. I just want to be with you, and if that means keeping it quiet, I can do that.” He smiled and kissed her. “Even if I want to shout from the rooftops that you’re mine.”
A laugh bubbled up out of her. “No shouting from the rooftops. How do you say please in Portuguese?”
“Por favor.”
“Por favor,” she repeated, and his eyes darkened.
“That’s very sexy,” he said, his voice taking on that growly quality that turned her insides to mush.
“Teach me some more,” she said, swinging her leg over his hip and straddling him. She bent forward and kissed him. “How do you say mouth?”
“Boca.”
She nipped at his lip. “I love your boca.” She kissed lower, savoring the taste of his skin under her lips. “What about here?”
“Pescoço,” he said, his voice husky. She repeated it back to him and kissed lower, trailing her mouth over his gorgeously muscled chest. She tapped the skin over his heart.
“Coração,” he said, and then added a string of words after it. She sucked his nipple into her mouth. “Mamilo,” he said, his breath coming a bit faster. She smiled against his skin and slid down his body, learning the words for arm, hand, finger, hip, and stomach before finally reaching her destination.
Cupping his balls, she kissed her way up his shaft. She swirled her tongue once around the head, tasting his arousal. She met his eyes, and he smiled at her, pushing her hair away from her face.
“Caralho,” he said, his hips shifting on the bed.
She gave it a squeeze. “Meu,” she said, and he laughed.
“Yes, minha linda, it’s yours.”
She took a deep breath and took him into her mouth, her lips stretching around him. She tried to move down his thick shaft, but didn’t have much success. She relaxed her jaw and tried again, her eyes watering. Pulling back, she stroked him, and then after another deep breath, tried again, this time gagging when she took him more than a couple of inches into her mouth. He was too thick, and she felt like she couldn’t breathe.
“Sweetheart.” His voice was raspy as he gathered her hair away from her face. “You don’t have to do that.”
She shook her head. “I want to. I want to make you feel good.” She licked all the way up his shaft and then focused her efforts on the head of his cock, using her lips and tongue to suck and lick at him.
“Oh, fuck,” he moaned, his expression tight. “Your mouth feels incredible. Don’t stop.”
Satisfaction curled through her, and she kept up her exploration, stroking him, licking and kissing him, rolling his heavy balls in her hand. She teased her way down his now-slick shaft, stroking it in a steady rhythm as she took one of his balls into her mouth. His hips jerked off the bed, his breath coming in harsh pants.
“I’ve imagined this, Ashlynn, exactly this. So fucking hot. So good. Your mouth, meu Deus.”
She released him and made her way back up his shaft. She glanced up at him, her heart almost stopping at how gorgeous he looked with his hand clenched in his hair, his features tight with need. A surge of feminine power charged through her, making her feel sexy and alive, and she established a rhythm, working him with her mouth and her hands.
“You’re so beautiful. Fuck. You look so pretty with my cock in your mouth. Yesssss,” he hissed as she sucked hard at the spot where the head met the shaft. “I want to come in your beautiful mouth. Meu Deus, I’m close. Shit.”
“I want to taste you.” She dragged her tongue over and around his head, rubbing the underside of his shaft with her thumbs. Wanting to make him feel good, to take care of him the way he cared for her. Maybe his possessiveness wasn’t a one-way street, because she felt nearly overcome with the need to look after him. It was reassuring to know that as lost as she was with him, he was just as lost with her. Lost together in a way that made everything exciting and special. He let out a strangled sound and then she felt the first spurt of his release hit her tongue. She lapped at him enthusiastically, wanting every part of him for herself, feeling greedy for him.
He relaxed back against the pillows, his eyes closed, his chest heaving. She stroked his muscular thighs, reveling in the sight of his golden body in her bed. Hers. Surreal, just like so many other moments this weekend. As though she’d won the lottery and couldn’t stop staring at her winning ticket.
Yeah. She definitely understood where his
possessiveness came from, because she felt it too.
“Do you want some breakfast?” she asked, shifting back on her heels.
He opened first one eye and then the other, that wolfish smile, full of promise, spreading across his face. “I’d rather eat something else.”
She let out a shrieking laugh as he flipped her onto her back, settling himself between her thighs. He teased her, licking all around her clit before finally brushing his lips over it. “I love your pussy,” he said, kissing her deeply. “I’m obsessed.” He sucked her clit into his mouth, swirling his tongue around it in a way that had her hips jerking off the bed, his name falling from her lips. “Addicted.”
God, she knew the feeling.
17
AS ASHLYNN WALKED into the WFC offices on Monday morning, it occurred to her how much could change in a week. This time last week, she’d been fuming at Leandro over his street-racing stunt, figuring out how to get that damn video taken down, and beating herself up for inviting him in, hating him and wanting him all at the same time.
Honestly, it seemed crazy that all of that was only seven days ago, given that she’d spent ten minutes making out with Leandro on her front porch this morning as they’d waited for his car service to pick him up and take him home.
She hummed to herself as she walked up the stairs, her phone buzzing with an incoming text from inside her bag. She fished it out as she started down the hall to her desk.
I miss you already.
A wide smile spread across her face as she read Leandro’s text message. Another one came in before she could respond.
Especially your butt.
She laughed out loud and quickly typed out a reply.
I miss you too. Dinner tonight?
She bit her lip, watching the little dots as he typed his reply. She’d wondered if things would cool off between them now that they were back in the real world, but given that he’d texted her a mere three hours after leaving her place, she had a feeling things weren’t cooling off at all.
I’ll have my house to myself. Come over at 7.
She dropped her purse onto her desk.
My butt and I will see you then.
He texted back the smiling devil emoji, and she laughed again, slipping her phone back into her bag. She’d never had to sneak around with someone before, but she had to admit that it was kinda hot. She’d just have to make sure she didn’t grin like a lovesick idiot any time she was around him in public. Considering that he made her feel like a lovesick idiot, that was going to be a challenge. A little tendril of doubt wound its way through her as she wondered if she was cut out for sneaking around. She was in uncharted waters with this relationship, and that was a little frightening. What if she blew it and they got caught? She’d lose everything she’d worked so hard for.
Before she could take her computer out of her bag, she heard footsteps approaching from behind her, and turned to find Jules and Craig walking toward her. Craig’s face was expressionless, but Jules’ broke into a wide smile, and she pulled Ashlynn into a hug.
“I’m so glad you’re okay. I can’t even imagine how scary that must’ve been. God.” Ashlynn hugged her back, taking the comfort Jules was offering. They weren’t close, but she’d always liked Jules, and it was sweet the way she was obviously relieved to see her.
“It was, but I’m okay.”
Craig nodded, rocking on his heels as he watched them, a wary expression on his face as though this open display of emotion made him uncomfortable. “Do you need some time? Off, I mean?” he asked, rubbing a hand across the back of his neck.
Ashlynn shook her head. “No, I’m okay. I’m just glad we all made it out in one piece, even if some of my stuff didn’t.”
“Send us a bill for whatever was damaged,” said Jules. “We’ll take care of it.”
Craig opened and closed his mouth once before speaking. “It was Oliveira’s plane.”
“Right, but she works for us, not Oliveira.” Jules shot her dad a stern look and he blew out a breath.
“Fine, yeah. Glad you’re okay.” He nodded and then walked back to his office, clearly grumpy about having to replace her damaged things.
Jules rubbed a hand over Ashlynn’s shoulder. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Ashlynn nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure. I had the weekend to recover. It was scary, but it could’ve been so much worse.” As Jules nodded sympathetically, an idea struck Ashlynn. “But, actually . . . could we talk? In your office? I could use some advice.”
“Of course.” Jules turned, and Ashlynn followed her down the hall. Jules’ office was spacious and elegant, done in shades of cream and gray with a large glass desk and floor-to-ceiling windows. A couple of framed pictures of Jules and Nick sat on her desk, bolstering Ashlynn’s courage. Ashlynn closed the door and then sat in one of the chairs facing Jules’ desk.
“So . . . work-related advice?” asked Jules.
Ashlynn blew out a breath. “Well, sort of. I, um . . . I guess I wanted to get your take on something because I know you’ve been in a similar situation, and I’m just a little unsure how to handle it.” Her words tumbled out in a rush before she lost her nerve. “This is just between us, okay? Totally off the record.” She knew it was a risk opening up to Jules, but she also found she needed to talk to someone about what was going on, and out of everyone she knew, Ashlynn was willing to bet that Jules would understand.
Jules arched an eyebrow. “Okay. Sure.”
Ashlynn felt her cheeks heat, and swallowed before continuing. “I, uh . . . I slept with Leandro. In Miami. And then again this weekend.”
Jules’ eyes went wide, a smile lighting up her face. “Oh, wow. I did not see that coming.”
Ashlynn laughed, relaxing back into her chair. “Yeah, me neither.”
“Okay . . . I’m not sure how I can help. I mean, obviously I’m not going to say anything to my dad, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Ashlynn chewed on her bottom lip. “No, it’s not that. We’re kind of . . . a thing . . . now . . . and I know that’s against the WFC’s nonfraternization policy.”
Jules nodded slowly, realization dawning on her pretty face. “And you remember what happened with me and Nick.”
“Yeah. How did you guys handle it, having to fly under the radar? I’ve never been in a situation like this before.”
Jules raised her eyebrows. “Just give me a second. I’m still wrapping my head around you and Leandro being a thing. Like, he’s your boyfriend?”
A zing of happy excitement shot through Ashlynn. “Uh, I think so? Yeah?”
Jules laughed. “Okay, well. As I’m sure you remember, I think that policy is stupid, so I’m totally team Ashlynn and Leandro here.” Her gaze drifted to one of the pictures of her and Nick. “As far as having to fly under the radar . . .” She shook her head, her eyes staring unfocused as she remembered. “It wasn’t easy. I mean, part of the reason that it was challenging for us was because of some lingering stuff from our past, so keeping it a secret only fed into the trust issues we already had. There were days where the sneaking around was fun, but also days where it was really hard.”
“So how did you get through it?”
“I think if you can be open and honest with each other, even if you can’t take your relationship public right now, that’ll help. It’s so easy for miscommunications and hurt feelings to fester in a situation like that. How do you plan to address the whole nonfraternization thing?”
“We’re going to wait until my contract is finished and Leandro’s through his title defense fight and then see where the chips have fallen. If we go public when I’m not technically a WFC employee, that might be our best bet. Similar to how I spun the situation with you and Nick.” She wasn’t sure what to expect when they went public, but she hoped she had enough PR experience to navigate the waters ahead. Timing and method were everything here, especially if she wanted to keep working for the WFC afterward.
Jules nodded, her e
yes bright. “I agree. And just be aware of how you act around him in public. When you’re in that new relationship buzzy rush, it’s so hard not to flirt and touch and stuff. I remember having a really hard time with that.”
Ashlynn smiled, feeling genuinely relieved at having talked to Jules about this. Lighter. And with a clearer sense of how to make this work with Leandro while they were on the down-low. “Thanks so much for talking to me about this. I feel much better now.”
Jules nodded, but her smile had faded and she looked troubled. “Hmm . . . so I’m not trying to butt into your life or anything, but if you’re with Leandro now . . .”
Ashlynn frowned, unsure where Jules was going with that. “Yeah?”
“Well, some guy showed up here last week. I was going to call you about it Friday after you got back, but then with the plane crash I thought I should wait.”
Ashlynn still wasn’t sure what Jules meant, but her stomach tumbled and she immediately thought of Jason. Had he come back here? “Who was he?”
“Jason? He said he was your boyfriend, but . . . I don’t know. Something was off.”
Ashlynn let out a long sigh, her cheeks heating with embarrassment. “I’m really, really sorry about that. He’s not my boyfriend. We went out a couple of times, I didn’t want to see him again, and he’s not getting the message.” She pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling the creeping pull of a tension headache. God, going out with Jason had been such a mistake.
“Hey, no, it’s okay. He seemed like a creep, and like I said, something seemed off.” Jules gave her an understanding smile.
“He is a creep. I’m sorry that he bothered you.” Mentally, she added figuring out what to do about Jason’s fixation on her to her to-do list.
“You know if you need help, you just need to ask, okay? And I thought I should give you a heads-up.”
“I appreciate it. Thanks, Jules.”
Jules glanced down at her watch. “Shit, I have a quick off-site meeting before our sit-down at ten thirty. Any time you need someone to talk to, you know where to find me, okay? Or if you ever want to grab a glass of wine and gossip about how amazing fighters are in bed.” Jules winked and grabbed her briefcase from under her desk.
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