by Abby Niles
A derisive laugh shot out of her as she shook her head. “Those assholes. What a shitty way to back someone into a corner.” She paused, her gaze searching his. “It’s time for both of us to walk away.”
There was a plea in her voice. It was the second time today she’d asked him to leave the McNealys behind. And for the second time today, he’d have to disappoint her.
“I can’t. I owe them that money. If they hadn’t given it to me, Skylar probably wouldn’t have recovered. No matter how I feel about them, I owe them.”
She studied him for a long moment. “How much do you still have to go?”
“After winning tonight, I still owe them just shy of thirty thousand dollars.”
Shock rounded her eyes, then she shook her head. “I’m not sure why I’m so surprised by that number. I’m a doctor. I know how much treatments can cost.” She chewed on her lip. “I respect you for wanting to honor your debt, but you can’t continue fighting the way you are. Nobody can fight like that and not have serious health consequences.”
And here they went again. Even though what she said was true, it didn’t change the fact it was the only choice he had. She may no longer be afraid of what the McNealys would to do, but he was. He had a daughter to think about, and if he just told the cousins to fuck off, he could be putting Skylar, Piper…hell, even Kelsey…in danger. “I just need to win a few more.”
She swept her hand at him. “Look at yourself. I know you don’t want to hear this, but your body can’t handle much more of this abuse. I’ve known you barely a month and you’ve fought seven times that I know of. Something bad is going to happen. You’re going to break something, or rupture something, or worse. My God, the amount of hits you’ve been taking could lead to brain damage.” She chewed on her lip again then inhaled deeply. “What if I paid the remaining balance off?”
“Fuck no.” He shot to his feet, then groaned as his body protested. He didn’t want her money. If he’d known this would’ve been the outcome of sharing his story, he would’ve kept his mouth shut. “This is my debt and I’ll repay it. No one else.”
“Then pay me back.”
“I will not be in debt to the woman I’m—” He snapped his mouth closed.
Kelsey tilted her head at him. “The woman you’re what, Lance?”
Falling in love with.
The realization hit him with the power of a heavyweight’s fist, leaving him slightly dazed. Fuck, he was starting to fall for this woman. That’s why he’d been so frantic to get to her tonight, to make her understand. Why her judgment had hurt so fucking much.
And what had she done?
She’d offered to save him. To fix his problems for him. The fact she had that money available bothered the shit out of him. She was a well-established doctor, and he was a blue-collar worker who was on the final days of a fighting career. She deserved better than that.
“I won’t take your money,” he said, ignoring her question.
“Lance—”
“No. End of discussion.”
Her lips pressed into a tight line. “Fine.”
God, he hated it when women used that word. It usually meant the complete opposite. But he didn’t want to argue anymore. “Are we good now?”
As he waited for her answer, his stomach clenched.
“Lance, I’m ready to go back home. It’s time.”
He pushed aside his disappointment, cursing the selfishness of the feeling. He knew this time would come, but he wasn’t ready to let her go yet. “Just stay a little longer.”
The idea of a rejection spurred him into motion. Words weren’t enough. She needed to be reminded of what came to life between them as soon as they touched.
He grabbed her face between his palms and claimed her mouth with his. She squeaked in surprise before she relaxed into him and parted her lips. As he swiped his tongue inside, he moaned softly when she sweetened his mouth. God, he loved kissing this woman. Everywhere. Anywhere.
He slowed the kiss to lingering seductive brushes then lifted his head.
She gazed at him, lips swollen and wet from his kiss. “Yes, for a little longer,” she whispered.
He wanted her to always stay, but that wasn’t an option for them. Fuck, he was in for some heartbreak when she left, but he’d be right here with her until she did.
…
Listening to the sound of streaming water coming through the door, Ella stood outside the master bathroom and waited impatiently for him to finish. Lance needing a shower had killed the go-with-the-moment-sex they had been leading up to earlier in the living room, but he’d insisted, saying he was disgusting from the fight and he wouldn’t touch her until he was completely clean. Though she’d suggested taking a shower together, he’d nixed that idea, too.
She’d figured he’d be in there a few minutes, tops. A quick scrub down, then dry off and they could go at it. But no. Twenty minutes had passed, and the water continued to run.
She was done waiting. As she cracked open the door, icy air greeted her and she shivered. What the hell? Wrapping her arms around her middle, she stepped into the chilly room. Had he seriously been taking a cold shower this entire time?
She pulled back the shower curtain, and the wide expanse of his shoulders captivated her. She reached out to touch him, but froze as her gaze dipped to the darkening bruise staining the skin of his lower back. Her stomach dropped.
“Jesus, Lance,” she whispered.
He twisted around, and a grimace contorted his face. The need to shower alone suddenly made sense. He hadn’t wanted to get clean. He was trying to loosen up his muscles.
“Turn around,” she demanded.
Giving a resigned sigh, he slowly faced her.
The earlier splotches on his torso had started to purple. Good God. How was he even moving?
Though she understood now why he continued to fight, it didn’t make seeing his injuries any easier. What he’d done for Skylar showed he was a devoted father.
She respected his choices, she respected him, but there had to be another way. If he was too damn stubborn to find one, she’d find it for him.
“I was hoping the bruising wouldn’t set in until tomorrow,” he said. “I didn’t want you to see this. I know it upsets you, but it looks worse than it is.”
“I call bullshit on that.”
“If you think we’re backing out of tonight—”
“You really think you’re up for it?”
“I think I have a desperate need for you to touch me, and a couple of fucking bruises isn’t going to stop that.”
Still she hesitated. As a doctor, she knew what he needed was rest. Not more activity. As a woman, she needed him.
“Please, Kelsey. I need to feel your touch.”
The raw honesty in his voice compelled her closer. She laid her hand on the bruise on his shoulder. The icy skin yanked a gasp out of her. “Get out.”
As she snatched a towel off the rack, he shut the water off and stepped out of the tub. He reached for the towel, but she shook her head and began patting him dry, first on the shoulders and back, then working her way down. She tried to ignore the painful marks scattered over his body, but she kept pausing in her task to inspect each wound with a doctor’s critical eye. Each one appeared to be just bruising and not caused by some internal injury.
“Stop gawking at them. I’m fine. You have to trust me on that.”
Knowing what he said was true, she took his hand and led him to the bedroom.
“Lay down,” she instructed. When he cocked a brow upward, she crossed her arms, ready for a fight if he planned to put up one. “I’m in control tonight.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Well, that was easy enough, and probably spoke volumes on how dog tired he was. Knowing he was watching, she tugged her shirt over her head, and he growled his appreciation. She didn’t try to cover her scar anymore, not from him. Lance had seen every inch of her body and had never made it a secret he loved what he saw. I
t gave her power. Strength. And she believed she was as desirable now as she was before she’d been inflicted with it.
Reaching behind her, she unclasped her bra then tossed it onto the ground.
He groaned. “Do you have any idea how much I love your breasts?”
She did. Among other parts of her body.
After she unbuttoned her jeans and slid them off along with her panties, she climbed up beside him. Biting her lip, she eyed the body before her. Even bruised, the man was magnificent, and she wasn’t sure where she wanted to start. Everything called to her—his lips, his neck and shoulders, the hot-as-hell tatted arm, his abs, and the impressive cock, standing proud.
As much as she wanted to close her mouth around the rigid flesh, she decided to focus on the top half of him first. She leaned over him and her nipples grazed the fine hairs on his chest. Everything about this man was an aphrodisiac. She pressed her mouth to his in a slow, sensual meeting of the lips. He sighed into her mouth, causing her to smile.
She loved that he was just as affected by her as she was by him.
Working her way down, she kissed, licked, and caressed his body. She paid special, loving attention to the bruises, brushing her mouth against his skin, and she took encouragement from the soft growl vibrating from his chest. When she finally worked her way down his torso, she took his cock in one hand and closed her lips over the sensitive head.
His fingers immediately threaded into the back of her hair and knotted. At first his hold was light, but with each bob his grip tightened, and she loved the taut feeling. As she gently cupped the twin sacks between his legs, he tugged on her hair, bringing her head up.
“That’s enough, love. Much more and we won’t get to finish this.”
They couldn’t have that, but she couldn’t help feeling just a little feminine satisfaction that she’d brought him that close to the brink.
She reached for the condom he’d placed on the nightstand before he’d taken a shower. After tearing open the wrapper, she slowly rolled it down the long length of him. When Lance reached for her, she wagged her finger.
“I’ll do all the work.”
A wolfish smile curved his lips as he relaxed back against the pillows. “By all means, have your way with me.”
Oh, she planned to.
She straddled his waist, took him in her hand and guided him in. She couldn’t stop a groan as he stretched her full. She took a second to just enjoy the feel of him embedded deep inside of her.
As she began to move on him, he rested his hands on her hips, helping her set a slow, even pace. Her breasts bounced, her scar was visible—and she’d never felt as beautiful as she did with the heated way Lance watched her rock on top of him.
Placing one hand on his shoulder for balance, she moved the other between her legs, never once taking her eyes off this man. His gaze followed her movements then narrowed on the fingers rubbing her clit.
He moved to replace her hand with his, and she slowly shook her head. “Just watch.”
And he did. Intently. The combination of the feel of him inside her, the pressure of her fingers, and the intense heat of his gaze sent her over the edge. She threw her head back on a moan, not holding anything back, knowing that Lance loved watching her come.
“Fuck,” he gritted out between clenched teeth. His grip on her hips tightened, and he bucked up into her hard and fast. The added speed sent her into a second release, and as she fell into another groan inducing orgasm, Lance came with her.
As he slowed his pace, his breathing came out in short, hard puffs. Placing a kiss on his lips, she slowly lifted off him, and curled into his side. He wrapped his arm around her and hugged her close, a soft satisfied sound coming from his relaxed body.
“You okay?” she whispered.
“Never better,” he murmured, then stiffly got up to go to the bathroom.
When he returned, he grunted in pain as he climbed back in bed and spooned up behind her. Within moments, his breathing slowed, and she tilted her head back to look at him. He was out cold. He’d spent what had been left of his energy to be with her. She brushed the tips of her fingers across the cut on his cheekbone. No one should have to go through the torture he was putting himself through. How could she help him?
She had to figure out a way to get him out before his next fight, because the next fight could be the one that completely did him in.
Chapter Ten
A few days later, Lance leaned against the doorway to his kitchen as he watched Kelsey scramble eggs at the stove. The day after he convinced her to stay for a while longer, he’d brought her back to his place. She’d been in awe of the house, in awe of the barn in his backyard that he’d transformed into a gym. It felt good to show her that he did have more than a large debt.
She’d stayed here ever since. He’d been surprised by how much her presence brought this house back to life. In just a few short days, Kelsey had made what had become just a house into a home again.
There was a very selfish part of him that hoped she’d fall in love with this place—fall in love with him—and not want to return to Maine. She hadn’t spoken another word about leaving, and he refused to broach the subject. If he brought it up, she’d pick a date. Right now, he was okay with living in the moment and giving her time to come to terms with the fact that she couldn’t leave him. At least, he hoped that was how it ended.
Pushing off the doorframe, he moved to stand behind her and brushed her hair to one side. He kissed her neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist. She immediately melted back into him. Damn, he loved this.
“You got in really late last night,” she muttered. “I was hoping you’d sleep in.”
He had. About two a.m., he’d gotten a call requesting a wrecker for an accident. He’d hated leaving Kelsey, but he’d loved coming back home to her. She’d been asleep, and he shucked his clothes, spooned up behind her. She had instantly snuggled back against him. It was the best night’s sleep he’d had in a long time.
He glanced over her shoulder. “Were you making me breakfast in bed?”
“I was, actually.”
His chest swelled with love. Ever since his realization that he was falling for Kelsey, he’d had a hard time keeping it to himself. But he didn’t want to put that kind of pressure on her.
“I can think of something else I can have for breakfast,” he said, and spun her around, kissing her hard on the lips. She laughed against his mouth and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I like the way you think, Black.”
He deepened the kiss, tangling their tongues together. He lifted her up onto the counter, but grunted when a sharp pain sliced through his side. She immediately pulled back.
“Are you okay?”
She’d asked him that too many times to count since the fight.
“I’m fine.” He tugged her forward and stepped between her spread thighs. “Now can we get back to business?”
Their lips were just about to meet when his phone went off, signaling a text. Groaning, he bowed his head, and Kelsey kissed the top of it. “Duty calls.”
Straightening, he tugged his cell out of his pajama bottoms, expecting to see a wrecker request for him to call in. Instead it was from Mitch. Shit. He tried turning so Kelsey couldn’t see it, but wasn’t quick enough.
“Holy shit. Are they already throwing another event?” She hopped off the counter and rounded on him. “They can’t be fucking serious.”
God. She’d used the f-bomb. When she started throwing those she was beyond pissed.
“It looks that way.”
She turned wide eyes on him. “Lance, please, don’t participate. I’m begging you.”
Groaning, he scrubbed his face with his hands. “Can we please not do this right now?”
“When then?” She crossed her arms tight across her chest. “Tonight, after you add more injuries to your already damaged body? Jesus, Lance, when are you going to stop?”
“I’m not doing
this.” Mostly because he knew she was right. He couldn’t keep fighting like this. The thing he worried about the most was if this grueling schedule kept up, he was going to start to lose. With the bank denying him that loan, he had no fucking clue how to get out of this if his body gave out, too.
But he wasn’t going to admit that to her, or she’d be more rabid over the subject than she already was. Thankfully, his phone chimed again, and this time it was a request for a call in.
He held up the phone. “Got to take this. I’ll talk to you later.” He kissed her real quick and hurried out of the room.
Damn it. They’d had a great few days. No tension. Just the two of them and mundane, everyday shit. One call from McNealy and their little bubble had been busted. He was going to end up losing this woman because of those two assholes.
Lance strode through the warehouse, ignoring the calls from the fans as he passed. He wanted to get this fight over with and get back to Kelsey. Recreate the bubble they had around them until the McNealy’s text this morning.
“Black.”
He turned in the direction of his name. Gabe waved at him from the office door, then he ducked back into the room. Fuck. This was all he needed.
He pushed open the door to their office to find Gabe had moved to a leather couch and was lighting up a joint while Mitch sat behind a monstrosity of a mahogany desk. “What do you guys want?”
Mitch didn’t speak for a moment as he spun a pen between his fingers. Finally, he laid the pen down. “How would you like to walk out of here tonight with us completely square?”
Lance stiffened. There was no way he’d heard that correctly. “I…what?”
Mitch glanced at his cousin and snorted. “Damn, we shocked the shit out of him.” He turned back to Lance. “One more fight and we’re even.”
He stamped down the hope that swelled in chest. These were the McNealy cousins he was dealing with. They gave nothing for free. “There’s always a catch. What is it?”
“There is.” The man leaned back in the chair and linked his fingers on top of his stomach. “We want you to throw tonight’s fight.”
