Changing the Game: The Breaking Series #2

by Leigh, Ember

  “No, you don’t.” Lex swallowed a knot of apprehension. “Why now?”

  Knuckles eyed him for a moment while he lit his cigarette. A cloud of smoke floated between them. “You were one of the best fighters we had.”

  “Almost five years ago.”

  Knuckles smiled so briefly Lex wondered if he imagined it. “There’s an interest in a…reunion tour, let’s say.”

  Lex fought to not roll his eyes. “How’d you find me?”

  “You’re famous now, don’t you know?” Knuckles grinned, revealing a gold molar on the left side. “We saw that show you’re in with the prick who owns this place.”

  Realization prickled hot. The show had outed him. And now these fuckers wanted to ruin his life a second time. He needed to stick to the basics and get Knuckles the fuck out of here. “So what do you want from me?”

  “For you to start answering your phone, for one.” Knuckles took a long drag at his cigarette, squinting at him through the brightness and the smoke. “When I call, you answer.”

  “Fuck that.”

  Knuckles’ face turned stony. “Don’t you remember how things work with us?”

  “I’m not with you anymore.”

  A tense moment stretched between them, the impatient honks from the freeway setting the tempo to his resolve. Fighting for the Kings had no room in his life anymore. They didn’t even share the same neighborhood. Like hell they’d take away all this good in his life.

  Knuckles’ nostrils flared, the only betrayal on his face. “We need you again, Cheshire. Just one more time.”

  “No.” Lex’s response echoed through his head. Reminding him that all he had to do was be strong. Stand firm. This time, he’d prove to them just how changed he was.

  “You’re sure about that?” It sounded more like a dare than a question.

  “Yes.” Now that Lila was back in his life, he’d never been surer of anything. He turned to leave but looked over his shoulder to add one more thing. “Showing up where I fucking work is not how you convince me. Don’t come back here. Ever.” Lex headed for the front doors, willing a steady pace to emerge from his wobbly legs. Only once he’d reentered the calm coolness of the gym did he allow himself to look back. Knuckles was gone.

  “What was that all about?” Melanie’s eyes were saucers as he approached.

  “Old client.” Lex tossed her a tight smile, rapping his knuckles on the desk as he passed by. “But it looks like it’s not gonna work out this time around.”

  Chapter 13

  Lila got out of work two hours early that night because she’d already picked up too much overtime. At just five p.m., with the sun still bright on her face and the evening sprawling unchecked in front of her, it felt like she had the world at her fingertips.

  She called Lex before she could even make the decision. He picked up on the third ring.

  “What are you doing?”

  A sultry chuckle escaped him. “You get right to the point. I’m heading home, why?”

  Excitement punched her in the stomach. “No reason.” She turned her car on, dialing back the volume on the radio.

  “Wait, why are you calling me so early? Are you on break?”

  “Yep.” She held the phone between her ear and shoulder as she navigated out of the parking lot. “Just wanted to say hi.”

  “Well, hey.” Lex’s sigh bordered on a grunt. “I miss you.”

  Lila let the grin blossom on her face. “I miss you too. It won’t be long now.” Lex thought they’d be seeing each other in two days. But no way would Lila let this little window of opportunity slide by. Her parents didn’t need to know she’d gotten off work two hours early…which meant mama was free to make a house call.

  “Hey, I gotta go.” Her blinker clicked as she stalled in the turn lane to exit the parking lot. “I’ll talk to you later.”

  The twenty-minute drive to Lex’s house left her on pins and needles. Imagining the look of surprise on his face…the way he might scoop her up into his arms. She could already smell his scent, a mixture of cedar and manliness and maybe sweat, if he hadn’t showered at the gym. Those thick biceps tightening around her. The engulfing kisses…the tidal-wave warmth of his embrace.

  Her skin pricked with goosepimples during the whole drive.

  Once she parked at his building, she giggled all the way up to the front doors. Inside, she took a moment to orient herself, to remember the steps from the one time she’d visited. Elevator on the left. Floor three. Last door in the hallway.

  She slipped into the gleaming elevator, another man entering right as the doors attempted to slide shut. Their gazes locked for a painful split second. The hardened edges of his face seared through her, the scar in his eyebrow feeling like a warning. Her mouth turned down as he filled the space next to her, leering down at her, his black suit and tie somehow greasy even though he was, by all measures, nicely dressed.

  Lila barely breathed as the elevator zoomed to Lex’s floor, mind immediately racing to worst-case scenarios. What if he stops the elevator? What if he follows me to Lex’s place? I’m so close, but Lex has no idea I’m even near. Bad news clung to him like a rank cologne. A shaky breath escaped her once she stepped out of the elevator, the air somehow easier to breathe now that she was moving away from that guy. Her shoulder blades prickled as she walked to Lex’s apartment. Maybe the creep was still watching her, though she didn’t dare turn around to check.

  She rapped her knuckles three times against Lex’s door. Muted steps sounded, and then a moment later his door flew open.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” The words shot out of his mouth, accompanied by an amazed grin. He pulled her into his arms, wrapping her in a tight hug that wiped her mind of the uneasiness in the elevator. His moist lips found the nook of her neck, pressed a warm path over her jawline.

  “I thought I’d surprise you,” she murmured as his kisses trailed over her chin, skipping up to her lips. “I got off early.”

  His lips curled up into a boyish smile. “And now it’s time to get off.”

  She snorted, pressing a palm to his rock-hard chest. “Clever.”

  Lex pulled her into the apartment, his gaze sweeping toward the hallway as he pushed the door shut. He stiffened against her just before the door clicked shut. His face paled as though he’d witnessed a murder.

  “What is it?”

  Lex blinked, dragging his gaze back down to her. He looked lost for a moment, then the pallor disappeared. “Some weirdo in the hallway.”

  “Oh my god. I saw him in the elevator. I thought he was gonna mug me. Do you know him?”

  Lex watched her for a few moments, his grip tightening around her. “You rode up with him?”

  She nodded. “He stared at me the whole time. I hope that’s not your neighbor.”

  He shook his head, his chocolate eyes turning to steel. “Not my neighbor. I’d call the owner if he was.”

  Lila burrowed into his arms. “Keep me safe, Lex.”

  His throaty chuckle made her heart swell. “Babe, I’ll keep you safe until the day I die.”

  “You promise?”

  The rough pad of his thumb scraped across her cheek. “I was born to protect you, doll.”

  The solemnity in his voice sent tears to her eyes. She cinched her arms around his solid waist, clasping her wrists behind him. “You’ve always said that.”

  “Because it’s true.”

  “Even when I was gone?”

  “Even then.” He pressed his lips to her forehead, his breath hot against her skin. “Even when I hated you. For that small window of time.”

  She laughed but it sounded hollow to her. “But you couldn’t hate me forever, right? Look where I am. In your apartment.”

  “About to get that good lovin’,” he cracked, grabbing handfuls of her ass. She giggled as he swept her up into his arms. She locked her legs around him, the smile falling off her face as she got lost in the depths of his gaze. This man held a key to a part
of her that existed beyond the dreary responsibilities of daily life, beyond the goals and worries and fantasies of who she should be versus who she was.

  Lex awakened something primal in her. Sent heat and bliss zipping through her, just from looking at the guy. Brought to life a side of her that nobody else could.

  And she’d been testing the waters for five years…desperate to find any other man who could light her up like he did. Of course he was the only one.

  “I don’t have much time,” she whispered as he carried her toward the stairs leading to his loft.

  He stopped in his tracks. “You mean you aren’t spending the night with me?”

  The disappointment in his eyes was equal parts heart breaking and reassuring. “Sorry, Lex. I have an appointment soon. I can’t miss it.”

  The appointment is your son. The words barreled through her like shouting into a megaphone in a tiny room. She stuffed the thought down, deep down inside. This was not the time. She had two hours to enjoy Lex, to get lost in the whirlwind of him. To reside in that moment when time stopped and happiness filled every nook and cranny inside her.

  Lex huffed. “What if I made it worth missing?”

  She pressed her forehead against his. “I can’t. But we have right now together.”

  He snagged her lips in a kiss that wiped her mind clear.

  “I’m gonna take you upstairs,” his voice came out low, throaty, “and peel all your clothes off and fuck you until you scream so loud, my landlord calls.”

  She tossed her head back with laughter, a realization sinking in a moment later. “But what if I want you to bend me over this couch?” She nodded toward the sectional, her heart slamming against her ribs. He can’t see you naked yet...he can’t see the scar.

  Lex paused, mere feet from the stairs. “Is that where you want it?”

  She nodded, putting on her best sexy pout. “Give it to me how I want it.”

  His eyes flashed, and he carried her over to the couch, grunting as he laid her out on the leather surface. His gaze scorched over her once she was splayed out and looking up at him.

  “You can’t be into this,” she said, gesturing at her taupe scrubs. “I know this is the opposite of sexy.”

  “Babe, I’m into anything you do, any way you do it.” Lex tore off his shirt, revealing the rippling planes of his shoulders and upper arms.

  Lila tugged off her scrubs top, followed by the plain tank top beneath. His gaze fell to her breasts, encased in a black satin bra. Running a finger under the strap, she dragged her tongue over her bottom lip.

  “Gimme that dirty mouth.” He cocked a grin, grabbing her chin between his thumb and forefinger. He ran a rough thumb over her bottom lip as he shoved his workout shorts down, over the bulge in his briefs. His cock strained under the black fabric, sending a jolt of anticipation through her.

  “Only if you fuck me how I like it.” She lifted a brow, sucking on the tip of his thumb. Any way he’d fuck her was the way she liked it…but she had to make sure he’d play by her rules today.

  “Mmm.” Lex palmed the ridge of his cock through the briefs. “I can do that.”

  Lila took the length of his thumb inside her mouth, prompting a low hiss from Lex. His features softened with pleasure as she dragged her teeth down his finger and then released him with a pop. She shoved her scrub pants down and rolled onto her belly, wiggling her ass in the air. This was how she needed it: belly down, scar hidden.

  Golden, early evening light streaked through the wooden slats of Lex’s western window, threatening to betray her secret if she rolled over and displayed herself. Though she craved it, that’s not how he could find out. If he saw it and asked…what could she even say? Uterine repair surgery? A weird access point to her gall bladder? Nothing made sense, other than cesarean.

  Her thoughts sizzled away like water on a frying pan as Lex rolled down her panties, removing them with a sacred slowness. The heat of his hands penetrated her, felt like a grounding rod as much as it launched her into space. Moist lips painted a trail over her hip, across the prickling skin of her ass cheeks. She drew a ragged breath, gathering a soft throw pillow beneath her as warmth gathered low.

  “You just want to get straight to the point.” Lex’s voice came out a low growl, almost as if she was being scolded. “Don’t even want to let me tease you in all the different ways I’ve been imagining since we went for our run.”

  His words trickled through her like honey, thick and slow, leaving a painful wake of arousal. Her pussy clenched, and she arched her back toward him. His knees made soft indents on the couch on either side of her as he eased into place behind her, the warmth of his body making her throat tighten.

  “I need it, Lex.” She turned to look at him. Their gazes snagged, a heated undertow dragging her even deeper into the tense waters. His rough hands squeezed the sides of her hips, spreading her needy folds enough that a burst of cool air snuck in. She shuddered, rocking backwards, burying her exposed ass cheeks in the heat of his groin.

  “Hm.” His hand made a warning swipe up the side of her thigh, and then his palm cracked hard against her ass. Her cry cut through the placid silence of the evening, something between anguish and surprise.

  “Oh, fuck.” Her voice was a shiver past her lips. His cock met the slick heat of her pussy, finding that groove that seemed to be designed only for him.

  “Mm-hmm.” Lex’s eyes were hooded as he steadied her at the hips, rocking in a slow circle against her. “That’s exactly what I’m gonna do to you.”

  A smile tugged at her lips as the haze of arousal consumed her. She felt like she was floating in an alternate universe, somewhere far away yet right there at the same time. “I want you inside me.”

  He grunted, like maybe the admission pained him to hear. “Yeah? You want my cock inside you?” He spread her ass cheeks with his thumbs and then a moment later the hot tip of his cock nudged for entrance, pressing into that soft spot where all the heat and desire had pooled.

  “Yes.” Her response was a hoarse whisper. “Give me that cock.”

  Lex sank into her, sending electricity sparking over her skin. She stilled as he pressed into her, arching her back, letting the shock wave of his energy wash over her until it reached her core. Lexington Olivo penetrated her like no other; she’d been trying to prove this theory wrong for the past five years, but every other man came up lacking.

  It was only him. He was the only one that could make her feel like this, who could light her up like a firework just from the faintest whisper.

  A strangled cry escaped her, something that sounded foreign to her own ears. “God,” she panted as he drew back, seemingly drawing her soul out along with his cock. “Why doesn’t it feel like this with anyone else?”

  The words rang dreamy and distant; she hadn’t entirely meant to say it. He didn’t respond right away, just slammed into her again, a desperate thrust. Maybe she hadn’t spoken after all.

  “It’s simple, doll.” Lex’s voice sounded strained. “We aren’t meant to be with anyone else.”

  His words tore through her like a tornado claiming its tempestuous path, leaving her breathless and rocked mindless. With him buried inside her, their history reduced to rubble, this truth glittered like a gemstone. There was no one else; there hadn’t really ever been anyone else.

  It was only Lex.

  As Lex rocked against her he buried the revelation bone deep, driving it in so she couldn’t forget or look away once the fog cleared. You love Lex. You always have; he’s the one. Tears pricked her eyes as their bodies sealed, the sweat of his skin mixing with hers. The two of them formed a sort of parentheses, arched against the sweeping black leather couch.

  The heel of Lex’s palm slid up her spine, bumping along the vertebrae like playing an instrument. He ground into her at the same time she bumped back up to take all of him, so deep that she saw fireworks behind her eyes. Lex groaned, clutching at her shoulders, thick fingers digging into the space beneath
her collarbone.

  Lex slammed into her, his grip on her acting as leverage so that he reached the deepest, most sensitive part of her. A wail drifted from her lips as the pleasure churned bright and hot in her core. There was no stopping this train. Not when Lex was driving it.

  “Fuuuck!” She clawed at the couch cushion, trying to find somewhere to hold on, to anchor her through the impending tidal wave of her orgasm. Lex’s palms slid to her hips, holding her in place as he drilled deeper.

  “Come for me, babe.” His voice was edged with desperation. “Come for me.”

  Like she needed any prompting. Her body was primed for this man the second he stepped back into her life. Her head dipped, and she let the roiling waves take over. Consume her. Annihilate her. An inhuman sound drifted from her lips as the orgasm pummeled her, wiping her mind of everything but the white-hot pleasure. Lex pumped harder, until his own strangled moan told her that he’d fallen off the precipice alongside her.

  She sank to her elbows once the onslaught receded and she remembered to breathe. As she drew deep gulps of air, silent tears trickled down her face. She brushed them away, not wanting Lex to see. Because where had they come from? A weak laugh made it past her lips as Lex hummed and hugged her from behind.

  “That was fucking nuts.” His voice was gravelly, reverent.

  She slid belly down onto the couch, sighing as he wrapped himself around her. The weight of his muscly thigh felt like a security blanket. One she didn’t want to give up so fast.

  “I don’t think I remember how to talk,” she said after a long pause, blinking through the drying tears. She sniffed hard, shaking her head. “You fucked the English right out of me.”

  He gave a belly laugh, one that made her smile. Every time he laughed like that it felt like an accomplishment. Always had, even back in high school. And in that moment, it hit her. You have to tell him.

  Her voice dried up again, leaving a crippling uncertainty in its wake. This isn’t the time. Don’t ruin this moment with a confession. THE confession. She shifted beneath him, stifling morbid curiosity about how that conversation might unfold. But angels battled devils on each shoulder. It wasn’t fair that she got to bask in the purity of this…insane connection they’d always had. Except now, she harbored a secret so enormous it would change Lex’s life forever.