by Lolita Lopez
Lexi’s stomach heaved as the bell clanged. She fisted her hands in her lap and watched as Tom and the other guy danced around each other. Tom wasted no time. He leapt forward and punched his opponent in the face. Lexi gasped. The kid’s head snapped back but he didn’t go down. She had to give the guy credit for staying on his feet.
Like a dummy, he charged Tom. As if expecting the move, Tom sidestepped just enough to catch the guy around his waist. They crashed into the cage. Lexi winced as Tom’s shoulder and arm slammed into the metal. He didn’t seem to blink at what had to have been quite a burst of pain. Instead, he flipped their bodies and took a dominant position as he brought the man down to the floor of the cage. Legs hooked around his opponent’s waist, Tom forced the guy’s face against the mat and pounded his temple with his fist. The repeated blows and the awful, pretzel position had their desired effect. The man weakly tapped out, ending the fight.
Tom jumped off him the second the referee officially ended the match. He cleared back, giving the other guy’s crew space to come in and treat their wounded fighter. Lexi exhaled a rough breath. Her lungs ached from holding in all that air. Hot and cold currents raced up and down her body as the terror of the moment passed. Tom’s arm was lifted high in the sky as his win was announced. A surge of pride filled her with warmth. Sure, it was scary as hell to watch, but seeing Tom fight, seeing his chiseled body in motion, really aroused her.
What that said about her, Lexi wasn’t sure. It probably wasn’t the healthiest of responses. Or, maybe, it was simply the most primal.
Tom left the cage to the raucous applause of the crowd. Most of them had come to see him anyway. She’d seen the reports that ticket sales had gone through the roof when it was announced he’d be taking the open spot. Her man was a huge draw.
Although, Lexi thought grimly, she could do without the half-naked fan girls throwing themselves at him. She didn’t think for an instant that Tom would stray, but if ever he were tempted, he’d have dozens of drop-dead gorgeous women more than willing to jump into his bed if he snapped his fingers.
Lexi expected Tom to walk right by her as he’d done earlier. It didn’t bother her. She understood it was part of keeping his head in the game. To her utter surprise, he paused just long enough to find her face in the crowd. He winked and crooked his finger in a come-hither motion. She glanced around, her face flaming at so many gazes glued to her, but forced her feet to move. She made it into the aisle with Tom. He shocked her by throwing his arm around her shoulder and hauling her close for a kiss. It was quick but passionate.
Smiling and still a little embarrassed at their very public display, she slid her arm around his waist and walked with him into the tunnel that led to the locker rooms. His sweaty skin blazed. She’d never realized how much energy it took to fight like that—and it had been a short match! Less than one full round! What the hell was a full fight like?
Safe in the locker room, she thumped Tom’s arm. “I can’t believe you did that!”
“What? This?” He kissed her again, this time driving her up against the wall. His hot body felt so good against hers. She couldn’t wait to have his familiar weight pressing her down in bed. If it hadn’t been for Jacko loudly clearing his throat, Lexi probably would have ended up with her dress shoved up around her waist while Tom buried himself inside her.
Instead, Tom kissed her gently and backed away from her body. He gestured to the benches with his head. “Sit. I’ve got to ice.”
Lexi found an empty bench and sat down. With interest, she watched Tom’s trainer and cutman deal with his superficial injuries and strap ice bags to his shoulder. There was a nice bruise forming but Tom didn’t seem to feel pain. She wondered if he’d simply grown immune to the discomforts.
The locker room door burst open and a man stormed inside. Lexi easily recognized him as a business man. The slicked back hair, the bespoke three-piece suit, the immaculately shined shoes—he looked like he’d be more at home in one of her father’s corporate offices than in this musty locker room.
“What the fuck was that, Tom? One goddamn round for both fights?”
Tom shot the man a nasty look. “Oh, fuck off, Billy. They got what they paid for tonight. They expect me to go in and knockout guys like that. Tomorrow, they’ll get to see me fight at least two more rounds. Let it go.”
“Let it go? Do you have any idea what a short fight does to our advertising? To our production costs?”
“What do you want from me, Billy? I came here. I fought. I won.”
Lexi picked up on Tom’s irritation. She glanced at the promoter. She was beginning to understand why Frank hated the guy so much. What a Grade-A prick!
“And this?” Billy motioned toward her. Lexi’s eyes widened and she sat back on the bench. “What the hell was that about, Tom? Are you trying to kill off your female fan base?”
Tom frowned and rubbed his bare knuckles. “Lexi’s my girl. I wanted her with me. What’s the big fucking deal?”
“The deal is that women don’t want to sign up for autographs and merchandise with your mug plastered on it if they know you’ve got a girlfriend.”
“Bullshit.” Tom waved away the idea in annoyance. “Most of the best fighters in the scene have wives.”
“And you don’t see them parading them around in front of the fans!” Billy got dangerously close to Tom. “They keep them at home or in the hotel room where they fucking belong. Fans want the fantasy, Tom. They don’t want to have to compete with the hot girl who really exists. Although,” he glanced over his shoulder at Lexi and made a face, “she’s not exactly a big threat with—oof!”
Lexi gasped as Tom shot off the bench and slammed into Billy. His forehead touched the other man’s as Tom used his body to threaten and shove the promoter. “One more word out of your mouth and you’ll be carrying your teeth out of here in a cup.”
“Shit!’ Billy tried to push Tom away but didn’t have the muscle to do it. He took a few quick steps back. “Lighten up, Tom.”
“Get out, Billy.”
The promoter looked shocked. “We’re not finished.”
“We are now. If you want me to show up tomorrow night, just get the hell out of my locker room.”
“The VIP after-party—”
“Yeah, I’ll be there.” Tom cut him off. “I’ll do my contracted appearances and that’s it.” He pointed to the door. “Go.”
Lexi tried to make herself invisible as Billy left the room. She could feel Benson and Jacko’s stares. No doubt they weren’t thinking kind thoughts. Biting her lip, she rose and spoke softly, “I should probably go.”
“What?” Tom’s forehead wrinkled. “Why?”
“I didn’t realize I’d be causing problems, Tom. I didn’t come here to ruin your endorsement prospects.”
“Lexi, don’t give another thought to Billy’s bullshit. I want you with me tonight.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Behind Tom, Jacko looked relieved at her decision to stay behind. She didn’t blame him. The man’s livelihood depended on Tom’s winnings and endorsements and swag sales. “I’ll go back to the suite and wait for you.”
Tom started to argue but dropped it. “I won’t be out long. Two hours tops.”
She smiled at him and lifted on tiptoes to reach his mouth. “I’ll be waiting.”
Chapter Six
Tom fought the urge to sprint from the elevator to the door of Lexi’s suite. The last two hours of schmoozing and smiling for pictures he didn’t want to take had drained him. Competing in matches was something he loved but he hated all the crap that came along with it. He just wanted to fight. That’s it.
More and more, he found himself questioning what the hell he was doing. Lexi and Frank’s earlier intervention had forced him to face some unwanted realities. The prior two weeks had been spent in agonizing loneliness and for what? So he could prove to them that he wasn’t going to be pushed around or forced into a decision? Where the hell had that gotten h
im? Nowhere. Alone.
He knocked on Lexi’s door but didn’t have to wait for long. The door whipped open a few seconds later. Lexi breathed hard and had hair flung around her shoulders. She’d changed out of the curve-hugging dress into one of the t-shirts he’d left at her house. He thought she looked even hotter in the t-shirt than the dress. He smiled and touched her cheek. “You didn’t have to run. I was happy to wait.”
“I wasn’t.” She grabbed a handful of his shirt and dragged him inside the room. He found her aggressiveness incredibly sexy and reached for her. He kicked the door shut and claimed her mouth. She tugged at his shirt, freeing it from his jeans and slid her palms over his skin. He lifted her up against the wall and dropped his lips to her neck. She cried out as he bit down gently, leaving light teeth impressions on her skin. She wrapped her legs around his waist and scratched her nails through his hair.
Groaning, Tom forced his hips between her thighs. He immediately realized she wasn’t wearing any panties. The tails of his shirt had bunched up between their bodies. He could feel that pussy he’d craved so much pressed to his bare stomach. She rocked her hips and rubbed her clit against his abs. She gasped at the sensation she’d evoked and then laughed. “I never considered using these rock-hard abs of yours in this way.”
Tom chuckled against her lips and darted his tongue inside her mouth to swipe hers. “Use me however you’d like, baby.”
“Oh, I’ve got a much better plan to use you but just not in this hall.” She sucked his lower lip before deepening the kiss. “Bedroom?”
“Hold tight.” He turned away from the wall and was just entering the living room when a knock on the door stalled them. “Did you order something?”
“Crap! Yes. I was hungry.” She smiled apologetically. “I didn’t have time to eat after the plane landed.”
“That’s all right.” He lowered her to the floor. When she took a step toward the hallway, he snatched her arm. “What are you doing?”
“Answering the door.”
“In that?” He gestured to the thin t-shirt that covered her nakedness. He shook his head and grunted. “No other man gets to see you like this.”
Lexi laughed as he stalked toward the door. He didn’t even bother looking through the peep hole before opening it. What he discovered on the other side made his heart stutter. “Frank!”
Shocked, Tom stepped back and cleared a path for Frank to wheel in the room service cart. “I ran into the porter on the way up and shoved a hundred dollar bill in his pocket,” Frank explained. “He was more than happy to take an early break and leave with a hefty tip.”
“Doesn’t say much for the security,” Tom groused and eyed the hallway before shutting the door. “What if you’d been a reporter hoping for a picture of us?”
“Oh, god, not that again!” Lexi sat down on the couch. “Can you imagine what kind of field day people would have with three of us? World’s Top MMA Fighter Takes Two To The Mat!”
Tom snorted and took a seat next to Lexi. He watched Frank with some trepidation as the other man laid out plates of food on the glass coffee table. Lexi had ordered quite a few dishes. He lifted an eyebrow but she playfully smacked his arm before he could even ask.
“They’re not all for me, Tom! I thought you might be hungry. I wasn’t sure if the party was going to have real food or just canapés and drinks.”
“Just snacks and drinks,” he answered and reached for a handful of sweet potato fries. He’d had half a beer but nothing to eat. His stomach ached for something substantial. The fries were crispy and seasoned with a little heat. Chili powder, maybe? “These are good.”
When he reached for a second handful, Frank stopped him. Tom swallowed his mouthful as Frank knelt at his feet and gently traced the swollen knuckles of his hand. Frank lowered his lips and kissed Tom’s hand gently. “You big, stupid bastard.”
From anyone else, those would have been fighting words. Tom touched the top of Frank’s head. “That’s probably the most honest thing I’ve been told tonight.”
Frank finally lifted his gaze. There were tears in his eyes. Tom’s gut clenched at the sight. He hated that he was the one responsible for causing the only man he’d ever loved so much pain. “I’m still pissed at you for going through with this tournament, especially since you know the risks, but Lexi was right. I couldn’t let you fight here alone. I love you. I’m here to support you—unconditionally.”
Tom gulped down the emotion threatening to close off his throat. Unconditional? He glanced at Lexi who gazed at him with the same open, free love in her eyes. They loved him and were willing to take him as he was, mistakes and all. “Thank you. I don’t deserve this.”
“You do.” Frank cupped his face. “You do deserve to be loved without condition, Tom. Lexi and I were worried about your safety. We still are,” he added softly, “but pushing you into a corner and forcing you to make the decision we approved of wasn’t the right way to show you that.”
Overwhelmed, Tom slumped back against the couch cushions and tried to regain control of his emotions. He’d never in his life expected Frank or Lexi to say the words he’d always secretly wanted and needed to hear. He’d known they loved him but it hadn’t occurred to him until that moment just how much they loved him. Could he have forgiven them and pledged unconditional love if they’d tossed his desire to keep them safe back in his face? He wasn’t sure he was that good of a man. He’ have been angry and hurt to have his concern tossed aside and twisted.
But that was exactly what he’d done to them, wasn’t it? They’d come to him with their fears and instead of respecting that and listening to their worries, he’d flipped the fuck out and accused them of colluding against him to…what? Protect him?
He dropped his head into his hands. God, he’d really fucked up this time. For the last two weeks, he’d been so wrapped up in his own bullshit that he’d completely ignored the reality of the situation. He’d hurt the two people he loved most. He’d been willing to lose them over what? This stupid fucking fight?
He remembered the way Billy had spoken about and dismissed Lexi. Anger filled him. Why the fuck was he risking the loss of Lexi and Frank and even his health for that asshole? Was loyalty so important? Yes, Billy had given him a start in the business but that didn’t mean he owed him this much.
“I shouldn’t have agreed to fight.” He let his hands fall and sat up straighter. It was time to be a man and own up to his mistakes. “I should have discussed the tournament with the two of you before I made a decision. When you came to me about the CTE, I should have listened and not freaked out on you.”
Frank rubbed Tom’s leg. “I should have known better than to confront you the way we did. I’ve known you long enough to know how you react to being cornered.
Lexi slid her arm under his and leaned her cheek against his arm. “I’m glad we’re back together. I came here with this awful feeling that this might be the last time I would see you.”
Pain squeezed his chest. He couldn’t even imagine never seeing Lexi or Frank again. “Two weeks of separation was more than enough for me. Never again,” he promised. “And after this tournament, we need to sit down and figure out where I’m going from here.”
“What are you saying, Tommy?” Frank tilted his head with curiosity. “You’re going to back out of the winter fight?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Let’s not think about that now,” Lexi urged. “Tonight and tomorrow, let’s just focus on getting through this tournament. When you’re home and mended, we’ll sit down and have a real discussion.”
Tom smiled at her. She shared his desire to avoid a long, deep discussion tonight. They’d gotten this far in fixing their broken relationship. Opening up the question of whether he’d finish out his fight contract wasn’t going to lead anywhere good. It was a discussion they needed to have at home.
Speaking of home…
Tom touched Frank’s jaw. “I got your message about the house.
What do you think?”
Frank rose from his crouched position and slid onto the couch. “We should counter-offer and see what happens. We’d have to buy another place fast, Tommy. They’ll want to take ownership as soon as we close.”
“Wait.” Lexi leaned forward so she could see Frank better. “What offer?”
“After I left your place yesterday, I got a call from the realtor. Of course, now that we’ve patched things up, selling the house isn’t as appealing.”
She glanced between the two men before taking Tom’s hand and Frank’s in her own. “Move in with me?”
Tom’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? That’s a big step, Lexi.” He gestured toward Frank. “It took us years to make that decision.”
Lexi smiled lovingly. “I want you both with me. I want to wake up and go to bed with you every night. I don’t want to jump between houses or try to remember where I left a certain shirt or my ereader or whatever. I just want us to be together in the same home. Why not mine?”
A sense of calm invaded Tom’s chest. It settled low in his belly and told him all was right. “I want that, too, Lexi. I’ll move in with you.”
Frank, normally so careful and the type to make lists of pros and cons, jumped in with both feet. “I’ll call the realtor in the morning and tell her to send the counter-offer. We’ll hire a mover as soon as we get back.”
Lexi’s grin brightened her face. “Is it crazy that I’m super excited about this? Honestly, I get so lonely at my place. I never realized how big and empty it is until the two of you started staying over with me. When you leave…”
Tom gathered her into his arms and kissed her. “Now we won’t be leaving.” He laughed and pecked the tip of her nose. “You’re probably going to be sick of us in a month and begging us to move.”
“We could always rough it in my office,” Frank joked. “I figure that couch—what the hell is that?” He jumped off the couch and hurried to the glass doors leading out to the balcony. “Are those fireworks?”
