Fighting Love

by Marysol James

  The orgasm rolled over her, threatened to wash her away; she lost any and all control over her body now. Her lips parted, but she couldn’t even make a sound. She just came for Adam, hard and long, and they both loved every second of it.

  Her head fell forward as the sensations dimmed and receded. She sucked in a deep breath, and raised a trembling hand to the wall, trying to get her centre of balance back.

  He stroked her tumbled hair. “OK, sweetheart?”

  She moaned in response and Adam grinned.

  “I’ll take that as a yes, shall I?” he said.

  She didn’t even have the energy to nod.

  Gently, he turned her in his huge arms and pulled her to his chest. Katie’s legs were barely holding her up, and she sagged against him. Adam wrapped her limp arms around his neck and whispered against her mouth, “Hold on to me.”

  In one strong movement, he picked her up and carried her to his bed. He laid her down carefully, stretched out beside her. He touched her smooth cheek and her eyes finally flickered open, hazy and unfocused.

  “You OK, Katie?’ His voice had a more serious tone now and she looked up at him, knowing that he was getting a bit concerned about her silence. “You here with me, baby?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “You sure?” His blue eyes searched her dark ones. “You know who you’re with?”

  She reached out and stroked the line that appeared on his brow when he was worried. “With you, Adam. I’m with you.”

  He visibly relaxed. “OK.”

  Katie moved as close to him as she could and his whole body just swallowed hers. As always, his huge shoulders and chest surrounded her slim frame, making her feel safe and protected. When Adam held her like this, she believed that nothing and nobody bad could reach her ever again. The hold of all those years of abuse by her stepfather weakened, the razor-sharp edges of all that hurt dulled, the shrieking fear was muted. It would probably never go away fully, she knew, but with Adam she moved as far away from it as possible.

  “Katie?”

  She raised her head to meet his eyes again. “Yeah?”

  “I was wondering something.”

  “What is it?”

  He propped himself up on one elbow. “I was wondering if… maybe you’d want to live here? Live with me?”

  Katie sat up too. “Live together?”

  “Only if you want to,” Adam said quickly. “I mean, if you think it’s too soon, say so. I won’t be upset, I swear.”

  She gazed up at him, loving him so much, she actually felt it in her bones. “Yes.”

  He paused. “Yes? Just like that?”

  “Yes. Just like that. I’d love to live with you.”

  His hard face split in to a grin. “I love you, Katie. I love you so much.”

  “I love you too.” She reached down between their bodies and felt his cock harden again at her touch. “Every inch of you… and there are a lot of inches right here under my fingers.”

  He closed his eyes and breathed her name.

  She rolled on to her back and he moved on top of her.

  “More Adam,” she whispered. “More of you. Make me come again, let me watch you come inside me. Please, babe.”

  He kissed her and she arched up against him. “You got it, sweetheart.” His cock brushed her wet slit and they both groaned at the slippery heat. “You got it.”

  Chapter Three

  Late the next morning, Reena and Katie walked in to The Rock. Gavin grinned at them from the front desk and waved them in to the training area.

  “OK,” Katie said. “Which one is he?”

  Reena looked around. “Uh. Over there in the ring. Green shorts.”

  Mitch was fighting with a man, and this guy seemed to be a much bigger challenge than the man he’d been up against the first time that Reena had seen him. His opponent this time was giving just as good as he was getting, and Mitch seemed to be on the floor just as much as the other guy. Adam was standing next to the ring, shouting some kind of instructions, and at his words, Mitch’s opponent knocked Mitch to the floor and Adam nodded.

  “Ouch,” Reena said. “I don’t know how they do it.”

  Katie shook her head. “Thank God Adam’s out of it now. If he were still pro, I’d be a wreck half the time, I bet.”

  “Oh, look. They’re taking a break. Let’s go over.”

  All three men turned their attention to them as they approached. Adam smiled and gave Katie a kiss and affectionately stroked her long black hair. Mitch saw him whisper something private in her ear and Katie blushed; he wished fervently that he could do that with Reena. He turned his gaze to her now and saw that she was looking at the third man with a distracted expression on her lovely face.

  Simon Yates was looking back at Reena with equal interest and Mitch’s heart fell about three feet in his chest. If Simon was in to her, it was all over, Mitch knew; Mitch could forget about ever winning her over, about ever being with her. Simon was every single thing that women wanted, apparently, and he couldn’t blame Reena at all for her immediate reaction to the guy.

  Simon was as tall and broad as Mitch, and as strong and lethal in the ring. More so, if Mitch was being totally honest with himself. But it was his face that really drove women and sponsors crazy: the guy was nothing short of male model material, and even Mitch could see that Simon was fucking gorgeous. Flashing brown eyes, wide grin, white teeth. His nose had been expertly reset every time it had been broken, and it was as chiseled as the rest of him. Sponsors were fighting to the death for him to promote their clothes, equipment, cars, watches. Every single thing that Simon Yates touched turned to gold, and his nickname was even the Golden Boy. His blond, naturally curly hair only enhanced the whole image and made him even more perfect.

  Mitch had always been indifferent to Simon. He was an incredible opponent in the ring, and ever since they’d started training together a month earlier, Mitch’s own skill level had improved unbelievably. He seemed a decent enough guy outside the ring, but they had pretty much nothing in common. Mitch wasn’t getting wined and dined by sponsors, and he wasn’t dating models, so their social lives weren’t likely to cross anywhere. But at this exact moment, as he watched Simon zero in on Reena, he decided that he fucking hated the guy.

  Simon stared down at the blonde woman standing in front of him. Hmmm. Very nice. Pretty, sweet, and definitely not demanding or pushy. She looked like she’d be easy enough to win over and she wouldn’t bust his balls after she’d given it up in bed and he never called again. She looked weak and easy, and that suited him just fine. He preferred known women, of course, and those were the ones he dated openly and made sure he was photographed with, but every once in a while, he slummed it with a nice, normal girl. And they seemed to like it, too, having a celebrity pay attention to them, just for a week or so. Not that it ever took him that long to get what he wanted from them – one way or another.

  “Hi,” he said now, extending his hand to the dark-haired woman. She was obviously important to Adam, and seeing as The Rock was one of his sponsors and his training base, he knew who to keep happy. “I’m Simon Yates.”

  “Katie Lloyd,” she said. Her body was long and slim, with nice curves. He thought those endless legs would feel fucking amazing wrapped around his shoulders as he screwed her, but she was clearly taken.

  He turned to the small blonde one now. “And you are?”

  “Reena Mackay,” she said. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “And you,” Simon said, putting a bit of emphasis on the second word. “Lovely name. Doesn’t Reena mean ‘queen’?”

  Mitch almost groaned aloud.

  Fucking perfect. He’s the golden king of this fucking castle, and in walks his queen. My princess. Goddamn him.

  She cocked her head at him. “Queen?”

  “Yes.” Simon offered her a slow, sexy smile. “Isn’t the French word for queen ‘reine’? And isn’t your name a derivation of that?”

  Mitch
barely restrained himself from rolling his eyes.

  Oh, my God, the fucker speaks French. Of course he does. I barely speak English. Jesus Christ.

  “Oh, no. I don’t think so.” She laughed and Simon watched as her face lit up. Damn, she was actually quite beautiful. “Reena means ‘peaceful’. I’ve never heard anything about a queen. I’m not queenly, I’m afraid.”

  “But are you peaceful?” Simon asked.

  She smiled. “Sometimes.”

  “Hmmm.” Simon took her hand now. “Well, it’s wonderful to meet you.”

  “You too.”

  “So, what are you two doing here anyway?” Adam asked. “What’s up?”

  “Oh, Reena wanted to pick up Mitch’s stuff for him, bring it to the apartment,” Katie said.

  Mitch jerked his eyes away from Simon watching Reena. “Sorry?”

  “Yeah,” Reena said. “You told me last night that most of your stuff is still here, so I asked Katie to drive me over to pick it up. You want to pack up her car?”

  “Oh, Reena, you don’t have to…”

  “I know,” she said. “But you said today would be a full training day, so I didn’t want you to have to deal with it after ten hours here.”

  Mitch stared down at her, fighting the urge to kiss her.

  “Oh! This is Katie, by the way,” Reena said. “One of my best friends. Katie, this is Mitch. My roommate.”

  “Roommate?” Simon said.

  “Yeah,” Mitch said, eyes averted. “I moved in yesterday.”

  Simon now understood the tension that had appeared in Mitch’s body as soon as Reena came over to talk to them. Mitch clearly had a hard-on for the little blonde, and if there was one thing that Simon liked, it was getting the toys that all the other boys wanted and then flaunting that fact. If his sparring partner – and his most serious competition – was interested in Reena Mackay, then so was he. She had just gone from a minor distraction to a stick to beat Mitch Corrigan over the head with.

  This is going to be fun. I’m going to love watching him squirm when he hears me fucking her in his own apartment.

  Simon gave Reena his most dazzling smile. “You want some help packing things up?”

  Mitch glared. “I think I can handle it.”

  “Come on, man,” Simon said. “We’re on break for lunch… it’ll be faster if we all pitch in, right? Where’s your stuff?”

  “In the back room,” Adam said. “I’ll unlock it. This way.”

  They all walked through the training area and Simon fell in to step beside Reena. Mitch watched as he said something and she laughed again. They packed up Katie’s car and by the time the women had driven off, Simon was holding a piece of paper with Reena’s phone number on it.

  Mitch went to the punching bag and laid in to it viciously for twenty minutes afterwards. Simon watched from the break room and smiled.

  **

  Three nights later, Mitch came home from a brutal day at The Rock to find Reena looking fucking stunning. She was wearing a dark green dress that hugged her every curve and her hair was sleek and shiny down her back. She was just pulling on a sexy pair of chestnut knee-high boots that added about four inches to her height.

  “Where are you off to?” he asked.

  “Dinner with Simon,” she said.

  He almost growled.

  “What do you think?” she said. “Do I look OK?”

  His eyes travelled over her body and he wanted to run his hands up and down her length. He wanted to take that sweet mouth with his own, he wanted to lick her lips and stroke her heat with his tongue. He wanted her in his arms, just for a few minutes. If he had that – just one kiss – he may be able to live with never touching her again for the whole rest of his life. Maybe.

  “Yeah,” he said, trying to sound casual. “You look nice.”

  “Thanks.”

  “So where is he taking you for dinner?”

  “I don’t know.” She put on her spring coat, and belted it across her slim waist. “He said it was a surprise.”

  Fuck. Me.

  “Well, have fun,” Mitch said.

  “I will. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight,” he said to her back and he watched her walk out the door.

  No chance, man. Not even a fucking prayer. Give it up.

  After about two minutes of glowering around the empty living room, Mitch grabbed his own coat and slammed back out of the apartment. He headed to the Irish pub a few blocks over and sat down at the bar, where he proceeded to down three shots in a row. That was when the tall, dark-haired woman in the corner caught his eye; one more shot and then he walked over to her. Her dark eyes lit up when he sat next to her and put his large hand on her thigh. Her lips were generous and when he kissed her, she responded eagerly.

  Mitch brought her back to the apartment and threw her on to his bed. She gasped when he ripped off her clothes almost savagely and screamed when he thrust inside her, hard and deep, over and over again. Her nails scratched his back as she climaxed, and Mitch closed his eyes as his own orgasm built in him, pretending that it was Reena writhing and moaning under him, wild with excitement. His cock throbbed as he imagined Reena’s face when she came and he exploded inside the woman, wishing to hell that his fantasy was real.

  He lay panting on top of her, eyes screwed up tight, holding on to his dream that it was Reena here with him. Then he raised his head and looked down in to the woman’s dark eyes, and he felt empty.

  It’s not her, man. It won’t ever be her.

  The woman was sobbing with her release and Mitch rolled to his side, gently pulling her with him. No, she wasn’t who he wanted, but that wasn’t her fault. He held her against his chest, stroking her dark hair, waiting for her to calm.

  “My God, that was incredible,” she said.

  “For me too,” he said automatically.

  It was incredible. But only because I thought I was with her.

  At the thought, his body heated up again, hardened again. He lifted the woman’s chin and kissed her. She shuddered and he ran his hands down her body, over her stomach, between her thighs. He stroked her wet centre, getting her ready, and she arched and cried out with pleasure.

  They had sex twice more before she collapsed against him, exhausted. Mitch lay awake for a long time after, listening for Reena. He heard the door open quietly and he glanced at the clock. It was just after two in the morning and he was sure that this meant that Reena had slept with Simon. He felt sick at the thought, but at least she was home and safe.

  Mitch turned over, his back to the woman, facing Reena’s bedroom door. He closed his eyes and wished hard for sleep. He needed all the energy possible for training the next afternoon: he was determined to beat Simon Yates in to the ground.

  **

  The next morning, Reena was in the kitchen making coffee when she heard a noise behind her. She turned, and was startled to see a dark-haired woman standing there wearing one of Mitch’s t-shirts. She was tall and slim, with amazing dark eyes and full lips. She looked like a flamenco dancer, and Reena imagined painting her with her arm arching over her head, her curved hip jutting out, a red flower in that flowing dark hair.

  “Oh,” Reena said. “Good morning.”

  The woman looked confused. “Hi. Ummm. Do you live here with Mitch?”

  “Yes.”

  “Ah. Are you two… together?”

  “Nope. If we were, I’d probably be freaking out right now, wouldn’t I?”

  The woman relaxed. “Yeah. Probably.”

  “I’m Reena.”

  “Pamela.”

  “Good to meet you. Coffee?”

  “Oh, yeah. Please.”

  “Come sit,” Reena said. “I was just heating up some bagels and making a fruit salad. You hungry?”

  “Yeah, I am, actually.” Pamela looked around the apartment. “It’s a cute place, huh?”

  “It is. I fell in love with it the second I saw it.” Reena brought Pamela a cup of coffee. “He
lp yourself to milk and sugar, it’s on the table.”

  “Thanks.” She watched Reena in the kitchen for a minute. “So, do you know Mitch very well?”

  “No, not really. He’s good friends with a friend of mine, and we were both looking for a roommate at the same time. It all just kind of worked out, you know?”

  “Yeah, it happens that way sometimes.”

  “And you? You know Mitch well?”

  “Uh.” Pamela looked uncomfortable. “Well, we just met last night.”

  Reena nodded.

  “He seems like a nice guy,” Pamela said.

  “Oh, he is.” Reena brought her a bagel and a bowl of fruit. “He’s great.”

  “Thanks,” Pamela said and took a bite of bagel. “God, this is so good.”

  “From the bakery around the corner,” Reena said. “I predict that my ass will spread about six inches before summer, thanks to that place. Just in time for bikini season, you know?”

  Mitch came out of his bedroom at that exact second and saw the two women sitting at the table, drinking coffee and eating bagels and laughing like the best of friends. The woman from last night – Patricia? Portia? – was wearing his t-shirt and her hair was all after-sex messy. Reena was glowing and beautiful in the sun, and was obviously being as sweet as hell to her unexpected guest.

  For fuck sake. Now she’s playing hostess to your one-night-stands. How gracious would I be if it were me and Simon sitting there right now?

  They looked up at him. Reena smiled and nodded at the counter.

  “Coffee’s ready,” she said.

  “Thanks.” He walked over, feeling very self-conscious about the fact that there was a woman that he’d fucked – Paige? Paulina? – right across the table from Reena. No pretending anything else had happened, no explanations to be offered, no excuses to be given. Reena was sitting there having breakfast with a woman he had quite clearly had sex with, and Mitch had nowhere to hide or go. He leaned against the counter and took a deep breath.

  OK, man. Just ride it out. Ask about her date. Cool and casual.

  “So, how was dinner with Simon last night?”

  “Oh, great. We went to an Indian place, and then we went for a drive. Parked and looked at the mountains and talked for hours.”