by Lea Hart
“Nice hickey. Who did you sleep with?”
Running her hand along her neck, she wondered what the hell he’d done. “I don’t want you to laugh when I tell you.”
“I won’t. Just tell me.”
“Matt Hall.” Bree carefully watched her friend’s expression and noted that she didn’t seem as shocked or appalled as she thought she would. “The MMA fighter we just signed.”
“I know who Matt is, and I can’t say that I’m surprised. When he was in the office a couple of weeks ago, I could tell there was something happening between the two of you.”
“Really? I don’t think I was interested at the time.” The snorting and knee slapping that followed were not the best reflection of Kendra’s character, and she planned on telling her as soon as she stopped. “It’s the truth.” It took a good five minutes before her friend got herself under control and another five for her to go grab a glass of water.
“Your body was interested, even if your mind was denying it,” Kendra responded. “I imagine your mind is still rebelling and that’s why you’re calling me and not rolling around in bed getting more hickeys.”
“The man has some amazing talents outside the cage. He’s a sexy man with a dirty mouth and a body that has given me more pleasure in twenty-four hours than is legal.”
“That good?”
“That freaking good,” Bree responded. “I had no idea half the things we did were possible.”
“That’s ’cause you were engaged to a selfish asshole.”
“Yeah, I figured that part out all on my own. The reason I’m calling you is to see what I should do about it. I just wanted a one-and-done and he’s not cooperating. He wants to hang out while he’s here and do touristy stuff together.”
“I don’t understand the question. If he’s as amazing as you say, then why not enjoy his company?”
“I don’t want a boyfriend. I want to go out and explore what I’ve been missing, and I can’t do that if a big ol’ man is standing next to me with his hand on my ass. Kind of scares the prospects away.”
“I’m guessing that you’re not speaking in hypotheticals.”
“You would be correct. He came by the after party last night to ‘pick me up’ and he wrapped his hand around my waist and grabbed my ass. Then he smooched me in front of God and everyone. More than once. I tell you, we were the damn sideshow at the party. Which is saying something, considering the crowd.”
“That’s hot,” Kendra said. “Politically incorrect and in really poor taste, but hot.”
“I know.”
“What was the question again?”
Bree threw up her hands and groaned. “What am I supposed to do?”
“Take advantage of his hot body and hot moves until you get bored. If you’ve been honest with him about what you want, then when it ends it shouldn’t be a problem. I’m guessing he’s familiar with the concept and may actually be happy that’s all you want.”
“That’s what I thought. But so far, he’s not acting real happy. He’s an alpha and his caveman traits are on full display. I swear he’s going to start beating his chest and yelling ‘mine, mine, mine’ if any man looks my way.”
“Why am I not offended by that concept?”
“Because a man declaring what he wants in no uncertain terms is refreshing. We’re used to betas who can’t decide what kind of coffee they want, much less if they want a woman. A powerful man who doesn’t equivocate is sexy.”
“How good was the sex?”
Bree’s body heated as she thought about Kendra’s question. “Amazing. I think he’s given me at least a half-dozen orgasms since he got here yesterday.”
“Holy hell. That is not what my sex-starved body needed to hear.”
“Sorry, but you asked.”
“I think you should enjoy it and see where it goes. If he’s given you that many orgasms, then why go looking? That just takes time and energy that you probably don’t have to spare. As long as he treats you well, then why not let it be?”
“He has treated me well and not just in the bedroom. He wants to go to the space center or aquarium tomorrow if we end up with free time. That sounds like a relationship to me, and it makes me nervous.”
“Looking at fish together doesn’t mean you have to marry the man. Relax and don’t try to define what’s happening. Let that brain of yours have a break and let your body take over.”
“I think you’re right. I’ve never let my body be in charge, so why not?” Bree gazed at her friend and realized she looked tired. “How is your mama?”
“The same. We’ll get her test results back at the end of the week and know if the chemo worked. Right now, she’s at home and enjoying her time away from the hospital.”
“If you need me, then I’ll be on the next plane home.”
“I know.” Kendra tightened her ponytail and smiled. “We’re hoping it worked this time.”
“Should I have Bruce go over to check on the house?”
“No, we’ve got everything under control. He’s busy and I don’t want to take his time.”
“My brother would give you his time, his heart, and whatever else you wanted if you ever gave him a chance.”
“I can’t,” Kendra responded quietly.
“All right, we’ll leave that discussion for another day. Thank you for your advice. I plan on following it.”
“Love you, girl. I’ll talk to you later this week.”
Bree blew her a kiss and ended the call. Seemed it was time to enjoy herself and not worry about where it was headed. Worrying had never gotten her anywhere and it was time to try something new.
CHAPTER TEN
Monday, February 6th
Walking into the Paradigm Training Center, Matt looked around and let out a whistle. The place was massive. It was twice the size of the gym he worked out in when he was home.
Marcus and his wife had put together an amazing facility. He was looking forward to working out with him because the guy was an awesome judo instructor. When he’d called yesterday and asked to come by, he told him he was welcome anytime.
Getting out of San Jose and his usual routine had always served him in the past, and he figured this wouldn’t be any different. Working out with different guys gave him a new perspective and he needed that right now. He was in a workout slump and needed to freshen up his routine. As he approached the front desk, he saw his buddy walking in his direction. He lifted his hand and waved. “Hey, man. Good to see you.”
Marcus walked around the receptionist desk, slapped his back, and gave him a bro hug. “How did the promo event go this morning?”
“Good. Lots of folks showed up and the suits from UFC were happy. We held a clinic with some up-and-coming fighters, and it was good to see the new kids that are working their way through the ranks.” Looking through the glass that separated them from the gym, he noticed the place was busy, even at two in the afternoon. “Congratulations on the facility. You guys have a good thing going on here.”
“Yeah, it’s coming together. My wife, Gina, took over the building next door, and she has all kinds of classes the women are going crazy for. We even have a trapeze set up.”
“Does she let any guys in there? I’d love to get on the trapeze.”
“Yeah, it’s co-ed. Let me beat you up for a while and then we can go over and see when she can get you up.”
“Cool.”
“Follow me and I’ll show you around.”
As they walked through the gym, he saw a few men on the heavy bags, and others were grappling on the mats. “Is Leroy Vazquez still coaching fighters?”
“Yeah, he’s got a respectable group of lightweights he’s working with. Having a former champ helps us attract guys who are serious.”
“Yeah, success feeds success. It’s one of the big reasons that Jaime’s gym has been around for as long as it has. There are enough serious contenders working out there that it doesn’t allow anyone to slack off. If someone sees
you not giving your best, then they let you know.”
A pretty woman walked in their direction and waved. The way Marcus was smiling made Matt think that she was his wife. When he kissed her, he had his answer.
Marcus grinned and draped his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “Matt, meet Gina. She’s my better half and the brains behind the operation.”
“He’s just saying that because he’s hoping to get lucky tonight.”
“I’m lucky every night,” Marcus replied with confidence.
“Nice to meet you, Gina.”
“Matt wants to get up on the trapeze, so I’ll send him your way after we’re done working out.”
Gina kissed her husband quickly and then nodded. “Sounds good. I should get back over there because I have a class starting in fifteen minutes.”
As she walked away, Marcus kept his eyes on her until she disappeared. “Still can’t believe she married me. It’s been six years and I sometimes still wonder how the hell I managed to talk her into it.”
Matt saw how happy his buddy was and for the first time thought he might have a shot at something like that. The drumbeat of need in his body hadn’t relented for a second since he saw Bree walking down the hall in Las Vegas. A part of him had expected it to slacken after they’d been together, but the opposite was happening. Which told him he had to keep her close until they knew what they had.
The sound of his phone buzzing made him quit daydreaming. He pulled it out and saw Bree’s picture pop up. He’d taken the picture of her last night after he’d given her a couple of orgasms and somehow managed to capture her sated smile. Made him feel like a damn king. He glanced up at his friend and motioned that he was going to take the call. Stepping away, he answered. “Hey there, pretty lady. You miss me yet?”
“A little.”
Laughing, he knew she wasn’t going to make it easy for him. “Are you done with your day?”
“I am, and I’ve negotiated a profitable deal for my client. I’m heading back to the hotel and I was wondering what you’re doing.”
“I’m at my friend’s place. Why don’t you come down and check it out? His wife has expanded the gym and has a bunch of classes. They also have a trapeze I want to try.”
“I’ve always wanted to go to circus school. Text me the address so I can come down and watch you fly through the air.”
“Why don’t we do it together?” When she didn’t respond right away, he wondered if they’d gotten disconnected. “You there?”
“Yes. I was just trying to decide how honest I need to be with you, and I guess I better just tell you, so you won’t be disappointed.”
“Okaaay…tell me.”
“I’m a big chicken. I’ve tried to go up on a trapeze five times and I’ve never made it off the board. In my mind, I can do it, but when I get up to the platform, I freeze. The last time I tried it, I was in Santa Monica and it took two guys to get me back down the ladder. I had a full-on panic attack.”
“Okay, no trapeze for you. No problem.”
“You’re not going to try to talk me into it…right?”
“Of course not. You can cheer me on and watch me fall on my ass.”
“Okay. I’ll see when I see you.”
“Can’t wait.” He ended the call and shook his head. He wouldn’t have guessed that anything would send Bree into a panic. It was comforting to know that she was just as human as he was. Somehow, he’d built her up in his mind. Laughing to himself, he realized it started the moment he saw her and thought of her as his dream girl.
“You got a girl, Matt?” Marcus asked.
“That obvious?”
“The stupid grin on your face pretty much says it all. I figured there had to be a reason and I’m guessing that reason is on her way over.”
“Yeah, she is.” He kicked his shoe against the ground and shrugged. “I’m probably going to get burned, but all I seem to do is walk closer to the flame.”
“Happens to the best of us. Go on and get changed and let’s get in the cage. I have a couple of guys for you to spar with.”
“Sounds great. I need to work off some of this energy.”
Marcus pointed out where the locker rooms were and then told him he’d meet him in fifteen minutes. As Matt made his way down the hall, he realized that confessing how screwed up he was over Bree made him feel lighter. Which, as far as he could tell, was a step in the right direction.
***
Bree stood outside of Matt’s sight line and watched him spar. The guy was made of fast twitch fibers. He was like a ghost. Whoever he was sparring with wasn’t in his weight class. The guy had at least thirty pounds on him, and if he landed a big shot, he could knock him out. She knew that he trained with a couple of heavyweights, so that’s probably how he developed his elusive quality. It looked like Matt’s opponent was starting to get frustrated. He’d throw and Matt wasn’t there. He was starting to reach and when he lunged forward, he couldn’t counter what Matt was throwing.
The guy was poetry in motion. After they’d spent time together in Vegas, she had Googled him and discovered he had a hell of a pain-inflicting portfolio. His last defense of his title was like a master clinic. He’d melded an array of lightning-quick strikes and methodical submission holds. His opponent had been turned into a pretzel with a devastating first-round kimura kick and never really recovered. It was a thing of beauty.
Kind of like what was currently happening in the octagon. Matt had cut his opponent off and trapped him in the corner. They were going to have to wrestle and she had a feeling that’s exactly what Matt had intended. Two minutes later, the guy tapped out.
Watching the men shake hands and grin told her they both enjoyed the match. Her brother had always told her that the only way a fighter got better was by sparring with as many different opponents as possible. Regular partners were important but the unknown was invaluable.
As she stepped closer to the octagon, she caught Matt’s eye and waved. The smile he gave her warmed her all over. The frown that followed, not so much. Turning around, she checked to see if anyone was behind her. When she saw no one, she wondered what had his mood changing within seconds. He stepped out of the cage and stalked toward her. She felt like stepping back. But she fought the feeling because she wasn’t a woman who shrank from confrontation.
He took the last step that put him in her personal space, and she wondered what he was going to do. Hooking his arm around her shoulder, he drew her near and dropped a kiss on her that made her lady parts sing. When she gasped at the ferocity of the kiss, he slipped his tongue inside and claimed her. Holy hell, what the heck was going on?
He released her mouth and tipped his head against hers. She noticed his uneven breathing. Seemed fair, considering his kiss had turned her inside out and rearranged a few brain cells. Breathing heavily, she managed to speak. “I think that sent the message you were hoping for.”
“Had to do something,” he replied. “You’re too freaking hot and I don’t want any of the men in here to think they can look at you.”
“That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Might be, but it’s true. That skirt is cupping your perfect ass and giving more than a few men ideas. Not to mention those fuck-me shoes you’re wearing.”
Tilting her head back, she looked into his eyes and tried to determine if he had a concussion. “How many times were you hit in the head before I got here?”
“None.”
“Hard to believe, considering the nonsense you’re spouting. That is the piggiest thing anyone has ever said to me. I am perfectly dressed and there is nothing about the way I look that is in any way inappropriate. I’m a model of professionalism.”
“All right, if you say so, but I’m right about the skirt and shoes.”
She was about to push him away and then decided not to because he was covered in sweat. “Don’t get next to me. You’re sweaty.”
Leaning over, he rubbed his nose along her cheek. �
��You liked my sweat last night when we were rolling around in bed.”
“That’s true, but I wasn’t dressed in a suit. I’m interested in your sweaty body only when we’re behind closed doors.”
“Let’s go find some doors that we can close, then ’cause I’m real interested in you. I can lift that skirt of yours and get my mouth on you without leaving any wrinkles.”
The heat crawling up her neck was almost spontaneous. The man had the filthiest mouth and she couldn’t decide if she loved it or hated it. When he raised an eyebrow, she knew she loved it. Her damp panties also answered the question, in case her mind decided to fight it. Sweet Lord, he was a piggy caveman alpha dog. When he kissed her again, she knew he was just what she needed.
A short fling with this man would set her right. He was the perfect antidote to the last couple of years of her life. Polite, appropriate men had never gotten her so hot and bothered, and she was happy to finally have a chance with a man who did. “I’m not saying no to your offer, but I’m not saying yes, either.”
“I’m a patient man, so just let me know when you decide. In the meantime, you want to see if they have any classes you want to take?”
“I don’t have any workout clothes with me, but I saw they have a little shop. Let me see if I can find anything and then I can do some cardio while you finish your workout.”
“All right. I’ll walk you over there and then go find Marcus. He’s going to grapple with me and show me some new submission moves he’s been working on.”
“Maybe I should have him show me too. Then I’ll have something I can use on you when I need it.”
“Honey, I’ll do anything you ask me. You don’t need any moves to get what you want.”
Rising on tiptoe, she pressed their mouths together and felt a tingle run down her spine. She decided right then and there that Matt Hall was the best thing that had happened to her in forever. His sweet words were making her feel all soft and gooey. “I want you…to do whatever I say next time we’re naked.”
