by Lea Hart
“Not yet,” she mumbled.
He rubbed her back and nodded. “Okay. Just let me know when you’re ready.” He lifted one hand, took her glove off, and then repeated the process with the other hand. As soon as her hands were free, they snaked around his middle and she tightened her hold. His heart almost exploded when she held tightly because it showed she needed him.
He had a twenty-one-day plan to become a habit to her and they were on day nine, according to his calculations. Seemed that if she needed him then he had a half a chance at what he wanted most.
Running his hand over her hair, he kissed her head and hoped like hell that he could fix whatever was bothering her. If Grayson was giving her grief, then he would have no problem letting him know that it wasn’t going to fly. Didn’t matter what kind of power the guy had. He’d never tolerated bullies and he wasn’t going to start now.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Tuesday, February 14th
Bree sat in the chair that faced the window and quietly drank her coffee. The sun was beginning to warm the room and she hoped they were in for a beautiful day. Looking over, she admired the big man who was asleep in her bed. The pink flannel sheet that covered his torso did little to hide his morning erection.
Taking a sip of coffee, she let her eyes linger over his chest that was covered in muscle. He was delicious and she counted herself extra lucky that he was her valentine this year. Last year, she’d been alone, reeling from the breakup with Grayson. Looking back, she realized she should’ve been celebrating the near miss and not crying crocodile tears.
In retrospect, she realized that she’d ignored a ton of things that would’ve never allowed them to succeed. She saw what she wanted and not what was. The red flags that kept popping up were no match for her stubborn belief that he was, in fact, the nice boy she’d met in law school. His competitiveness had a sharp, angry edge that often resulted in his attempt to annihilate his rivals. The first time she saw it, she assumed it had to do with the bloodthirsty nature of Stanford Law. The twentieth time she saw it, she knew it was just him. He saw the world as a zero-sum game and if he wasn’t the best, then he did whatever it took to make sure he was.
It was insecurity that drove him, and why it had taken her so long to see it clearly was a mystery. The frozen state she’d been in since the end of their engagement was well and truly over. Not only because of the beautiful man in her bed but also because of her burgeoning realization that Grayson Porter was an asshole. And he’d done her an enormous favor by not marrying her.
The conversation they’d had yesterday was one for the record books. Why he wanted to believe that he still had some hold on her was mind-boggling. And concerning. Maybe his grip on reality had finally slipped and he was living in an alternate reality.
It was the only explanation she could come up with when he went from one rant to the other. There was something manic about him that she hadn’t really seen before and that made her think that he wasn’t completely coherent. He’d started off with threatening her clients and then moved on to the pictures of her and Matt. Which was crazy.
Apparently, the way she’d looked at Matt burned Grayson’s biscuits. At least, that was the impression she got as he went on and on about her dating a fighter. She hadn’t really looked at them that closely when they’d first shown up on the internet, and maybe she should. They were from the night of her brother’s fight when they’d been leaving the club, and according to Grayson, they were indecent.
As far as she was concerned it was good news. Her initial reluctance about dating a fighter had disappeared back in Houston. Whatever she had been worried about seemed silly because the truth was he made her happy. Matt Hall made her really, really happy and it wasn’t just because he was an amazing lover. It was because they got along and enjoyed doing things together.
Which never really happened with Grayson because he was so uptight. The man could suck the fun out of anything and Matt was the exact opposite. His laid-back personality was the perfect antidote to her uptight, controlling one. He was the yin to her yang. Which, she discovered, was something she needed.
He’d proven that last night when he’d let her break down in the gym. Not one word of complaint or judgment was said after she cried like a baby. He let her lose her shit and then bundled her up and brought her home.
He’d run a bath for her the moment they walked in and then ordered pizza. After that, they watched several episodes of How It’s Made on the Science Channel. Turned out he wasn’t kidding when he said he enjoyed geeky science shows. They watched a mini-marathon about how the most essential Christmas items were made. Watching candy canes being made was amazingly therapeutic.
Then he took her to bed and made sweet love to her mind and body. She almost started crying again but held herself back. He’d given her something so invaluable that she knew she was going to have a hard time letting him go when the time came.
“Bree, come back to bed,” Matt said as he held out his hand.
Smiling, she tilted her head. “Yeah? What for?”
“Valentine’s lovin’. I need to sex you up and get you addicted to me.”
“Maybe I should sex you up and get you addicted to me…”
“Already am.” Wiggling his fingers, he opened one eye and gave her a sexy smile. “You know you want it.”
Standing, she let the robe fall off her body and then lifted her shoulder casually. “Maybe I do and maybe I don’t.”
“Come closer and let me see how big of a liar you are.”
Taking slow steps, she watched him whip the sheets off his body. His big chest, lean abs, and thick, hard cock were on display and she did everything she could not to drool. When she got close enough, he grabbed her around the waist and flipped her onto the bed. Brushing her hair out of her face, she gave him a smile. “Not very patient this morning.”
Pinning her beneath him, he rose up on his knees and licked his lips. “I’m hungry for the taste of my woman.” His large hands spread her legs as he moved down her body. Dropping lazy kisses, he made his way across her body. By the time he made it to the juncture of her thighs, she was quivering with anticipation. His wicked mouth and tongue lingered at her core, licking and sliding through her sensitive folds of flesh.
When she was beyond wet and aroused, he shifted to her hips. The way his mouth moved over her skin made her feel cherished and adored. He teased her nipples next, sliding his tongue over them, nipping at them with his teeth, then sucking the engorged tips into his mouth until she was desperate for the orgasm he built her to…but withheld just out of her reach. When she couldn’t stand the sensual torment any longer, she called out his name, begging for release.
His answer was bringing his lips to her and giving her a hot, deep kiss as he thrust his shaft into her. Gasping, she undulated her hips, which caused him to groan low and harsh. “More, Matt,” she moaned. He lifted his head and stared down at her with emotion filling his gaze. Not able to name it, she let it wash over her and fill her heart.
“You’re mine, Bree,” he said possessively as he threaded their fingers together. Pinning her hands over her head, he then started to move, claiming her mind, body, and soul.
“Yes,” she whispered as her body shook with the force of her climax. Seconds later, Matt joined her as she felt his release inside her body. Shouting her name, he came again and again. Whatever was happening between them was a lot more than sex because she felt tears streak down her face. He’d touched a part of her that no one ever had. A part she hadn’t known existed.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, honey,” he groaned into her ear.
Wrapping her arms around him, she murmured, “Back at you.” Then she felt herself drift off to a lovely warm place that felt a lot like love.
***
Matt sat at the bar that separated the kitchen from the dining room and watched Bree make omelets. She had already made a fruit salad and cinnamon toast that was cut into hearts. As far as he could tell, thi
s was a damn fine holiday. He hadn’t celebrated with anyone since he was fourteen and dating Holly Mills. They were an item for most of freshman year and he still thought fondly of her because she was the first girl he ever kissed.
Looking at the woman who was probably going to be the last woman he kissed, he wondered if the storm had passed. Seemed it had because she was singing to herself as she cut up mushrooms. He hadn’t pressed her for details about what made her so upset and he wouldn’t. It was up to her when she wanted to open up to him. Unfortunately, he had a pretty good idea it had to do with her ex. Whatever he’d said yesterday ignited some serious feelings, and hopefully they were feelings of relief and not regret. Despite the guy’s pedigree and education, he seemed like a douche.
“Do you want to go out tonight or would you like me to make you dinner at my house?” Matt asked.
When she looked up with a smile, he felt his gut clench. She had set loose a need in him that he was powerless against. Whatever it was made him want to bind her to him. It was the only thing he could come up with that would allow him to survive the crazy feelings she stirred up in him. He felt exposed and wide open, and the only way to fix that was to make sure that she felt something similar.
“Well…if I’m being honest…”
“Yes?” he replied.
“I’d like to make dinner together and take a walk on the beach. I so appreciate you making reservations, but I would really just enjoy cooking together.”
The way she was fidgeting from foot to foot almost made him laugh. The woman had no idea that he would do just about anything to make her happy, and he didn’t care what they did as long as they were doing it together. “Sounds perfect.”
“Oh, good.” Her phone buzzed on the counter and she tipped her head toward it. “Can you check that for me? I’m in the middle of making the perfect omelet and I don’t want to stop.”
“You must trust me if you’re letting me check your phone,” he replied as he stood and scooped it up.
“The fact that I let you empty yourself inside me didn’t give you a clue?”
Look who was speaking frankly. He must have been rubbing off on her because she was telling it like it was. “Which I plan on doing several more times today.” When she didn’t reply, he noticed her biting her bottom lip and concentrating as she poured the egg mixture into the pan. He flipped her phone over and read the incoming message. “It’s a message from Jeff letting you know that the contracts for Tony’s next fight will be sent later on this afternoon.”
“Good news. I was expecting them yesterday and I was hoping the delay was nothing more than an oversight.”
She added the filling to the omelet and then, when it was time, she flipped it over in one fluid movement. When it worked, she smiled broadly. “Wasn’t sure I could do that,” she commented as she pulled out plates.
“Impressive,” he replied.
She plated up their eggs, slid them onto the counter, and then walked around to sit next to him. When she was settled, she gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
“Thank you for celebrating with me,” he replied. After digging into his food, he groaned. “This is great.”
“Very healthy too.”
“Good thing I have you looking out for me. Cutting weight isn’t a lot of fun, so I try to stay as close to fighting weight as I can.”
“Makes sense. When my brother first started out, I helped Albolene him. I slathered him up with the moisturizer and then sent him into the sauna until he was cooked. When he got out, I scraped him down with a credit card and he made weight.”
“I’ve had to do that a time or two during my own career. Not a lot of fun.” When he felt her eyes on him, he turned and waited. “What?”
“What really happened between you and Tony?” she asked.
“Where did that come from?”
“I was thinking about the weight thing and his fight contract and I always wanted to ask you.”
“A girl he was interested in made a play for me and I accepted. It was a one-time thing and I had no idea that he wanted a shot. Tony never believed me. Turns out the girl was a nightmare and I did him a favor by exposing what she really was.”
“Let me guess. Tony never saw it that way and was pissed that he was played so easily. Better he take it out on you than see what part he played in the whole mess.”
“Yes. In a nutshell.”
“It wasn’t that hard to make you the bad guy, considering your reputation.”
Scraping his hand over his face, he sighed. “And what reputation is that?”
She sat back and crossed her arms. “Are we really going to pretend that you do not enjoy the company of the ladies?”
“No. But I never led anyone on and made promises I had no intention of keeping.”
Holding up her hands, she gave him a smile. “I’m not suggesting that you did, but being a man whore makes you an easy target. Everyone assumes you’re guilty whether it’s true or not.”
“I hate that term. I never took money when I had a consensual relationship with a woman.”
“So, it’s the whore tag that’s got you mad?”
“Yeah!”
“Okay. Makes sense.”
He went back to his meal and ate quietly. This conversation was not what he’d wanted to happen. He couldn’t do anything about his past and he hoped like hell that Bree believed he was no longer interested in every woman who offered herself up. Truth was, he was interested in only one and she was giving him the side eye as he ate his breakfast. Whatever she was cooking up in that brain of hers was bound to be a doozy. Lifting his fruit bowl, he raised an eyebrow. “How long am I going to have to wait?”
“For what?”
“Your opinion.”
“About your life?”
“Yes, Bree. I’m sure you have something to say about how I spent my twenties.”
She lifted her shoulders, then shook her head. “I don’t. Seems you did what you wanted with people who wanted to do it with you. No harm was done, so who cares how you spent your free time? I’m not going to assign some outdated puritanical view and make judgments. It’s not my business and not my place. I say…congratulations. You had a good time and will continue to do so. As far as I can tell, you were honest about your intentions, and to me, that’s all that matters.” Jumping up, she clapped her hands. “I have presents and I almost forgot.”
She walked out of the room mumbling to herself and headed upstairs. Seemed the conversation was over and it couldn’t have gone better if he’d planned it. Turned out he’d been right about Bree all along. She was his dream girl. He heard her feet on the stairs and stood. When she came around the corner, she had two large gift-wrapped squares in her hand.
“I hope you like these,” she said as she set them on the dining room table.
“Honey, you didn’t have to get me anything.”
“I wanted to. I got the idea on my flight home from Houston and I’m praying it was a good one.” Clapping her hands, she smiled. “Open, open, open.”
“I can see what you’re going to be like at Christmas. No patience.” The fact that he was planning on spending a holiday that was ten months away with her did not faze him in the least. When she didn’t react, he decided to leave it alone. Sliding the ribbon off the first square slowly, he heard her sigh.
“Oh, my God, you’re one of those people who opens presents slowly. Kill me now,” she whined.
Smirking, he decided not to rip the paper, because her foot tapping was funny. When he couldn’t drag it out any longer, he lifted the paper off and lost his breath. It was a photograph of him on his knees after he’d won the title for the first time. He was bloodied and bruised and utterly happy. It was the most thoughtful gift anyone had ever given him. When he noticed Bree staring at him with hopeful eyes, he almost lost it. “I love it.”
“Thank God,” she said loudly. “You had me worried for a second. I know a guy who photographs the spor
t and I called him to see what he had. I got lucky and he had quite a few. If you like this, then I can have the rest blown up and framed for you.”
Running his hand over the frame, he tried to collect himself. When that didn’t seem to work, he grabbed her and hugged her as hard as he could. He buried his face in her hair and inhaled the scent of the woman who made him want things. Things that lasted a lifetime.
“Open the next one,” she instructed him.
“Lord, woman. Can’t a man take a moment to enjoy a gift without being rushed?”
Hugging him back, she mumbled, “I guess so.”
Lifting his head, he laughed. “Okay, let me put you out of your misery.”
“Yeah,” she exclaimed.
As far as he could tell, Christmas morning was going to be a race to open all the presents as soon as they could. Might have to get her a lot of small ones so they could prolong the process. Turning, he made quick work of the second package and lifted off the paper. It was a black-and-white photograph of him sparring with his coach. The concentration on his face mirrored what was happening with his body. The muscles in his arms stood out in relief as he threw a left hook. “Thank you, Bree. I can’t tell you what it means to me that you’ve done this.”
Exhaling, she fell back into a dining room chair. “I’m so happy you like them.”
“I love them and I want you to help me hang them when we get to my house this afternoon.”
Her eyes lit up and she smiled. “Really?”
“Yeah, might as well put them where you like.” He ran his hand over the image and felt like, somehow, he’d been blessed. Not only with the opportunity to go after his dream, but a chance at a woman who could change his life. Having someone like Bree in your life was bound to make a man a thousand times better than he started out. His brother had been right all along. Having the right woman in your life meant the difference between good and great. He definitely wanted great and he wanted it with Bree.
