The Fight Club - Boxed Set

by Becca Jameson

  Nope. His mind was swimming with thoughts of having her naked body beneath his, writhing in need.

  He would. God, he hoped he would. But he needed to take things slow. Give her a chance to catch up. No way would he make love to her until she was flat out begging him. To do otherwise would be insensitive.

  He needed to win her heart over by proving he was not the asshole who’d taken her virginity and damaged her beyond recognition.

  He wondered, not for the first time, what she’d been like before she left Vegas. He knew for a fact whatever she’d been through had occurred during those important years in her early twenties. Wherever she’d been. With whatever jerk she’d been with.

  He pulled into his driveway and shut off the engine. For a minute, he stared out the windshield, still thinking. Kayla was finally his. At least for now. And that was something.

  Deep breaths. He needed to get acquainted with his hand soon before his balls protested. He’d taken a shower at the gym before returning to her, but now he needed another one. Cold. And that wouldn’t even do it.

  Finally, he opened the door. Not because his mind had stopped running away, but because Thor nudged him with his wet nose as if to say, “What gives, man. Let’s get out.”

  Gage let the dog out, waited for him to do his business in the front yard, and then let them both into the house. The dog hung his head as they made their way back to the bedroom. “Dude, I miss her too. Let’s see how long it takes to convince her to sleep over, yeah?” He smiled down at the dog, who had no idea what his owner was talking about.

  Thor wagged his tail and lifted his face. He didn’t actually understand English, did he?

  The cold shower did nothing to help ease Gage’s stiff cock. Nor did the hand job under the cascade of water. When he lay down naked on his sheet, not bothering to pull anything over his still-heated skin, he stared at the ceiling for a long time.

  It was late. That didn’t change how fast and furiously his mind raced.

  Someone had hurt Kayla, damaged her, permanently. He was certain the scars were deep.

  And not just someone, but the only someone she’d ever been with.

  Fucking bastard. Was it one time? Or over the course of months, or even years?

  He cringed, knowing deep inside the answer to that question was years. She’d been gone from Vegas four years. Four years. That long? That was a long time to live under the thumb of a bastard Dom. And he didn’t doubt the man had been her Dom. She’d said she started submitting at the same time she left Vegas. Which left only one option. She’d left Vegas with a man, a Dom, trusting him, maybe even in love with him. And he’d destroyed her, torn her apart piece by piece for several years.

  Where was he now? Had she run away? Was he looking for her? She didn’t seem to have that sort of fear. And that surprised him. If she was that skittish after the cruel experience…if the fucking asshole who’d done this to her was that vicious…why had he let her go?

  Unless he was dead.

  Gage bolted upright, gasping for oxygen at the idea. Had she killed him?

  Instead of feeling fear over the concept, he smiled. He sure fucking hoped so.

  Not that he wanted the authorities after her. Of course not. Just that he didn’t want the jackass coming for her. In fact, he hated that he’d left her alone even tonight.

  And he needed to get over it. Because no time soon would he be entertaining the idea of sleepovers. His cock couldn’t take another night like last night, lying next to her with sheets and shirt and jeans and her damn thong between them.

  He lowered himself back to the bed. Relax, Cujo. She wouldn’t be working for the police station if she was on the run or in trouble with the law.

  So, maybe she hadn’t been arrested at all. Self-defense. Or maybe she didn’t kill anyone, man. Wild enough imagination?

  Whoever the guy was, he couldn’t possibly be a threat now. She’d left the fucking front door open and hadn’t even flinched when Gage returned from the gym.

  At least there was that. One less thing to worry about.

  He flopped onto his stomach and held the pillow under his head. He closed his eyes, but all that got him was images of Kayla—the way she smiled before he left for the gym, the way she tipped her face to meet him when he returned, the way she opened her mouth to accept their first kiss.

  He ignored the parts where she’d been skittish. He would erase those memories from her past and from their future.

  Thor huffed on the floor beside Gage. The dog seemed in tune with the situation, as though he was as exasperated as Gage was with this new line of events.

  Kayla was his. He would court her like a true gentleman and earn her trust, as a man and as her Dom. It would take time, but he had all the time in the world.

  In order to take his mind off Kayla and face a bit of reality, he reached for his cell phone and hit the top button on his favorites list. He knew his mother would still be up. She was a night owl. Plus she hardly slept at all since Dad had his stroke.

  “Hey, sweetie. How are you?” she answered.

  “Good. How’s Dad?”

  “The same. He’s resting. He doesn’t sleep well, but the doctor gave him something new to help him relax and sleep several hours at night.”

  “What about you? Are you getting enough sleep? I worry about you.”

  “I’m fine.” He could hear the smile in her voice. She was the strongest woman he knew. And he loved her more than anything.

  “Are you eating? Do you want me to pick up groceries again and bring them over?”

  “That’d be great. But only if you’re coming anyway. Don’t go out of your way.”

  “Of course I’m coming. I’ll be there tomorrow night. Same as always.” He spent Wednesday nights with his parents every week. And usually Sundays. It was hard seeing his dad lying in bed, a shell of his former self, but Gage put on a brave face and talked to him for hours anyway, telling him about his work and his fighting.

  Until the stroke, Jed Holland had been a man to be reckoned with. Always a strong Alpha sort, Gage never doubted where he got his dominant tendencies. He had no idea what sort of relationship his mom, Aletha, had with her husband behind closed doors, but he suspected they weren’t strictly a vanilla couple.

  Aletha loved her husband, and she doted on him as much now as she ever had, even though his mobility was compromised. He still got around some, and his mind seemed to be sharp, but his speech was altered, and the left side of his body was uncooperative.

  “I’ll make dinner.”

  “Of course you will, Mom. I wouldn’t even argue.” He smiled. He’d offered to bring takeout many times, but his mom always turned him down. “See you tomorrow.”

  After his mom said good-bye, he hung up and set the phone on his bedside table. He rolled over and hugged his pillow under his head again.

  Sleep was a long time in coming, but he finally slipped into dream land.

  Chapter Seven

  True to his word, Gage gave her time and space. He didn’t pressure her. He was attentive, sending texts and calling nearly every night, but he didn’t come over or suggest going out.

  All she could think about was the kiss he’d given her the last time they’d been alone together. His lips, the gentle way he held her, the look in his eyes when he finally pulled back… It all combined to leave her curious and frustrated.

  She wanted more.

  But he didn’t offer more. Not for over a week. Not until she was chomping at the bit to see him again. Not until her body nearly ached to have his fingers on her, in her, again.

  Halfway through Wednesday a week later, Kayla got a text from Gage. First, he’d left her coffee again. And then he left her alone all morning, as usual. In fact, she didn’t see him once. The coffee was the only way she knew he was in the building. He beat her to work and gave her space, like he’d done every day for over a week. Bless him. And damn him.

  She pulled out her phone to read the text.


  I have a fight Friday night. If you want to come, I’ll hook you up with the other women.

  She smiled. As ridiculous as it seemed, she was actually intrigued by this side of him.

  She texted him back.

  Sounds fun.

  Really? You’re an unusual woman…

  She grinned again.

  I assume that’s what attracted you to me in the first place.

  Nope. It was totally your cooking.

  Now she laughed out loud. And right at the moment Marci walked by her desk. “Kayla? You feeling okay?”

  “Yeah, why?” She turned to face one of her only friends.

  “I’ve not seen you smile like that, let alone laugh, in the two years I’ve known you.” Marci leaned over the desk.

  Kayla couldn’t wipe the grin from her face. “Yeah, well.” She shrugged.

  “There’s a man.”

  Right at that moment Gage walked through the lobby, and Thor bounded around the corner to plant his paws in Kayla’s lap.

  Marci righted herself, her smile growing wider. “I see.” She walked away.

  Gage looked at Kayla, cocking his head to one side. “She sees what?”

  “Who knows?” Kayla lied, burying her face in dog fur. “You just texted me like two seconds ago.”

  He leaned his hip on her desk, smiling. “You’ll go? To the fight I mean?”

  “Of course.” She scratched Thor’s neck and lifted her face to Gage.

  “Will you accompany me to Extreme afterward?”

  “Sure.” She cocked her head to one side. “What’s this about?”

  “Like as my date? My submissive?”

  “Ah.” She smiled. “So, you’re claiming me. Is that it? You’re worried about me being okay with you claiming me in public?” She tried to look at him with humor, but inside she was nervous as hell. She’d agreed to date him, though. So, she assumed that would include trips to Extreme. And she was more than ready to see him again. If his plan had been to court her until she caved, it had worked.

  He glanced down at his thigh and picked at his black cargo pants. “Perhaps. I’d like that. But I wanted to make sure you were okay with it.”

  Kayla leaned back, her hand still buried in Thor’s fur. She spoke softly. “I’m good.” And she smiled. It actually felt genuine. For the first time in years, she smiled without forcing it and knowing it would appear fake.

  Being at the club with Gage, as his date, his submissive, it felt right. It would be comfortable. She wasn’t sure how she could ever fully give herself to him, but as long as he was willing to keep things at her pace and not question her to death about the four years she wasn’t in Vegas, she was content.

  »»•««

  The rest of the week flew by for Kayla. Gage slipped by her desk a few times a day and sent her several texts, but he didn’t pressure her, nor did he see her outside of work. That alone spoke volumes. He was a patient man. Was it still too fast? Perhaps, but nothing like what she’d experienced with the only other man she’d fallen for. Simon didn’t given her an inch from the moment she met him. Not to breathe or to think. He swooped in and took over her world without hesitation. Manipulated her.

  By Friday night, Kayla was a mess trying to get ready. Three women were picking her up, and she had run around her condo for an hour changing and changing again. What did a woman wear to a fight? And then how did that translate to the club after?

  It didn’t help that the stack of mail she’d picked up earlier clearly included the usual dreaded envelope she hated receiving. She’d stashed it under some junk mail and ignored it, not wanting to start the evening out on a sour note. Later.

  When the doorbell rang, she was completely flustered. She opened it with a smile, but her hands were shaking and sweaty.

  “Hi.” The first woman stuck out a hand. “I’m Jenna.” Her long dark hair and big green eyes were striking. She wasn’t much taller than Kayla, but she carried herself as though she were, with confidence and spunk. She motioned first to the woman next to her. “This is Katy.”

  Katy reached out her hand. “Nice to meet you.” Katy was darker complected with deep brown eyes and unruly brown curls that escaped around her face from a barrette.

  The third woman spoke from Katy’s other side. “And I’m Emily.” Emily had blonde curls a shade darker than Kayla’s. And she was the shortest of the bunch.

  Kayla stepped back. “Come in.” She held the door wider until they were all inside as she assessed what they were wearing and then glanced down at her own clothes. “Maybe I’m overdressed?”

  Jenna spoke. “Heavens no. You’ll see every sort of clothing at these things. That jean skirt is perfect. Don’t change a thing.”

  The other three wore jeans and cute tops. Kayla felt a little overdressed next to them. “You’re sure?”

  “Yep.” Katy nodded. “We should have thought to call you earlier. Gage gave us your address, but not your phone number. I’ve been so busy this week, I dropped the ball on that one. Sorry. But you look fantastic. We usually take a bag of stuff to change into after the fights if we’re going to the club, which is what tends to happen on Friday nights when there’s a fight.”

  “Good. I was going to ask that. I’m sure I’ve seen all three of you there on occasion, and never dressed in jeans.” Kayla turned toward the stairs. “Give me a sec to get my stuff. I’ll be right down.” She took the stairs two at a time, grabbed the items she would wear later, and tucked everything into a pink shoulder bag. Lastly, she slipped her feet into black heels that could easily be worn all evening and headed back down the stairs.

  The woman were all smiling. “You look perfect,” Emily said. “And I’m so glad Gage is finally dating. Now we can double date, and he won’t be hanging around like a third wheel.” Her voice was jovial and sweet, and she put Kayla at ease.

  “So, what are these fights like? Exciting?” Kayla asked as she let them all out the front door.

  Emily responded with a yes at the same moment Katy and Jenna both gave a resounding no. All three giggled.

  Emily grabbed Kayla’s arm as they walked toward the car. “We might be in disagreement. You’ll have to make up your own mind. I love the fights. I think it’s exhilarating watching my man pummel some poor guy to the ground.”

  Katy turned back to look over her shoulder. “It sucks royally when the other guy wins, though. And then there’s the blood and…just…ooh.” She shivered as she spoke.

  Jenna laughed. “Not a huge fan either. But the boys love it, and Katy and I make an appearance now and then to be supportive. To each his own. These things are crowded and loud and smelly.” She curled up her nose. “But we do have a great night at Extreme afterward. Almost always.”

  “Except when they lose,” Kayla added, assuming that was the determining factor.

  Emily shrugged. “Depends. Sometimes even then. None of The Fight Club lose often, but it happens.”

  The drive to the arena took about ten minutes. Katy drove, her shiny red Honda making Kayla glad her car was in the garage so no one could see it. It was old. There was no doubt about that. But it worked, now that it had a functional battery, and it was all she could afford if she was going to save her money to go back to school.

  It was absurd for her to compare herself with anyone. But she knew these women all had college degrees and good jobs. She wanted that for herself. And she would have it too. The damnable detour her life had taken shaved years off her life, literally, but she was back on track and fully intended to pull herself together.

  The girls were right about one thing. The noise level in the arena was impressive. It hit Kayla head-on as soon as they opened the door. And it was crowded, like shoulder-to-shoulder crowded. There was no way to communicate over the shouting when they first entered, but luckily Emily grabbed Kayla’s hand and led her through the throng to some unknown destination.

  As soon as they got to a place where Kayla could see the stage, her eyes bugged out. Two
huge men fought each other, sweat pouring off their bodies. One had a swollen eye with a crack in the corner that bled. No matter what she expected to see, nor how many things she’d seen on television, this live, in-person pandemonium was shocking.

  “Is it always this crowded?” She leaned close to Emily’s ear to be heard and nearly shouted.

  Emily shook her head. “Not always. This is a bigger fight tonight. There are a few important names here and a demo at the end of some professionals.”

  “So these guys aren’t all professional?”

  “No, none of The Fight Club guys are. They’re all amateur.” Emily’s lips brushed over Kayla’s ear as she yelled. It was the only way to be heard.

  They kept walking. Finally Jenna, who led the group, stopped several yards from one corner of the stage, or whatever it was called.

  Kayla watched intently.

  Katy angled to her side and spoke into her other ear. “The fenced area is called the cage.”

  “Cage. Got it.”

  “This is a higher weight class just finishing. Then we’ll move on to the middleweights. All of The Fight Club are middleweight.”

  Kayla nodded.

  Katy stopped talking while the announcer bellowed several things through the microphone. Then she continued. “When it’s their turn, they’ll come to this corner between rounds.”

  Ah, so that was why they’d chosen this location.

  “Not that we’ll be close enough to say anything, but if you like to watch sweaty men get their brow wiped down, this is the place to be.” Katy giggled. “There are worse things, I suppose.”

  Katy’s obvious distaste was comical. She curled her nose up repeatedly, but she still seemed to be supportive and present for Rafe.

  Jenna leaned closer. “I think Gage is actually up first in their weight class, so that won’t be too long.”

  Kayla grew nervous as she watched two more fights. She slowly picked up on the jargon by listening to the announcer. By the time Gage stepped into the cage, she had at least a modicum of knowledge about the sport.

  She was not, however, prepared to see his bare chest for the first time. How the hell had she not seen him without a shirt on for so long? Not even at the club. He always wore some sort of black shirt, either a polo or a T-shirt that stretched across his expansive pecs so perfectly she almost drooled. But this…this was unexpected.