The Fight Club - Boxed Set

by Becca Jameson

  “Your car’s at my house. That’s where I had some of the guys take it when we left the gym.”

  Right. She’d given him her keys and rode to the police station in his car.

  “Fine. Take me there. I need to get my car.”

  “You aren’t going to take off on me and go off by yourself, Sabrina.”

  “Yes, actually, I am.” She stood, wiping her hands on her jeans and facing him head on.

  He shook his head. “I know you’re mad. You have every right to be angry. Hell, you had every right to be pissed off before the e-mail came. I’ll grant you that. But you’re my submissive, and there’s no way in hell I’m going to let you traipse off alone right now. It’s not safe. And besides, I want to be near you.”

  She planted her hands on her hips. “Conner, you don’t own me. I’m telling you no.”

  “Stay at my place.”

  “Not a chance in hell.”

  “Okay. Good point. Then let’s go to a hotel.”

  “How is that going to help? Do you think I’ll feel safe at a hotel?”

  Conner pulled out his phone and tapped a few buttons, never taking his gaze off her. After a few seconds, he spoke. “Rafe. Hey… Yeah, I guess you heard we had a bit of a problem… No, she’s fine. She’s standing right in front of me… Yes… No… Listen, do you think you could spare a few rooms in your basement for the night? Or maybe a few days… Yes. I’d appreciate it… Okay… Right. Thanks. We’ll be there in a bit.”

  She planted her hands on her hips. The audacity of this man. “Seriously, Conner. You’re steam rolling right over me.”

  “Do you have a better idea?”

  She glared daggers at him.

  “I didn’t think so. Neither of us would feel comfortable in our own homes tonight. You aren’t interested in a hotel. I’m betting you don’t want to explain this situation to any of your friends. So, that leaves Rafe. I chose him because he and Katy have an enormous home with a finished basement. No windows. You can sleep knowing no one can possibly take your picture. And they have more than one room down there, so you can have one all to yourself if you’re too pissed at me to share my bed.”

  Damn. Why did he have to make so much sense?

  Finally, exasperated and with no better option, she consented. “Okay.”

  “Excellent. We’ll stop by your place and grab some clothes and then mine.” He opened the door to the room and stepped into the hall.

  It was late afternoon as she followed him to the car. She hadn’t eaten since lunch, but she knew if she even considered swallowing, her stomach would revolt.

  They rode in silence to her place where she hastily gathered several things and put them in an overnight bag. She also grabbed her computer. If she didn’t find a way to work tomorrow, she was going to fall too far behind. Though at the moment, the concept of editing a novel seemed entirely foreign to her.

  At Conner’s place, she waited impatiently by the door to the garage, refusing to step farther into the house. He was quick. And he insisted she leave her car and ride with him.

  She was too tired to argue.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Do you want to stop and get something to eat first?”

  Sabrina stared at him from her spot squished against the passenger door. “No.”

  “I’m sure you haven’t eaten since lunch, baby.”

  She flinched when he called her baby. She wasn’t in the mood for him to be nice. She was nursing a full-fledged tantrum. And she deserved it.

  “Stop if you want. I’m not hungry.”

  He pulled through a drive thru and ordered chicken strips and fries, the largest order. And then he stopped in a parking place in front of the fast-food restaurant.

  Thank God. She didn’t want to face people. She sure as shit didn’t want to go into an establishment and try to eat.

  The chicken smelled good though, and her stomach rumbled loudly when he opened the bag.

  He smiled at her when she glanced up. “I ordered plenty. Please. Try to eat something.”

  She took a chicken strip and managed to bite into it, awakening her taste buds as she chewed. It was fresh, and it was good. She managed to eat the entire strip and a few of his fries.

  He didn’t pressure her to talk, and as soon as they were done, he pulled back out onto the road.

  She noticed he frequently glanced in the rearview mirror, undoubtedly making sure no one was following them.

  It took only ten minutes for them to arrive at Rafe and Katy’s house. It was a gorgeous two-story that sat nestled in a quaint neighborhood.

  Katy met them at the door, smiling. “Come in.” She gave Sabrina a brief hug and nodded behind her. “I’ll show you around the basement. You can make yourselves at home. There’s plenty of space.”

  Sabrina followed her down the steps with Conner at her heels, grateful that Katy seemed to have been briefed at least enough to not ask any questions. Sabrina couldn’t remember if Rafe had been at the gym that afternoon or not, but in any case, among this obviously tight-knit fight club, word would have gotten around.

  Katy flipped on lights as she went down a short hall. “Bedroom. Bathroom. Another bedroom. Living room.” She held out her arms to encompass the enormous comfortable space that contained a large-screen television, huge comfy couches, and a wet bar. “If you need anything at all, holler.” She squeezed Sabrina’s hand on the way by and left them alone without another word.

  Sabrina turned toward Conner, feeling slightly chagrined at the way she was treating him. But she was too exhausted to get into it with him. She needed to be alone. “I’ll take the smaller bedroom.” She passed him on her way by, grateful he didn’t try to stop her.

  After quickly changing into an oversized T-shirt, she slipped between the covers of the queen-sized bed and curled up in a ball.

  Her mind raced. Someone was following them. Hopefully they hadn’t managed to track them to Rafe and Katy’s home. Sabrina would feel awful if anything happened while they were guests in someone else’s house.

  It was a fact she felt better in a room with no windows. It was pitch dark with the door shut and the lights turned out. She listened as water ran in the bathroom next to her and then heard another door open and close.

  Tears fell again. She couldn’t stop them. This wasn’t her life. She was an editor, for crying out loud. The most excitement she’d ever had in twenty-six years had been the time she got a speeding ticket in a school zone. That was as close as she’d come to any interaction with the police. Filing a stalker report wasn’t on her bucket list.

  She buried her face in her pillow for a few minutes, fighting the urge to scream.

  Fighting the loneliness.

  Fighting the need to snuggle up next to Conner and let him hold her.

  Losing every battle.

  She was supposed to be mad at him. He stomped out of her house that afternoon, unwilling to take a threat from the Russian mafia seriously. Or maybe that was just how she perceived his reaction. Surely he wasn’t blasé about that Dmitry guy warning him about some Russian mob guy.

  She flipped onto her back and closed her eyes, inhaling slowly several times. If she could just control her breathing.

  In.

  Out.

  In.

  Out.

  Was Conner asleep? Did he have the same level of anxiety she suffered from? Was he even concerned? She couldn’t be sure. He’d treated her with kid gloves all afternoon. But was the threat as serious to him as it was to her? After the way he seemed to blow off their encounter with Dmitry at lunch, she couldn’t know for sure what he might be feeling.

  Time ticked by in silence while she stared at nothing in the darkness, unable to close her eyes.

  Finally, her bladder protested, and she eased out of bed, tiptoed across the room, and slipped into the hall as quietly as possible. A small night light in the bathroom led her way. She used the toilet, splashed water on her face, and took a drink from the spout.
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  When she stepped back into the hall, Conner was leaning against the opposite wall. He wore low hung sleep pants and nothing else. He took her breath away. “You okay, baby?” His voice was deep, concerned.

  She nodded. They stood in silence for a long time. Finally, he reached out a hand.

  She stared at it for a moment. If she went to him, she would be opening herself up to incredible vulnerability. If she didn’t, she would never know if he was capable of handling her the way she deserved.

  She took a breath and stepped into his embrace. He wrapped his arms around her and hauled her against his front. His chest smelled fantastic, and she took a moment to simply inhale his scent while he nuzzled his face in her hair. “I’m so sorry, baby. Please forgive me.”

  “For what exactly?” she asked his chest.

  “For walking out on you earlier instead of talking it out. For not being there when you opened that damn e-mail.” He smoothed his hands up her back, over her shoulders, and across her cheeks until he nudged her away from his chest and held her face back to look into her eyes. “For falling so hard for you I can’t find it in myself to let you go, even though I know this situation is ugly and could get uglier before it’s over.”

  She sucked in a breath. Wow.

  “If I were a better man, I’d tell you to stay away from me, but I’m not. I’m in so deep I can’t do it. I want you near me any way you’ll allow. If it means sleeping in separate bedrooms in Rafe’s basement for the foreseeable future, I’m okay with that. Whatever it takes to ensure you’re safe while keeping you close.”

  When he eased the grip he had on her cheeks, she leaned her forehead against his chest. “Would you mind if I slept in your bed? I can’t relax alone.”

  He squeezed her tighter and then led her to his bedroom. He didn’t shut the door to the hall, so the faint light from the bathroom was enough for her to make out the furniture.

  Conner held the covers back and helped her climb in. And then he slipped alongside her and hauled her back against his front, wrapping his top arm around her and setting his lips on the sensitive skin behind her ear. “Thank you, baby.”

  She closed her eyes, trying to relax her racing heart.

  She could feel his erection against her ass. There was no way to hide it.

  And contrary to what she would have chosen, her nipples hardened as they grazed against the cotton of her T-shirt where his forearm stretched across her chest.

  Conner kissed her neck gently. “Rest. We’re safe here.”

  He was a genius, coming up with this plan to hide out where there were no windows and she could sleep without worry of some photographer snapping a shot of her in bed.

  “Thank you,” she mumbled as she let sleep drag her under.

  »»•««

  It was dark when Sabrina opened her eyes. For a moment, she was disoriented. And then the memory of what had happened slammed into her.

  How long had she been asleep?

  “You okay?” Her gaze shifted to the man hovering over her. Conner. He brushed a lock of hair from her face and cupped her cheek.

  “What time is it?”

  “About two.”

  “In the morning?”

  He grinned. “Yes.”

  She groaned. “I didn’t sleep long.”

  “No. You must have been having a bad dream. You startled me as you gasped awake.”

  She didn’t remember any dream. Probably a good thing.

  She closed her eyes and leaned into Conner, setting her cheek on his chest. “This situation is a disaster.”

  He threaded his fingers in her hair and let the strands fall between each finger. It felt good. Soothing. “I know.”

  “Have you slept?”

  “No.”

  She figured as much. “What time do you have to be at work?”

  “Nine. I have office hours and then two classes. Will you stay here while I’m gone?”

  She hadn’t thought that far. She sat up and faced him, taking in his expression from the dim light. “I can’t stay here forever, Conner. I have a life.”

  “I know.” He continued playing with a lock of her hair. “Stay today at least. Let me think. I need to figure this out.”

  “Okay.”

  “Thank you.” He let out a breath and pulled her on top of him. “I know we haven’t been together that long, and we’ve had a rocky start, but I’d feel better if you would let me keep you safe. I have no idea who’s behind this shit, but I intend to find out. If I had to worry about your safety on top of everything else, I don’t think I could function.”

  “Okay,” she repeated. She could work from here today. After she got more sleep.

  Conner hugged her tighter and seemed to loosen up. Had he been lying there worrying about her safety all this time?

  She felt bad about that. He didn’t need her being defiant and contrary on top of everything else. For once she vowed to play the obedient submissive for a day. She almost chuckled internally at the thought of not arguing with him or cussing in his presence.

  This should be interesting…

  »»•««

  The next time Sabrina woke up, it was to the hum of a cell phone nearby.

  She glanced around. She was alone. The shower was running next door.

  A phone buzzed again.

  She reached for the bedside table and nabbed the phone before she realized it wasn’t hers. It was Conner’s. He had texts messages coming in rapidly. She tried not to look at them.

  The clock on the nightstand said seven thirty this time. At least she’d slept a few hours.

  Pulling herself out of bed as the water shut off in the bathroom, she took the phone with her and padded toward the bathroom.

  “Hey, baby.” Conner smiled as she rounded the corner.

  “Do you always leave the bathroom door open?”

  “I wanted you to feel like you could come in if you needed.”

  She held out the phone, warmed by the idea he’d been thinking of her. “Your phone’s been beeping. You have a lot of action this morning.”

  He leaned toward her and kissed her forehead as he took it. Shocking her, he grabbed her waist with both hands, even the one holding the phone, and lifted her onto the counter.

  “Conner… What are you doing?”

  “I have to leave soon. Sit with me while I get ready.”

  She squeezed her legs together. He smelled so good and he looked like a god standing there in nothing but a towel, his hair dripping onto his shoulders and running off the shield tattoo and across his chest. She licked her lips at the vision. It was too early to be turned on by this man. She wasn’t a morning person. But she wasn’t a dead person, either. He was hot.

  Conner scanned through the messages. “Jesus,” he muttered.

  “You’re popular before eight. No one texts me this early.” She grinned at him.

  “Yeah, well, no one wants to be this kind of popular. Three of them are from Tina Chang, that professor I told you wants in my pants.” He picked up his razor as he spoke. “The others are from the dean. I need to leave early and meet with her before my office hours.” He cringed as he spoke but didn’t glance at Sabrina.

  “Does the dean want a piece of you also?” she teased. At least she thought she did.

  He glanced her way for a second. “Yeah, for totally different reasons, however. I’m pretty sure she’s gay. I don’t think she wants to fuck me.” He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach far enough to be believable, and then he changed the subject. “Can you work from here today?”

  “Of course. All I do is read smut, you know. It’s not important.” She narrowed her gaze at him, hoping to get him at least a little fired up. She preferred him a little edgy over this new cool, fake nothing. Their morning banter was simulated.

  “Ha ha.” He set the razor down, rinsed his face, and then turned to step in front of her. “Spread your legs, baby.”

  His words made her arousal shoot sky high as he nudg
ed her knees and slipped between them, tugging her closer until his cock pressed against her pussy from behind the towel.

  He took her face in his hands and tipped it up to meet her gaze. “I give in. You win. I’m sure your job is legit.”

  “You better say that. It’s possible I make more money than you. So don’t knock it. Plus, as an added bonus, I love what I do. Now, you need to get out of here so I can do it. I’m behind. I have clients waiting on me.”

  He brushed her hair from her face. “Do you think you can work comfortably here today without stressing?” His face was scrunched with concern.

  “We’ll see. Sometimes, even under the worst of circumstances, I can bury myself in a manuscript and block out the world.” She licked her lips. “Although, I will say, I’ve never been stalked before by a crazy person who took lewd pictures of me and then threatened to pass them around if I didn’t stop dating some guy.”

  One side of his mouth quirked up in a half grin. “Some guy?” He yanked her closer until her ass barely rested on the edge of the counter. His hands wandered down her body, grabbed the hem of her T-shirt, and yanked it over her head before she knew what he was up to.

  His lips landed on a nipple the next second, knocking the wind out of her, and she arched into his mouth.

  “Some guy?” he muttered against her chest, slinking down her body, leaving a trail of kisses along her belly until he reached her panties. He clamped his mouth over her pussy and sucked through the thin lace.

  Sabrina moaned as her need grew fast. How did he have this power over her? She was supposed to be ticked with him still. But it was impossible to be very angry when he reached under her panties and finger fucked her hard.

  “You mean the guy who has you on the counter with your legs spread open and your pussy dripping wet with need? That guy?”

  “Yes,” she uttered breathily. She gripped his shoulders to keep from falling backward and banging her head on the mirror.

  “Mmm.” He hooked his fingers in the sides of her panties then and tugged them down, forcing her legs together to get them off.

  And then she was naked…on the counter…in the basement…of some friends of his she barely knew.