Blindsided (The Fighter Series Book 1)

by Matson, TC

  “So she says.”

  “As long as you have her then I know she’s safe.” I have no other words and hang up.

  Fuck. Fuck. FUCK!

  Chapter 38

  Blain picked me up from the airport this morning and since then, I’ve been cooped up in my room. I’m not in the mood for company. I don’t feel like acting as if everything is just peachy…I just want to take a moment alone. Levi threw me a curveball, showing me a side of him I loathe. He made me feel like a piece of meat, irrelevant to his feelings, and regarded me as a possession.

  Where the hell does he come off thinking I’m some sort of his property? Like he owns me? Where’s the respect? I’ve known he was egotistical, a pompous ass down to the bone, but so possessive that he tries to control me? That doesn’t fly well. One minute he’s tender and sweet—the perfect man…my dream man—then the next he’s a stormy, cantankerous prick.

  I’ve been from my bed, to my desk, to pacing the floor, pondering back and forth. I’m not upset with myself that I left. I’m pissed because he confuses the hell out of me.

  Suddenly there’s a loud banging on my front door. It’s forceful and I know who’s on the other side of the wood. I don’t want to deal with him today. Who knows which one of his moods he’ll be in? I sigh, walking down the hallway, pausing to take another deep breath before turning the knob.

  Immediately, I’m swept from my feet and thrown over his shoulder.

  “Levi!” I scream, pounding his back, but he doesn’t respond and continues striding to my bedroom.

  He kicks the door shut behind him, then places my feet on the ground and starts backing me against the wall. My breath escapes my lungs as I run out of room to go, staring into a set of eyes that hold a murderous gaze. He grabs my face and kisses me hard then pushes off, shoving a finger in my face.

  “Don’t you ever sneak away!” he scolds me.

  “I—”

  “You don’t ever walk out on me like that, ever!” he sneers. “You said we were a team, so fucking act like one. I overreacted seeing him get a smile out of you, seeing you laugh with him. I worked so fucking hard for you.” He jams his hand through his disheveled hair. “I got overprotective. I can lose you in an instant and that thought destroys me.”

  “Levi—” I try again.

  “If you wanted to talk, you wouldn’t have walked out without saying a fucking word. Now it’s time for you to listen. If you’re pissed at me, it’s one thing to be in another room, but you don’t abandon something you say you love. You don’t fucking walk out on it. You keep fucking running away. When the hell are you going to stop? This…” he points between us, “is brand new to me too. You’re not the only one it scares the hell out of, but I’m not running from it. I keep having to chase after it. What’s with you? I’ve made it clear where I want to be, but you…you’re so damn complicated.”

  His chest is heaving, eyes laced with determination and locked onto me. “Do you want this?” he asks.

  I’m desperately trying to blink back tears, steadfast to keep my wounded heart in check. “I want you, but you’re so damn complex. You’re overwhelming. Your lifestyle is exasperating. You…” I jam my finger in his chest, “are exhausting.”

  His eyes flare. “I’m putty in your hands, Paige. You! You control me. You have me. It’s you who possesses me. You want me to jump, I’m off whatever fucking building you point to. You don’t fucking get it, Paige. I’d run off and marry you.”

  “I compromise with you. I understand your lifestyle surrounds you with beautiful women and will take you away from me for weeks if not months at a time. It’s a dangerous concoction. You’re narcissistic, and drop dead gorgeous, Levi.” I point to myself. “But this no-name has more trust in you than you do in me.”

  “You’re my perfect escape. You’re the reason to breathe, but I can’t do this one-sided. I want to be in your life because I cherish what you bring to the table,” he says more calmly.

  “Then treat me as an equal. Trust me, Levi,” my voice quavers. “I love you and I’m willing to deal with the bullshit, but you have to figure a way out to regard me as your partner, not your enemy or something you think you can control.”

  His eyes flick left to right, studying me before slowly leaning in and placing the softest kiss on my lips. He presses his body against mine, pinning me between muscle and wall dragging his hand down my ribcage to my hips. He yanks me into him, guiding me toward the bed and undoing my shorts. Once my legs hit the bed, he shoves me gently allowing me to fall and rips my shorts off then grabs my ankles, kissing his way up my thighs. His tongue slides across my clit, and instantly my body reacts, goosebumps shatter across my skin, my back arches off the bed, and I whimper. He slides his hand up my shirt and kneads my breasts, pinching my nipples.

  Tremors begin rolling through my body, and abruptly he stops his wonderful torture against my clit to drag his tongue up my stomach, following a path between both breasts and nuzzling into my neck. Somewhere in this mix, he’s lost his shorts. His smooth hard flesh rubs against me and I wriggle beneath him trying to slide him where I’m aching to be touched.

  “Please,” I beg, pulling at his arms.

  “No,” he answers.

  Sitting back on his knees, he places my ankles on his shoulders and kisses each foot. Normally, any touch on my feet sends me into a tickle fit, but not these kisses. They’re gentle, passionate, and tender. He licks his thumb and circles it over my clit. Hot molten sensations pulse through me, and my insides tighten craving to feel him.

  “Please,” I beg again.

  He smiles, placing the head of his penis to my entrance and nudges only half of his dick into me, not satisfying my lust for him. I gyrate my hips trying to get more, but he’s not allowing it and continues to work my clit with his thumb. My orgasm is creeping up and I dig my heels into his shoulders. He leans forward and imbeds himself into me with one thrust. I cry out rocked with a dizzying fullness, the pain tangling with pleasure.

  My legs are still on his shoulders as he watches himself pump into me. Raising his gaze, his nostrils flare and he grits his teeth.

  “This,” he slams into me letting my ankles fall off his shoulders and dropping his face to mine. “You,” he impales deeper.

  “Levi…” I gasp. My every muscle is on fire, buzzing with an ice-cold burn.

  “You’re mine,” he shoves. “I fucking love you, dammit.”

  He begins rocking with earnest and it’s all that I can handle. I erupt gasping against his shoulder. A fierce blistering shutter rocks me, ripples of ecstasy flood my muscles, and I dig my nails into his back. Gripping my hips and angling them up, he heaves furiously, slamming into me. The sounds of skin slapping, grunts and moans echo off the wall. Finally, he loses control and shouts out a few cuss words bucking wildly into me.

  His breath is jagged as he lugs himself off me and sits on the side of the bed. I roll, dragging my fingers down the length of his spine and he shivers. He drops his head and exhales then heads for the bathroom. I frown at the lack of affection. It’s not like him to not have anything to say.

  He’s in the shower with his face turned to the water when I slide the glass door open.

  “Levi? What’s wrong?” I ask.

  He wipes the water from his eyes. “I’ll talk when I get out,” he says solemnly.

  I scrunch my face as he slides the door closed and turning without saying a word. I’m not sure what I should say.

  I’m dressed and sitting on the bed when he exits the bathroom with one of my hot pink towels wrapped around his waist.

  Clutching my hand, he pulls me up. “You obscure my every thought. I can’t keep going back and forth. If you want to be with me then be with me. If not, you have to let me know. I can’t continue to feel what you leave me with. It’s a pretty dreadful laceration. You have to quit running away, Paige. I won’t continue to chase you.”

  “I do want to be with you, but you have to figure a way to trust me. Tre
at me as someone you love, not something you own.”

  “It’s my job to protect you,” he says.

  “Levi, I’m not a damsel in distress. You weren’t always in my life and I did just fine.”

  “That was before I brought you into my world. You didn’t have to worry about vengeful people.”

  “We can deal with that when it comes, but just as you’ve asked me, I’m now asking you. Please, give me the benefit of the doubt here. I trust you to teach me and if I can’t handle something, it’s your arms I’m running to.”

  He sighs, closing his eyes and placing his forehead against mine. “I’d stop breathing for you.”

  I smile. “You also said you’d run off and marry me.”

  Oh yes…that didn’t fall on deaf ears. I heard that very loud and clear.

  He half grins, but doesn’t move.

  I run the backs of my fingers along his cheek. “I’m sorry I left. I was so hurt.”

  He shakes his head, finally opening his eyes to see me, his forehead still to mine. “It’s in the past. Are you going to be my future now?”

  “I love you,” I whisper, then place a kiss to his lips.

  I know we’ll learn how to handle each other and pull together when times get tough. It’s a learning experience we get to discover together. He knows my answer, and regardless of how badly I fight it, I know I belong in his arms.

  No matter the fight, win or lose, I’ll proudly be on his side, happy to have stolen his heart.

  Epilogue

  “Oh my god, would you please answer your phone,” I say half-asleep elbowing Levi’s ribs, listening to the loud ringtone. “How in the world has it not woke you up?”

  “If that pointy little elbow hits me again in between my ribs, I’m going to sleep at my hotel for the next week,” he jests stretching out.

  I laugh. “You couldn’t handle it,” I say, then I jab him again.

  Swiftly he grabs my arm and pulls me on top of him. “I’d sleep like this if I’d knew you wouldn’t drool all over me.”

  “I do not drool!” I squeal.

  He chuckles, kissing my jawline. “Every time you see me.”

  “You wish.” I roll my eyes slapping him on the arm.

  “You wish I didn’t see it. You need a bib,” he jokes.

  “It’s you who needs a bib, butthole!”

  “You damn right I do,” he growls biting my neck gently.

  I shriek, pushing off him, but he wraps his hefty arms around my torso holding me in place. I try squirming, but it’s pointless, so I do the next best thing…I kiss him and we melt against each other. Thankfully, my plan worked as his grip eases and I yank up rocking back on my legs, straddling him.

  “Oh, you’re evil,” he says beaming ear to ear.

  “Got away didn’t I?” I tease.

  He grabs my thighs and squeezes causing me to yelp and buckle back to his chest, laughing at the tickle.

  “Did you?”

  “Sometimes I hate you,” I giggle into the crook of his neck.

  “I’ve always heard there’s a fine line between love and hate,” he says.

  “Well, I’m on the other side now.”

  He tickles my side and I buck rolling off him in a hysterical fit. “Then why are you laughing?” he chuckles.

  He rolls on top of me and my knees fall open letting him press his erection against me and instantly our laughs fall silent into deep breaths. He twists his fingers through my hair, pulling softly, and rocks, gliding his dick across my panties. Grabbing ahold of his biceps, I scrape my nails, and he groans nipping at my bottom lip.

  Annndd…his phone rings again.

  He drops his forehead to my shoulder as my arms fall to the side. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he moans.

  “It’s been all ringing all morning,” I inform him.

  He gives me a quick kiss and rolls, grabbing it from my nightstand.

  “It’s Cory,” he says dropping back to the pillow and answering.

  “Yeah, man?”… “Do what?”

  I watch as his eyes scan the ceiling, then quickly he throws his legs over the bed sitting up and rubbing the back of his neck.

  “What’s that going to do to my career? Will it mess up my chance at the championship?”

  He goes from rubbing his neck, to running his hand through his hair, to sitting up straight and crossing one arm across his chest. He’s tense but excited listening to whatever Cory is telling him. I sit up and pull my legs to my chest, staring at him intently, trying to hear what’s being said on the other side.

  “For how long?” he asks and there’s another pause.

  “And I still get my chance, right?”…“Moved to when?”

  Again another long pause.

  I’m dying to know what the hell is going on. I’m chewing my nails and eyeing him down.

  “Ah, the interesting part. How much?”

  There’s worry in his eyes when he glances to me. I have an aching feeling I’m not going to like this.

  “Alright. Starting when and where?”

  Another long pause.

  “Great. Well, I’ll be there,” he says and hangs up.

  He shifts in the bed facing me then clears his throat. “That was Cory.”

  I nod. “Yeah, you said that already.”

  He’s hesitant. This isn’t good. “He just picked up another fighter and wants me to train her. He said she has good potential but hasn’t had the backing of good trainers.”

  Well, this wasn’t what I expected. My face falls. “Um, ok.”

  He grasps my hand dragging his thumb across my knuckles. “I’ll be flying into Florida Wednesday to get started.”

  “How long will you be gone?”

  “It’s hard to tell. If she catches on fast then it won’t be long. She’ll end up getting her own trainers after a while.”

  “What about your championship?”

  “He said it’s been moved out a few more months. He didn’t give me details why, but said training her won’t interfere with it anyway. If anything, it helps me stay dynamic. Paige, I know this sounds scary, but don’t freak out, please.”

  I force a smile. “I’m happy for you,” I lie. “It’s a good thing for her to have the best training available, and you get to start early yourself.”

  “Yeah, I guess. I’ll have to talk to Adam. He may not be down with heading there.”

  “Pfftt…please. He’s your best friend. You know he’s going.”

  I’m desperately trying not to sound heartbroken. Splinters have exploded in my chest. He reaches and grabs the back of my head, pulling me into his lips.

  “It’s going to be ok. I’ll be with you every chance I get. We’ll figure something out. If it gets too much, I’ll quit and get back to my girl.”

  I squeeze him and kiss his cheek. Pulling myself out of the bed, I head to the shower, emotions clashing against my skull. I don’t know how I feel about all this. Empty, broken, saddened, excited, hopeful…all these thoughts and I have to go to work in just a few hours. I only have one more day with him until we’re dropped into the abyss of uncertainty…and go figure, I have to pull doubles both days.

  He’ll have my support. I’ll cheer him on because I’m his biggest cheerleader and because I love him. But I can’t lie and say this doesn’t hurt. I knew one day I’d be without him, but the unpredictability…

  I sigh. This is going to be a rough ride. I already miss him.

  Thank you for reading Blindsided.

  New independent author, TC Matson, loves to let her characters voices be heard. With a head full of stories, she puts her keyboard through a beating daily. Regularly she visits the solidity of her writing cave, whether it be on the couch, at her desk, or wherever the four year old can’t reach the laptop.

  She is an avid reader and is known to devour books within hours. As a romance junkie, Matson sets her sights to try to find stories that are relatable and real. She’s not a fan of vampires, fairies, or any
other out of this world fiction stories. And understanding that love isn’t always instant and full of flowers…her writing mirrors it.

  Matson resides in the peaceful Piedmont area of North Carolina with her husband and three boys where she stays hopped up on caffeine and chasing children. She has a relatively normal life managing her home, or as she calls it, her loony bin. Chaos is indefinite and a sense of humor is absolutely a must.

  Connect with TC Matson

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  www.tcmatson.com

  Here’s a sneak peek into Harper Bentley’s Gable (The Powers That Be Series-Book 1)

  Gable

  Summer, two weeks before class:

  You know that feeling you get when you meet someone and feel as if you’ve known them for a lifetime? As if you’re just connected in some way?

  Yeah, that didn’t happen the first time I met Gable Powers. Matter of fact, I didn’t like him one bit.

  Oh, I know about all the Powers boys now. I actually knew about them by the first day of school since it seemed as if every woman on campus couldn’t stop talking about how each brother was just as gorgeous as the next, and things like, “Omigod! The Powers brothers are so hot!” or “Aren’t they just the cutest you’ve ever seen?” were proclaimed almost everywhere I went the entire first week of school. From listening in on these chicks wax rhapsodic over these brothers, if they were anything less than Nick Bateman clones, well, then I’d be highly disappointed. But from their conversations, I learned the Powers were from Seattle, all of them went to Hallervan, Zeke was a senior who played on the football team, Lochlan was a freshman who was some kind of computer genius, Ryker was a sophomore wrestler and Gable was a junior. I had yet to figure out what his superpower was, but I can honestly say that when I first met him, I couldn’t have cared less.

  My up-close-and-personal with Gable Powers left me less than thrilled, and when I finally figured out who he was and said something later about it to my new roommate, I got a stare of disbelief which made me roll my eyes.