Page 12 of Heart of a Fighter

I dip my head, capturing her nipple, and gently tug with my tongue. She purrs, giving herself to me, and I lap her up, savoring her like fine wine. She wiggles out of her bottoms and widens her legs around me, resting her ankles at the crook of my knees. Her fingers find the thickened shaft bobbing between us. It throbs and aches, blood coursing through the gnarled vein running its length.

I hover over her, our chests pressed together in a seamless embrace. The room is dimly lit, casting a soft glow around us, and I can feel the weight of everything we've been through start to lift as she guides my cock to her silky wet center.

Looking into her eyes, my heart swells with feelings I can barely contain. For the first time in a long time, I can let my guard down, like I don’t have to be the tough guy and explain myself to her. There’s no more to prove to her. Lauren sees me for who I am, more than my exterior.

“You're everything to me,” I murmur against her lips, the words coming from the deepest part of my heart.

“And you to me,” she whispers back, her eyes locking onto mine.

Her fingers trace gentle patterns on my back, and the warmth of her touch seeps into my skin. When I thrust inside her, her back arches and her mouth falls open. She clutches my back, digging her fingernails into my skin, rough and desperate.

I thrust again and hold my position, my body tense and loaded with desire. She cradles me within her tight pussy, burning me with her heat. She gathers her knees upward, framing my hips in her grip. Her fingers trail down my back and dig into my ass, needy and urgent.

I pull out to the tip of my crown and thrust again, her hips moving in rhythm with mine until sweat drips from my brow. I grit my teeth, straining to hold back my release. She groans as I slam into her, filling her as her walls quiver and shake. I push into her, burying myself in her as I come hard and fast. My arms shake, and my toes tingle as wave after wave of pleasure runs its course through my veins.

We slump together, exhausted and spent. I run my fingers through her hair, marveling at the miracle of her. Each strand slides through my fingers like fine silk. Holding her in my arms, feeling her heartbeat against mine, I realize how much I’ve needed her. She’s a balm to my soul, soothing the wounds that have festered for so long. If this is what love feels like, I never want to let her go. Of all the things I’ve fought for all my life, Lauren’s heart is worth fighting for the most.

The gentle smile that plays across her lips feels like a promise. I lean in and kiss her with a tenderness that speaks of promises and unspoken truths. Her lips are soft and yielding, and as the kiss deepens, my defenses crumble. The fears, doubts, and struggles don’t seem as daunting with Lauren by my side.

As we break the kiss, my love for her is overwhelming. I can only hope she feels the same for me. A sense of peace and rightness settles over me. With Lauren, I’m not just a man with a temper, a fighter—I’m a man who’s finally found something worth fighting for.

CHAPTER 6

COMPLICATIONS

***

Lauren

Morning sun filters through the clouds as I arrive at the arena, a mix of happiness and contentment coursing through me. A healthy dose of soreness spreads throughout my body. It’s been a while since I’ve used some of my more intimate muscles. But it’s a lovely ache, a reminder of the night Granger and I spent together.

The last two nights with Granger were everything I never dreamed they could be–intense, tender, and undeniably panty-melting hot. My heart races with the memory of his touch, his whispered words meant for only me, and how he looked at me, making me feel like a goddess. We connected in a way that’s been elusive to me so far. I’ve never felt more cherished by anyone in my life.

Yet, despite the happiness bubbling inside me, a twinge of anxiety lurks beneath the surface. The weight of what we did–many times over–and the potential personal and professional fallout weigh heavy on my conscience.

We were careful this morning, leaving in separate cars and staggering our arrival to the arena so no one would suspect we were together. Though the damn smile I can’t seem to wipe off my heat-flushed face is a dead giveaway that I’m floating on air.

I allow the warm after-glow to settle in, leaving me feeling alive, on fire, and filled with renewed energy I didn’t think possible with so little sleep. It’s amazing what a pick-me-up it is to share a deep connection with someone. It makes sense that patients with the best disposition are those who are surrounded by loved ones.

I float through the arena halls toward the medical office, light as a feather and full of tingles. I can’t help but smile, knowing Granger and I share a private secret, one that’s only for us––for now, that is. I can’t keep my feelings for the man a secret forever, but I can hold onto it until the time is right.

I glance into the locker room and briefly stop at the doorway. Players are in various states of undress, changing for practice. Therapists work on a few men, stretching muscles and giving rubdowns while Daniel and Dr. Evans check on healing wounds. When my eyes land on Granger, a rush of heat bursts in my chest. He’s shirtless and flawlessly handsome except for the stitches on his shoulder.

Aside from the time we spent in bed and talking until the wee hours of the morning, it’s a good thing we ran into each other at the store. His stitches were hardly adequate for the gash. It’s no wonder they popped with hardly any exertion on his part. But we sure rigorously tested the heck out of the stitches I replaced them with.

I stifle a giggle.

“Hey, little sister.” Zach startles me from behind. “This isn’t a peep show,” he teases before striding past me.

“Pffft... You wish.” I roll my eyes. I see nothing but a room full of rowdy men getting ready for another day on the playground.”

“Yeah, but we get paid to play all day,” Zach teases back, flashing me his million-dollar smile.

He’s been in a much better mood since he and Madison got together. I’m glad they both saw past their differences and buried the hatchet. They’re good for each other. Now, I need to convince him of the same thing concerning Granger and me. Granger and I are different in many ways, but isn’t that what yin and yang are all about? One person compensates for what the other lacks and vice versa. Kind of like what Granger was talking about the other night–balancing the scale, only he’s balancing a scale of fairness and justice, standing up in the face of brutality.

“Where’d you get those stitches?” Daniel gruffs at Granger.

I flinch at Daniel’s tone. My eyes dart to Granger as Daniel stands over him, checking the wound. “These are not my stitches.”

---