Page 75 of Always You

Her eyes slowly drag up and down my torso, my body still damp from the workout I just had, and I notice how she swallows hard, licking her lips. Her body language could be totally innocent, but fuck me—it’s playing tricks with my dick at the most inconvenient of times. Subtly, I try to adjust it in my pants, glad I’m wearing sunglasses so she doesn’t see the discomfort that has to be written all over my face.

“Yeah, been training with that ex-marine. He’s been teaching me some real good shit.”

“That’s good! When’s the next fight? Tomorrow?”

“Yeah, are you coming with?” My eyes plead.

“Of course.” She grabs my arm, squeezing a little. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

The last few months she’s come to almost every fight, and it creates a newfound energy as soon as I walk into the spotlight of the cage. The knowledge that she’s waiting outside for me has changed the game. The goal. The future. As more time passes, I come to the sheer conclusion I want her there for every fight. Iwant her to be the first thing I see coming out of the cage with or without pay-per-view cameras on my face.

I still want to get the hell out of this one-horse town as fast as possible, starting over and making new memories.

But I want to do it with Charlotte.

I said we could never be more than friends, knowing I’ll never be good enough for her. But every day I get more selfish about it, shifting the lines.

What if Icanmake it work?

What if I can haveher?

The thought has crossed my mind daily.

I take the moment to turn my palm up, grabbing her hand so I can link her fingers with mine. Without looking at her response, I hold her hand as we drive toward my house in silence. My thumb gives in to the temptation, stroking her skin, searing the softness of her palm into my membrane.

Every chance I get.

“My mom is home,” I explain when I park my car, letting go of her hand.

“So?” I love how casual she sounds. “We’ve met. She’s a bitch. Let’s go.” Before I can stop her, she slides out of my truck with a faint smirk on her kissable lips.

“Are you coming?” She doesn’t wait for my reply, sauntering toward the front door while I exit my truck and follow behind her with a smug grin lifting my cheeks.

Since the first day Charlotte met my mother, she hasn’t been impressed one bit. She also holds her own like a pro, barely replying to my mother’s snarky comments. If my clear weakness wasn’t already a dead giveaway of how I felt about this girl, the smart-ass yet polite comments she throws at my mother truly convinced me I hit gold when she walked into my life.I’m definitely keeping her.

I follow her up the front porch, before I open the door. A cautious glance has me scanning the living room.Please let her be gone, please let her be gone.

“Ma?”

Her messy head pops above the couch, her face turning into a scowl when she notices Charlotte standing behind me.

“You brought that witch with you again?” Bloodshot eyes look feral.

“Don’t fucking call her that!” I protectively wrap my arm around Charlotte’s neck to tug her with me as I make my way upstairs. Away from the mother figure with more gin in her veins than blood at this point.

“Hey, Linda,” Charlotte drags out with a dull look on her face, offering her a short wave.

Little sassball.

“Where the fuck you going? There better not be any fucking in this house! I’m not gonna be taking care of your kid when you knock up that little witch!”

My mom’s frantic shouts have my molars grinding together by the time we reach the top of the stairs, but Charlotte beats me to it.

“Don’t worry, Linda! We onlyfuckin his truck.”

I laugh, then grab her face in my hands, planting a kiss on her forehead.

“You’re the best,” I muse, beaming, softly pushing her into my room.

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