Fighting the Fire: A Warrior Fight Club Novel

by Kaye, Laura

  “Did you just ask me if I wanted you to come in, or if I wanted you, also?”

  He wanted her.

  He wants me.

  The fundamental truth of that cracked her right open.

  She moaned as the orgasm rolled through her, and then lost her breath to his thoroughly claiming kiss. She didn’t mind though because just then he groaned out her name and gripped her tight. She felt the jerk of his orgasm and the clench of his muscles everywhere. They shared panting breaths, lurid, drawn-out kisses, and lingering stares. Dani didn’t think she was imagining the raw emotion in Sean’s eyes.

  The desire. The invitation. The hope.

  And it was the hope that reached inside Dani’s own chest and lit a spark that had been dark for years, that she thought would never bloom into embers or flames again. Could never even get ignited again.

  Yet, as they lay there panting, his massive body still holding her down and making it hard to breathe, she couldn’t find it in herself to smother that little flicker of light. Or to feel bad…for the first time in forever.

  “Shit, sorry,” he said, sliding to the side of her but not so far that they weren’t still touching.

  She shook her head against the sheets. “Don’t apologize. Felt good.”

  A smile played around his lips and lit up those dark eyes. God, it took so little to please him, which made her realize how much he fed off of the smallest bits of praise. It made something squeeze in her chest, and maybe that was why she suggested it. “Should we continue the movie marathon?”

  Sean’s expression morphed from lazy masculine satisfaction to boyish delight in about two seconds. “Seriously? Hell, yes.” He slid off the bed and stood in all his naked glory, one hand cupping at the condom and the other scratching at his bruised chest. “We’re up to the second Thor movie.”

  Dani grinned and scooted to the edge of the bed. “Ooh, Thor.”

  He smirked and made for the bathroom, and she took full advantage of watching that ass in motion. Jesus. “Do you only like these movies for Captain America’s ass and Thor’s…hammer?” he asked from the bathroom doorway.

  She retrieved her thong from the floor and made a show of sliding it back up her legs before she put her skirt to rights again. “I mean, that doesn’t hurt. But, really, why would I need them when I have you right here in person?”

  He stalked toward her, his expression so damn satisfied. “Is that right?” His hands settled possessively on her hips, and an arrogant smirk painted his lips—one that before might’ve irked her as much as it attracted her. Now she knew it was just a part of their give-and-take and that there was a whole lot more beneath the mask of arrogance that Sean Riddick sometimes wore.

  “Of course,” she said, feeling too soft and satisfied and uninhibited to hold anything back. “These movies are awesome, Sean. But you’re the real thing.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  A week ago, Sean had been body slammed by a truck and his world had been turned upside down. But standing there with Dani’s praise hanging in the air between them, Sean felt like he’d been body slammed again.

  In a good way. But one that still turned his world upside down.

  Because he wasn’t used to people thinking the best of him. Sure, he knew people liked him. And why not? He was a smart-ass motherfucker who knew how to have a good time and make people laugh. But that wasn’t the same as being thought of as a fundamentally good person.

  As being the real thing.

  Especially after what he’d done.

  Sean swallowed as he tried to think of a comeback. But Dani might as well have coldcocked him for how tongue-tied he was.

  “Gotta use the bathroom. Meet you downstairs?” she asked, totally casual-like, but his gut told him she was also giving him a graceful out from this moment.

  “Yeah,” he managed, not letting go of her until he’d planted a kiss on her forehead. Thank you, he thought. But what he said was, “I’ll go foraging for snacks.”

  She chuckled as she made for the bathroom.

  He retrieved his boxers and jeans, liking the sound of Dani in his space. The vast majority of the time when he’d been with a woman, it was at her place. Only rarely had he brought someone home. And he couldn’t even remember the last time. Sean hadn’t thought he’d avoided that on purpose, but now he wondered. Maybe if he opened the door to having someone here, it would feel worse when he was alone again? Because having Dani here now? Hearing her moving around and sharing his space? It felt good. And he knew it was gonna suck when he got better and she wasn’t coming around as much anymore.

  Well maybe you should put yourself out there and let her know you’d like her to come around even after all this is over.

  Fuck. Standing there staring off into space, he scrubbed a hand over his face.

  Finally, he pulled an old, comfy T-shirt from a drawer and tugged it over his head, grimacing as his chest protested the movements. Dani hadn’t been wrong—it had hurt to carry her up the steps. But the fact that she’d let him get away with doing it had been too fun for him to care. He’d withstand pain for her every fuckin’ day if it meant that she’d be with him like this.

  Something uncomfortable tweaked inside his chest that had nothing to do with the injury he’d sustained.

  His head was in the pantry when she joined him in the kitchen.

  “Tell me you have some snacks because I’m munchy now,” she said.

  “Oh, I got snacks all right,” he said, pulling things out and setting them on the counter. “Pretzels, chips, some cheese popcorn but no more caramel.” He held up a container of cashews. “Deez nuts.”

  Dani chuckled, and fuck she looked beautiful standing in his kitchen, her cheeks still a little flush, her lips soft and puffy from their kisses. “Yes to all of it.”

  “Good choice.” He winked. “I made you work up an appetite, I see.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Riddick. Sometimes a woman just needs snacks.”

  Sean grinned. No way was he buying that. “Uh huh. Suuure. Whatever you need to tell yourself, D.”

  Without missing a beat, she threw the container of nuts at him, and he burst out laughing despite the fact that he barely caught it before it nailed him in the chest.

  Her eyes went wide. “Oh, my God, Sean. I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

  “You’ve got a fuckin’ arm on you,” he said, still chuckling and having no idea why she was apologizing.

  “I’m really sorry.”

  Cashews now securely in hand, he grabbed two bottles of water for them. “Why are you apologizing?”

  “Because if that had hit your chest, I would’ve really hurt you.” Distress and regret were clear in her expression.

  There she went again, knocking him flat on his ass. Just by caring. “Hey, I’m good. Okay? And we’re good.”

  She twisted her lips. “No blood, no foul?”

  He winked at her. “Exactly. Now, come on.” They scooped up the buffet of snacks, made their way downstairs, and set everything out on the coffee table in the basement. Sean rubbed his hands together. “You’re going to like this one.”

  “Is this our eighth movie?” she asked.

  “Yep.”

  “And how many are there again?”

  He slanted her a look. “Just go with the flow here, woman.”

  She laughed. “Just tell me.”

  At this point he wasn’t telling her just for the fun of it because, unlike back at the beginning, he now believed she truly was interested and enjoying the movies. “No. I’m giving you Chris Hemsworth. Be grateful.”

  Giggling, she shook her head. “You know I could just Google it.”

  “Yes, but you won’t or you would’ve done it by now.” He pressed Play.

  A few seconds later she whispered, “How many?”

  “Sshh.” He bit back a smile, but man he dug when they spent time together like this.

  They both stretched for the popcorn at the same time, th
en they both sat back at the same time, and then they both reached again. “Oh my God, it’s like we’re teenagers. Here.” She put the metal tin in the crook of her lap. “Now we can both reach it.”

  Sean gave her a look but couldn’t hold back a smirky grin. “Are you inviting me to eat from between your legs?” He tossed a few kernels into his mouth.

  Dani batted her lashes at him. “Sean Riddick, as good as your mouth is, you can eat from between my legs every day and twice on Sundays.”

  He nearly choked as he started coughing, and was both laughing and tearing up by the time she pushed a bottle of water into his hands and told him to drink.

  “God, I’m going to kill you at this rate,” she said, when he finally got himself under control.

  Hugging a pillow to his chest, he managed a grin and a watery wink. “Yeah, but what a way to go.”

  Finally, they settled into actually watching the movie, and it was…strange how comfortable it was sitting there with Dani in his basement. Watching his favorite movies. Taking turns digging into the popcorn. It all felt oddly natural. Normal.

  Temporary.

  Which, given his track record, was probably better for her.

  Sean sighed. All this churn in his head kept him from really enjoying the movie. He needed to go for a run. Or punch something. Or fight a goddamn fire.

  But as none of those things were in his immediate future, he kept his ass planted right where it was. And then Dani grabbed a pillow, propped it against his thigh, and stretched out with her head leaning against him.

  Her gaze cut up to his. Lingered for a moment. “You mind?”

  “My leg is your leg,” he said, not meaning to repeat that line but glad that he did when she chuckled.

  “I’m wondering just how broadly this principle applies.”

  “How broadly would you like it to apply, Dani?”

  What had he hoped for when he’d asked her that question? And why did it seem like that’d been months ago? A weird compression of time had happened since the accident, one defined by him spending way more time than usual within these four walls…and with Daniela England. And now he had an idea of how broadly he might like that principle of ‘what was his was hers’ to apply, but knew it was a pipe dream he shouldn’t even waste his time thinking about.

  She deserved more than his uncharmed life.

  When the final scene faded off the screen, Sean said, “So what did you think?” Which was when he realized that Dani had fallen asleep. He rested his hand on her shoulder. “Hey, D?”

  Nothing. She was out cold. The LED on the cable box read 12:35. Sean knew she didn’t have to be to work until tomorrow evening, so he gently slid out from under the pillow, turned, and with a grimace he was glad she wasn’t awake to see, he lifted her into his arms.

  God, she felt so fuckin’ good curled in against his chest.

  He was carrying her up the basement steps when her eyes open and gazed up at him all soft and warm. “You’re carrying me again,” she said in a voice that sounded half-asleep.

  “Yep.”

  “Put me down,” she said, her eyelids sagging.

  He chuckled. “Okay.”

  “Mean it.”

  “I know.”

  By the time he’d made it back up to his bedroom, his chest was a three-alarm fire, but it was worth it when he laid her down on his bed.

  She stretched. “I can go home.”

  Stay, he thought, liking the thought of her sleeping in his bed. Maybe too much. “It’s late. Might as well sleep here.”

  “‘kay.” Her hands went to the button on her mini-skirt, and then she was clumsily pushing the denim over her hips. Damnit all to hell but he found it appealing not just because of how fuckin’ gorgeous she was, but because the action wasn’t sexual. It was just her getting comfortable for bed. And somehow that struck him as even more intimate.

  He helped pull the covers up over her, then ducked into the bathroom. When he was finished there, he made for the door. “Night.”

  Dani pushed up onto an elbow. “Wait. Where are you going?”

  “Oh, uh, downstairs. I figured…the couch.”

  “Stay.” She flipped back the covers and scooted to the far side of his big bed.

  Satisfaction jolted through Sean’s gut. The repetition of the word he’d just thought had him crossing the room and getting into bed until they were laying on their sides facing each other. Staring at each other. Just an arm’s reach apart.

  “Can I ask you a question?” he said.

  For a moment, hesitation played around those striking black eyes, but she finally nodded. “Sure.”

  “Why did you say you wished you’d known about superheroes when you were a kid?”

  * * *

  Two reactions coursed through Dani—relief that he hadn’t asked why she’d been so upset at the restaurant, and uncertainty about how much to share in answer to the question he had asked. A third reaction followed close behind—appreciation. Appreciation that Sean had remembered what she’d said. Appreciation for the sincerity in his gaze as he lay there looking at her. Appreciation of the fact that something was happening between them—whether she knew what to do with that or not.

  Life hadn’t surprised her in a good way in a lot of years, and a part of her was opening to something she didn’t truly understand. It made her feel good. It made her feel better. But why did feeling better have to come at once with a sort of shame. Like doing better was an affront to Anthony’s memory.

  So, fine, she wouldn’t talk about Anthony. Not with another man. Not in that man’s bed. Certainly not when she was so raw where her first love was concerned right now.

  “Well,” she finally began, “because it would’ve been nice to have been able to imagine there being heroes around who could save all the people I lost,” she said. Outside of her family, Anthony was the only other person who ever knew all this about Dani, who knew how loss had shaped so much of her life.

  Sean reached out, bridging the short distance between them and clasping Dani’s hand in his. In her mind’s eye, this man was always larger than life. His job. His usually gregarious personality. His sexuality and swagger. Who knew this sweet, soft, quiet side to him existed as well? And it made it easier for her to keep talking.

  “My mom died when I was only two weeks old from complications of my birth, so I grew up with my dad and his parents, my nana and pap. I missed having a mom, but I also had a lot of love in my life. And I had Granny, my mom’s mother, to tell me who my mama was and keep me connected to that whole side of the family. That was really important because my dad and his family were white, but my mama’s people were members of the Kiowa tribe, and without Granny, I wouldn’t have really had a way to learn about or be a part of that community.”

  “It keeps happening,” Sean said, swallowing.

  “What?”

  “Finding things that we have in common. My mom died when I was really young, too. I was five, but my memories of her are pretty vague. More impressions or feelings than fully formed memories, if that makes sense.”

  “It does,” she said, surprised to hear that Sean had apparently been noting all those commonalities just like she had. And this answered her question about what his mother had been like given that he’d described his dad as a “shit father”. “Five is so young. I’m sorry. And you’re right. It does keep happening, doesn’t it?”

  He nodded. “Tell me more.”

  Dani adjusted her head on the pillow and took a deep breath, because she really hadn’t told him anything yet. “Granny knew everyone. She knew their business and she knew how to get shit done. She made sure people had food if they needed it. She made arrangements for people to go to the doctor if they needed to. She volunteered for everything and she was impossible to say no to, which made her highly effective at recruiting volunteers for absolutely everything.”

  “She sounds like a badass like you.”

  Dani grinned. “She definitely was. I come by
my ball-busting naturally.” She winked and loved that it made Sean chuckle. “She took me along to help out on everything she did. I served at the elders’ Christmas dinner, sold raffle tickets at the annual summer festival, and helped deliver meals to people who couldn’t get out and about. She took me to all the Pow Wows and made sure I attended the youth language and culture camps. My favorite thing, though, was the Black Leggings Warrior Society Ceremonial, a dance that recognizes the role of warriors and soldiers in the tribe and honors their contributions to the country. To young me it was so inspiring, because these were people who’d devoted their lives to serving other people, and that’s what I wanted, too. It’s part of what made me want to join the army.”

  “And what made you want to be a nurse?” Sean asked, like he was absolutely fascinated.

  Dani’s gaze dropped to where his thumb was lazily stroking across her knuckles. That little bit of connection felt so good. It was exactly the kind of thing she’d been missing for so long.

  “Is this okay?” he asked, squeezing her hand.

  “Yeah.”

  “Is this too weird?” he asked. “Us, being serious and talking about real stuff?”

  There was a vulnerability in his eyes that told her how much this was meaning to him—and it made her realize it meant something to her, too. Whatever this was, they were in it together. “If it’s weird at all, it’s good weird.”

  He quirked a lopsided grin. “Good weird kinda describes us, don’t you think? ‘Your crazy matches my crazy. Big time.’”

  She laughed at the line from ‘Deadpool’. “Apparently so,” she said, squeezing his hand. And then she sighed, because she was at the hard part of her story now.

  “You don’t have to answer my question if you don’t want to,” he said, giving her an out.