Fighting Chance (Rock Hard Gym Book 5)

by Ember-Raine Winters

  “What the hell happened?” I mumble to myself as I try to wrack my brain for any possible clues that we were in hiding. I can’t remember much, just the same dream over and over. “Gah! I wish I could remember something.” I pound my fist on the steering wheel.

  Ceara gasps, and I instantly regret letting my anger get the best of me. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay, Connor. But you have to give yourself a break. You were so young when she died. Most people don’t remember much from before the age of five.” Her hand touches my shoulder lightly and I blow out a breath. I’m still pissed at myself. I can’t remember the one person who loved me more than anything in the world. I get glimpses in the dreams, but not much more than that? What kind of son does that make me? She gave her life to save mine and I can barely remember the color of her eyes.

  The rest of the drive to the restaurant we spend in silence. I’m thankful Ceara understands my need to process all this.

  It seems now I have more questions than answers. How did we end up in Tennessee? Was everything Uncle Ricky told me a lie? He’s made it sound like we always lived here. I just don’t know anything anymore.

  Pulling into the parking lot of one of the nicer restaurants in town, I make my way around to her side of the car silently berating myself. I need to stop being a downer. This is our official first date and I don’t want to ruin the night with all the heavy shit going on.

  Opening her door and reaching for her hand, I blow out a staggered breath at how beautiful she looks tonight. Her dress hugs her body in all the right ways, and I love the natural look she possesses. My girl doesn’t need a lot of make-up to be drop dead gorgeous and she knows it.

  Pulling her into my arms, I drop a hungry kiss on her mouth. Something inside of me breaks and all the tension releases from my body. I can do this. I can forget all the questions for a little while and just spend some time with my girl.

  I’ll never get over the fact that she’s mine. Breaking the kiss, I rub a finger over her cheek smiling at the glazed look in her eyes. Ceara blinks and I wrap my arm around her guiding her to the front entrance to the restaurant.

  “Let’s go have some fun.” I smile at her and escort her inside.

  This isn’t my usual hang out, but I wanted this night to be special for Ceara. She clearly doesn’t date much and if this is her first official date ever, then I want it to be a night she will always remember.

  The lighting was dim, and it looked like every stereotypical Italian restaurant. There are checkered table clothes with woven bread baskets on the tables. The hostess leads us to a booth in the back corner and I wait for Ceara to sit before I sit across from her.

  For a moment, an awkward silence permeates the table as neither of us really knows what to say to the other. The hostess sets our menus down and then scurries away to help other customers. “What’s good here?” Ceara asks me, trying to cut through the awkwardness.

  “I don’t actually know,” I chuckle to myself. “This is the first time I’ve ever been here.” The cutest little look of confusion crosses her face and it has me aching to reach across the table and smooth out the scrunched lines.

  “You don’t bring all the girls here?” She asks timidly and I shake my head.

  “No.” When is she gonna realize that she’s special? “I haven’t really dated much.” I shrug a shoulder. “I’ve been too busy with school and MMA. When Max took me in three years ago, he gave me an ultimatum. If I wanted to train, school came first. If I didn’t get decent grades, then I wasn’t allowed in the gym.”

  “Huh, you really care about him, don’t you?” She asks conversationally but I know my answer is important.

  “I do. Max saved my life. I wouldn’t be the person I am if he hadn’t rescued me from the underground fighting ring that Uncle Ricky forced me into.” I shrug again because the feelings talk is kind of uncomfortable to me. Ceara nods her head in thought. “What about your family?” I change the subject staring blankly at the menu.

  “It’s just been me, my brother and my dad for as long as I can remember. His… job keeps him from trusting too many people.” She shrugs and blows out a breath. “I have some cousins that I see from time to time, but that’s about it.”

  We chat idly until our food arrives and then we eat in comfortable silence. When neither of us can eat another bite, I notice her starting to fidget in her seat.

  “What’s going on in that head of yours?” I ask with a raised brow.

  “I got a phone call from my dad today. He wants me to come visit this weekend. In New Jersey…,” My brain starts working on overdrive. The flyer was from some town in New Jersey I’ve never heard of. This could be the one and only lead I’ll ever get. I school my features and smile at her.

  “You’re gonna go?” I try not to act too interested. I don’t want to get my hopes up, especially knowing what I do about her dad. He’s the most overprotective person I’ve ever heard of and I doubt he will let his daughter bring home a boy.

  “I was thinking… If you want to come with me, we can find some more information on your mom.” She looks away shyly, but I can’t help the grin that crosses my face.

  “You want me to come meet your dad?” I ask lowering my baritone a little which makes my voice sound gravelly.

  “Only if you want to.” She’s still not looking at me, so I reach across the table and turn her face to mine.

  “I most definitely want to meet your dad, babe. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

  Chapter 14

  Ceara

  Connor drops me back at my dorm, and after a too brief make-out session, I head inside to call my father and make arrangements for our trip to New Jersey.

  I dial my father’s number as soon as the door closes behind me. I sit on the bed and play with the hem of my dress as the call connects and ringing sounds.

  “Cece, baby girl. I’d almost given up hope of you calling your old man back. Tell me you’re coming next week to spend some time with me.”

  “That’s why I’m calling. I want to bring someone with me.”

  “You made some friends, Cece? Good for you, of course you can bring a girlfriend home with you.”

  “Uh, actually it’s a boyfriend.” I find myself blushing even though he can’t see me. “We’ve been dating for a few weeks. I want you to meet him.”

  “No. Absolutely not. Why is this the first I’m hearing about this boy? Why didn’t Theo or Marcus tell me?”

  “Daddy, they didn’t tell you because I asked them not to. I really like him, Daddy. And Theo and Marcus think he is a decent guy. He’s an MMA fighter, so he’s trained enough to protect me when no one else is around. I really want you to meet him. I think you’ll like him.”

  “Cece, you can’t go off being alone with strangers. It’s not safe. You’re the daughter of—"

  I cut him off. “The daughter of the Irish Mafia’s head honcho, yeah, I know. How could I ever forget? But Daddy, Rockmound isn’t the same as New Eden. I don’t have to watch my back for your enemies.”

  “You always need to watch for enemies, Cece.” His sigh is long, and I brace myself for another disappointment from him. “Okay, fine. Bring this boy home with you, but Theo and Marcus are still to keep guard over you.”

  “Thank you, Daddy! I’ll see you Friday. I love you.”

  “I love you, too, baby girl.”

  As soon as I disconnect from the call, I do a little happy dance around my room. Falling onto my bed, I send a text to Connor letting him know that we’re good to go next week.

  Connor: That’s great babe.

  Connor: Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t we leave early and make a road trip out of it?

  Ceara: One problem, the goon squad has to come with.

  Connor: I think we can work around them ;)

  Ceara: Goodnight, Connor.

  Connor: Goodnight, babe.

  ******

  Theo and Marcus are not happy to be following behind us in the town
car, but I refused to drive separately from Connor, and he refused to leave his Mustang behind.

  “I think those two may kill me before I get to meet your dad, Cee.”

  I giggle. “No, they won’t. They like you, probably more than they like me.”

  “Not true. They’re just scared of Max and Lennox coming after them if they touch me.”

  My giggles turn into a full-on belly laugh at the thought of the four of them in another brawl like the one at Rock Hard when we first met.

  Connor glances over at me and smiles before looking back at the road. He reaches for my hand, tangling our fingers and bringing them to his mouth to place a kiss on the back of my hand.

  Somewhere near the Virginia-Maryland border we pull off to get a room for the night. Connor manages to convince the goon squad to take a separate room next to us, and my pulse skyrockets at the thought of being alone all night with Connor in a room containing a bed.

  Once we’re locked inside, I ask, “How did you get them to agree to separate rooms?”

  Connor shrugs. “Promised them tickets to the next big fight in the AMMA involving a Rock Hard Gym fighter.”

  My jaw drops. Seriously, that’s all it takes to get a little freedom from those two, my life has been a lie.

  Connor laughs at my expression, “Never thought to bribe your babysitters before?”

  I glare at him, because no, I never thought to bribe them. Or more accurately, I didn’t think they would take the bribe if I did.

  “It’s cool, babe. Your innocence is adorable. It’s one of the things I love about you.”

  Whoa, did he just tell me he loves me in a roundabout way?

  “I’m going to shower first.” He kisses my forehead as he passes on his way to the bathroom.

  My nerves take over while he’s showering. My mind bounces between thoughts of whether he meant to say the L-word and what might happen after I’ve showered. There’s only one bed in the room, and while I think I’m ready to take that next step with Connor, I’m still scared of the reality.

  I’m so deep into my thoughts, I don’t notice Connor leave the bathroom in just a towel until he is standing in front of me.

  “All yours, babe.” He gestures toward the shower and in my nervousness I hurry to get beneath the spray, forgetting to bring my nightshirt in with me. Of course, I only realize this after I’ve showered.

  After brushing my teeth with the provided toothbrush, I make sure to securely wrap my towel around me. When I walk into the bedroom area Connor locks gazes with me, before taking in my body head to toe and back again.

  I shuffle my feet under his perusal, unsure what I should do. Finally, I can’t take it anymore and blurt out, “I forgot my night shirt.”

  “I’m not complaining. Come here.”

  I hesitantly make my way to where he is lounging on the bed in just a pair of blue cotton boxer briefs. He reaches out and pulls me closer once I am within reach.

  “God Ceara, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

  Connor gives one firm tug on my hand and I fall on top of him. I don’t have time to protest or even adjust to the new position before his mouth attacks mine.

  Suddenly I’m no longer nervous. I’m ready for wherever this leads. I’ll gladly let Connor do whatever he wants to my body as long as he promises to never stop kissing me like this.

  Chapter 15

  Connor

  Damn. I’m losing my shit and I know I need to slow down, but my brain stopped working when she walked out of the bathroom in only a towel. “Ceara…,” I moan as she shifts in my lap. I need to let her know I will stop this if she needs to. I’m not pressuring her into anything she might not be ready for.

  Her lips find my neck and I almost lose control. “Baby, you don’t have to do this. I’m totally fine waiting if you’re not ready.”

  “Connor? Shut up and kiss me.” My girl is bold and demanding, but I happily obey her words as I flip her over so she’s lying beneath me on the bed.

  “Are you sure?” I ask, unsure myself. The last thing I want her to think is that I planned for this to happen.

  “I’ve never been more sure of anything.” She smiles at me with an assuredness that I really need right now. I kiss her hard and any further hesitance vanishes as she wraps her legs around my hips.

  My lips travel down her throat loving the feel of her skin beneath my lips. I travel lower but stop when I get to the top of the towel. My eyes zero in on the spot but before I have an opportunity to peel it away from her body, she takes the decision out of my hands. She brings her hands up between us and pulls the towel away from her body. My hungry gaze roams over her perfect naked body. My hips jerk in response to what I see before me and a groan leaves my lips.

  Ceara’s hands thread through my short hair as I lean back down and kiss my way down to her perky full breasts. Her back arches and the movement nearly makes me wild.

  I wrap my lips around one nipple as my hand slides up the other side to pluck at the other with my fingertips. She’s so responsive and beautiful. I can’t even believe I’m allowed to touch this beautiful innocent girl. She is everything good in my world.

  Her hands hold me to her breast as she shifts beneath me. “Connor, I need you.” The wanton desperate way she begs for me has me smiling against her skin and I decide to help her out a little bit. I trail my tongue down over her belly to the place I’ve wanted to taste since that first day when I tasted her berry flavored lip gloss. Will she taste as sweet here as her mouth does? I’m almost giddy with anticipation.

  Her breath rushes out of her when my lips caress her hip and move to her inner thigh. I fucking love everything about her creamy skin. God, she’s incredible.

  “C-Connor? What?” I suck on a spot behind her knee and she squirms, moaning into the quiet room.

  “Is this okay, baby? I just want to make you feel good.” I breathe over her heated entrance and her head thrashes.

  “Yes, Connor. Oh God, I trust you, please.” She’s wound up so tight I’m afraid I’m not even going to get to the good part before she goes off with a shot. Widening her legs, I settle between them and prop her feet up on my shoulders.

  The first taste is magical and I groan against her slick flesh. My lips wrap around her clit sucking it between my teeth. A small cry leaves her lips as her whole body shakes. My tongue laps at her faster as I push a finger inside her. Her walls clamp down on my finger and she gushes all over my hand.

  Crawling up her body, I smile as I kiss her forehead. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Her nod is all I need before I’m reaching over to the nightstand and pulling out a condom.

  Ceara watches with hooded eyes as I sheath myself and then kiss her lightly as I slowly slide inside.

  Holy fuck she feels so fucking good, I have to stop and catch my breath. Ceara giggles and shifts beneath me before I still her with a hand. “Easy, beautiful. I need to catch my breath before I lose it right now.”

  A sly smile overtakes her, and her lips come up to trail across my chest. She is so not helping. Groaning, I gently push her back down on the bed and start with short shallow thrusts. She’s pliant in my arms as I look deep in her eyes pushing forward a little until I feel something tear and a sharp gasp leaves Ceara. I place gentle kisses all over her face as I still my movements and mutter soothing words in her ear. I’m so thankful for this gift she gave me. I don’t ever want it to end.

  Chapter 16

  Ceara

  Connor is inside me. He hasn’t moved an inch since he tore through my innocence. The pain was sharp and still echoes throughout my core, but the longer he’s inside me the more I need… something.

  “Connor,” I breathe his name. He stops his kisses and rubs his hands down my body, over my breasts and along my ribs, before grabbing ahold of my hips. His grip on me tightens, stopping the small thrusting movements I hadn’t realized I was making.

  “Ceara,” his voice is pained, and he squeezes his eyes s
hut. “Unless you want your first time to be over before it begins you need to stop moving.”

  “But I-” He kisses my words away before licking a path down my neck to the bend in my shoulder. He sucks and nibbles the skin there and I have the thought that I should stop him before he leaves a mark, but he pulls out until just the tip of him remains inside my opening and all thought flees me.

  I grab Connor’s shoulders and slowly rake my nails down his back before grabbing his ass and forcing him back inside me again. The sound is dirty and wet. The feel of him a glide across my hidden nerves, a caress from the inside. But it’s not enough. I need more. I don’t want soft touches and slow strokes; I need Connor to let go. I want to feel his strength with every push. I want the tight control he has over his body to dissipate.

  His mouth is still at the juncture where my neck meets my shoulder. He’s gently nipping and sucking, sending small tingles to my core that do nothing to ease the ache building in my body.

  Frustrated, I let go of Connor and slam my balled-up fists into the mattress. I groan and whine as my actions cause Connor to pull away and stop pumping his hips.

  His eyebrows scrunch in confusion as he looks at me. “Are you okay, Ceara? Am I hurting you?”

  “Yes.”

  His eyes widen in horror and I quickly continue, “I hurt so bad Connor. Make it stop. Quit teasing me.”

  He chuckles at my words, the jostling of his body causing him to rub a spot inside me that sends a shiver through me.

  “What do you need, Cee?”

  “I need you to move, Connor. But not as if I’m some fragile flower whose petals will fall off with too much force. I’m not delicate; I don’t need to be protected. Not here, not while I’m in bed with you. Let me feel your strength, I can take it. I want to take it.”

  I look away as I finish asking for what I want, my gaze landing where we meet as one. He’s halfway inside me, I can see his shaft glistening from my arousal and I reach for him. My fingers slide over the firm skin of his base, my knuckles brushing the hair at his groin and he sucks in a breath at the touch.