On The Ropes Series Box Set

by Aly Martinez

  “Damn it, Ash. Stop lying to me. That was probably the only honest thing you have said today.”

  “Great. Now I’m a liar, too?”

  “Okay, clearly space isn’t working.” I snagged her arm, trying to pull her back toward me, but she didn’t budge.

  “Can we just talk about something else, please?”

  “No. We absolutely can not talk about anything until you hear me out. Ash, I’m so fucking sorry for the shit I spewed before you left. None of it was true. None.”

  “Apology accepted.”

  “Please don’t shut me down like that.”

  “Flint, I just accepted your apology. I didn’t shut you down.”

  “You just sprinted out of my house like I was some sort of serial killer. I’m thinking this is going to take more than just a simple ‘I’m sorry.’”

  “Fine, I’ll amend my statement. I accept your apology tonight. We only have two days together. Let’s talk about something else. We can come back to the depressing stuff later.”

  I rolled my eyes at her stupid imaginary time constraint. There was a lot to be said, but maybe she was right. As long as she didn’t try to run again, it could wait.

  “Fine. What do you want to talk about?”

  She rolled to face me. “When’s your birthday?”

  “November first. You?”

  “Shit,” she cursed under her breath.

  “Is that a bad day for you?”

  “We’ve got a big problem. Mine’s April eighteenth. Capricorns and Aries are not compatible at all. It would be a disaster.”

  Reaching out, I rested my hand on top of hers, intertwining our fingers. “I’m willing to chance it.”

  “Disaster,” she whispered to herself.

  We sat in silence for several minutes, until I asked, “Anything else you want to know?”

  “Yeah. Tell me about your first step? Was it amazing?”

  “Meh, not really.”

  “What?” she shrieked in disbelief.

  “Seriously, the first one wasn’t a big deal. I was at physical therapy; no one except the therapist was even there to witness it.”

  “That’s depressing.”

  “It was just a step, Ash. Then it became two steps. Then it became ten. It was cool, but it was still a long way from my goal of functionally walking again.”

  “Well that’s a lame story. You should never become an inspirational speaker.”

  I barked out a laugh. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “I’m serious. My version is so much better.”

  “You have a version of my first steps?” I questioned incredulously.

  She cleared her throat dramatically. “It was a warm day and you were out picking strawberries.”

  I reached out and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “Picking strawberries in my wheelchair?”

  “Yep, and you weren’t wearing a shirt.”

  “Where exactly was my shirt?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe some of the strawberry juice dripped onto it.”

  “Oh, well that makes sense. Can’t have that poison touching my skin,” I teased sarcastically.

  “Agreed,” she answered seriously, making me laugh all over again. “So, there was a small kitten who suddenly came limping past.”

  “There was a kitten in a strawberry field?”

  “Shhh. . . . My version. Anyway, you leaned down and picked up the kitten, only to notice his legs were badly damaged.”

  “Was I at all concerned that it would be rabid and claw up my beautiful naked chest?”

  “Nah, you were more worried about your manly bits.”

  I choked on my laugh. “My manly bits? Where were my pants?”

  She shrugged and simply answered, “Strawberry juice.”

  “Ah, yes. Please continue.”

  “You were inspecting that poor kitten when you realized that it had to have walked hundreds of miles to get to such an isolated area. As you stared deeply into that tiger-striped kitten’s eyes, trying to figure out where he had come from, words filtered through your head that affected you so profoundly it sent sensation back to your legs. So much so, you were able to rise up and rush the kitten to a vet.”

  “Sweet Jesus,” I whispered when I realized where she was going with the story.

  Suddenly she sat up and asked, “Do you know what those magical words were?”

  “I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess the lyrics from the song, ‘Eye of the Tiger’?”

  “Exactly,” she breathed, before bursting out into hysterical laughter.

  “That was quite possibly the worst version ever.”

  “Did you miss the part where you were naked? That alone was better than your pitiful story.”

  She rolled around laughing and I watched intently, drinking it in.

  I had missed that crazy woman so fucking much.

  As much as I hated and regretted all the time apart, I couldn’t even find it in myself to be angry anymore.

  I just wanted to be with her. To show her who I truly was, and not the jaded asshole she probably remembered. I wanted to find out who she had become and even more than that who she wanted to be. And then I wanted to be the one to give her that.

  Reaching over, I draped an arm across her hips, then pulled, forcing her to roll over on top of me. Her laughter abruptly stopped when I grazed a soft kiss over her lips.

  “No more running. Give me time to fix this.”

  “I already—”

  I interrupted her. “And not two days. I’ve spent years dreaming about having you back. Swear to me you’ll give me a shot to make that a reality.”

  “You dreamed about me?”

  “Ash, you tortured me on a regular basis. I didn’t even have to be asleep.”

  She smiled. “You too.”

  “Good, then we’re even.” I kissed her again, letting it linger.

  Pulling away, she whispered, “I’m scared. I don’t know how to trust anyone in my life, much less you.”

  “Then I’ll fix that too.”

  “I just don’t understand why you’re trying so hard. It was a really long time ago.”

  “Because when I was nineteen years old I fell in love with a girl who changed my life by showing me that even the darkest nights still had stars and it didn’t matter one bit that you had to lie in the weeds to see them. We were kids and I barely knew her, but I loved her. I should have been there while she grew up, but I was a fool. Now I have the woman back and I have every intention of making her fall in love with me again, and this time . . . I’m never letting go.” I took her mouth again, but it wasn’t gentle.

  It was deep and needy.

  Strong and firm.

  Bold and assuming.

  It was the way Ash had always kissed me.

  And fortunately for both of us, it had the exact same effect on her that it always had on me.

  She straddled my hips and folded her arms around my neck, pressing her chest down against mine. I have no idea how she did it, but I swear every time Ash kissed me, she managed to squeeze herself flush against me as if she was attempting to meld our bodies into one—an idea I was completely okay with.

  Palming her ass, I rubbed her against my hardening cock.

  I needed to get inside her. She had marked the outside of her body as mine, and I desperately needed to mark the inside.

  “Tell me you’ll try. Give me a chance to show you how right we were—how right we are.”

  “I’ll try,” she moaned into my mouth.

  “Good girl,” I purred, grabbing the back of her head for another deep kiss.

  She sat up just enough to grab the hem of her shirt, but I stilled her hands before she had the chance to pull it over her head.

  She searched my eyes with a puzzled expression.

  “I’m not risking any more interruptions with you. I want you on my bed where I can take my time and explore every curve of you that I’ve been dreaming of touching since you first d
ove into my van. My neighbors are nosy as fuck and I will be damned if I’m willing to share the sound of you crying my name when I make you come with my hands, tongue, and cock.” I pointedly rolled my hips against her core.

  “All three?” she smarted back on a moan.

  “All three,” I confirmed, catching her mouth again. “Now get up, we’re going to bed.” I slapped her ass fully expecting her playful giggle to follow, but like music to my cock she hissed a yes that quickly morphed into a cry of ecstasy.

  I mentally noted the fuck out of that cry as visions of turning her creamy white ass various shades of pink caused my dick to twitch.

  “Now,” I ordered, and she quickly popped to her feet. She handed me my crutches and then stood awkwardly as I pulled myself up. “What?” I asked when she started nervously knotting her hands.

  “So um, I really want to . . . um . . . be naked in your bed.” I tilted my head, unsure what to make of this flash of insecurity from such a confident woman. “But I need to tell you something first, since I think you are assuming something else. Last time you assumed something it ended with me turning my father in to the police and then running from you for three years. Sooo. . . .”

  I tried to close the distance between us, but before I got close enough to touch her and soothe whatever worry she was having, Ash dropped a bomb. “I’ve never had sex before.”

  My crutches suddenly became rooted to the ground and my entire body went rigid, and that included my already impossibly hard cock.

  “You’ve never?”

  “Well, no. Not exactly.”

  “Are you serious?” I asked in disbelief.

  “Uhhh . . . ,” she stalled in embarrassment before blowing out a loud frustrated breath. “Don’t hold it against me. I’m sure I’ll be great. I’m a fast learner.”

  “A fast learner,” I repeated incredulously.

  “I shouldn’t have even mentioned it, but I was worried it would piss you off when you found out.”

  “Damn right it would have pissed me off!” I snapped.

  “Great,” she huffed, folding her arms across her chest. “You’re pissed.”

  “Oh, I am so far from pissed you can’t even imagine.” She rolled her eyes. “Okay, so you’ve never had sex. What exactly have you done before?”

  “Well, you were my first kiss.”

  “I was your first kiss!” I shouted with an undeniable laugh.

  I fucking loved that I had her all sexually frustrated and nervous. I truly wanted to keep up the angry façade but there was no possible way I could have hidden the huge shit-eating grin that spread across my face.

  “See! I told you I was a fast learner. You had no clue.”

  My crutches became unstuck and I headed toward her. “What else have you done?”

  “I’m not sure what you would consider what we did on the floor of the conference room, but that about sums it up. If I haven’t done it with you, it hasn’t happened.”

  My mouth fell open in stunned silence. I searched her eyes for lies, but only found the truth.

  “No one else?” I clarified.

  She shook her head and I dropped my head back to peer up at the stars. “I am so fucking sorry, Ash.”

  “Why?” she asked timidly.

  “Because now that I know no one else has ever touched you, the things I am going to do to you tonight just multiplied . . . and not in your favor.” I shifted all of my weight to one arm and looped the other around her waist, roughly pulling her against me. “They aren’t going to be gentle the way you deserve.” I glided my hand down to her ass and squeezed firmly, using it to grind her against my still very angry cock. I dragged my nose up her neck to her ear and whispered, “But I swear to God you will beg for more.” I nipped at her earlobe. “Most of all I’m sorry because I won’t be able to fulfill that angry fuck I promised to give you in the morning.” She whimpered as I raked my teeth across her skin. “We may have to postpone that now, but make no mistake, it will happen. Ash, baby, I have three years worth of frustration to work off inside you. And that’s the part where your begging becomes fun.” I lifted my hand, swiftly landing it against her ass.

  “Fuck,” she breathed, tilting her hips into mine.

  “Close your eyes, we’re going to bed and I’m not risking another freak-out about the inside of my house. We’ll deal with that in the morning. Tonight your only worry is how deep you can take my cock.”

  “Jesus, stop talking already.” She caught my mouth with her own.

  “Not a problem. I can’t talk with my tongue occupied by that sweet pussy.”

  “Flint.”

  “And that’s just the first time you call my name tonight.” I stepped away from her and proffered an elbow. “Eyes closed.”

  “Yes, sir,” she replied, linking her arm through mine.

  “Even. Better.” I laughed.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Ash

  FLINT’S FOUR BEAT STRIDES LED me blindly through his house. I heard him close a sliding door, and some sort of hard surface that I immediately recognized wasn’t carpeted welcomed my feet. I wanted to open my eyes and take in every nook and cranny of where Flint dwelled, but he was right; it would have done me no good. In the weeds on the side of his house he had managed to convince me that I belonged with him—that I deserved him, even. But convincing and believing were two separate issues. However, I was more than happy to ignore that for a night spent in his arms.

  “Okay, open them,” Flint said after a door clicked behind us.

  I peeked open my eyes and a simple clean bedroom lay in front of me. Everything was neat and bookshelves lined the walls. I felt at ease. While everything was a hell of a lot nicer, the room was reminiscent of his old apartment.

  I glanced over my shoulder to find him warily watching me—purposely positioned in front of the door.

  “I’m fine.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah. I really am.” I smiled and he let out a relieved breath. “Can I . . . um . . . use your bathroom to . . . maybe, freshen up?” Using his crutch, he pointed to a closed door adjacent to his bed. “Thanks.”

  I walked away and Flint called out from behind me, “Don’t get too excited. There’s no window in that bathroom.”

  “Ha. Ha,” I deadpanned, closing and locking the door behind myself.

  I looked around his modest bathroom. It had a large garden tub with a glass stall shower at the foot, complete with a glass bench inside. The double vanity made me smile and I was so much more than pleased to find the stone countertop was faux.

  I took a deep calming breath.

  Then freaked the fuck out.

  “Shit shit shit!” I started rummaging through his drawers. I need a shower, razor, and toothbrush, stat. I was about to have sex with Flint Page and I had spent the morning sweating my ass off on breakfast deliveries. I knew for a fact that my legs weren’t clean-shaven, and I had never had sex but I knew men liked a smooth palette to work with in the lady regions as well. The electric trimmer resting next to the sink explained how he kept that sexy stubble so neat, but it did me little good. Starting the shower, I continued my search until I found his linen closet, where I hit the ultimate jackpot. Towels, razors and shaving cream all sat meticulously organized, complete with printed labels to assign their location.

  God, he’s anal.

  I suppressed my smile, nabbing the necessities, including his toothbrush off the counter, and got in the shower.

  Twenty minutes later, I stepped out a new woman—or at least a clean and hairless version of one. I would have given anything for some sexy lingerie or at the bare minimum a clean bra and panties, but my two small bags were still in Flint’s SUV. Really, what was the point though? He had made it more than clear that they would be coming off—a fact that excited me.

  After finger-combing out my long locks, I wrapped myself in one of his plush white towels and took one last glance in the mirror.

  I should have been n
ervous.

  I wasn’t.

  I was ecstatic.

  Allowing myself a final silent schoolgirl scream, I collected myself and headed out to him.

  “I told you the window didn’t open,” he teased as soon as my feet hit the carpet.

  He was lounging on the far side of the bed, shirtless and judging by the way the covers rode low, showing off the sculpted muscles just above his hips, he was pantless as well. His hair was no longer styled but rather appeared to still be damp. A book sat in his lap and a sexy smirk played on his lips.

  I wasn’t nervous at all—regardless of the way my heart began to race.

  “Well, aren’t you presumptuous. Showered and naked,” I quipped.

  “I could say the same to you.” He winked. “Drop the towel, Ash,” he ordered, closing the book and setting it on his nightstand.

  Mayday! Mayday! I lied. Totally nervous!

  “Um . . . ,” I stalled, but it was only for a second.

  I had wanted this with Flint since the day I first laid eyes on him. Nerves stopped me the first time all those years earlier, but I wouldn’t allow that to happen again.

  So staring into the bright blue eyes that had haunted me, I brazenly released the towel.

  “Fucking hell.” His eyes raked over me from head to toe then back again.

  I sauntered to the foot of the bed. “Sooo . . . I owe you a razor.”

  I leaned down on my hands and began to prowl up toward him, but I didn’t make it very far. As soon as I got within arm’s reach, he grabbed my shoulders and dragged me on top of him. His mouth slammed over mine and a hand thrust into my wet hair.

  “Goddammit.” He roughly began tugging the blanket from between us, failing in his frenzy. Within seconds, he gave up and tossed me to the other side of the bed, tearing the blanket away before rolling to cover me with his muscular body.

  I was right. Flint was very very naked. I didn’t have a chance to fully check him out, but I felt every hard inch of him pressed against me.

  “You are fucking beautiful,” he whispered against my skin as he trailed kisses down to my breasts.

  “So are you,” I answered awkwardly—but it was the truth. Flint’s body was gorgeous, and even as I looked down over his shoulder at the numerous scars that covered his back, it didn’t change that in the least.