This Round for Love

by Malia Mallory

  I wanted so much for him to see himself as I did. Strong. Wonderful. Worthy. Was that what it was? A measure of his personal worth? I didn’t know. Only he could answer that. I could only guess.

  I wondered if losing would break him.

  No bounced around in my head. It would be hard for Ford—devastating, but he had deep reserves of strength. I knew it even if he didn’t.

  In a blink, the fight continued.

  Chapter 11

  Ford

  I breathed deep, settling my body and forcing oxygen into my lungs. Blood rushed through me and my fatigue lifted.

  And then it was time.

  Correa’s eyes were wild. I couldn’t tell if it was some intimidation tactic or if he’d truly lost it. His punches came in hard and fast, so I had to expect he was trying to freak me out or to play to the crowd.

  Dumbass. Just fight.

  Correa caught me in a clinch. As I turned to break it, my foot slipped. In so close, Correa sensed it and lurched against me. We hit the ground hard.

  We struggled¸ gasping and straining. He was going for a hold, but he couldn’t get a grip. I wanted to get out. I wanted to stand back up, and I saw my opening. Next thing Correa knew, I was on his back, my legs wrapped tight around his waist. He thrashed like a fish on a hook, but I got my arm around his neck and secured.

  He continued to heave his body up, and we rolled as one unit in the center of the canvas. He twisted and turned, but I had him. Correa could do little more than grunt as I tightened my hold around his throat.

  The lights sparkled around us. The crowd was on their feet. Their screaming broke through to my consciousness.

  I felt it. The tap of his glove on my thigh.

  Correa was out.

  I was in.

  I’d won.

  ~ * ~ * ~

  Ford

  Jed pulled off my gloves. “You were great. You deserved it, no question. No one can dispute it.” He pulled on the end of the tape and began to unwrap it.

  I shook my head. I should be happy. I should feel satisfied. I’d done it. Everything had paid off.

  Then why did I feel like shit?

  I knew exactly why. Because Darcy wasn’t here. She wasn’t here to share it with me, and in that moment, I realized that’s what I wanted. I wanted Darcy to be the one holding the ice pack to my cheek.

  She was too distracting, I’d said. She’d suck off emotion I needed to put into the fight. As if she was some kind of vampire.

  What an asshole I was.

  I’d fucked up the best thing that had ever happened to me.

  I hoped it wasn’t too late.

  ~ * ~ * ~

  Darcy

  The knock at my door caught me in the middle of packing my suitcase.

  When I opened the door and saw Ford standing there, my heart squeezed. He looked awful, absolutely awful, and yet wonderful. A bruise bloomed over his cheekbone and I reached out to soothe it, jerking my hand back just in time as I remembered I had no right.

  “Can I come in?” Ford sounded defeated even though he’d just won the fight of his life.

  “Sure. Congratulations. I’m happy for you. The fans are happy. Jay Murphy’s happy. Expectations are high for the next event.”

  “That’s due to you.”

  “In part, I suppose. The organizing. But it was the fighters who really made it. The fan reception was amazing. I’m glad nothing ended in ten seconds. It’s hard to justify the ticket prices when that happens,” I laughed, but it had a hollow ring.

  “I made a mistake.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I was wrong. Totally wrong. After the fight when I should have been riding on a high, I was thinking of you.”

  “I’m sorry. I know you didn’t want that.”

  “No. That’s not what I mean. The fight was important. I’m not going to pretend it wasn’t. But you’re more important. It took Correa knocking some sense into my head for me to realize that.”

  “I…I don’t know what to say.” I wanted to reach out, but hurt held me back.

  “Fighting is important to me. It’s all I ever knew. But it’s not more important than you are. It’s not enough anymore. It doesn’t complete my life. You do.”

  My heart melted. I’d dreamed of hearing these words from Ford, but I didn’t know if it was enough. “I love you, Ford.” I put my finger to his lips as he started to answer. “I love you, but I can’t take a backseat every time you have a fight.”

  Ford captured my mouth and drove all thought from my mind. I drowned in the sensation of his hands on me, but then reason resurfaced and I pushed him away. “Ford…”

  “No, you’re right. You’re completely right.” Ford sighed. “Do you want me to quit? Will that prove to you I’m putting you first?”

  I gasped. “No! No, I don’t need that.”

  “Tell me what you need. Please.”

  What did I need? Ford. Just Ford. “I need you to tell me. I need you to show me.”

  Ford drew me into his arms. “Every day, babe. Every day.”

  ***THE END***

  Thank you for reading This Round for Love – Champion Hearts Book 2

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  Did you miss Jo and Zane’s story in Strike to the Heart?

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  Keep reading for an excerpt from

  Something True – The Beat of Love Book 1

  Something True

  Footsteps echoed on the tile and Shelley looked up from the stack of paperwork on her desk. The air shimmered around him. She would have known him anywhere. Anyone would have known him. Liam Smith was famous or perhaps even infamous. Musical talent and outrageous behavior were on display in sold-out stadiums and lurid tabloids. As a fellow musician, she admired his talent for setting clever turns of phrase to music, but rumors of hard-partying and illegal drugs dogged him.

  He tilted his head. “Shelley?”

  He sounded just as she knew he would, deep, smooth with a hint of Irish. The warm resonance of his voice washed over her, more compelling in person than she imagined was possible. The radio simply didn’t do him justice.

  An involuntary tingle settled low in her belly, and she finally understood why women went so wild for Liam. Glossy black hair swept over his forehead above luminous emerald eyes, reminiscent of the verdant green pastures of Ireland, where he’d grown to a man. He was long and lean, but his navy shirt clung to the manly muscles underneath. His bare forearms were roped with matching tattoos.

  Shelley shook herself free of his unexpected spell. “I’m Shelley.”

  “I’m Liam Smith.” He reached out to shake her hand.

  Shelley accepted the handshake automatically. Did anyone not know who Liam Smith was? She supposed that might be true in some deep hidden pocket of the world. “Vera told me to expect you.”

  “Vera would be your agent then?” The corner of his mouth curled into a lopsided smile.

  “Yes, she assured me that your interest in helping KC’s Kidz is genuine.” Her voice held the hint of doubt.

  A wide grin split his face. Shelley was a sucker for a great smile and his was a killer. Wasn’t she well past the stage where a handsome face would turn her head? Apparently not, if Liam’s was anything to go by.

  Liam moved out of the doorway. “It is.”

  “Extra hands are always welcome. There’s plenty to do.” Shelley tried to convey a no nonsense attitude.

  “Just tell me when and where.” Liam rocked on his feet, seemingly ready to pounce into action.

  Shelley blinked, confused. “You’re here now?”
>
  Liam pointed out the window. “I’ve got a guitar in the car. I’m ready to go.”

  “Ready to go where?” Shelley shuffled through some papers and put them in a stack to the side.

  “To play. You know.” Liam mimicked strumming a guitar. “Isn’t that what you do? Play music for kids?”

  “That’s one thing we do.” KC’s Kidz also required endless fund-raising, grant writing and organization.

  “Well, that’s what I’m here for,” he said as if it were all obvious.

  Shelley’s lips thinned. “I don’t just send someone on over to the hospital. It doesn’t work that way.”

  “What could be so complicated about it?” For the first time since he walked into the office, a crack appeared in his friendly demeanor.

  “Some of these children have special challenges. It can be difficult to engage them. It’s unlikely you’d walk in right off the street and have a successful appearance.”

  Liam smoothed his expression. “I don’t mean to sound arrogant.”

  “You’re right. I’m sure the kids would go wild over a big star like you. However, I’m not sending over someone from KC’s Kidz unless they’ve been trained and I trust them to handle things.”

  Liam took a deep breath. “Fine. Where do I start?”

  “We have toy donations to sort.” It was true. Shelley had been too busy to attend to the toy donations and most of the other volunteers were busy with preparations for their annual fund-raising dinner, which was coming up soon.

  “Sort toys?” Liam didn’t hide his confusion.

  “Yes,” Shelley replied.

  “Do you think that is a good use of my time?” Liam asked.

  “It’s something that needs to be done and you said you wanted to help.” Shelley tamped down her irritation. This is why she hadn’t wanted to agree to this arrangement in the first place. Sometimes volunteers thought it was all concerts and celebrities and didn’t stick around when they found out otherwise.

  Liam laughed. “Fine. Show me the toys.” The hint of impatience melted away.

  Shelley hid her smile and rose to her feet. She was almost tempted to direct him to something he would find even more distasteful. Maybe she should tell him the toilets needed cleaning. Her lips twitched as she imagined his reaction.

  She approached the door, but Liam didn’t immediately move to let her pass. He was close. Too close. Her blood rushed through her veins and her breath caught. She saw Liam’s pupils contract as their eyes locked. Irritation rose within her. She didn’t plan on turning into some kind of teenage groupie. She brushed past him and her elbow burned where it bumped his bare forearm.

  Something True can be previewed or purchased at Amazon and other major eBook retailers. See my website for links http://www.maliamallory.com/My_Books.php.

  Complete List of Titles

  by Malia Mallory

  The ABCs of Erotica Series

  A is for Amorous

  B is for Beach

  C is for Carnal

  Volume 1: A - C

  D is for Domination

  G is for Gigolo

  R is for Revenge

  Short Stories

  Mia’s Cop Craving

  Mia’s Cop Craving 2 — Double Teamed

  Mia’s Cop Craving 3 – Swinging Both Ways

  Mia’s Cop Craving 4 – Swinging All Ways

  Santa’s Backdoor Baby

  Novellas

  His Need, Her Desire (Dominating BDSM Billionaires 1)

  Novels

  His Desire, Her Surrender (Dominating BDSM Billionaires 2)

  Her Wish, His Command (Dominating BDSM Billionaires 3)

  His Passion, Her Temptation (Dominating BDSM Billionaires 4)

  Something True – The Beat of Love Book 1

  Strike to the Heart – Champion Hearts Book 1

  Wish of the Heart

  About the Author

  New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Malia Mallory lives in Hawaii with her husband and daughter. She’s been working with words since alphabet blocks rolled into her crib, not only writing her own work but copy editing and proofreading the work of others. She has loved to read about relationships since she first sneaked off with her mother’s Harlequin.

  Malia Mallory is the best-selling author of the Dominating BDSM Billionaires series and The ABCs of Erotica series, which covers the erotic spectrum from BDSM to ménage and everything in between. She has also released the Mia’s Cop Craving series and Santa’s Backdoor Baby. Her books are available in electronic format at major eBook retailers. For a free copy of B is for Beach from The ABCs of Erotica, head to her website and sign up for her newsletter.

  Connect with Malia Mallory

  Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MaliaMallory

  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MaliaMallory

  Blog: http://abcsoferotica.wordpress.com/

  Web Page: http://www.maliamallory.com

  ~ * ~ * ~

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