Fighting Fate (Fighting #7)

by JB Salsbury

  “Woke up too late.” She pulls a water bottle from her bag, takes a small sip, and cringes. “Everything still tastes like tequila.”

  “Ah…tequila. The romance liquor.”

  She grips her head, massaging her temples. “Don’t say it. I can taste it when you say it.” Her head lulls to the side, her oversized sunglasses fixing on me. “What the hell are you smiling for?”

  “I’m not smiling.” I so am; I can’t help it. After last night, everything seems…happier.

  She rakes her shades up on her head and squints. “The hell you’re not.” She drops her sunglasses back down with a groan. “You and Clifford get busy last night?”

  “Gross.” Okay, maybe not everything is happier. “Not even close. We broke up.”

  Her eyebrows pop up over her shades. “No kidding?”

  “He was such an asshole last night.” Classroom doors open, signaling the end of this class hour. I don’t want to get into the Clifford story when Killian should be here soon. “I’ll tell you about it later.”

  “That’s probably best.” She groans. “I think I’m still drunk, so I’d probably forget if you told me now anyway.”

  I search the flood of students as they all swarm the quad, grateful that Killian’s taller than the average guy so I’ll be able to find him easily.

  The first thing I notice is his white baseball hat with the bold letters UFL in red on the front. He’s not actively searching for me, but his head isn’t down either. He’s strutting with a casual confidence that probably isn’t even obvious to anyone but me. My heart bangs behind my ribs as he approaches. I push up from my seat, and before I’m even fully aware of what I’m doing, I’m speed-walking toward him.

  The second his gaze lands on me he grins in this tilted, shy way that speeds my walk to a jog. His smile widens, and when I jump and launch myself into his arms, he catches me without fail.

  Long bands of muscle coil around me, lifting me off the ground. I throw my arms around his neck and nuzzle his throat. His skin is warm and smells like his spicy cologne. I drop secret kisses there. He moans and holds me tighter.

  “I missed you,” I whisper.

  He chuckles and the vibration against my lips is heady. “I can see that.”

  I pull away, and he places my feet back on the ground as if I’m made of glass. I grin up at him, and he leans in, pressing his lips to mine. All the heat from this morning flares back to life at the firm touch of his lips. I dig my fingers into the muscles of his neck, and his hands cup my jaw, tilting as he slides his tongue against mine. My leg itches to lift and wrap around his hip, to rub against him like an animal. He must sense my urgency, and his fingers sift into my hair, gripping at the roots as the kiss turns demanding.

  “Damn, that’s hot.” The voice of a girl passing by slams us back to reality, and the world around us that had dissolved the second we touched comes back in vivid clarity.

  He presses soft kisses to the corners of my mouth and keeps his hold in my hair. His eyelids are lazy and blink slowly open. “I thought PDA wasn’t your thing.”

  I’m breathing heavily, willing my pulse to calm and my thighs to stop quivering. “I don’t mind it so much when it’s with you.”

  His lips pull into a beautiful smile, and he turns me to tuck me under his arm. That kiss sapping me of strength and coordination, I lean on him for support as he guides me back to the table.

  Mindy’s sitting up in her seat, her back not even touching the chair and her lips parted.

  “Hey, Mindy.” Killian drops his backpack next to mine.

  She says nothing.

  He looks between us, confusion pinching his dark brows. “She okay?”

  I hold him to me with my arm around his lower back, the dips of his muscles and the memory of them flexing as he made love to me last night sending an army of butterflies loose in my stomach. “She’s fine, just a little hung over from last night.”

  “Too bad.” He squeezes me. “I’m going to grab a sandwich.” He kisses the top of my head. “You want anything?”

  “No, I’m good.” I release him and take my seat.

  He peers down at me, those gorgeous eyes flashing with concern. “You feeling okay?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  He tilts his head. “Did you eat breakfast?”

  “I had a piece of toast, Killian. I’m fine.” As much as I love that he cares, his concern is often overdone and pointless.

  “It’s after twelve. You need more calories or your body is going to cannibalize itself. It’ll eat any muscle you have and—”

  “Stop.” I hold my hand up. “I’ve heard the speech before. My stomach’s been off for the last few days, and it’s messing with my appetite.” I shrug. “As soon as it comes back, I’ll eat.”

  He doesn’t look convinced, but thankfully lets me off the hook. “Mindy? How ’bout a Gatorade?”

  Her eyes continue to move between Killian and me.

  He grins, like me, interpreting her silence for shock. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  He heads toward the café, and I enjoy the view of his muscled backside as it moves beneath his shorts. I’ve checked his body out before when we were just friends, but it always made me feel dirty to do so. Now I stare unabashedly because I have every right to gawk at my handsome boyfriend.

  Boyfriend.

  That’s what he is, I think.

  We never officially discussed it, but a confession of love from both parties I think is self-explanatory. I make a mental note to bring it up later when we’re alone. That is, if we can keep our mouths off each other long enough to talk.

  “You and Killian.” The sound of Mindy whispering calls my eyes to her. She’s shaking her head slowly. “I can’t believe I didn’t see this coming.”

  “Yeah.” I try to force some maturity into my voice rather than squealing like a teenager at a Bieber concert.

  She swivels her body toward me and leans in. “He porno-kissed you in front of the entire school.”

  I cringe. “Porno kiss?”

  “Hell, yeah, it made me horny just watching, and I’m fighting puking, so that’s saying a lot.”

  She’s not the only one. Killian’s lips are smooth and strong, and the guy knows how to use them. Every time he kisses me it’s like he’s making love to my mouth.

  “I don’t judge, you know that, but has this been going on for a while?”

  “No, we’ve been best friends for years, but our first kiss was last night. I think on some level I’ve always loved him, and it seems he feels the same.”

  She slumps back in her seat and smiles. “I’m so jealous. But lucky for you, I love you, so I’m happier for you guys than I am jealous.”

  I laugh. “Thank you… I think?”

  “You guys make a great couple, and the chemistry…” She fans herself with her hand. “I foresee some epic sex sessions in your future.”

  A lemon-lime Gatorade is placed on the table between us, and mortification stiffens my spine.

  “I hope you told her about us and that Mindy’s not foreseeing you having epic sex sessions with someone else.” Killian’s voice is laced with humor, but the edge in it reminds me of the times I’ve seen his protective temper flare.

  I peer up at him and he scowls as he hands me a granola bar. “Give it a shot, yeah?”

  I take it and nibble on the tasteless bark to make him happy. “Mindy was just commenting on our ‘porno kiss.’”

  He unwraps his sandwich. “What does that mean exactly?”

  “It means”—Mindy wrestles with opening the Gatorade until Killian pulls it from her hands and easily cracks the lid before handing it back to her—“that you guys almost risked turning the UNLV quad into an orgy with the heat coming off that kiss, that’s what!” She throws back a healthy gulp of the yellow fluid and smacks her lips.

  He winks at me. “Can’t argue that.”

  My stomach tumbles, and I’m suddenly desperate to get Killian alone where we can
enjoy each other in a more comfortable environment, like his bed.

  Preferably naked.

  Although the way his T-shirt is stretched taut against his biceps I’d be willing to make an exception and allow him to keep the shirt on.

  He leans over and places a soft kiss on my cheek then moves his lips to my ear. “If you want me to be able to get up and walk away from this table without embarrassing myself, you’ll stop fucking me with those eyes.” He nips at my ear.

  The combination of his hot breath, his hot words, and the hot as hell way he bit me, flushes my cheeks.

  He chuckles and shakes his head.

  “You guys make me sick.” Mindy grabs her backpack, and with all the grace of someone who very well could still be drunk, pulls it on and pushes herself to stand. “I’m skipping a class to go home and sleep this off.”

  “You okay to drive?” The concern in Killian’s voice for my roommate makes me fall a little deeper.

  “Where were you at eight o’clock this morning when I was staggering to class, huh?” She squeezes his shoulder as she passes. “I’m fine now. Thanks.” Her eyes get dreamy and she mouths he’s so sweet.

  He’s looking right at me, so I can’t respond other than to simply smile. “I’ll see you later. Text me if you need me to bring you something. I can grab it on my way home.”

  She waves her fingers and leaves.

  I take another bird-sized bite of my granola bar and watch the muscles in Killian’s jaw flex and release as he chews. I’ve been watching him like this for four years and never thought I was deserving of anything more with him. Not after the night he learned I was the daughter of a rapist.

  I know our past doesn’t dictate who we are, but I’ve been so locked up emotionally I didn’t even entertain the idea of seeking a meaningful relationship with anyone. I guess that’s why I allowed myself to be with Clifford. He treated me the way I expected, in a way I found familiar. To him I was replaceable, and on some level, I think I tried to earn a higher status with him just to prove that I wasn’t. Some desperate part of me thought by earning that with Clifford meant I could make up for not getting it when I was a kid.

  “See? I knew you could do it.” Killian’s staring at the empty granola bar wrapper in my hand.

  Guess being lost in my thoughts made me forget I had no appetite. I toss the wrapper to the table and take a swig of Killian’s water bottle to wash it down.

  He gazes across the table at me thoughtfully. “I want you to stay with me tonight.”

  “Okay.”

  His eyebrows pop up. “That was easy.”

  “Did you really think I’d say no?”

  “I hoped you wouldn’t, but I wasn’t sure.” He leans forward and takes my hand, pressing my knuckles to his lips. “Can you believe this is really happening?”

  “I wonder how many times we’ll ask each other that before we finally start believing it?”

  He blinks, his finger tracing the underside of my wrist. “It’s unreal.”

  “You know we’re going to have to tell my mom and Blake.” I laugh. “They’re going to love this. I think they’ve been secretly praying we’d end up together.”

  His expression is suddenly serious. “They’re not the only ones.”

  My pulse skitters as he presses another kiss to my knuckles, followed by another, his lips parting slightly and leaving the moisture of his mouth against my skin. It’s so innocent, gentlemanly, and strangely erotic.

  “So you finally fucked her, huh?”

  I gasp as Clifford’s voice slices through our moment. The only satisfaction I get is seeing the once narrow bridge of the jerk’s nose swollen black and blue from last night.

  I expect Killian to jump up and get into Clifford’s face, but instead he grins and leans back casually in his chair, keeping my hand in his. He squeezes it gently, a reminder that he’ll handle this and everything will be okay. “Nothing could ruin this day for me, not even an asshole like you.”

  Clifford grins, but it’s far from friendly. “I understand. That pussy is fucking gold once she finally gives it up.”

  Killian’s posture remains casual, but his grip on me tightens and his jaw ticks.

  Clifford’s cold gray eyes latch on mine. “Funny thing, she only made me wait days.” He swings his glare to Killian. “She withheld her body from you for years.”

  “Fuck off, Clifford.” I grit my teeth, resisting the urge to vault over the table and tackle him to the ground.

  “Yes,” Killian draws out the word like he’s bored, but his grip says he’s far from it. “Please, fuck off, Clifford.” He pulls my hand to his lips, kissing the underside of my wrist.

  My ex shrugs one shoulder then darts his gaze between us. “One thing.” He tosses a stack of photos onto the table and grins so wickedly I’d swear his teeth were pointed. “You forgot these at my place.”

  I lean over the photos, and at first, all I can make out is skin until—“Oh my God!” I rip my hand from Killian’s and scramble to collect the pictures from the table.

  A shadow falls over me as Killian stands to his full height. I clutch the photos to my chest as he rounds the table with the speed and composure of a predator stalking his prey. He pushes close to Clifford, nose-to-nose, and tilts his head to look right into the cocksucker’s eyes.

  “This ends now.”

  “Says who?” Clifford clearly doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut as Kill steps impossibly closer, ignoring the idiotic question.

  “Don’t fool yourself into believing you can take me, Cliff, because I’m twice your size and you know I’d destroy you.” He taps Clifford’s nose with his finger, making the guy hiss in pain. “Think I already taught you that lesson last night, but I’d be more than fucking happy to give you a recap.”

  One of Clifford’s friends, who I didn’t notice until now, tugs at his elbow. “Security’s watching, man. Come on.”

  For once Clifford seems to use his reasoning and turns away, but stops mid-step to whirl around and face me. He eyes the photos pressed to my chest. “There’s more where those came from.”

  Killian shoves Clifford, making him stumble, but he recovers with a laugh and walks away.

  My vision blurs with tears of humiliation. Killian spins to face me, his expression a mix of torment and, if I’m not mistaken, disappointment.

  He pries the photos from my chest, but I refuse to let them go. I want him to continue to believe I’m good enough for him, and these photos are more evidence that I am not. In the tug-of-war, a couple fall to the ground where he scoops them up. He peers down at them before I can get them back.

  “That sick fuck,” he mumbles.

  My entire body heats and I snag the photos from him, pressing them tightly to my chest with the others.

  “Ax, give those to me. I’ll make them disappear.”

  I shake my head. “No.”

  “What do you mean no?”

  “I don’t want…” you to see them. “I can do it.”

  He stares at me for a few weighted seconds before grabbing my backpack and slinging it over his shoulder; then he does the same with his. “Come on. We’re gonna be late for class.”

  “Wait.”

  He glares at me then growls. “We’re gonna be late.”

  I hold out my hand. “I can carry my backpack.”

  “What?” He grips my hand and tugs me away from the café. “I’ll walk you to class.”

  I dig my heels in and pull my hand from his. “Killian, stop!”

  “What’s the matter with you?”

  “Give me my backpack!”

  He huffs and reluctantly slides it off his shoulder and hands it to me. I take it and stash the photos inside it before I slip on both straps and peer up at him. His face is etched in confusion. “You can’t keep cleaning up my messes, Kill.”

  His cheek throbs with restraint, and I wonder what he’s calling me in his head, wonder if he’s regretting everything that’s happened between us.
I wait to hear the words, “You two are perfect for each other” or some other reprimand for the photos. Tears burn my eyes, and when one slides down my cheek, Killian’s entire demeanor changes.

  He steps in close; the warmth of his arms envelop me. “Don’t waste another tear on that prick, Ax.”

  Comfort, I can accept. But he needs to stop trying to fix everything for me.

  I relax into his hold and allow my feelings about the photos to leech out of me. “I was…so stupid. Clifford swore he’d erase them right after he took them.”

  I hold him to me and remember his words from last night, his fear about me not being ready for all he wants for us. In order for things to work, he’s going to have to allow me to work things out on my own rather than stampeding me and taking over. Just like everyone else in my life.

  “He lied. No shocker there.”

  I pull back and blink up at him. “That’s true. I should’ve seen this coming.”

  “Don’t beat yourself up; this isn’t your fault.” Killian wipes under my eyes. “Hate the fact that he has these. He’s probably passing them around to all his friends—”

  “Oh my God!”

  “Shit.” He grimaces. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “You think he has more?”

  He shrugs. “Nah, and besides, what’s done is done. If I find out he’s sharing these, I’ll fucking mutilate him.” He dries my new tears and takes my hand. “Come on. We’re going to be late.”

  I walk alongside him. “What should I do with these pictures?”

  “Burn ’em, shred ’em, bury ’em. You pick.”

  My heart sinks as I consider how quickly my good mood was turned to shit. And now I have to worry about finding naked photos of me all over campus.

  This day just went to hell.

  Sixteen

  Killian

  Shredded. Double-bagged. They’re shoved to the bottom of her garbage and then thrown in the dumpster outside of her apartment complex, but I’m still sick about those photos of Axelle.

  My girl’s naked body is being shared with who-fucking-knows-who, and yeah, she may have only officially become my girl last night, but to me she’s been my girl since day one.