Fighting for It

by Jennifer Fusco

  The beat of the rope hitting the ground reminded him of how his heart had thundered when he was telling her about London. She’d taken the news surprisingly well, not that he expected her to fly into hysterics, but he wouldn’t forget the look on her face when he told her about Clarke. Determined. Resolute. Like his mission was hers.

  There was no way to tell her how much it meant to have her behind him. He didn’t have the words.

  He couldn’t tell her now, just like he hadn’t been able to tell her all those years ago. The timer buzzed. He dropped the rope and walked down the driveway, shaking out his achy legs. A few steps away from the cabin, Daniella’s voice called out to him, “Jumping rope on gravel? That’s new.”

  Jack turned around. His gaze traveled up her legs, long and inviting, stopping at the edge of her running shorts. He admired her narrow waist; the awesome curve of her body that he longed to touch; the long, dark hair that hung loosely over her shoulders. God, she was beautiful.

  “I like to try new things.” He grinned and walked back toward the cabin. “Need something?”

  She shrugged, then paused.

  He stood on the driveway and looked up at her. “What’s wrong?”

  She gazed down at him and shook her head. “It’s nothing. Your workout is more important. Never mind.”

  Before she finished blowing him off, he bounded up the stairs. Meeting her face-to-face, he asked, “What is it?”

  “Let’s go inside.”

  He opened the door for her and followed her inside. She hobbled her way over to the sofa and sat down. She’d left her tablet on the table and the files from Stamina were scattered on the floor.

  “What’s going on?” Concern lined his voice.

  “Have a seat.”

  “I’m all right.” By the serious look on her face, he thought he’d be better off standing.

  “The Cortez fight . . .”

  His jaw tightened.

  “. . . the promoter is moving it to London.”

  His body stiffened. A sudden coldness hit him in the gut. “Fuck.” He paused and allowed the shocking news to sink in so he could react without losing his fucking cool. “Why?”

  “The promoter is all about money, Jack. I don’t have to tell you that. Apparently he can command a higher ticket price overseas, and Vegas will let the bout go because Americans prefer to watch boxing on pay-per-view.”

  He averted his eyes to the floor and clenched his hand into a fist.

  “And there’s one more thing.”

  He flicked his gaze to her.

  “I’m not certified by the IBO; neither is Shakes. The International Boxing Organization says we can’t work your corner during the fight. You’ll have handlers.”

  Clarke’s image flashed across his mind as Jack recalled the man who caused his downfall. His disgrace. A knot formed deep inside his gut, and his hands trembled just thinking about what may happen if he saw him again.

  Drawing in a deep breath, he concentrated on Daniella’s face and focused on her big, beautiful eyes, the ones that believed in him, trusted him. He exhaled and released his balled fist. His jaw slackened and a steady, quiet calm overtook him. He stepped toward her and lifted his hand. Placing it gently on her shoulder, he steadied her. “You said we’re a team. Did you mean that?”

  “Of course. But I can’t force you to go back there. Not after the traumatizing experience you had there a few weeks ago.”

  “It doesn’t matter. Don’t take me off the card.”

  “Seriously? Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

  “Yes.”

  Her body visibly relaxed, as if a bomb had been diffused. “I thought this might be hard for you.”

  “Nothing’s hard . . . not when I’m with you.”

  Her eyes trailed down to the middle of his shorts. Then her cute pink tongue darted out and wet her honey-sweet lips. “I think we can change that.”

  A grin pulled up the corner of his mouth. “Give it your best shot.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “I’m the manager, remember. I give the orders.”

  In a step, he closed any remaining space between them. “Then tell me what you want.”

  “I want you to touch me,” she said almost breathlessly.

  His pulse quickened. “I can do that.”

  “I want you to peel off my clothes.”

  His jaw locked.

  “I want your hands on me, touching me. Inside and out.” A smile spread across her mouth. The sexy temptress. She’d mentally seduced him, teased him, maybe even shocked him a little, but he needed to hear that taking her to bed was what she wanted.

  “Are you sure?”

  “But most of all”—she reached out her hand and cupped his ass—“I want you naked in my bed and fucking me until I tell you to stop.”

  And with that, he hoisted Daniella into his arms and carried her to the bedroom.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Jack set her down with care. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her ankle and kill the mood, especially after she’d finally given him the all clear to take her to bed.

  He locked his eyes on hers. Her beauty paralyzed him. All he could do was stand there and stare at her.

  Beautiful.

  Phenomenal.

  So fucking hot.

  “You’re sure.”

  She nodded. “I’m sure. God, I’m so sure.”

  He grasped the hem of her shirt and slowly lifted it over her head and tossed it aside. His eyes focused on her breasts, hidden behind that bra of hers.

  It had to go.

  His hands trailed up her arms, leaving a trail of gooseflesh in his wake. Her smoky look of desire told him she wanted him, too. She pressed a hand to his cheek and drew his face to hers. He crushed his mouth to hers, devouring her. Their lips locked in an urgent, needy kiss. She opened her mouth just a little and he slid his tongue inside. Tilting her head back, he reached for more. His heart raced and all his nerve endings tingled awake. Heat spread across his body. Yes, this was happening.

  He snapped the clasp of her bra and set those amazing breasts free.

  He had wanted a woman who could take as much as he could give, one who could rock the stress from his body. But he no longer wanted just any woman. Jack wanted this woman. Dark hair, tiny waist, dream-girl eyes, and pink nipples he wanted to suck all night long. Oh yeah, he wanted this one. Only her.

  His hands covered her breasts and didn’t let go. His thumb brushed over her nipple and worked that pink bud, pinching to send shockwaves from her breasts to her core. Rubbing, swirling, he teased her to the point where pleasure mixed with pain.

  “More,” she panted.

  He pressed harder, gently teasing, flicking his thumb back and forth, back and forth.

  Sensations wild and electric shot through him. He loved seeing her like this. So crazy for him. He felt his own need for release building.

  But it wouldn’t happen that fast. Oh no. He’d take her hard and slow, until she begged him to let her get off.

  He released her breast from his hands and she lifted his shirt up. Her touch, so warm, so good, trailed up his stomach, nice and slow, as if it were the first time she’d ever touched him.

  She removed his shirt and flung it to the floor.

  His body temperature spiked. Tension wrapped around the base of his spine, tightened his buttocks, squeezed his hips and sprang his erection to life. He wanted to have her. He wanted to fuck her. Right. Fucking. Now.

  He pressed closer to her, wanting her to feel his desire. Pressing his cock into her, Daniella’s hands automatically dropped to the waistband of his shorts. She fumbled with the drawstring, and half pulling, half unknotting, she slid his shorts down from one hip, then the other.

  And he made quick work of hers.

  With a tiny snap, he unbuttoned her shorts and they dropped, landing around her ankles. He helped her step out of them. And careful not to touch her injury, he slid her back onto the bed.

 
The world slowed down.

  He backed away, taking care to slide her panties from her hips. The silk thong teased its way down her legs, over her injured ankle, until he dropped it on the floor. Sinking his fingers into her flesh, he gripped her thighs and pulled her ass in the right position. When she gasped, he dropped back onto his knees.

  And took in the view of her fine, sweet pussy.

  It was all his. What he’d waited for. All those years.

  He carefully placed one leg over his shoulder, then the other.

  Starting at the knee, he pressed light kisses to the inside of her thigh, gently guiding himself toward her middle. As he approached, he stopped. Teasing her, he started kissing her other knee.

  She laughed. “You’re killing me.”

  “I intend to,” he said, in between butterfly kisses to the inside of her thigh. She moved slightly, unable to hide her desire.

  He slid one of his hands underneath her ass, grabbed some and squeezed.

  “Don’t move,” he warned.

  She dropped her head back and away, giving in to him, as if she couldn’t bear the anticipation. Before he’d even touched her, she let out a needy cry.

  And he lowered his mouth to her sweet middle.

  His warm breath hovered over her cleft and he teased her. His mouth dipped in, tasted her middle with a short, delicate lick. She moved her hips in response.

  Oh, he loved that.

  His tongue dipped, bathing her tiny folds. She outstretched her hand but grabbed only air. Her fingers splayed across the sheet. A moan escaped her when his tongue found her clitoris. He glided it over her pulsing nub and a cry left her lips. Seeing her squirm was so divine, so powerful, her pelvis arched and he placed his hand on her belly, pushing her back down.

  She succumbed to the pleasure he offered, a victim to raw need. His tongue entered her with soft, teasing circles. Each plunging motion of his tongue was designed to push her closer to the edge and left her panting.

  “Oh God.”

  He knew her promise of an orgasm was real. So real. A light graze of his teeth sent her chest heaving. He bit down over her cleft, ever so gently.

  She reached for him, pulling him to her, pressing her lips to his and drawing him in to one of those fucking hot kisses. Wet. Hot. Needy.

  She took the hand he’d placed on her waist and brought it up to her breasts, leaving it there. “Make love to me.”

  It was the invitation he’d been waiting for. His fingers closed over her warm, soft skin, kneading her breast. The pad of his thumb found her nipple and he rolled it, worked it like it was the only thing she needed to come undone.

  God, he missed her.

  He rolled on top of her and dropped down, allowing his mouth and his tongue to take over for his fingers. He sucked and rolled that sweet nipple. Heaven.

  His heart raced. His breath came in quick pants. He wanted the taste of her in his mouth. The feel of her underneath him. The smell of her on his skin. He wanted to fill her. To consume her.

  “More,” she moaned. She put her hands on him, pulling him closer, pushing him down on top of her. “I want you inside me.”

  He released his mouth from her. “Not yet.”

  Then he covered her mouth with his, kissed her greedily, and allowed his hands to roam. He wanted to show her how much he needed her, and more importantly, how much he missed her. He broke from her mouth to plant kisses on her body. Starting with her neck, he moved down to her breasts, trailing his tongue along the space in between.

  She arched under his lazy assault and moaned something that sounded like an Oh God. But God didn’t have anything to do with her sudden bliss. This was about Jack and Daniella being together, and he wanted to show her just how fucking fantastic they were. Shit, maybe there was something divine to be said about that.

  She raised her head as he dropped lower over her body. A noise escaped her throat. Pleasure. Pure pleasure. He gave her that.

  When he ran a hand down her bare hip, across her abdomen, and covered her sweet pussy, his pulse quickened. His fingers ached to touch inside her. To bring her pleasure. To make her come.

  His eyes widened, absorbing a view he hadn’t seen in a long, long time. Daniella. Naked. Tension crept throughout his body, but he held back before putting himself inside her body, feeling her warmth, and making her come, just for him.

  God, she was perfect. She was his.

  Instinctively she spread her legs and he kept them apart, nestling himself in between. Dipping his head in between her thighs, her legs gently pressing on his back, he could hardly contain himself. And with a flick of his tongue, he tasted her again.

  A groan left her lips. He worked her fine, sweet pussy, tasting her sugar until his cock hardened to the point he thought he’d fucking explode. But if hearing her moan the way she did led to his own combustion, well, he’d have to take the chance.

  She felt so good under his touch, and tasted even better. He drove his tongue deeper inside her. So deep. So good. So crazy fucking good.

  In minutes her thighs shook. He knew he was seconds away from seeing her come. But that’s not what he wanted, not like this.

  They had to climax together.

  His mouth left her. “Wait for me, baby.”

  “Wait?” she panted as if he’d asked something impossible.

  He hated to, but he needed to leave her. In a desperate need for release, he climbed up her body. Her hands moved all over him, drawing him closer. She raised her head and slammed her mouth against his once he was within reach. She kissed him hard, then broke it off and sat up. He climbed out of bed and walked to the bathroom and grabbed a box of condoms.

  “Prepared.” She grinned.

  “Just hopeful.”

  He paused. He took one out. Putting the box beside the bed, he tore the seal open, and before the wrapper crinkled, he climbed back in bed. She kept her hands running all over his body, kissing random places, but she didn’t have to worry about turning him on. He was rock hard.

  And ready.

  He rolled the condom on and once he had it in place, he crawled on top of her and drove his cock inside her. God, she was warm, and tight. He couldn’t imagine being inside anybody else. Not after this. Not after Daniella agreed to have him back.

  Oh. Sweet. Jesus.

  “You. Feel. So. Good.” He kissed her.

  Daniella’s eyes closed, and she dropped her head deeper into the pillow. He filled her. Fuck yeah, he did. But more than that, he nearly came seeing how much she wanted it. Liked it. Loved it.

  He loved it, too.

  She opened her eyes and smiled. “I missed you.”

  He touched his forehead to hers, and whispered, “Missed you, Dani.”

  He had missed her. Her smell. The way her mouth felt on him.

  But more than that. He didn’t know until their time at the cabin how much he missed being around her. Just her. For him, it wasn’t all about the sex. She made him feel stronger, invincible. Like there wasn’t a fight he couldn’t win.

  When walls came down between them, he couldn’t be stopped. He wanted to consume her, claim her, because with her he could take on the rest of the world.

  She brought his lips down to meet hers. Kissing her, he placed his forearms against the mattress, using them as anchors. She lifted her hips and he pushed deeper, harder into her. He wanted more. He wanted everything. Her heart. Her body. He wanted it all.

  And the sex was so fucking good.

  She moaned, and at the sound his muscles tightened.

  “Wait for me,” he ordered.

  He pushed deeper into her. Faster. So good. So deep. Sweat trickled down his back. He loved the sound they made together, skin hitting skin. “Oh, baby,” he blurted out. “I’m close.”

  He worked her. Hard. Urgent. His cock tight and painful. His need for release, and to please her, penetrated his need for anything else.

  “Your pussy’s so tight,” he told her, straining to get the words out. “Fee
ls so good.”

  She panted. “Jack, I—”

  “Wait. Please,” he begged.

  Sliding in and out, dampness coated his dick, her thighs. Because she was so wet, doing her was unbelievably easy. Natural. Blood rushed to his throbbing dick. This is what his body had been waiting for.

  “You want me, don’t you?” he asked, teasing her, trying to kill her from the inside out.

  “Wha—” Her voice broke off. Eyes closed, he wasn’t sure if she’d even heard him.

  “Say you want me.”

  She opened her eyes. Hers locked on his. “I want you. So bad.” And in that moment, something passed between them.

  Faster. Harder. Deeper. He pushed them both to the point they almost—

  “Oh God. Jack!” She let out a high-pitched cry.

  His every sense sharpened. Every nerve in his body tingled. He knew she was coming.

  “Jack,” she panted, and her voice sounded as if her body were stuck in the middle of pleasure and pain.

  “Let go,” he told her.

  At her cries, he lost control. Raising his head, he pushed into her. Hard and deep, with one last thrust, he gave her everything he had.

  Including his heart.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Daniella intertwined her body around Jack’s as much as she could without disturbing her ankle. Funny. During sex, her stupid ankle was the furthest thing from her mind. There had been no pain. There had been no thoughts of anything else other than her and Jack and how good it felt to be with him.

  How their connection had deepened. So hard and fast.

  Making love to him, she wanted to give him everything she had, solidify their feelings. Show him her commitment. She gave him her trust and her heart willingly. She allowed herself the freedom to enjoy the sudden rush of bliss that coursed through her. Moments of utter happiness hadn’t come often in the years since she’d left Vegas. So she appreciated the place she found herself, sharing her bed with Jack.

  She knew there were always risks in giving someone her heart.

  So now she had to trust Jack not to break it. Whether she could put her feelings into words, she didn’t know. But sooner or later, they had to talk.