Greatest Fight of All (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Lee Rose

  Royce held her by the waist as they walked together and Jessy foolishly wished he belonged to her and was helping her because he really cared. He pulled her chair out and sat her down before sitting next to her. Dinner was fun with all of them talking comfortably. Jessy noticed her dad looked more relaxed as he complimented Lucia on her cooking. She shared a smug look with Gabe and he smiled back, obviously happy to see his mom smiling and laughing with Jared. Jessy had been afraid Gabe might resent another man in his mom’s life.

  After dinner, Royce walked her to the back patio and sat with her on the swing. Gabe had been so excited to discover the Xbox gaming system Blake and Sam had bought her for Christmas. They even included a ton of UFC games. They left him playing the games while Jared and Lucia cleaned up in the kitchen. The night air had a slight breeze to it and it felt so good on her heated skin. She knew Royce had a lot to do with her feeling hot.

  He moved her hair out of the way and placed soft kisses along her cheek and down her neck. Jessy knew she should push him away but it felt good. She was weak, she told herself. She loved feeling his lips on her skin.

  “What are you doing?” she asked nervously. “We’re friends. Friends don’t kiss.”

  “I said a lot of things out of stupidity but I am tired of being noble, Jessy. I hurt you and you don’t trust me now. I get that, but I have feelings for you and I’m tired of denying it,” he said harshly.

  He cupped her breast through her blouse and she felt her body react instantly. She drew in a breath of air and bit her lip to keep in the moan that wanted to escape from her mouth. “Do you remember how it felt when I had my tongue on those pretty little berries of yours? I do. I think about it a lot.”

  She couldn’t speak so she closed her eyes and nodded. She could feel her skin tingling with excitement at the memory. She hadn’t forgotten one second of that night either. He caressed the tip of her breast with his finger,

  “I replay that night in my head over and over. I was an idiot, Jessy, but that night I was not faking what I felt. You set me on fire and burned through all my doubts. It was in the light of day that I let fear rule me.”

  She opened her eyes and looked at him with hope and longing. She wanted his words to be true, but what if he changed his mind again? He looked sincere and she knew he wouldn’t be feeding her some cheesy line to get her into bed with him. He probably did want her physically, but what if after she healed he got bored again? They worked together and she couldn’t keep placing herself in this position of vulnerability.

  “What if that happens again? I had such hope for us after that night. I thought you felt the same way I did and to see you with someone else nearly destroyed me. What if months down the road you get bored again? I’m not sure how I will handle that, Royce.”

  “Life doesn’t come with guarantees. That’s a lesson I learned the hard way,” he said sadly. “What if we took things one day at a time? We flirted a lot and jumped into bed, but we never took the time to have serious talks or get to know each other.”

  She sighed. It was a start, she supposed. She still had doubts, but she would regret not trying. “Okay, Royce. I hate to put a stop to this conversation, but I feel exhausted. It’s been an emotional day trying to get Lucia and my dad together,” she told him. She needed time alone to think. She couldn’t afford to be impulsive.

  He held her tenderly for a few seconds, then helped her stand up. He placed a soft kiss on her lips and looked at her with so much tenderness that she had to blink back tears. “I’ll walk you inside, then I guess I’ll go home. I’ll call you and we’ll have late-night conversations about what your favorite color is and shit like that.”

  Jessy giggled and rolled her eyes. “You men need a class on how to talk romantically. ‘Shit like that’ is not a romantic phrase.”

  He chuckled, walking with her slowly into the house. “Okay, if you want to forgo romance we can have phone sex. I might like that better.”

  Jessy pushed him playfully and he kissed her good-night. It was a soft kiss, full of promises and hope.

  Life was starting to look up, so why did she feel like she was waiting for the next disaster to happen?

  Chapter 19

  Ten more days at home and Jessy finally received the all clear from the doctor. Now she was sitting at her desk and she felt good. She could move around by herself and only felt a small twinge or ache. Blake’s fight was going to be in Las Vegas in the next week and she was excited for him. He had been training hard and according to Royce, he was ready.

  Blake and Sam had stopped by to visit her at home often, bringing movies and pizza. Blake was anxious about his upcoming fight and they spent time talking about it. Royce kept his word and called her every night and they talked. She still had some fears, but they were slowly fading day by day. He told her about his hard childhood and she understood him a little better. He was right, they hadn’t known each other well at all. Flirting was one thing, but really talking to one another made her feel closer to him.

  She was glad to be back in the gym once again. She loved hearing the sounds of the equipment being used and the grunts of the men fighting. The sounds were familiar and comforting.

  Jessy heard a knock on her door. “Come in.”

  “Hey there,” Royce said after opening her door. He gave her a warm look that she was getting used to. He spent some of his time with her while she was recovering, but his kisses had been gentle and chaste. “Your dad sent me in here to make sure you weren’t working yourself to death.

  “His words, not mine,” Royce quickly told her with a laugh when she scowled at him.

  “If he is so worried, why isn’t he back here?” Jessy pouted. Between her dad and Royce all she could do was lift a pencil by herself. She appreciated their concern, but she didn’t need them hovering over her all day. She really was almost back to one hundred percent.

  “Lucia is here watching Gabe before her shift starts,” he explained. Lucia had been coming by a lot to see Gabe work out, but she had a feeling she liked running into her dad, too.

  Jessy smiled, feeling happy to hear that. After that night Lucia had cooked dinner, she had cooked for them again. This time she invited Tom, Sam, Blake, Jackson, and Adam. It had been a fun night with them playing cards. Her dad was more relaxed now and she was sure she could step back and let him pursue Lucia on his own. She really liked Lucia and Gabe and she hoped they became family. Her dad had been alone for too many years and he deserved some happiness.

  “I should go and say hi.” Jessy stood up and went around her desk. Royce stopped her from walking out the door. He pulled her into his chest and kissed her lips, taking her mouth in a hot kiss that had her moaning with pleasure. He grinned when he saw her glazed eyes. “I love that look on you, Jess.”

  “What look?” Her brain was having a hard time focusing on anything besides tearing his clothes off and locking her office door.

  “Happiness,” he said simply, patting her butt gently. “Now let’s go say hi.”

  Jessy followed behind him, feeling bemused. Royce treated her like fragile glass and although she understood his concern she wanted to make love with him again but she didn’t know how to let him know.

  She heard cheering and clapping and saw Gabe in the ring with Sam. Her dad had his arm around Lucia’s shoulder as she cheered for her son. Jessy sat next to her and Lucia turned to smile at her. She patted Jessy’s leg in a greeting and it felt so motherly that Jessy almost cried. Lucia was constantly trying to take care of Jessy and make sure she was eating something besides Jared’s sandwiches.

  Jessy looked at Gabe instead and was amazed at how much he had filled out. He was no longer skinny and he was slowly building his muscles. “Wow, Dad. He’s got talent, doesn’t he?”

  Jared smiled proudly. “I knew the kid had it in him all along.”

  Lucia leaned her head on Jared and sighed. “I can’t believe the changes in him. He is more at peace now and not so angry.”

 
Jared looked over Lucia’s head. “Now that you’re here, honey, will you help me convince Lucia that she and Gabe should come to Vegas with us?”

  Jessy smiled widely and pleaded with Lucia. She grabbed a hold of her hand. “It will be fun, Lucia. I will have another woman there and we can go shopping. Gabe will see how exciting it is to be involved in this sport and it will encourage him.”

  Jessy could see the indecision on Lucia’s face and knew she was worried about money. As a waitress it would be hard to buy two plane tickets. “The tickets and rooms will be taken care of. Dad gets a huge suite with double rooms, so me and you can bunk together. Gabe can bunk with the guys. He’ll love that.”

  Lucia looked at Jared with hesitation yet excitement in her eyes. “Are you sure, Jared?”

  Jared kissed her hand. “I wouldn’t have invited you if I didn’t want you there. You should know by now how straightforward I am. I like you Lucia, very much, and I want us to get to know each other better. This will be a bonding experience for us and our kids.”

  Lucia gave him a soft smile and put her hand to her chest. She nodded. “I would love to go and I already know the kind man you are, Jared.”

  Jessy couldn’t contain her excitement anymore. She clapped and shouted “yes” really loud. Her dad huffed, but Jessy could see the joy in his eyes. Lucia giggled as Sam and Gabe came over.

  “What’s the celebrating for?” Sam asked, wiping the sweat off his neck with a white towel and placing it around his neck. He gave them all a curious look. “Did one of you win the lottery?”

  “We’re going to Vegas,” Lucia announced happily, and Gabe started cheering, too.

  Chapter 20

  As soon as they checked into their usual hotel, Jessy sat on the leather couch in their suite. She didn’t want to admit it, but the trip had tired her out.

  She told her dad to go ahead and take Lucia and Gabe out for dinner. Neither of them had been here before and they were both so excited. She would order room service and relax. With everyone sitting together, the dinner would be loud and boisterous and she just didn’t have the energy. She changed into light sleeping shorts and matching camisole.

  “Hey, babe,” Royce greeted her softly as soon as he spotted her. He showed her a plastic key card he used to get in the room. “Your dad said you were tired. I told him I would make sure you ate dinner.”

  She nodded. “I guess I’m not a hundred percent yet. You can go with them, Royce. I don’t want to ruin your first night here.”

  He sat next to her and gathered her in his arms. She leaned on his chest and loved hearing his heartbeat. His hand was running through her loose hair and she loved the feeling of having him touch her. “No way. I would rather be here with you. And the fact that we are all alone is a bonus.”

  Jessy gathered her courage. She was tired of worrying if his intentions were true or not. He was here with her now and she craved to feel his touch was again. If he changed his mind down the road then she would deal with it like a big girl. “Could we go to your room and order room service and then go to bed together?”

  His grin showed her he was all for her plan. He wrote a note for her dad and picked her up in his arms. “Thank God I am two doors down. How about we eat naked, saves us time.”

  Jessy laughed all the way down the hallway. “Sounds like a plan.”

  He set her down on his large king-size bed. He picked up the house phone and dialed the kitchen. Jessy lay against the pillows as he ordered for her. He knew just what she liked to eat. He hung up and gathered her in his arms. He sighed and rubbed her arm up and down in a slow caress. It sent small goose bumps up and down her arm.

  “It feels good to be able to hold you like this again,” he admitted softly and sounding relaxed.

  Jessy closed her eyes and dozed off until the food came.

  When Royce went to wheel the cart in she got up to wash her face. They carried on a casual conversation about work as they ate. Every time she looked up at Royce, she could see the hunger in his eyes. Hunger that she too felt. She could feel her nipples harden into little pebbles and the moistness between her thighs. She took a sip of cold water but it did nothing to quench the heat inside her body. She closed her eyes and imagined him caressing her breasts with his hands. She remembered every moment of that one night with him.

  She heard a clatter against the plate and opened her eyes, looking concerned. “Are you okay, Royce?”

  “Hell no, I’m not okay, Jessy. You closed your eyes and your cheeks turned pink. I swear I heard you moan. I know I saw your nipples turn into little pebbles.” His voice was deep and gritty and it only made her feel hotter. “I’m so hard right now I’m not sure I can move.”

  She took in a breath of air and stood up. She was not going to hold anything back out of fear and doubt. Tonight she would show Royce that she loved him. If he returned her feelings or not was up to him. She removed her camisole and he gasped. She reached around her back and unclipped her satin pink bra, letting it fall to the floor. He sat still as a statue as if afraid to move. She could see the bulge growing underneath his jeans. She gave him a sultry smile. She slipped her shorts down her hips slowly, never taking her eyes off of him.

  “I’m going to lie down on the bed and I hope you join me.” She made sure her hips swayed as she walked. She lay on the bed on her back, fully naked and ready for her lover.

  In two seconds flat he was hovering above her, fully clothed. He didn’t speak, just took her mouth in a devouring, consuming kiss that made her forget her name.

  She could feel his clothes rubbing against her bare skin. She put her hands under his shirt and rubbed his bare back. She lifted it to his shoulders and he stopped kissing her. She pulled the shirt off of him. She loved the feel of his hard muscles as she ran her hands up and down his hard chest.

  “You are an amazing woman, Jessy,” he whispered, kissing her neck and nipping the skin lightly with his teeth. He moved to her shoulder and down to the swell of her breast.

  He rolled off of her to unbutton his jeans and take them off. She took advantage of his position and leaned over him. Her gaze went straight to his full, hard erection and she licked her lips. He was thick and hard and so very tempting. She leaned down and licked the mushroom tip of his cock like it was her favorite candy. “Mmmm.”

  She took him into her mouth, careful not to nick him with her teeth. His groan let her know he liked what she was doing. She cupped his balls with one hand and squeezed. She continued to suck him, bopping her head up and down.

  “Jessy,” was all he said, but he gripped her hair in his hands and set the rhythm he liked. He let her continue for a few more minutes. Then he pulled her lips off his cock and threw her down on the bed, hovering over her. She pouted. “I was having fun, Royce.”

  “Last time was too rushed, but tonight will last all night long, baby. Maybe even into the morning.” She could see the sensual promise in his eyes and she smiled.

  Jessy felt his hands go to her thighs. He pushed her thighs until they were opened wide and he could see how wet she was. Her pussy was glistening with her excitement and she felt the cool air hit her. It was a vulnerable position to be in but she was not ashamed to let him see how eager she was.

  “So beautiful,” he vowed, touching her folds softly at first like a caress. Then he inserted his fingers inside her wetness and it was her turn to moan in pleasure. When he found her clit and touched it she closed her eyes and concentrated on the heat building up inside her. She felt his tongue swipe at the liquid between her folds. It was such an intimate act and no one had ever done that to her. It had seemed embarrassing before but with Royce it felt right. It felt perfect. She wanted it to last forever, but within minutes she couldn’t contain the fire, his tongue was exploring every part of her pussy. The feeling exploded inside of her and she felt like she was floating in air without an anchor to hold her down.

  “Royce,” she screamed out his name.

  She felt his cock enter her
slowly. He stretched her vaginal walls with his thickness, but it felt good. She liked the feeling and knew how easy it would be to get addicted. He was all the way inside of her and holding her tightly to his chest. His lips were in her ear. “Fucking amazing, Jessy. Best feeling in the world is being inside of you.”

  “I agree,” she replied. She loved being naked with him, skin to skin. It was intimate and scary to trust someone this much, but she loved this man.

  She opened her legs wider and lifted up her ass. She wanted to be as close as possible, with not even an inch of space between them. She wrapped her legs around his waist and felt the wetness coming from her pussy. It made it easy for him to thrust in and out of her.

  He moved his hips in a sensual dance, slow and erotic and maddening. She wanted to hurry it up and make it last at the same time. He lifted himself up a little so he could look into her eyes. His were glossy with desire and she was sure hers were the same.

  “I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I was such a damn coward,” he whispered, leaning down to place a soft, apologetic kiss on her lips.

  She shook her head in protest, but he kissed her lips lightly while moving his hips in slow circles. “I love you, Jessy. After tonight you will believe me.”

  After a few minutes she needed more. “Harder, Royce. I won’t break. I need you to make me yours. Make me believe your words.”

  He groaned and pumped her harder, thrusting in and out of her pussy. He lifted her legs over his shoulder and she felt consumed by the feeling of his cock rubbing against her vaginal walls. It was exhilarating and soul shattering. She could do nothing but whimper and go along for the ride. She held his shoulders and encouraged him to give her everything he wanted. The bed rocked back and forth from his thrusting. Soon she was exploding and seeing dark spots flash across her vision. She thought she was going to lose consciousness from the force of her climax.