My eyes get big at being caught.
“Ready?” he asks with a chuckle.
“Yep,” I say, turning to walk to the door but he snatches me up bridal style in his arms. “Whoa!”
“Can’t let you do the walk of shame alone,” he replies. He bends telling me to get my dress from the back of the couch and I drape it over my arm. Then opening the door, he walks down the hallway.
He sets me down in front of my door holding my shoes for me while I get the key out of my clutch when suddenly the door opens and Dani takes one look at me and cracks up.
“Go on a shopping spree, did you? You’ve got great taste, Heath.” She gives him a sarcastic thumbs up before going back to eating her cereal.
I roll my eyes as we step inside. “Follow me,” I tell him leading him to my bedroom. I put my shoes in my closet then go to my dresser grabbing a pair of panties from a drawer. I turn to him not knowing if I should change right here or go to the bathroom. At his challenging gaze, I let the waistband of his shorts go and drop trou, stepping out of them and smirking at the impressed look on his face as I pull my panties on. It’s not like he saw anything anyway since the t-shirt I’m wearing is like a dress on me and it’s not like he hasn’t already seen me naked already either. I’m such a dork.
“Cute,” he murmurs wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his hands on my butt. “Next weekend, can you get Monday off too? I’d like to take you to my cabin.”
He’s told me about his place in Big Bear and I’m dying to see it. “Yes!” I answer right away. “Will there be snow?” I’ve always loved snow, I guess because we never get any here. My family’s gone on vacation to Colorado to ski before and I loved it.
He chuckles. “There was when I went up a few weeks ago. I’m sure we can find some.”
“I can’t wait.” I tiptoe up and lay a big smooch on him, sad that our date has to come to an end.
He looks down at me. “I should be done by seven tonight. If you happened to show up about seven-thirty, I just might have a steak ready for you.”
“If I happen to have time, I’ll do that,” I tease.
“And bring a change of clothes,” he adds looking at what I’m wearing. “You look ridiculous.”
I laugh and smack him on the chest before he pulls me to him, kissing me deep. After, he takes my hand dragging me behind him out of my bedroom and to the front door.
“I’ll see you later,” he says, bending one last time for a kiss. “Bye, Dani,” he calls and leaves.
I close the door, turning and leaning against it with a contented sigh.
“Well, he’s hotter than hot,” Dani comments taking a slurpy bite of her cereal.
“He is,” I say dreamily.
“You’re adorable together.”
“He missed weights this morning for me,” I share.
She gets up taking her bowl to the sink. “As serious as he is about his lifting, that’s about the equivalent of him proposing.” That makes me chuckle as I watch her put her bowl in the dishwasher before she comments nonchalantly, “Oh, I met Ian Somerhalder.”
I push off the door and scream, “What?”
She turns to me grinning. “I know! Oh, my God, Lane, he’s gorgeous! And those eyes! Holy shitballs! They’re so freaking blue they’re almost clear!”
I make her tell me every detail of Chastity’s shoot which is amazing.
“You should’ve been there! Best time ever!” she exclaims but I have to disagree.
Last night with Heath was.
On my knees underneath him, I rock back into Heath, taking him deeper, begging him to let me come.
I’d gotten to his apartment at eight and we’d eaten the steaks he’d grilled, asparagus he’d steamed and potatoes he’d wrapped in foil and cooked on the grill. I told him he was welcome to cook for me anytime to which he’d replied that as long as I cleaned up, he was more than willing, actually implying that a woman’s place was in the kitchen.
When I said he must be joking and he shook his head letting me know he wasn’t, I’d called him a jerk and started to leave telling him he could clean his own damned kitchen.
He’d grabbed me, laughing, saying he was kidding and that his mother would kick his ass if he seriously thought that way, and then he kissed me which had led to some awesome things.
Except now it feels as if he’s been teasing me for what seems like hours.
He buries himself deep inside me, his chest against my back, his fingers rolling my nipple between them making me cry out. His other hand is against the wall in front of us keeping us steady as he pulls his hips back then slams back inside me.
“You wanna come, baby?” he asks gruffly.
“God, yes! Please!” I plead.
He starts moving inside me again, ever so slowly as his fingers leave my nipple and his hand travels slowly down, over my belly, where his fingers barely skim my clit making me moan and push my hips toward his fingers wanting more.
God!
And now I’ve had enough. Bending my arms, I put the side of my head on the bed and reach back with my hands to touch myself and almost scream when he says, “Nuh uh,” pulling my hands away, stretching them out in front of me as he thrusts inside me several times.
Now I want to cry.
Until he pulls out and turns me to lie on my back, lacing his hands in mine and pulling my arms over my head. He slides slowly inside me and starts moving before pressing his mouth to mine, our tongues tangling together, and the friction against my clit as he moves immediately making me orgasm. Gah! He swallows my scream, keeping his mouth on mine as he mumbles, “Good girl.”
He reaches his climax a few moments later, driving his cock in deep before his head falls back and he lets out a deep groan. He collapses to the side so his entire body weight isn’t on me and informs between breaths, “You’re stayin’ with me tonight.”
Well, okay then.
He now turns us so that that I’m lying on top of him and uses both hands to push my hair from my face, tucking it behind my ears before his hands slide down my back, one stopping at the middle, the other one landing on my butt. I rest my chin on my hand that’s on his chest looking back at him.
“Where’ve you been all my life?” he says quietly and my heart melts.
I slide up and touch my lips to his then moving my hand, turn my head to the side, laying it on his chest and answer, “Waiting for you.”
Then I fall asleep.
“Baby,” I hear him whisper in my ear waking me.
I sit up, squinting into the dark. “Huh?” Ugh. It’s still dark outside.
“Going to the weight room. You got your alarm set, right?”
I nod.
“See you in a bit,” he says, kissing the side of my head then he’s gone. I collapse back on the bed and fall back to sleep in five seconds.
An hour and a half later, my alarm goes off and turning it off, I slowly look around wondering where Heath is before vaguely remembering his waking me before he left. It’s now seven and it usually takes Dani and me about fifteen minutes to get ready before we go downstairs to the weight room. Then we run for an hour, shower and head to work.
I realize Heath’s been down there since around five-thirty.
Holy cow. Now that’s dedication.
I get up and throw on one of his t-shirts, pulling on the shorts I brought with me then go down the hallway to my apartment. Dani’s sitting at the bar sleepily drinking coffee and jerks her head which is her way of saying good morning.
“Should I get in the shower for a minute and rinse the sex off me?” I call as I run into my room.
“Yes, you hooker,” she yells back.
I shower quickly then dry off but apparently not well enough because when I go to put on my sports bra, I start cussing because it’s just as hard to put on as it is to take off when your body is slightly wet. Jesus. I next put shorts then socks and grabbing a t-shirt, pull it over my head as I run into the living room.
<
br /> Snatching my shoes from beside the door planning to put them on in the elevator, I call, “Let’s go!” and we’re out of there.
When we get to the weight room, I find I’m nervous, not knowing how Heath will react to me but I shouldn’t have worried. While Dani and I stretch, I look over to see he’s working out with that Matt guy and Heath is doing squats with eighty billion pounds of weights on the bar, his eyes focused straight ahead as he does each rep, and I know we’re good. I know we’re especially good when after he finishes his set, he looks over and winks at me.
When Dani and I hit mile two, I think with all the sex I’ve been having I’ve gotten in better shape because I’m not feeling it like I did last week. Who knew? We decide we’re going for two-and-a-quarter miles today but as we keep going, now I’m feeling it. Dang.
“Is that Pamela Anderson?” Dani asks. I look at her then follow her eyes seeing Heath talking to some little blonde.
“I don’t know,” I say with a frown, keeping my eyes on them. He glances over at me and the look he gives me lets me know he’s annoyed and I rest easy.
Dani and I shower afterward, with her running out quickly as usual to get to work and me not far behind. When I get to the elevator, wet hair in a towel, I’m disappointed that Heath’s not there. I’m tempted to walk around the corner to see if he’s coming but I don’t want to be pushy. Instead I get on the elevator and just as the doors start to close, he yells, “Hold the doors!” so I reach out and make them open again.
“Hey, baby,” he says, getting on then suddenly picking me up which makes me squeak in surprise. He pushes my back to the wall and kisses me silly. When he pulls away, he chuckles at what I’m sure is a “gaga” look on my face before saying, “’Morning, darlin’.”
“Hey, handsome,” I murmur on a sigh as he sets me down but holds my hand.
Can you fall in love with someone after a week? I mean, really fall in love with them? Because I’m definitely thinking that’s what’s happening to me.
But then I remember. “Who was that girl?”
He looks disgusted. “Some chick Craig tried hooking me up with.”
“Oh.”
“But I told him I’ve already got exactly what I want,” he says, bringing my hand to his mouth, kissing the back of it while waggling his eyebrows playfully at me.
“Oh, well.” I don’t know what to say even though what he said was sweet and funny but I’m more focused on Craig the rapist-slash bad guy trying to set my man up with another woman, the jerk.
“Baby, not even an inkling of a comparison there,” he reassures me which makes me feel better but I’m still thinking of ways to get back at Craig. Like taking a screenshot of his desktop on the weight room computer then making it his wallpaper. He’d never figure that one out, the dumbass. “So what’s on the schedule for you today?” Heath asks interrupting my dastardly daydreaming.
“I’ve got to check in on Mrs. Lanning first thing,” I say with a dramatic sigh. At his questioning look, I utter, “You don’t wanna know. I don’t think she’ll ever be happy with anything I set her up in.”
“Lemme guess. Comes from old money, probably has five cats and gripes incessantly about everything she liked at first?” he questions.
I stare up at him, my mouth hanging open. “How’d you know?”
He chuckles. “I’m a builder. I’ve dealt with the type before. You do everything they ask but they’re never happy.” He shrugs.
“Definitely her,” I mumble. “What do you have to do today?”
“Still working at the same site but I’ve got a meeting at two with a contractor for a high rise going in downtown. Hopefully, our bid will win and my guys will eat for another eight months or so.”
I squeeze his hand. “You’re a good boss.”
He barks out a laugh. “Gonna take you with me to a site and let you tell them that.” He bends down and touches his mouth to mine. “They’d think you’re nuts.”
I chuckle then tell him, “I’d like to see one of your sites sometime.”
“That can be arranged but only if you wear a hardhat while I fuck you in my trailer.”
“Only if it’s pink,” I joke making him snort.
We get off the elevator at our floor and he walks me to my door. “Wish I could come in and help you get dressed.”
“Dressed or undressed?” I smirk.
“Mm, you know me too well.” He bends and gives me another searing kiss leaving me breathless. “I’ll see you tonight, babe.”
“’Kay,” I reply almost in a daze.
I unlock the door and turn to say goodbye just as he smacks me on the butt with a grin making me yelp. “Later, baby.”
“Bye, honey.” I watch him walk down the hall answering his ringing phone. Just before he goes in, he turns and winks and I give him a small wave before going inside to get ready for work.
Sixteen
Things are going great with Laney. She’s stayed at my place every night this week and I’m loving it.
This Saturday we’re set to go to Big Bear, leaving right after my fight which is at six and should put us at my cabin around nine-thirty. I don’t tell her I’m fighting because the less she knows the better. Instead, I say that I’ve got a water shutdown at a construction site and I have to be there. She didn’t ask any questions, just trusted me and that makes me feel like shit. I’m hoping I don’t get another black eye so that I have to lie about running into a pipe and I really don’t want this to come back and bite me in the ass.
Also, something new came up this week with Matt. We’ve been working out together since last weekend and Thursday night when Laney had a seminar to attend, I met Matt for a beer and we got to talking about Edward Kyle. Matt and I have talked a lot this week, and feeling as if I can trust him, I finally told him what happened to Aaron letting him in on what’s going on with my situation. He looked truly pissed. And when I told him what I was trying to do with the books, he was surprised.
“Never thought of that, man,” he said. “You think you could mark my name off too?” He laughed but I told him I was willing to try. “If you could get a printout, we could turn it into the police,” he suggested.
“Not sure I wanna go that far,” I’d confessed. “Just trying to clear my brother, you know?”
He nodded but told me if I could get a printout, he’d take care of the rest.
I’ve also talked more to Craig this week, trying to get some basic information that might come in handy. When I instigated a conversation with him about logins and passwords, he literally told me all the weight room’s information including the key code to get in if it’s closed. He also informed me that Kyle’s office is in his penthouse suite, which isn’t ideal because now I’ve got to find a way to get up there. But I’m hoping all the office computers share the same server because if I can login to Craig’s account, maybe I can find a program to hack into Kyle’s account, get a printout for Matt and delete Aaron’s name.
So it’s as simple as that. Huh.
I’m now in the basement waiting for my fight. They’re running late because a guy got his nose shattered in the first match and blood went everywhere so they had to clean and disinfect everything. In the course of this action, I got to see how my brother had more than likely been treated when he got hurt. They can’t call an ambulance to an illegal fight ring, so they have a guy specifically waiting to take injured fighters to the ER where I’m assuming they drop the guy off and just leave him. Fuckers.
Matt comes in as I’m warming up.
“When’s your match?” I ask.
“Two after yours.”
“Damn. Laney and I are set to leave when I finish. Unless you want me to stay?”
He shakes his head with a grin. “Nah, you two go have fun. I’ll be all right.”
“Who do you have?” I query.
He nods toward a lean-muscled guy warming up across from us. “Seen him?” he asks.
I nod. “Yeah. He’s a lefty.
But something’s wrong with his right knee. Shit starts to get bad, take out the knee.”
“Got it,” he replies. “Thanks. Who’d you draw?”
I nod toward a short, scrappy guy I watched last weekend. Even though he had some solid kicks, he got the shit kicked out of him but kept coming back for more. I know I’m going to have to take him out as soon as I can if I want to make it out of here in time.
I’m pissed as a motherfucker and it’s taken Matt a half hour to calm me down.
My fight started out fine, the little guy making kicks and landing a few at my ribs but that’s not the problem. The problem is that the fight took forever. Every time I took him to the mat he found a way to get away. Fucker had to be double-jointed or something because I don’t know how he kept escaping. I thought it should’ve been called by the ref at the end of round two when I heard a crunch as my elbow landed solidly on his nose causing a spray of blood to shoot out and the guy looked like he was stone-cold drunk the rest of the round. By the middle of the third round I was fed up, so after taking him down, I unleashed a ground and pound on him to finally end it, literally pummeling his face to a bloody fucking pulp but the idiot somehow escaped and still came back for more.
Of course I won the goddamned thing but that shit was not fun.
“You did what you had to do,” Matt says.
I’m pacing at the back of the basement as far away from Kyle as I can get since I’d probably kill the asshole if he came anywhere near me.
I put my hands in my hair and pull. “I didn’t have to do shit. I could’ve just jumped around the fucking ring for three rounds and that would’ve been it.”
Matt puts his hands on his hips as I keep walking back and forth. “If you’d done that, you probably would’ve ended up with a couple broken ribs. The guy had a helluva spin kick. He’d been any taller, they’d have landed on your head and not your ribs. Probably would’ve knocked you the fuck out.”
I stop and look at Matt who’s grinning which makes me huff out a humorless laugh.
I pull on a hoodie knowing I’m going to have to put the hood up since I’m covered in the guy’s blood. I don’t want Laney to see me if she for some reason happens to come out of her apartment when I go by because she’d freak out. “I gotta go. Text me after your fight and let me know how it went,” I tell Matt. We knock knuckles and I leave.
The Fighter (The High Rise, Book 1) Page 13