“Sorry, man, I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” I said backing out leaving the door cracked open. As I walked away, I yelled back, “I’m going down to the gym!”
“Whatever!” was all he said, so I tore off my clothes and traded them for my workout gear. If Liv wasn’t here, then she was in her room, so I figured I’d ask her to join me.
I knocked on her door lightly and waited. I gave her a while not knowing if she was in the shower or had passed out from all the drama today. Three minutes went by so I knocked again. When she finally opened the door, and I got to see her beautiful face again, then my heart started to beat again, too. She looked me down from crazy hair to my sneakers, and I couldn’t help but grin at her. She always sized me up before realizing she was even doing it.
I was thankful when she agreed to come with me to the gym. I didn’t know what I would have honestly done if she hadn’t. I didn’t care if she was awake or asleep I needed her presence near me in order to keep my demons at bay. I knew sooner or later that I was going to need more of her. I knew that eventually my body would try to take what it wanted from her, but it would be different with Liv. I wouldn’t just be fucking her... I would be making love to her… I would be giving her all of me; with no refunds or exchanges allowed. I was convinced she wasn’t ready for all of me yet, so I had to pace myself with her. I couldn’t lose her.
I was doing okay until I looked past her and saw the fucking honeymoon suite set up. My blood ran cold and hot at the same time. I picked up her bags and walked inside placing the bags on the bed, and I just stood there. The control that I thought that I had was nonexistent, and I was struggling to think clearly. The need for her hit me like the need for coke harassed me until I gave in before rehab. I felt her move past me, and I wanted to slam that little body on the bed and beg her to take me, but the rational part of my brain trying not to die completely told me she’d fight me, and I believed it. Why wouldn’t she? She grabbed her bag and headed to the bathroom. Once she closed the door, I was able to breathe again. It only took her two minutes tops, and she was out in her gym gear and ready to go, but her idea of gym gear was a purple sports bra looking top that reached just above her belly button showing off her tight abs and curved hips. Her black yoga pants were tight and hugged her body like a glove.
“Is that how you always dress to work out?”
She looked at me and frowned. “Yes, it is. What’s wrong with it?” She really had no idea how her body could drive a man crazy.
“Nothing. Nothing is wrong with it. You ready to go?”
“Let me grab my head phones, and I’ll be good to go.” She grabbed her headphones and we both headed out the door. The gym was practically on the other side of the hotel on a separate property, so I decided to cut through the main lobby. As soon as we stepped out of the elevators, I could have punched myself in the balls. All eyes were on Liv and she didn’t even notice. It wasn’t until I saw a group of guys stroll out of the lobby bar that I regretted not taking the long way around.
I felt Liv move closer to me, so I put my arm around her shoulders and hugged her close.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Livie
Whew, close call with those guys coming out of the bar. I don’t think I would have been able to stop Ocean from killing all of them if any one of them said or did something to me that he didn’t like. Any other time or any other man, I wouldn’t have really cared what happened. Ocean was not just any man… he was my air and my calm. We made it to the gym in silence, and it was a pretty nice gym. I just hated that there were so many damn treadmills; all hotels were the same. Ocean checked out the gym as he walked me over to the fancier set of treadmills. The place was dead, so that seemed to help him relax.
I stepped on a treadmill about to start it when Ocean leaned in close and whispered, “I’ll be on the weights, so don’t get yourself in trouble, Zena.”
I went to punch his shoulder, but he dodged my hit and slapped my ass with the palm of his hand as he sprinted over to the weights. I would have run after him, but the people that were in here were already staring at us. I let it go for now, enjoying the sting from his hand on my ass. This keeping a distance thing was so not going to work!
I shook off the goose bumps creeping up my spine and down my arms. Plugging in my headphones, I opened my Pandora stations and scrolled through them quickly. Justin Timberlake’s station grabbed my attention, so I selected it. The first song that played immediately made me think of Ocean, but instead of changing the song, I turned it up. I let the lyrics to JT’s song Mirrors paralyze my brain as I stared into the mirror in front of me to watch Ocean lift weights, and apparently, he had his eyes on me, too. I turned up the speed of my run and started running my heart out. I set the machines timer to an hour and forgot about the rest of the world. The only things that existed were my music, the mirror in front of me, and Ocean.
Ocean
Every time I got up from the bench to adjust my weights, I would look up and see Liv’s eyes on me. She was staring at me watching my every move. She was looking at me the same way I looked at her… we were seeing each other. Not just what we looked like on the outside, but everything else, too. I looked at the clock on the wall between the flat screens and a little over an hour had passed. Liv was still running hard drenched in sweat and as perky as a stuffed fucking turkey. Working out certainly seemed to put her in a good mood. I could only imagine what sex would do to her.
I cleaned up my bench and put the weights back for the next set of guys. They’d come in about fifteen minutes ago, and since I had ignored them, I guess they figured they would wait until I was done. Of course, I didn’t miss them drooling over Liv bouncing on the treadmill with each running step she took, but this time I didn’t feel hot and bothered by it this time. I already had Liv, I just had to get to her and get through all the bullshit walls she’d put up. I knew that about her because my walls, just like hers, stayed under construction.
I grabbed my towel, wiped my face and neck with it, and then headed toward my Liv. As I got closer, her pace started to quicken, and she looked like she was trying to run away from me on a damn treadmill. I couldn’t hold back my laugh. This chick was crazy, and she was mine. Still laughing, I stepped onto the back of her treadmill placing my feet on the side rails, reaching around her bouncing body as I slapped the emergency stop lever. She immediately grabbed the sidebars of the machine and jumped up placing her feet on the sidebars.
When the belt came to a complete stop, Liv pulled out her headphones whipped around and her silky ponytail slapped me in the face. I nearly kissed her right there for that. “Do you always have to be so crass?”
“For you, I’ll be anything, baby.”
She put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. “Anything… you say.” I looked down at her lips as she smiled. Whatever it was that she was thinking she could barely keep still.
“Just ask me, and I’ll give it to you with pleasure.”
“Okay!” She squealed back all excited. “You just volunteered yourself to be my sparring partner.” The giggles that came out of her sent goose bumps down my arms. I can’t wait to hear the sounds she’s going to make when I’m inside of her.
I shrugged my shoulders and stepped off the machine. “I’ll follow your lead, Zena.” She jumped off the treadmill and walked toward the back of the gym room. It was close to the vending machines and an emergency exit door. I liked the fact that a partition hid us from everyone else working out in the gym. Liv found her spot, placed her phone and headphones on a nearby bench, and started stretching.
“You really want to do this, don’t you?”
“Hell, yeah, I’ve been itching to knock somebody out, might as well be my biggest fan.” She laughed to herself at her own amusement.
“Okay, babe, if this is what you want, then boxing is what you’re going to get.” I reached my arms back and pulled my shirt over my head, and she rolled her eyes at me. “What? Do I make you u
ncomfortable?”
“Just shut up and let’s get started!” I wonder if she will talk like that to me in bed? When Liv finished stretching, she walked up to me standing toe to toe and explained her rules to me. I would have laughed, but she was too serious to piss off right now.
“Okay, Ocean, I’m sure you think because I’m a woman you should take it easy on me… don’t! I can handle it, and I can handle you.” When she said that, I raised my eyebrows and her cheeks flushed red. I thought so.
“No cheap shots and no holding back, and if you do, I’ll just ask one of those more than willing spectators over there to kick your ass for me. Got it?”
I stepped closer to her and lowered my head. “Yeah, baby, I got it. You want it to be real, hard, and rough… you want me to make it hurt, don’t you?” She placed her small hands on my stomach and pushed me back. She was breathing hard, and I could tell she was having a hard time processing what I just said. She pulled on her ponytail tightening it and finally looked up at me.
“Ready?” I smiled and took my stance.
She made the first move jabbing me in the rib. I felt like she was already at the disadvantage with her being so short, but damn, did those jabs hurt. When I felt her left hook connect with my chin and the smile crept onto her face, I decided in that moment to play by her rules. No holding back… she had no idea what she had just asked for…
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Livie
I had a feeling Ocean was going to want to take it easy on me, so when I went in for the left jab, I was happy to see the shift in his stance. I knew I was no match for him no matter how good I was, but he was right… I wanted him to make it hurt. Here I come.
As he started to get into the sparring, I had to step up my footwork. He was fast yeah, but he was much taller than I was, so every time he tried to feint me, I was able to correct my stance to dodge his jabs. Too busy looking at his tattoo, he landed a straight punch right above my belly button, and it knocked the wind out of me.
Before he could stop to ask if I was okay, I came in close and faked a left hook to his chin. When his arms went up to block, I hit him with a two-jab straight punch combo that made him stumble back. When his arms came down, his face was hard and amused. I took the opportunity to use him as my punching bag. I alternated my right and left jabs, and every time he opened up his face, I would go for an upper cut. He had good footwork too, so he didn’t fall for my chin strikes. I noticed he never went for my face with his jabs and hooks, and I was thankful, because his fists packed a potent sting when they connected.
I decided to take a cheap shot and gave him a straight liver punch and kidney jab. Instantly, I felt bad for it when he coughed, sucking in air from the kidney jab, and that’s when I noticed the three deep scars again where I’d just punched him with all my might. He shook his head and narrowed his eyes at me. Oh shit, I had done did it now!
He lunged for me, and I jumped out of the way. I grabbed my phone and sprinted past him, flying to the emergency exit door. I knew he was right behind me, but I didn’t want to turn around to see how close. When I threw myself into the door to throw it open, his body came crashing into mine.
I pushed back on the door to try to shove him back but he was all muscle and all man, and so not budging. He put both arms up around me trapping me between him and the steel emergency open door. I dropped to the floor knocking my chin on the handle bar of the door, and I felt the heat pool under my chin and then run down my neck. Damn, that’s going to leave a scar!
I squeezed between his legs and rolled back. When I went to get up and make a run for it, two lumberjack arms came up and around my chest. I dropped my phone to try to pry myself free, but he was too strong.
I heard the door slam behind us, and that is when my fight or flight response kicked in. I wiggled and pushed against his body, but he just held me in place. I could hear his heavy erratic breathing in my ear and his pounding heart on my back, making my own chest vibrate from the strength of its beats. He swung me around slamming my back up against the cold brick building and pinned me there. With my hands pinned between my chest and his, he reached down and grabbed the back of my legs, bringing them up and wrapping them around his waist. No, no, no… I can’t let… but I want… he can’t know… that I want him so bad!
Again, both of his arms came up beside me, completely trapping me in place. My nipples where hard rubbing up against his pecks, our sweaty and slick stomachs were touching and rubbing together with each frantic breath we were forcing ourselves to take. His face came up hard against my cheek, he inhaled my hair, and he groaned. I felt his erection jabbing me between my thighs, and I instantly regretted wearing my yoga pants. I could feel all of him and he was huge. My pussy went into shock, my walls started convulsing on their own, and I could not help but push down against him. When I felt him jerk between my legs, I almost passed out.
“Livie?” Oh shit he called me by my name again! His already too husky voice was deep and vibrated through my core as he spoke. “Livie, you shouldn’t have done that.”
I shook my head frantically wanting to please him and knowing I’d do whatever he asked me to do at this point. I wouldn’t refuse him anything. His hands went down to my thighs as he gripped the back of my ass in his hands, and I squeezed my legs tighter around him, pushing my back up against the hard wall behind me. A grown escaped his lips again. Those damn Tom Hardy lips were driving me mad, but I was not going to take the risk of kissing him first. It would only lead to something that could not happen, if I wanted to keep him around.
He rested his head in the crook of my neck, and his lips found their way to the base of my neck where my pulse was strongest. He wasn’t kissing me, but his lips were firmly pressed against my neck. A whimper escaped my lips, this time from the anticipation of his lips on my skin. His hands slipped up to the front of my thighs toward my hips, and he squeezed tight. God, he was so strong, every squeeze from his hands sending my body into a world of bliss. The pleasurable pain he always caused me was something I was starting to become addicted. His hands kept sliding up my body. He caressed the sides of my stomach with his fingertips, causing me to break out into shivers and goose bumps. When his hands came up to my breasts, he palmed them both perfectly in his hands and squeezed. I moaned loudly in his ear.
He jerked against my opening, and I swear my body was having an epileptic seizure. One hand went up to my throat as he gently wrapped his hand around it, while keeping my right breast palmed tightly in his hand. You would think having a man’s hand wrapped around your throat would be alarming, but he was gentle, and it felt primal, yet protective. I reveled in the feeling of being his, the feeling that I belonged to him.
“Livie?” he asked breathlessly. “Liv, what do you want me to do?” I didn’t know how to answer this question, mainly because I’ve never been in this situation before, so I was honest. “I… I don’t know, Ocean… I’ve never done this before.”
He pulled his head back to look into my eyes, and the warm almond colored pool in his eyes made my insides melt. “I don’t want to hurt you, Liv, and I don’t want to fuck you, if that’s what you’re thinking.” My heart sank as he said those words. He didn’t want me, and he was probably reacting this way toward me because I was a girl, and this is what he always did.
I wanted to shove him off me, but I didn’t have the fight in me, he had already sucked it out of me. I turned away and closed my eyes not knowing what else to do. He grabbed my chin and made me face him again.
“Open your eyes, Liv.” Of course, my body obeyed him. “I said I didn’t want to fuck you, not that I didn’t want you. I don’t know what it is about you, or us, that makes me need you so bad.” He needed me… oh my god, oh my god! “What I want to do is fix whatever is broken inside of you. I want you to let me in, let me help you. When you asked me not to hold back, I think you knew what you were asking for, and I’m here to give it to you. I’m here to give me to you and only you.”
&nbs
p; His hand snaked up behind my neck and up into my hair. He brought my face to him, and he kissed me deep in the crook of my neck where my pulse was stampeding through my skin. I moaned again, and he pushed up harder against me. I turned my head, shaking it unsteadily.
“I can’t do this you… you don’t know what I am. You don’t want me. Don’t do this,” I pleaded to him.
“No, Liv. I want you, and I need you more than you’ll ever know. You are my fix; you keep me calm and sane. I don’t want to go back to my life in Virginia without being with you. I won’t last a day without you, without this.” He kissed my neck again. I was curious as to why he didn’t want to sleep with me if he wanted me that bad, so I just had to ask.
“Then why are you telling me you don’t want to fuck me if you need me so bad.” He gave me a mischievous smile that had my body yearning for more kisses from his thick lips. He grabbed my hands that were pinned in between us, and he wrapped them around his neck. I interlocked my fingers and pulled myself closer to him.
He brushed my hair away from my ear and whispered, “I don’t just want to fuck you, Liv. I want to make love to you from the inside out and outside in. I want me to envelop every space in your mind, heart, and that tight pussy of yours. I can fuck any girl, but I want to make love to only you.”
Something strong, raw, and primal stirred within me as he spoke, and when he was done, I grabbed a fistful of his hair and pulled his head back. I rolled my tongue across his bottom lip and teased his parted lips with my tongue. I knew I was asking for trouble, and that I would never allow him to see me naked in order to make love to me, but I needed him just as bad. The grip of his fist in my hair grew tighter, and I even think his dick grew, too. I wanted his lips on mine, and his tongue in my mouth so bad, but he wouldn’t kiss me. I pouted at him.
Oceans Collide Page 13