“Rayne!”
“Rayne Jackson!” They started to get excited. The paparazzi and I had a steady relationship. They were just people trying to do a job, and I could respect that. They also had the power to write really nasty things, so I found it worthwhile to talk to them. I had nothing to hide anyway. I always tried to live a life that was open and honest.
“Hi guys!” I waved politely.
“Do you have a comment on Tasha’s interview last night?” the taller blond man asked. I felt myself freeze at the mention of Tasha. What had she said now?
“I actually don’t know what you’re talking about,” I admitted.
“Are you and Arson Kade dating?” the baldheaded man asked. My eyes widened. Arson Kade was the best male MMA fighter in the business, a well-known player and bad boy of the league.
“No, I haven’t even met the guy.” I blushed. Such a strange question. I hadn’t ever met him before, but I’d seen him fight. A while back I’d been in a pre-big show fight where he was the main attraction. I’d stayed after a shower and watched him battle to keep his title. He was like a God in the octagon.
“Thanks guys! I’m gonna go shower.” I made my way through the door and up to my apartment. Once in the shower I shook my head and laughed at the question about Arson Kade. Really? I couldn’t help but laugh. He dated supermodels and movie stars. I had an awesome body, don’t get me wrong, but I wasn’t soft curves with porn star boobs like those women were. I was a fighter, and he was a player, which was definitely not on my list of guys to date.
Was he super hot? Hell yes.
Would he probably rock my world? I’d bet my next orgasm he would, but was I willing to risk my heart with him? Fuck no
. Even though we were in the same fighting world, our chances of actually being in the same room together were slim. I finished my shower and got dressed in a button-up shirt and panties. I found it was best to get your makeup done with something you could unbutton versus pulling over your head.
I had just sat down for lunch when I heard Cammy’s knock. She knocked a tune, and I knew I had to finish it or there would be hell to pay. I ran to the door and finished the tune just as I was supposed to do, then opened it wide for her. She was rocking a pink flowing sundress that was very her.
“Here, help me with this.” My sweet redheaded friend thrust a metal case, which I knew was full of makeup, at me. I grabbed it and helped her take it into my bathroom, the room with the best lighting.
“Ohh lunch time,” she sang as we finished setting up her ungodly amount of beauty supplies.
“Yep, your sandwich is on the counter.” I pointed toward the plate and went back to my own.
“You’re such a peach.” She blew me a kiss and grabbed her plate to join me at my little four-seat table. Cammy and I had been friends since high school. While I was taking muay thai classes, she was taking dance and singing lessons. We’d met in freshmen English class and had just connected. She was a quirky little blue-eyed chick and I loved her for it.
“So good.” She moaned through her full mouth. We ate in silence until we both patted our flat, full tummies.
“So here’s what I’m thinking. We hang out and watch Pride and Prejudice, then start your makeup. Sound good?” I pondered over her proposal. It did sound good. I smacked the table and stood up.
“Let’s do it!” We raced around the house and got ready. Cammy popped in the movie then grabbed the blankets and tea to drink. We both loved this movie. Although the first one was a classic, we loved the Kiera Knightley version the best. We spent the next few hours reciting lines and sighing at all the right romantic moments. Didn’t all girls dream of meeting their very own Mr. Darcy? After the movie was over, we went into the bathroom and got to work on my makeup and hair.
“There. All done. Now let’s go put on that pretty dress of yours.” Cammy never allowed me to see myself until I was the complete finished product. I never minded because I trusted her and knew she always did a fabulous job. She came back from my closet with my garment bag hanging from her arms.
I’d had this dress specially designed for this event. The event was a benefit for the arts, so I wanted my dress to be a work of art itself. She carefully unzipped the bag and a big smile grew on her face.
“You are going to be killer in this babe.” She slowly pulled it out, and even more slowly, she helped me get it on. Once the dress was in place, I slid on my heels and walked to the full length mirror by my closet.
“Wow.” I looked at myself and was stunned. The dress fit me perfectly. It was a golden sequined long gown, V neck with capped sleeves that wrapped around my shoulders back to front, leaving it completely backless. My simple nude stilettos added a little simplicity to the gown. The last part of the dress my eyes kept drifting toward was the slit that went from my toes to my upper thigh. I didn’t feel even the least bit uncomfortable that my scars were showing; they were art themselves, showing the struggles I had been though. I looked up to see that my makeup was flawless. Golden hues and pink lipstick made my green eyes pop with the contrast of the black hair, which was pulled into a low messy bun with little braids weaved through the design. Cammy had added two golden ribbons to look like head bands into the mixture. I looked like a glamorous Greek goddess.
“You are amazing.” I turned to Cammy to see she was all giddy, barely containing herself.
“I know!” she squealed. She bounced over to me and gave me a quick smack on the butt.
“Time to go Cinderella, get a move on or you’re going to be late!” She nicely pushed me toward the door and handed me my clutch.
“Geez, okay I’m going!” I was kicked out of my own apartment in seconds. I half expected to see Franny outside her door trying to take pictures of me like I was her only daughter going off to prom, but she wasn’t. I moved with haste down to the lobby and out the door, where a man was standing by a Mercedes waiting for me.
“Ms. Jackson.” He bowed his head and opened the door for me. I jumped in and in a moment we were on our way.
Chapter Three
Flowers and Fucks
I could not wait to go home. The Gala had been in full swing since I’d arrived an hour before and I was dying to leave. I usually loved this museum; I could spend hours just walking around and taking it all in. That night’s event was out in the courtyard next to a giant naked statue of David—nothing like a giant naked man to keep conversations less awkward.
“Those crab cakes were the shit,” my date brilliantly commented. He was a total bust and the main reason I wanted to leave. He was good-looking, which was probably why Hope had chosen him. He was an up-and-coming model—and twenty-four years old, I might add. He had blond hair and blue eyes, and he was built, but it was just for show. He was a cocky asshole who assumed I would be putting out and that I wore my pretty dress to tease him. I was tempted to just break a limb of his and be done.
“I hadn’t tried them,” I mumbled as I stood up from my seat at the table we were at.
“Excuse me, I’m going to go use the ladies’ room.” In reality I just needed a break. The table we had been placed at had four other guests: one movie star and her hunk of the week, and a famous chef and his wife of twenty years. I enjoyed talking to the chef, but the movie starlet would interrupt and our conversations would cease.
Instead of heading toward the bathrooms, I decided to walk to the rose garden. It wasn’t too much farther away, but it was quiet, and right then, that was what I wanted. The rose garden was in full bloom and there were little lantern lights lit up around the small maze of flowers. In the middle was an Italian iron and stone gazebo. Underneath the open metal roof I sat on the stone bench and looked above at the stars, taking my first real, deep breath since I’d arrived.
“Rough night?” A smooth voice startled me from my peaceful moment. I turned toward the voice and my mouth dropped.
Arson Kade was standing there leaning against the stone pillar, not even five feet from me. My eyes roa
med over him. Seeing him in the ring was nothing compared to seeing him in person. His tux fit perfectly over his well-defined body. He was tall, and looked strong. So strong. His black hair was styled all over the place, giving him that bad boy vibe he was known for, and his green eyes were piercingly bright. Whereas mine were like emeralds, his were almost lime green. It was mesmerizing. His jaw line was sharp and his full lips were set in a smirk. Just like that, I felt blush creep onto my cheeks from staring at him.
“Sorry, um you could say that again?” I decided I needed to look away from him so I turned my head back up toward the stars.
“It’s quite beautiful here. Ever been to this place before?” I heard him move to the bench across from me.
“Yes, this is my hometown actually.” I smiled. I’d enjoyed growing up in Florida, and it also meant on Mondays I got into the museum for free because I was a resident. My eyes drifted back down to him and I didn’t want to be rude, so I let my head follow my eyes. He was looking at me with that same smirk.
“I’ve never been. I’ve wanted to come to this area for a year now but could never find the right opportunity.” His eyes fixed on mine. The scene was feeling quite intense and I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Before I could stop myself, I blurted out the question that was floating in my head.
“What are you doing here? Were you here already and I interrupted you?” Now that the words were out, I found myself dying to know the answer. I had never met this man, and I had no idea why he would be there talking to me.
“I wanted to meet you.” He continued to watch me, waiting to see my reaction. He wanted to meet me; that wasn’t so bad.
“Oh,” I said quietly. I could feel his heated gaze and noticed his eyes had moved from mine down my dress and back up. A little light bulb went off in my head, and once again, no-filter mouth opened.
“I’m not that type of girl you know.” I watched as the smirk turned into a beautiful smile, one I had never seen before. God it made me feel little tingles inside.
“I know.” Holy cryptic answer. Feeling a bit out of my league, I stood and smoothed my dress.
“Well it was nice meeting you. I better get back.” I smiled and started to walk away from the strange encounter with Mr. Cryptic.
“He’s a prick you know.” I turned to him to see what he was talking about. He took in my confused face, stood, and slowly walked toward me. His walk was much like the predatory one of my dream man. I felt my body start to hum with anticipation. This was not good.
“Your boyfriend. He’s a prick. You deserve better.” He stopped a foot away from me, my four inch heels bringing us to an even height. His breath mingled with mine. I was too stunned to move. This man who I found extremely attractive was in my space, making my body start to short-circuit, telling me my boyfriend was a prick. Boyfriend?
“He’s not my boyfriend. My agent sent him as my date.” I felt a strange need to let him know that I wasn’t attached. His eyes closed and he took a deep breath. When they opened again, I swore I could have orgasmed right there in the garden. The eye fucking he was giving me was so raw I found myself leaning in to get closer.
“Good. You deserve so much more.” I took a step back, trying to disconnect whatever this was. He was Arson fucking Kade, MMA’s notorious bad boy. I didn’t need that. He was not the man I was looking for. I tried to take another step, but his strong arms reached out and brought me flush with his hard body. I didn’t even think there were any words for how his body being pressed up against mine made me feel. Every part of me was alive and sensitive.
“Ask me what you deserve.” His breath danced across my cheek. I complied without a fight.
“What do I deserve?” I spoke softly, looking into his eyes. A low rumble came from his chest and I knew I had pleased him. I felt my sex start to throb from the feeling of pleasing this man.
“You deserve to be treated like the fucking warrior goddess you are—beautiful, strong, perfect. You deserve a man that can worship your body all night softly, then pull your hair back and fuck you till you scream out in release, over and over. You deserve an equal in life, but a man to dominate you in bed. You deserve the flowers and the fucks.” His fingers gripped my bare back harder, bringing me closer to him. His hips flexed and I felt his cock hard against my sex. I mewled at the feeling.
God I wanted exactly what he said. I wanted it so badly. It was actually all I had ever wanted, but could never find. Sparks flew throughout my nerves as his nose ran along my neck. The feeling of his breath and soft touch was thrilling and yet terrifying; he affected me so strongly. Did he think he was that man he described? I wasn’t so sure. Arson Kade didn’t do flowers, he just did the fucks.
“I don’t even know you,” I whispered, but still allowed him to hold me close and tease me with his nose touching my neck.
“You will.” His voice was strong but whispered like mine. Shivers broke out over my skin.
“Rayne!” The annoying voice of my date broke through the sexual haze Arson had created around us. I leapt out of his arms, and he let me. What the hell was I doing letting him get close to me? I turned and started walking when Arson’s hand reached out and grabbed mine, stopping me. I turned at looked at him, about to tell him to let me go, when he spoke.
“You can fight everything else Rayne, but you won’t win this one. This will happen. It’s what you deserve and I am the one to show you that.” He let go, and with his parting words I turned and went back to the courtyard, then to the real bathroom to clean up my now drenched panties.
As soon as I came out of the bathroom I crashed into a hard body.
“There you are, thought you left me there. Come on, let’s go dance.” My date grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the dance area. Plenty of people were now dancing and twirling about the courtyard. It was very pretty. My date—whose name I was fairly sure was Andrew—pulled me in close and started to sway.
“You’re body’s so hot. Can’t wait to see it tonight.” His eyes glazed over while looking at me. Ick. I started to pull away but his hand tightened. My eyes narrowed at his. Did he even know who I was? I could have him on the floor faster than he could take his next breath.
“Sorry.” His hands lightened their hold.
“I just think we could be good together. I like to be dominated by a woman sometimes. You look like you could push me around a bit.” Even though that may have been true, his words hurt. I was still beautiful; just because I was a fighter didn’t mean I was some butch woman. I still had curves. I knew my self-confidence on the outside had slipped.
“Rayne,” he whispered, and then his body was ripped away from mine.
“Runaway, prick, before I break your hands for making her sad.” Arson had Andrew by the shirt and was staring down at him. He looked like the man in the octagon, a man you did not want to fuck with. Andrew nodded and quickly left with his tail between his legs. I bit my lip, feeling nervous and not sure what to do, so I did the only logical thing.
“Thank you,” I said quietly. I was having a bad time with my date and he had now removed him; I was thankful. His broad shoulders turned toward me.
“You deserve so much better.” He shook his head.
“And you still believe it’s you I deserve,” I mumbled while looking around. I figured I should probably get off the dance floor if I wasn’t going to dance. My feet moved one step before Arson’s arms shot out and wrapped around me—my back to his front, his lips at my ear.
“I am that man,” he whispered against me, and we started to sway. I felt unsure why I was letting him lead me around like that, but I decided to throw caution to the wind and let the moment happen. The music switched from some woman singing about seeing the man she wanted with another to something I was familiar with.
A small smile graced my lips hearing the tune. Arson spun me out and then pulled me back in so we were face to face. He grabbed one hand and wrapped the other around my waist.
He took a step and I followe
d. We moved in a flawless harmony around the floor to “You and Me” by Lifehouse. Our eyes never left one another’s. My dress swirled around me as we moved effortlessly. He led, I followed. We moved like we had been dancing together all our lives.
How my night had changed. I’d been dreading coming, and had been stuck with a date that was an asshole. Then I’d had ann encounter with Arson Kade, who seemed like he wanted me for more than just a fuck, but I wasn’t sure. To be honest, I was scared.
Arson was the type of man you didn’t recover from. We were in the same league, professionals. He traveled all the time, just like I would once I started my fights again. Both of our schedules were probably too hectic for anything more. A sigh escaped my lips.
“Why the sigh?” he asked.
“It won’t work,” I admitted with disappointment. Although I didn’t know anything about him besides his reputation, I was tempted to see if he was the man he said I deserved.
“It will. You’re it.” He brought me closer and slowed our dancing. I shook my head and started rambling.
“Why the sudden interest in me? I mean you just met me.”
“You’re not ready for that answer yet.” He stated. What the hell did that mean? I changed tatics.
“You’re Arson Kade, notorious for one-night stands, models, and being a big time fighter.” There was no room in that type of lifestyle for me. He growled and we stopped moving. His hand left mine and went to my chin, lifting it up so my eyes were fixed on his.
“You do not know me. I am Arson Kade, your future,” he vowed. I wasn’t sure what to make of his brashness. I decided to call his bluff and make my exit.
“Prove it,” I challenged. His eyes flared and his jaw tightened. I used the moment of uncertainty to escape from his grasp and walk toward the exit. Even though I shouldn’t have, my body turned on its own to see him one last time. He was staring at me with that smirk plastered on his face.
“Challenge accepted Princess,” he yelled. I swiftly turned toward the exit, grinning like a fool. It would be interesting to see someone like Arson Kade pursue his conquest, and I wasn’t going to make it easy on him either. I wanted everything he said I deserved, but the jury was still out on him being that man. I needed soft as well as hard. Arson Kade looked like a man that only gave hard.
The Final KO Page 2