On the Ropes 1: Leap of Faith

by Michelle Cary

  Like a snake preparing to strike, anticipation coiled low in her belly. Waiting, she closed her eyes. He nudged his shoulders between her splayed thighs, pushing them farther apart so she was completely bared to him.

  Please! Her mind screamed, but she didn’t utter a word. Her body was his to play with, and no matter how much she begged, he moved at his pace. When he parted her folds with the gentlest of touches, her mind jumped for joy. Then, wet heat engulfed her, and her hips convulsed as she cried in pleasure. Her legs shook, and her body tightened as tiny spasms radiated from her pelvis outward.

  He worked her hard. Each time she came close to that elusive edge of release, he’d pull back. Desire, lust, frustration, and the desperate need to come mixed and mingled until he’d reduced her to a quivering mass of raw nerves and unspeakable need. Still, he refused to let her come.

  He raised his head, breaking contact, and she whimpered at the loss. “God, Lexi, I can’t get enough of you. You’re like an addiction.” He dipped his head a second time, and she gasped, her back arching up as her fingers clung to the comforter. Pleasure flowed through her body, pushing her to the brink.

  When he lifted his head a second time, she nearly pleaded in protest. His knowing eyes leveled on hers. “I need you so bad, sweetheart. I can’t wait to lose myself in you again.”

  She rose up and cupped his cheek. “Then take, me, Logan.” The moment she’d stepped into the shower with him nearly three weeks ago, she’d given her body to him. It belonged to him now. “Please don’t make me wait any longer.” She pressed a soft kiss against his mouth.

  His lips parted, and a low growl escaped as he deepened the kiss. He gathered her hands in his, lifted them above her head, and held them there with one big paw. A giddy thrill of excitement zinged through her at the realization that he controlled her. His hips pressed against the inside of her thighs, and her breathing sped up in anticipation.

  Her skin felt electrified. Every whisper of a touch seemed to zap her nerve endings. “Please, Logan.”

  He breached her entrance and slowly eased inside. The feel of her delicate tissues stretching to accommodate him pulled a moan from her. Desperate to hold on to something, she tried to lift her arms and was immediately reminded that she couldn’t. Her entire body tightened as her vaginal walls clamped down around him, and he grinned. “My body to play with, baby. You will do as I say and take whatever I decide to give you. Understand?”

  She nodded, and a cry tumbled from her lips as he gave one hard thrust, seating himself fully within her. “You feel magnificent,” he praised. “It’s as if you were made just for me.” He lowered his head to hers and kissed her lips as he began moving in and out.

  “I love you, Lexi,” he murmured, his thrusts slow and gentle, almost measured, as if nothing mattered more to him than her pleasure. He studied her, apparently gauging her response. Then he shifted his body, adjusted his angle, allowing for deeper penetration. In an instant, the pressure built, and she felt stretched to bursting. A gasp tore from her, yet even as he lost himself inside her, his thrusts remained measured. Before long, that familiar coil of tension began to build deep in her abdomen and slowly spiraled outward, wrapping her in pleasure.

  This was nothing like she’d ever experienced before. A slow climb toward a precipice that seemed to grow closer yet remained just out of reach. Each time she thought she’d fall over the edge, she simply continued the climb. His speed increased, and with it so did the pressure. Before long, the air echoed with the sound of slapping flesh and the creaking of the bed, and still he drove her higher. Guttural grunts spilled from her, adding to the cacophony of sounds. The tension grew, until on the verge of pain, she writhed beneath his big body, helpless against the pleasure he bestowed upon her.

  “I want you to come for me, Lexi,” he whispered. She shuddered, and then as if somewhere in her mind she’d purposely been waiting for his permission, her orgasm broke. Her body splintered as unimaginable pleasure coursed through her, boring into every fiber of her being. Her heart, her soul, and everything that made her who she was seemed to break apart, then slowly reassemble in a new pattern. The result left her feeling like a different person, one who was happy and fulfilled for the first time in her life.

  He’d caused this shift inside her with his patience, his understanding, and his love. No matter how long they lived or how hard she tried, she would never be able to show him just how much he meant to her. Her eyes widened as she stared up at him, and her mouth fell open on a soundless cry.

  A grin tipped his lips, and before she could come down, he drove her even higher as he picked up the pace, thrusting more forcefully. Her vision tunneled until nothing remained in focus but Logan.

  She watched in awe at the strain on his face, the way sweat beaded on his skin. His jaw clenched, and his body stiffened as he finally achieved release. He growled, the sound primal, exotic, and highly arousing. A myriad of emotions passed across his face in the span of a few seconds, and then she felt him deep inside her, filling her, marking her, changing her forever.

  He withdrew, then collapsed next to her, his chest heaving, his body bathed in sweat. There wasn’t any doubt in her mind that this episode of lovemaking had changed them both on levels they didn’t even know existed. After several long seconds, he propped himself on his arms and lifted himself completely off her. He pulled away, leaving behind an oddly empty feeling.

  Desperate not to lose the moment, she curled into him and trailed a finger along his chest. “I’ve never experienced anything so intense,” she whispered.

  He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Me either.”

  For reasons she couldn’t quite explain, she felt closer to him, as if the weird connection they already shared had somehow been intensified. She turned her head and brushed a soft kiss along his jaw. “Thank you for not letting me go.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Happy for the first time in days, Lexi lay draped across Logan’s chest. She tried to ignore the questions swirling in her head, like what was he doing here and when would he need to leave again? Instead, she wanted to focus on the all-encompassing feeling of contentment she currently enjoyed.

  “What’s going through that devious little mind of yours?”

  “Why?” She turned her head so she could see his face.

  “Your body tensed.”

  The last thing she wanted was to weigh him down with her concerns. “It was nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

  Before she could resist, he’d flipped her over so he towered above her, his face a mask of impatience. “I grow tired of having to repeat myself, Lexi. Maybe I should just flip you over my knee and spank that adorable ass of yours until you learn to share what’s bothering you.”

  Her eyes widened in shock as her body tightened at the idea of his big hands controlling her on such an elemental level.

  He cocked his head to the side, and a tiny smile tipped his lips. “Well, isn’t that interesting?”

  “What?”

  “I get the impression that you might actually like the idea of having your ass spanked.” He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “I’ll tuck that information away for later; for now you’re going to tell me what you were thinking about a few minutes ago.”

  “Bully,” she retorted.

  He stared down at her in silence, his brow quirked up in response.

  “Oh, fine,” she finally said after a moment. “I was trying not to think about the fact that at some point you’re going to have to leave again.”

  “And the idea of me leaving made you sad?”

  She nodded. “I’ve missed you so much these past few days. Knowing you’ll eventually have to leave again hurts.”

  His mouth turned up into a grin. “When I do leave, you’re coming with me.”

  She pushed at him. “That’s not funny, Logan.”

  “Who’s joking?”

  “Oh, come on.” She shook her head. “Would you please be serio
us?”

  “I am completely serious.” He rolled away from her and moved to sit back against the headboard. “I actually came to retrieve you, but the moment I set eyes on you, I couldn’t think past my own needs.”

  She slid up the bed and tucked herself beneath his arm. “I didn’t mind.”

  He chuckled. “I’m glad. My ego might have been bruised otherwise.”

  “Your ego is just as big as the rest of you. I doubt it could be bruised that easily.”

  Grinning, he shook his head. “You are such a brat sometimes.”

  “But you love me anyway.”

  “You’re right, I do, but we’re getting off topic. Like I said, I came here to get you.”

  “But I quit.”

  He narrowed his gaze. “I’m well aware of that very stupid move you made. However, Gene refuses to accept your resignation, as does nearly the entire EUW roster.” He curled a finger beneath her chin, holding her face still. “You’ve been overruled, sweetheart.”

  “What do you mean overruled? What are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about the fact that Mark has arranged for you to come back. Everyone on the roster now knows the truth, and the important ones, like Kyle and Garrett, know about you and me. In fact, we all sat down with Mark and created this great storyline for you that would tie perfectly into that whole kidnapping debacle. Which, for the record, was my terrible idea.”

  “Really?” She arched a brow and chose to ignore his attempt at self-deprecation. “You sat down with Kyle and Garrett?”

  He nodded. “And Derek, Jason, Cole, and about a dozen other stars who wanted to do their part to get you to come back.”

  She tried to picture them all together. “That must have been one hell of a sight.”

  “It was,” Logan agreed. “I had no idea you have so many friends.”

  His statement caused hope to well deep inside as her brain processed his words. Just when she’d felt alone and lonely, she learned that not only did she have good friends, but ones willing to put everything on the line for her. Because of them, it appeared that she might get to have her life back. “So what’s this storyline you mentioned?”

  “Oh, it’s really great.” The excitement in his voice made her smile. She found the dichotomy between the sexy alpha male who had just ravaged her and adorable little boy she was now witnessing so endearing. “You’re going to get pissed off,” he continued, “over what you see as corruption and deceit with regard to the fact that no one believed you weren’t kidnapped.”

  So far, she liked what she heard. “And?” she asked, hoping there was more.

  He grinned. “And you’re going to join The Tribunal.”

  Joy slowly flowed through her, filling her heart until it overflowed. “I like it.”

  “Me too. So do Jason and Cole. They miss you too, you know.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really. I know it’s hard for you to believe, but you’ve become such a part of our lives, baby. Not having you around this past week has been like walking around with a limb missing, and we don’t want to do it anymore.” He pulled her against him. “So what do you say, sweetheart? Will you come back and make us all whole again?”

  “I’d love to,” she replied, then frowned as a thought occurred to her. “Wait…I just thought of something.”

  “What?”

  “How did you know that my father wasn’t here?”

  “What?”

  “You were ready to strip me naked downstairs. No way would you have done that if you knew my father was home. So, how did you know he wasn’t here?”

  “Oh that?” Logan grinned. “I called him the other day to fill him in on what we were doing. That’s when he told me about his book tour.”

  “You called him? How did you get his number?”

  “He gave it to me when you were in the hospital after I promised to take care of you.”

  She wasn’t quite sure how she felt about Logan having a direct line to her dad. Aaron had never really liked her father. Of course the feeling was mutual, which put her smack in the middle of a constant feud. This time around, it appeared as if the men she loved actually got along. That fact caused happiness to settle in her heart. Of course the ramifications of her father and boyfriend getting along meant they could easily conspire behind her back. How would that play out for her? “So how often do you talk to my father behind my back?”

  “Only as often as necessary. You know he mentioned to me that he’d love to have a son-in-law.”

  Her gaze jerked to his face as shock rippled through her body. Stunned, she couldn’t find the words to speak. Marriage hadn’t even been on her radar…until now. The statistics of marriages lasting in their line of work were extremely low. Being on the road weeks at a time took its toll on most relationships. Except, she’d be with him, which meant their marriage would instantly have an advantage that many others didn’t.

  His grin widened. “I told him I’d do my best to accommodate that wish, but I’d need some cooperation from his daughter.”

  “Logan,” she whispered as hope lodged in her throat. She loved him more than she’d ever loved anyone. Was it really possible for her to have everything she’d ever wanted? Could she find the happiness that had eluded her so long?

  He turned to her, his gaze filled with love and respect. “I’m not saying we run out tomorrow and get married, but maybe at some point in the future. What do you say, Lexi?”

  Tears welled in her eyes as she rode along the peak of that emotional roller coaster. “Yes. I say yes.”

  Epilogue

  Lexi stepped from the bathroom and turned in a circle for her guys. “What do you think?”

  Jason nodded, and Cole grinned. Logan assessed her, then gave her an approving look. “Gorgeous.”

  “Are you sure you like my hair this color?” Part of her new persona was to dye her hair black. With long, straight black hair instead of the mahogany corkscrews she was used to wearing, she looked menacing, almost Gothic in appearance.

  “I love the look. It’s sexy as hell.” Logan grabbed her by the waist, and she enjoyed the heat of his hand against her bare belly. “I love the black crop tee, and those black cargo pants give you a sexy ass-kicker feel.”

  She cocked her head to the side and licked a path along the pulse in his neck. “You think me being an ass kicker is sexy?”

  “Oh yeah.” He lowered his head and whispered, “I also love knowing that my little ass kicker will readily submit to me whenever I want.” He nipped at her chin and pulled her bottom lip between his teeth. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sank against him. No place in the world, not even being inside the ring, compared to the feeling she got when he held her like this.

  “Down, boy,” Jason called from behind them. “Put your animal instincts on hold, because she’s got a debut to make.”

  Logan cursed under his breath, then took a step back. “I hate it when he’s right.”

  She grinned, then leaned into him and whispered, “After my welcome-back party tonight, I’m yours for the taking.”

  He returned her smile. “I’m holding you to that.”

  The door opened behind them, and Emma’s new assistant, Jill, stuck her head into the room. “It’s time, Lexi.”

  “Thanks.”

  She walked out and took the elevator to the main floor where she positioned herself and waited. The Tribunal music began, and she glanced over her shoulder to make sure Logan was still here. He was her touchstone, her rock, and she needed him tonight.

  Within seconds, she made her way down the ramp and past the crowd, keeping her eyes focused on her prize standing inside the ring

  Brooklyn waited, amusement in her eyes, but a look of defiance otherwise plastered across her face. Lexi’s guys assembled behind her, a protective wall of strength for her to draw upon. It was time to remove any doubt the crowd might have as to her allegiance.

  She turned to Logan, lifted a hand to his cheek
, knowing the crowd and cameras were watching, and not caring even a little, she brushed a kiss across his lips. A roar filled the arena as the crowd cheered, and she grinned as she backed away. There would be some obsessive fan girls who probably wouldn’t be happy learning she and Logan were involved. However, judging by the fans’ reaction, she’d bet most would be supportive. Content and now focused, Lexi slid beneath the bottom rope into the ring.

  The ref motioned for the timekeeper to ring the bell. Lexi shuffled around the ring, assessing her opponent before she finally stepped forward and grabbed Brooklyn by the shoulders. She easily slipped Brooklyn into a headlock. Brooklyn squeaked loud enough for the fans to hear, pulling a grin from Lexi.

  “Come on, sweetheart,” Logan cheered from outside the ring. “You got this.”

  Cole pounded the ring apron. “Kick her ass, Lexi.”

  Brooklyn slid from the headlock and shoved Lexi forward to the corner. Hearing footsteps behind her, Lexi climbed the ropes like steps and flipped backward through the air to land on her feet.

  “Yeah,” Logan roared. “That’s my girl.”

  For the next ten minutes, she worked with Brooklyn, trading moves and putting on a show. Brooklyn played her part well, and Lexi took a few good falls, playing up the pain for the crowd. Yes, she’d be sore in the morning, but some minor discomfort was a small price to pay for having her life back.

  Using the ropes as a springboard, Lexi raced toward Brooklyn and caught a clothesline to the chin. The impact threw her backward, and her head hit the mat. Stars burst behind her eyes as she rolled to her side and grabbed her head. Damn if she wouldn’t have a headache in a little while.

  “Get up, baby.” Logan’s voice carried over the crowd, and she slowly pushed up to her knees.

  “Stop screwing around and finish her,” Jason yelled.

  Lexi cut a quick glance at her guys. Looking lethal and scary as hell, the three stood together in her corner. A unified wall of support that would always be there for her. Not wanting to let them down and remembering she needed to look strong and badass in order to fit her character in the group, she pulled to her feet.