Knockout Love

by Susan V. Vaughn

  “You are a nice man,” Maggie insisted, then placed more kisses on his forehead and the bridge of his nose. She wasn’t scared, wasn’t deterred by his words or his anger. Maggie was attempting to heal him with her tenderness, and he wanted her to—he wanted her to bad. The woman was playing with fire and was about to see how deeply it burned.

  Sean stood up and pulled off her shirt, freeing those glorious breasts for his touch. He pushed her back on the bed and straddled her waist, covering her chest with his lips and tongue, sucking her hard.

  Maggie cried out in both pain and pleasure. She wrapped her fingers in his hair and pushed him deeper, unafraid. It was his undoing. Sean grabbed one nipple between his teeth and made her scream.

  “You like that, wicked girl?” he growled against her chest and devoured the other nipple equally as hard.

  “Yes,” she screamed, squirming underneath him to wrap her legs around his waist. He pressed his erection against her sex and could feel her wet need through his shorts. The woman was mad with desire for him, completely aroused by his roughness, and it was turning him into an animal.

  Sean stood up, yanking off his clothes, and pulled on protection. Maggie watched him, panting, eyes large with fear and excitement. She wasn’t sure what he would do next, and that thought fueled his fire.

  “Come to me,” he demanded, sitting back on the bed, beckoning Maggie to straddle his lap. When she wrapped her soft legs around his waist, he grabbed her backside and guided her down. “Just like that, ride me.”

  Maggie pulled up and road him down again, crying out as the shocking pleasure hit them both. Her eyes met his and they burned with power. She seemed to understand finally that he was the one who was truly frightened.

  “You like that?” she purred before pulling up again and riding down him faster.

  “Yes!” Sean’s eyes rolled back in his head as he buried his hands into the lush curves of her ass. “Ride me, Wicked. Heal me!”

  Maggie moaned loudly, feeding him in and out of her body, bringing him more pleasure and pain than he had ever known. Each time she moved, her breasts brushed against his chest seductively, until he was clutching them and pinching their peaks until they swelled.

  “Sean!” Maggie’s passage began to tighten and squeeze. She increased her speed, slamming him farther into her body.

  When Sean knew he was about to explode, Maggie grabbed his face and kissed him over the edge. He cried against her lips, receiving her bruising kisses and feeling her body shake around his.

  When the storm passed, they had both forgotten about dinner. Instead they collapsed in each other’s arms and exchanged tender kisses until Maggie fell asleep. Sean stroked her hair then, allowing his eyes to close as he thought about the woman in his arms. He had shown her a side of him that would scare any woman off, but Maggie had fearlessly stayed, determined to heal him with her tenderness. And she had, for now. But the guilt over how roughly he’d treated her was killing him. Maggie deserved gentle care and love. All he could offer her was more demons. Sean refused to do her more harm, but he didn’t know if he was strong enough to give up the only woman who could calm him.

  Sean glanced down again, taking in her swollen pink lips, open softly in sleep. Maggie was an angel, and he was nothing but a monster. If there was any good left in him, he would do the right thing and push her away.

  CHAPTER 13

  Sean had been acting strange all day. When Maggie had woken up in the morning, feeling swollen and happy from his lovemaking and anxious for more, Sean was already in the shower. When she attempted to join him, he said he was all done and shower was all hers. Then when she was dressed and joined him for breakfast, he barely said two words. Even more alarming, he wouldn’t meet her eyes. Sean was a talkative man, and his sudden silence felt like a bucket of ice water to the face. Maggie had no idea what had gotten into him, only that he was clearly not in the mood to talk.

  She asked if he wanted her to go watch him train, and he muttered something like, “If you want.” It wasn’t much of a response, and his tone was so neutral she couldn’t dig out a meaning. So Maggie decided to join him for his training session, if only to figure out what was wrong.

  She had been sitting ringside for hours, watching him flip around, wrestle, and pin his opponents. The sport was surprisingly entertaining, and Sean was exciting to watch. He was a high flyer—a natural acrobat—flipping off the ropes and flirting with danger in every other possible way. Now Maggie could understand why he got hurt so often. Still, she watched in a trance, so impressed that she finally felt the need to pull out her pad and draw.

  Immediately she got lost in drawing scene after scene of a superhuman wrestler named Super Sean, who could defy gravity with his speedy agility and strength. The story evolved with every stroke. Maggie had not been this inspired since she was a teenager, making up her own comic books. It felt good too, because for the first time since she’d begun this journey Maggie didn’t have to think about her past, her future, or Sean’s strange behavior. It was just as well, as Sean didn’t seem to notice her sitting there. She couldn’t help but wonder why he even wanted her to come in the first place.

  Of course that was before she had forced him to open up last night. The things he’d said about his dad tore her heart apart. She couldn’t believe how horrible Sean’s childhood had been. And though she completely understood his demons, she couldn’t understand why he thought he was a bad man. There was nothing bad about Sean. He was so kind, warm and positive it was as if he carried a shining beacon of light around with him wherever he went.

  Maggie smiled, adding the shining beacon of light to her illustration of Super Sean. That’s how she saw him—strong, charming, unstoppable. The man of her dreams. He gave her courage and strength and made her life bright and happy. If only she had met him sooner, maybe then she would have already been living her own life.

  Maggie stilled her pen and glanced up at Sean. He held her gaze for a moment and then seemed to force himself to turn away.

  She bit her bottom lip. Sean was driving a wedge between them, as though he was punishing her for the secrets he’d revealed. She knew he didn’t want to appear vulnerable. She remembered him screaming that he would never let another person into his life. But he couldn’t possible mean her. Not after everything that had evolved between them. They were somehow better together. Didn’t he see that? He inspired her to be brave, and she battled his demons back. They were a team.

  Maggie went back to her Super Sean drawing and swallowed hard. There was a thick lump lodged in her throat—one that told her the truth. She was in love with Sean. He had completely stolen her heart in a way no man had ever done. She knew now that Trevor meant nothing. How could any man compare to Sean’s shining beacon of light?

  She added depth to Sean’s light in the drawing, fighting back tears. After last night, their relationship had come to a crossroads. They both knew it. Sean was apparently retreating, unwilling to face it, which would force her to have to be brave again. Only this time, Sean did not fill her with courage. This time, she was completely alone, and his possible rejection of her love filled her with fear.

  “What are you drawing, pretty girl?”

  “Nothing.” Maggie glanced up, hiding her pad within her purse. A tall man with blond, shaggy hair and brown, puppy-dog eyes was standing above her. His handsome smile and chiseled chin were enough to astound any woman. He was clearly a wrestler, judging by his boots and gym shorts—the only thing missing was his shirt. Maggie guessed that was on purpose so he could show off his athletic frame.

  “I see.” The man chuckled good-naturedly and reached out his hand. “I’m Danny.”

  “Maggie.” She took shook it and smiled.

  “Mind if I join you, Maggie?” Danny raised an eyebrow, brown eyes dancing wickedly.

  “Sure.” Maggie patted the empty seat next to hers and smiled. The thought of having a conversation with someone—after receiving the cold shoulder from Sean al
l morning—filled her with happiness. It wasn’t that she wanted to flirt with a strange man, only that she was beginning to think about Sean again and needed a distraction.

  On top of that, Maggie noticed Sean’s attention was finally on her, and he didn’t look pleased. She could feel his eyes shooting daggers her direction. Obviously, he didn’t want her talking to handsome, shirtless Danny. Well, maybe he shouldn’t have been such a beast all morning, then!

  “So what is a woman as beautiful as yourself doing sitting ringside?” Danny raised his other brow, laying on the charm.

  “Taking in the gorgeous wrestlers, of course,” Maggie flirted back, feeling more daggers from Sean’s direction. He was not only watching, he had completely stopped wrestling his opponent to take in their interaction.

  “Gorgeous wrestlers are you type, huh?” Danny smiled again, wagging his brows. “Well, then I guess I’m in luck.”

  “I guess so.” Maggie giggled and patted his arm, giving Sean something to be jealous about. She had no idea how upset his cold behavior had made her until she was supplied an opportunity for revenge.

  Sean looked beyond angry at her behavior. He began wrestling his opponent again. This time, his actions were more aggressive and less playful.

  “So where are you staying?” Danny’s voice had gone low. “Somewhere near, I hope.”

  “Huh?” Maggie wasn’t listening. She was watching Sean lose his mind as he beat his opponent with what looked like real punches now. The men standing ringside had jumped the ring and were attempting to restrain him.

  “I said, let me take you home,” Danny insisted, grabbing her hand to pull her attention back to him.

  There was a loud crunch, and blood began pouring from Sean’s nose.

  “Oh no!” Maggie stood up, pulling her hand from Danny’s.

  “What? It’s just a little scuffle. It happens all the time.” Danny sounded as if this filled him with pride. “Sometimes you hit your opponent wrong, and they’re out for revenge. It’ll die down quick enough.”

  Already the men had thrown Sean out of the ring, but, as blood spurted everywhere, he rushed the ring clearly looking for another fight. He began punching the man nearest him, and hard whacks too. It took four men to restrain him and then carry him toward the door as if to dump him outside.

  “Where are they taking him?” She turned to Danny, shaking his arm.

  “Outside, to dump some water over him.” He chuckled as if this were funny. “Cool him off, until he comes back to his senses.”

  Maggie grabbed her purse, needing to get to Sean, to make it better.

  “I wouldn’t go out there, Maggie.” Danny grabbed her arm. “I’ve known Sean for years. It takes him a while to dispose of those demons when they rear their ugly head.” When she didn’t respond, he added, “He needs more time to cool off, before our medic looks him over. If you know what I mean.”

  “I know what you mean.” She pulled her arm back and started walking towards the exit. She knew all about Sean’s demons and how to make them go away.

  ***

  The first bucket of water poured over his head was a wake-up call. The second bucket was a warning—calm down or you’re done training at the EWXN. Sean got the message and was left to ponder his mistakes. When he calmed down enough the medic would look him over, and hopefully clear him to get back into the ring.

  He wiped blood from his rebroken nose, and felt the piercing pain down to his toes. But none of that covered the rage he still felt from watching Maggie purposefully flirt in front of his eyes. He had known Danny for years, but the man was in for a beating of a lifetime. That is, unless Sean could calm down.

  Sean pinched the tip of his nose and leaned his head against the building, taking in long, deep breaths. None of this was his fault or Danny’s. Maggie was playing some sort of game, toying with him even though she knew what lurked underneath his usually calm demeanor. Hadn’t the rough way he’d taken her last night been enough proof? Didn’t she understand why she should run?

  Sean closed his eyes. If she didn’t yet, then it was time she found out.

  “Sean, are you okay?” As if on cue, Maggie walked out of the training center doors and ran over to his side. “Did you rebreak your nose?”

  She attempted to press her fingers around his nose to assess his injury, but Sean swatted her efforts away. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “Why wouldn’t I worry about it?” She shook her head, looking close to tears.

  “And don’t do that either.” He gestured to her watery eyes and his frown deepened. The sight of her tears pushed him further over the edge, as always.

  “Sean, I don’t understand why you’re acting like this.”

  “Acting like what?” His question came out more like a growl.

  Maggie looked ready to shed another tear but immediately chose to push it aside. “Acting like a jerk.” She raised her chin, as though daring him to make her take back that statement.

  “I’m the jerk?” Sean chuckled bitterly, giving her an appraising look. “You’re the one who flirted with another man during my match.”

  “So?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Why do you care? You haven’t talked to me all day.”

  “You admit it, then,” Sean spat out, what little control he’d managed to regain flew out the window. “You purposefully flirted with Danny to what? Entice my wrath? Get me kicked out of the training center?” He walked over to Maggie, backing her into the wall. “What was your endgame, Wicked? Ruining my life?”

  Maggie’s back pressed against the wall, but her eyes were fearless. “I wasn’t trying to ruin your life. I was trying to get you to notice mine!”

  “Well I noticed, sweetheart, believe me.” Sean placed both his hands on either side of her head and leaned in. “Now I know exactly the type of woman you are—toying with men for fun. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised after you dumped your ex-fiancé to go on a long road trip with a strange man.”

  It was a purposeful low blow, one to make her suffer, and the second Sean said it, he felt instant regret. But it was too late. Maggie’s face twisted in anger, and she slapped him hard across the face. So hard he saw stars and his broken nose pulsated in pain.

  “How dare you!” She pushed past him, ignoring his whines of agony. “Just because you’re jealous and hurt doesn’t mean you get to hurt me too. You don’t know anything about me!”

  Maggie was on a rampage, stomping her feet, red hair whipping around her shoulders. Sean pressed his dirty shirt to his nose, catching the blood, and watched the aftermath of his attack on her character.

  “You want to know the real reason I broke things off with my fiancé?” She ran up to him and shoved him hard in the chest. “He cheated on me! Okay? I caught him in bed with another woman.”

  Sean stopped her from shoving him again and pulled her against his chest. Her anger and tears were too much, and both were his fault. “I’m sorry, Maggie. I didn’t know.”

  “Of course you didn’t know!” She pushed away from him to look him in the eye. “You didn’t care about why I decided to drive you down to Florida or why I was upset. All you cared about was getting your free ride.”

  “I cared, Maggie! I just didn’t want to push.”

  “Bullshit!” She shook her head, shaking off more tears. “You didn’t care why I decided to drive you down here, and you didn’t care that I was losing my mind the whole trip. In fact, all you ever did was push me further over the edge. Making fun of my schedule, my routines, my rituals. Never understanding why those things prevented someone like me from falling apart.”

  “I do understand, Maggie.” Sean grabbed her hands and brought them to his lips. “I get it now.”

  “You might understand that now, Sean, but you’re blind to everything else.” She pulled her hands back, and her voice had gone soft. “Blind to everything but your demons.”

  “I can’t help the baggage I carry around, Maggie.”

  “And I can
’t help mine.” She looked at him as if searching for understanding, as if hoping he could see the connection.

  “Your baggage and my baggage are not the same.” Sean shook his head. “You have a past that affected you, but it’s not who you are.” He wiped fresh blood from his nose on his fingers and raised them so she could see. “My past and I are one. A monster underneath a man.”

  “It doesn’t have to be like that.” Maggie sighed, offering him a small smile. “I could help you heal and move on.”

  “Why, Maggie?” He threw up his hands, unable to understand her. “I treated you terribly and made you cry. Why in the world would you stick around and ruin the life you finally took back from your parents?”

  “Because I love you.”

  Sean received those four words like bullets to his heart. He felt every bit of her love, tenderness, and devotion in them and knew he deserved none of it. Maggie raised her eyes to his fearlessly, as if to say, you’re worth every word. Nobody had ever told Sean they loved him before. It meant everything, and because of it meant everything, he had to protect her. He had to push her away, allow her to live the life she’d worked so hard to find.

  “Maggie.” Sean softly stroked her cheek. “I want you to leave.”

  “What?” Her eyes widened and immediately began filling with tears. “I just told you I love you.”

  “I know,” Sean continued, attempting to stay strong even as he wanted to beg her to stay, even as he wanted to cover those trembling lips with his own. “And if you meant what you said, please go, and live your life.”

  “But I—”

  “I’m not the man you think I am.” He held her gaze, hoping she would understand. “And I never will be.”

  “No, Sean.” She cupped his face with her hands, searching his eyes frantically. “You’re wrong. People can change. I did.”