The Logan Brothers - Books 1-4: (EXPOSURE, CRASH, TWIN PASSIONS, and ADDICTED TO YOU)

by Shorter, L. A.

  It was only when the crowd began to quieten and retake their seats that Crash and Kyle noticed me.

  “Gemma,” Crash said, slightly bemused, “when did you get here?”

  “Oh, just now. I haven't missed him have I?”

  He shook his head. “Nope, he's main eventing this evening. You got here just in time.”

  I thought as much. Thank God for that.

  The lights suddenly flashed above as the announcer stepped back into the ring. The crowd hushed once more as the lights suddenly dimmed, a spotlight hitting a changing room over in the corner as some loud rap music erupted from the speakers fixed around the room.

  A man stepped forward, bouncing up towards the ring and shaking his arms as he went. He had a couple of coaches to each side behind him, walking more soberly in his wake as he held out his gloves to the crowd as he passed them by. He had a confident swagger about him, shimmying this way and that and leaping straight up into the ring and climbing through the rope with a bustling energy.

  He took a couple of laps of the ring before the spotlights shifted to the other side of the room, fixing their attention on the final combatant of the night. My heart began beating faster and faster as the door opened, and a figure walked through, hooded and cloaked in black.

  Even above the loud music I could hear the shrieks and squawks of the girls in the crowd grow louder. I glanced around to see them holding signs bearing his name.

  MARRY ME CADE

  WE LOVE YOU CADE

  YOU CAN ENTER MY RING ANY TIME CADE

  I could feel a deep well of jealousy burning inside me at the looks in these girls eyes. Ogling him, licking their lips at the sight of his lean abs, the sweat dripping down the pecs and into his shorts. There must have been a hundred girls there, all screaming like schoolgirls at a Justin Bieber concert.

  Pathetic.

  He walked up towards the ring in a totally different fashion to the previous fighter. He didn't veer to the left or the right. He didn't move his arms or stretch his gloves out into the crowd. He just kept his eyes firmly on the ring in front of him, pacing forward with purpose, his face shrouded under a hood.

  He climbed up into the ring and through the ropes, not wasting any energy, saying every ounce of emotion for the fight. This wasn't a game. This was serious. And it showed.

  The music died slowly, the shrieks of the girls around me suddenly more piercing as Cade slipped his cloak off. His 6 foot body was tanned and glistening with sweat, his pecs curved perfectly and his abs tight and ripped. He wore no smile on his face, his green eyes burning with a single focus. His hair was dark and slicked back, his face startlingly perfect and unblemished, even with so many fights under his belt.

  The belt – that's all his thought was bent on.

  The announcer's voice suddenly filled the air around us, his words booming through the microphone.

  “And now, ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at our main event for the night. In the blue corner, weighing in at 198 pounds, Ron Rampage Renton.”

  The energetic fighter sprung into the air and bounced once more around the ring, his arms flying high and a portion of the crowd cheered his name. Why did these fighters always have such stupid names.

  The announcer's voice began growing in strength as he continued, raising his hand out to the red corner.

  “And in the red corner, weighting in at 195 pounds...your champion...the undefeated hometown hero...Cade The Crusher Logan!”

  The announcer drew out his name as the volume in the room burst once more into life, threatening to blow the roof right off.

  Cade stepped forward towards the referee, who now gathered the two fighters in the center of the ring. The volume stayed at fever pitch with anticipation as the two fighters squared off against each other.

  I could hear Crash and Kyle to my right, roaring their support. Nothing was more important than family to them, and they were proud of what their younger brother was doing. He was bringing more fame to the family name, a name that was already well known across the city.

  The roar began to slowly dampen as the two men walked back to their corners and took some last-minute advice from their coaches.

  Then, suddenly, the bell clanged loudly and they both turned and faced each other.

  The fight was about to begin.

  ….

  It was late in round 3 when Ron Rampage Renton hit the canvas and didn't get up. It wasn't so much of a rampage as a massacre, and it all came from the cloves of Cade Logan.

  He'd spent the first round ducking and diving and feeling out his opponent. By the second he'd sent him to the mat. Renton was given a reprieve by the bell but it didn't last. That third round was as one-sided as you could imagine.

  Cade was known for his intensity when he fought. He had this tunnel vision, and paid no attention to anyone, or anything else. Other fighters would showboat, gesture to the crowd and toy with their opponents.

  Not Cade. No, he was all business. It was his brooding intensity that set the hearts of the girls alight, that dragged them into this underground boxing hall which was once only the province of hard men with a thirst for blood.

  When Cade's un-gloved fist was raised to the heavens by the referee you could have been forgiven for thinking you were at a Beyonce concert and not a boxing match. The cries of the adorning girls outweighed the cheers and bellows of the men who truly supported the sport and the city's new favorite son.

  He looked over the crowd and smiled, ever so slightly, for the first time, his expression beginning to lighten as another victory was added to his record. He turned all the way around before slowly coming to a finish with his sights set firmly in my direction.

  His hand drew back down and he stretched out his finger, pointing directly at me. He winked as he mouthed two words, very clearly so I could see.

  FOR YOU.

  It was the first time he'd ever acknowledged me at one of his fights. I could see eyes on me, coming at me from all angles, the eyes of young women burning with envy. His finger and stare lingered on me for a moment before he quickly stepped out of the ring again and paced off back down the tunnel towards his changing room.

  I quickly stood up and made a motion to leave. The feeling of people staring at me had never sat well in my stomach.

  It always reminded me of another time, long ago.

  Chapter 2

  Present Day

  Cade

  One step closer. And what a fucking easy step it was.

  I never understood how some fighters behaved, dancing and prancing around in the ring. Over twelve rounds you'd need every ounce of energy you could muster. Why waste it with such theatrics?

  I learned one thing about the guy as soon as I saw him in the ring. I knew right then and there that I'd take him. It wasn't just that he was wasting energy; it was the reason why he chose to behave like that. I could see it in his eye.

  The nerves.

  They were draining his resources from the start. You wouldn't believe how much energy you could spend just by feeling nervous. And when those nerves make you hop about like a rabbit, you're fucked.

  I saw my chance in the second and I took it. The ref should have ended the fight there and then. It wasn't going any further. I didn't mind, though. Another round of sparring could do me some good. But then again, I craved some real tests, not just whatever they could drag out of the woodwork in Branton and nearby towns.

  If I was to rise to the top, I'd have to climb on the backs of the best.

  ….

  I was lying on the massage table when the door knocked. Coach was giving me a debrief as a sexy chick gave me a rub to power down my muscles. I'd already taken a bunch of supplements and had a post fight feed. It was all scientific now: from the preparation, to the fight, to the warm down, and everything else in between.

  Right now none of it seemed necessary. I mean, come on, the fight only lasted 3 rounds, and easy rounds at that. I took maybe one or two jabs, not even a singl
e decent hit.

  Coach carried on spilling his wisdom as he walked over towards the door and opened it up. I was lying chest down, my head buried in the face hole of the massage table, my feet pointing at the door.

  As soon as I heard the voice, I flipped quickly over, sending the masseuse's hands flying off me.

  “Gem!”

  I jumped down off the table and went straight towards her, my towel falling off me. I heard the masseuse gasp lightly as I sped naked towards the doorway. Coach stepped back quickly, averting his eyes and shaking his head.

  I saw a spark of desire on Gem's face as she tried to keep her eyes looking up. I winked at her and smiled knowingly, enjoying the discomfort that both coach and the masseuse must be feeling. Frankly, I didn't care

  “My lucky charm,” I said, leaning in and giving her a kiss. I kept it light to keep the stirring in my loins at bay. I hadn't had sex for days and getting a hard on in front of coach might damage our relationship a little bit.

  Gem giggled as she glanced down at my naked body. I was proud of it, and loved the look that girls gave me when they saw it.

  “Erm, Cade, maybe you should grab a towel.” She smirked and darted her eyes at the girl in the corner, desperately trying to keep her eyes on the wall.

  I turned and walked calmly back over to the table, seeing the girl's breath heave as her will wilted and her eyes drifted towards my groin.

  “It's all right, half the people on earth have one.”

  She turned from me, embarrassed, and darted from the room. And there was I thinking masseuse's were sexually open and impudent! I mean, she spends all day rubbing people's bodies and yet can't handle the sight of my dick!

  “OK Cade, let's pick up with your debrief tomorrow, huh? I can see you've got other things on your mind now...” Coach gestured his eyes towards Gem as he moved off towards the door.

  “And champ....good job tonight.”

  With that he paced through the door and shut it tight behind him.

  He was right. After abstaining from sex for the last few days I did only have one thing on my mind. And she had walked through the door.

  ….

  In the days leading up to any of my fights I'd always steer clear of Gem to keep myself focused. My mind had to be on my training and the fight alone, nothing more.

  When Gemma walked through the door after my fight, however, everything else in my head just dropped to the floor. My thoughts were now beginning to fill with the sight of her naked body under mine, the smell of her perfume, the taste of her lips. My body began to stir at the sight of her there, her long mousy brown hair hanging over her slender neck, her body wrapped in some tight dress under her coat.

  I walked once more towards her, the towel around my waist loosely fastened and threatening to slip again from my body. She was wearing heels but still I towered over her by a good six inches, her eyes sticking to mine as I approached.

  I took her by the hand and pulled her over towards the massage table. She offered little resistance. I was sure she wanted me just as much as I wanted her.

  I turned her towards the table and lifted her up, sitting her down onto it. She was light in my arms, her petite frame nothing to me. The sound of her breathing growing more heavy as I slipped my hands under her coat and over her breasts turned me on even more.

  I lifted the coat off her and put it to the side, my hands then reaching round to the back of her dress and feeling for a zip. I found it at the top of her neck and pulled it down, my body beginning to pulse with anticipation as the dress loosened around her body, her white bra shining underneath against her golden sun-kissed skin.

  My hands grew more busy as I pulled the dress down and unclipped her bra, letting it slide gently off her shoulders. Her breasts were small yet perfect to my eyes, soft to my touch. I could feel her body shuddering as my fingers passed over her nipples and my lips sped towards hers.

  I kissed her firmly as my hands continued to pull at her dress and slide it further off her body. She pushed me back briefly and hopped down from the table, allowing the dress to slip over her ass and down around her ankles. She stepped out of it seductively before reaching down to untie her shoes.

  I grabbed at her arm and lifted her back up. “No, keep them on.”

  I looked over her gorgeous curves, the bulge under my towel growing, and reached for her underwear, sliding my hands under it and grabbing at her ass. I heard her yelp suddenly with pleasure as I squeezed and lifted her back up and onto the table.

  She lay down over it, her head hanging over the opposite edge, her chest heaving up and down with anticipation as I went to pull her panties from her body.

  “Baby, I've missed you,” I said breathlessly as I dragged her underwear over her hips and down her legs, her legs staying closed as my spare hand slid up her inner thigh, opening them up a fraction.

  My spare hand ripped quickly at the towel around my waist, preparing to tear it from my body, when suddenly, out of the blue, a loud click and a voice sounded behind me.

  “Holy fuck, sorry bro.”

  I turned quickly as Gem sat up in a flash, her eyes wide with embarrassment as she shot her hands over her body to hide her privates.

  “Some privacy Zack, I mean, seriously!” I said, stepping to my left to hide Gem from sight as much as I could.

  “Yeah man, I had no idea you guys were, you know...I'll leave you to it.”

  He turned quickly and prepared to shut the door before stopping halfway.

  “Oh, and Cade, good job tonight. I'm proud of you. We all are.”

  He then shut the door tight, leaving me once again alone with Gem, sitting up straight on the table, her legs shut tight, her right arm squashed against her modest breasts.

  I laughed as I turned back around to look at her, her eyes lingering on the door.

  “Right, so where were we,” I said lustily, my hands sliding back over her body as I moved in for the kiss.

  She recoiled, leaning back slightly.

  “What's up?”

  She slipped off the table and onto the floor, pushing me back slightly as she did, and pulled her underwear back up.

  “Heyyyy...what are you doing?”

  “The moment's lost Cade. I don't feel like it anymore.”

  “What, because of that? Come on babe, who cares, it's only Zack. You can't leave me hanging like this.” I gestured down to the bulge still present under my towel.

  “Maybe later. I can't do it now. Take a cold shower or something.”

  She kept dressing, slipping her bra back on and stepping back into her dress. I stood there, the blood slowly rushing back through my body and away from my loins, in a state of mild shock, mingled with annoyance.

  “Whatever,” I said. “Just remember that there are dozens of girls out there who'd love to be in your position.”

  She looked up at me suddenly. “Oh, very nice Cade, thanks. Don't you think it's hard enough watching you fight with all these shrieking girls ogling you. Do you have any idea what they write on their posters and banners?”

  “Yeah, I do. That's exactly my point.”

  “Well, why don't you fuck one of them on your massage table then. Act out this little porn film fantasy you've got going on.”

  “Porn film fantasy?! What the fuck are you talking about?”

  She held out her hands and gestured around. “This, all of this. You really know how to make a girl feel special Cade. Do you really think I want to screw on this dirty massage table when anyone could just walk in.”

  I was shaking my head in disbelief. What the fuck was she on.

  “Jesus, what the hell's wrong with a bit of passion. How fucking prudish are you.”

  “Prudish! Are you kidding me. Good luck finding many girls who'd fuck you in here, with the door unlocked, when anyone could just walk in at any moment. I mean, other than your little whore fan club out there.”

  I was silent for a moment. I really had nothing to say. She was breathing heavily,
this hurt and confused look in her eye.

  “I thought you only got like this when you were on your period. You're being completely fucking irrational Gem.”

  I guess that must have been the final straw. Probably not a good thing to say right now.

  She shook her head and looked straight at me. “Fuck you Cade. You can sort yourself out tonight. See you later.”

  She turned and paced towards the door, huffing loudly for effect.

  “Gem, come on...” I called after her, but it was pointless.

  She walked straight through and slammed the door shut.

  Jesus Christ, what a nutbag. Maybe I should get one of those girls in here. I'm fucking Cade Logan, local fucking hero. I guess, maybe she'd never know? Maybe she'd never find out?

  What Gemma doesn't know, won't hurt her.

  Chapter 3

  Present Day

  Gemma

  The elevator binged for the 4th floor and I stepped out to yet another Monday morning in the office. I walked forward, past the large reception desk, and round to the right through a large set of glass double doors.

  On most Monday mornings I'd expect to walk into a quiet office, with subdued conversations filling the air about weekend antics and people lightly tapping on their keyboards to try to warm up for the week.

  When I walked in on this Monday morning, however, there was much more of a buzz in the air, with groups, composed primarily of women, excitedly chatting in busy tones. They all looked up in my direction as I walked in and towards my small cubicle near the window, whispering and gesturing as if I was somehow the subject of their buzz.

  I quickly slipped into my chair and booted up my computer screen. My desk was a bit cluttered, filled with pictures of my family and other silly little bits of office desk paraphernalia. The screen burst to life and I was met with a half-finished article, one I'd been working on the previous week.

  How to Get a Sexier Body in 5 Easy Moves!