Love of the Game - The Complete Collection (Box Set)

by Shayne McClendon

  Demi smiled. “Mom, Dad, Nikolai asked me to marry him, and I said yes. We talked a lot last night and realized so many things neither of us ever knew. Anyway, a long time…after…he had a panic attack about protection. Something we’re always careful about. He insisted on Vegas and I agreed because he was honestly totally distraught that he’d somehow compromised my honor and all. We’ll do a bigger wedding if you want, I don’t care. I have exactly what I want.”

  Her parents looked back and forth between them and then laughed. Mikhail grabbed Nikolai into a big hug, which Nikolai returned, his relief obvious.

  “Of all the men I know, you are the only one who’d rush a marriage over honor. I’m personally hoping there was a…situation. The boys aren’t showing signs of ever settling down and grandkids while I’m still fit enough to play with them would be nice.”

  “Thank you, sir. Your acceptance means much to me.”

  Mikhail gripped him hard by the back of the neck. His happiness was apparent. “Call me dad. I’ve always wished you were one of mine. I’ve always felt like you were and now it’s legal. Welcome to the family, son.” He gave him another hug when Nikolai teared up.

  Anastasia was ooh’ing and aah’ing over the ring and took her daughter’s face in her hands. “You look so very happy. That makes me happier than you can possibly know.” She turned to Nikolai. “Nikki, I’m so happy you two finally figured out what we’ve known for years. Young people aren’t as impulsive about love like we were when we were young. Mikhail saw me in a store, didn’t even know my name, and courted me for days until I agreed to go to coffee with him.”

  She snuggled up to her husband of more than thirty years. “We were married two months later. You’ve known one another fourteen years, but I knew when Demi was eighteen that she was in love with you. It’s what made her compete, to be closer to you. So, I’m happy both of you are settled.”

  During the staff meeting, her parents said nothing about their spontaneous marriage. Nikolai came for a kiss before heading to the locker room. She stationed herself at the monitors just backstage so she could kiss Nikolai before he went out to the ring. The matches were fairly easy against a new company working their way up in recognition.

  Tiffany approached her and Demi was pleased to see she was covering a lot more skin this time. They chatted and the woman was far more intelligent and articulate than Demi had honestly given her credit for. Suddenly the stadium went quiet and Demi checked the monitors. Her father was standing in the center of the ring.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to make a very special announcement.”

  Nikolai came up behind her. “What’s going on?” Demi shrugged and Nikolai placed his warm hands on her shoulders, kneading the muscles gently.

  “As you all know, Nikolai Petrov…Granite…has been a part of our professional family for many years. For fourteen years, he’s given sweat and blood to this company, not leaving us when he had better offers for more money, more prestige. He stuck by us. I’ve known all these years that he was devoted to Stavos. I’m glad to tell you he is even more devoted to my beautiful daughter, Demitria. This morning, they were married in Vegas. Let’s bring them out here. Nikolai, Demitria!”

  They stood in shock as “Never Gonna Be Alone” started playing by Nickelback. Looking at one another, Nikolai giving her a wink, they clasped hands and stepped out into the arena.

  The entire building was shaking with screams and stomping feet. They walked down the ramp a bit waving to people, stepping to either side to touch the hands of their fans, meeting back in the middle, Nikolai’s huge arm going around her. She blew her father a kiss and they went backstage again.

  Then the announcers called her down to sit with them, to run commentary on the fights. She gave play by plays, something she’d always loved and had done sometimes before her shoulder injury. Nikolai’s fight was over quickly and he came to kiss her before heading backstage to change. The fans behind the announcer’s table cheered.

  At halftime, one of the females from the other company entered the ring and challenged Demi to fight. She respectfully declined. Then the woman called her soft, a coward who was out of shape. She said all the other women were no-shows, Dancer should represent Stavos.

  Demi accepted the challenge. Standing, she went to change from her slacks and shell top into one of her costumes the wardrobe woman kept around. She pulled on black spandex boy shorts that sat low on her hips, a black cropped tank top, and flip-flops to protect her wrapped feet. She put her hair in a braid that fell down her back.

  Stepping out of the women’s locker room, Nikolai was waiting. His eyes widened in appreciation. “Wow, you look hot, but, Demitria, no. Uh uh. You were injured in the last forty-eight hours and I do not want anything to happen to you.” Behind him, her family was hurrying toward them. All their protests fell on deaf ears.

  She held her hand up. “I’m fighting. My shoulder is fine. My head is fine. I’ll whoop her ass and Stavos Wrestling will be great. I’m not saying I’ll go back to fighting full time, but honestly, the occasional match is good for me, I think.”

  Oscar said, “Sis, she’s kind of…bulky.”

  Pinning him with a glare, Demi retorted, “And that is supposed to mean what? That I’m soft? Out of shape? Not going to win? Thanks, bro. I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

  Anastasia rolled her eyes. “Honestly Oscar, why don’t you wave a red flag in front of her? Demitria, darling, are you sure…sure you want to do this?” Demi nodded. “Well then we support her as we always have. Good luck. Be safe.”

  She smiled. “Mom, I can always count on you to know I actually weigh everything before I make a decision.” She turned and went up on tiptoe to kiss her husband. “Believe in me, Nikolai. I’ve worried every time I’ve seen you go into a fight since I was a little girl. You’ve been injured countless times but have always gone back. It’s one fight. Watch me and be worried for me like I am for you, but cheer me on the same way I do for you.”

  He looked at her for a long moment then nodded. She handed him her wedding rings. “Hold these for me.” One more kiss and she was running for the arena, Nikolai not far behind her.

  She stretched and bounced on her feet backstage. When her music clip started, she stepped out on the ramp barefoot to the roar of the crowd. Nikolai stood at the monitors to keep an eye on her. He smiled when she entered the ring in her old style; running and sliding under the bottom rope, turning to her back and coming up in a martial arts flip to her feet. She had always been so hot.

  Going to the four corners, she climbed up and saluted the fans. Her stomach was flat and hard, her legs went on for miles. Every inch of her was toned and golden. They’d always loved her, they loved her still. Men held signs attesting to it, he’d seen some with tattoos of her face on their bodies. Women held up her picture with “I wanna be Dancer” on them. She moved to the middle of the ring and stood in ballet stance, awaiting her opponent.

  Queen came to the ramp with “Hell Yeah” playing and the crowd was gracious. Clapping and calling. The female wrestler didn’t look at the fans or play to them at all. She stalked to the ring, thicker and shorter than Demitria but with bulging muscles.

  Rolling under the ropes and getting to her feet, she glared at Demi and went to two corners to stand, fists out. Fake boobs and fire engine red hair, fake tan and unnatural bulk. She came to the center and stood in front of Demi, wanting a reaction. All she gave her was a smile.

  The ref entered and the bell rang. Demi did not move. Adjusting her feet, she avoided each punch, sent slow but strong in her direction.

  Only when the woman tried to get her in a hold did Demi display her true talents. Queen charged, Demi evaded, the other woman fell to her knees. Demi did a flip over her and took a martial arts stance.

  Backstage, Nikolai saw the point when Demi had learned enough about the other fighter to win. Repeatedly Queen charged. Demi evaded, chopping her back, her thighs, or her shoulders.

&
nbsp; She didn’t run and she didn’t chase, the other fighters always became frustrated with her calm, as Queen was doing, and they’d lose their cool. When that happened, Demi took them down one time hard and they stayed down.

  Queen was past frustrated, obviously thinking Demi was going to be an easy mark. She got into a crouch and lunged. Demi waited until the last moment to move to one side, flowing into a punishing roundhouse kick with her long legs, catching her opponent across her shoulders, throwing her completely off balance.

  Queen hit the mat on her stomach and Demi was sitting on her back, her arms locking the other woman into a full nelson she had no hope of escaping. She waited ten seconds as Demi stretched the strong woman backwards and Queen tapped out.

  Releasing her, she stood and the ref held her hand up. Queen came at her back and Demi whirled, catching her by the throat and propelling her with her own momentum into the corner turnstile. The other woman lost her breath, kicking out.

  Demi stepped slightly back, did a back flip, and caught her opponent in the chin with the top of her foot, dropping Queen where she stood.

  True to tradition, she performed Chaînés around the ring and ended in a precise fifth position. The spectators were on their feet screaming.

  Demi left the ring after saluting the announcers and took her time greeting fans on the way up the ramp. The applause was deafening. When she turned into the backstage area, Nikolai caught her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist.

  “My God, Demitria, I’d forgotten just how beautiful you are when you fight. I’m hard as a rock right now.”

  Between kisses, Demi told him where to go and he entered the wardrobe room, closing and locking the door behind them. He stood her up long enough to strip her clothes off and push his jeans down then she was in his arms again.

  He put her up against the wall, his cock nudging the entrance of her slick pussy. “You are so wet already. Did you have that much fun?”

  Demi nodded. “As soon as the final bell rang, I was so pumped up; I just wanted to find you and fuck your brains out. I might have kicked Queen a little harder than I intended. I was anxious to get to you.”

  Nikolai thrust inside her and she moaned against his shoulder. He didn’t go easy on her, slamming into her with full strength until she was thrashing in his arms. When she came, he caught the sounds in his mouth to keep security from being called.

  Breathing hard, he put her down on the chair in front of the dressing table. “Put your arms on the back.” As soon as she was in position, kneeling away from him on her knees, he slid in deep from behind and set a rhythm of punishing thrusts.

  Wrapping her long braid around his hand, he lifted her head so she was looking into the mirror of the vanity. “Look how hot you are, Demitria. So hard and soft, taking my cock so deep in your pretty pussy.”

  The flare of lust sparkled in her eyes and her inner walls spasmed around his shaft. “Harder, Nikolai. Fuck me harder. Pull my hair more, too, that feels so primal.” He did, both of them watching how they looked together in the mirror.

  When he felt her starting to come, he pulled her back against his chest, hands coming up to cup her breasts, to pinch her nipples. He never slowed as he growled, “Your pussy is so tight. Come for me. Milk my cock, Demitria.”

  His eyes never left hers as the climax crashed over her, through her. He came with a roar, his seed hitting Demi’s womb hard and hot while he continued stroking steadily. As his orgasm wound down, he laid his forehead on her shoulder. “Damn. Just…damn.”

  Her laugh was breathless, her heart still racing. She lifted her hand to smooth it through his hair. “I agree, Nikolai. Take me back to the hotel and make me forget my name. I need you in my mouth.” He lifted his head and met Demi’s eyes in the mirror.

  “You will be the death of me, Demitria. What a way to go,” Nikolai’s accent was thick with need, his eyes filled with anticipation.

  Demitria wiggled her ass into her husband and told him with a predatory smile, “Let’s rumble. I think you can take me.”

  Epilogue

  Two months after she became Mrs. Nikolai Petrov, Demitria scheduled her yearly checkup with her gynecologist for birth control pills.

  She showed up early with pastries for the staff.

  They took her back and checked her vitals before taking blood and urine samples. She waited in the chilly exam room in a stupid paper gown and laughed when her lifelong doctor skidded to a stop just inside the door.

  She knew right away what he was about to tell her and it killed Demitria that Nikolai’s paranoia was well founded. From what the doctor calculated, she got pregnant the day they were married. Just as her husband had worried she would.

  He was her first no-condom sex and the birth control utterly failed. Fucking super sperm…

  That her doctor told her she was pregnant was one thing.

  That he seemed so giddy with happiness was another.

  Dr. Tantov was her mother’s doctor as well and had been since she was pregnant with her brothers. Mrs. Tantov chaired several charities with Anastasia. The two of them were thick as thieves and Demi knew exactly what was about to happen.

  Granted, she was in shock and a little antsy because she hadn’t seen Nikolai for three days…it didn’t excuse her behavior.

  She’d realize that later.

  Demi grabbed the doctor as he tried to race from the office. “My mother finds out I’m pregnant before my husband does and I will physically hurt you, Tantov. Are we clear?”

  She was four inches taller and outweighed him by twenty pounds. He’d also been to every match she ever competed in around Seattle.

  “Demi. I’m sad that you believe I would break doctor/patient privilege.”

  Her grip tightened on his lab coat. “You told my mother when I was no longer a virgin.”

  “That was about your safety…”

  “You told her when my wax job went horribly wrong.” She gave him a little shake.

  “Demi…”

  “You told her when I had an ingrown hair under my arm and she was convinced I had cancer! You think of me as a child and I’ve been patient. You ruin this for me and I will punch you in the dick. Then I’ll tell your wife. You know how Mona loves me.”

  The doctor sighed heavily. “Fine. I see that you do not trust me.”

  Releasing him, she smirked. “No, I don’t. Nikolai returns tonight. Anyone finds out before tomorrow morning and I’m going to demonstrate my moves.”

  He chuckled despite himself and nodded. “Then you will name the baby after me?”

  “I will not.”

  “You are still a brat, Demitria.”

  “Thank you. Now tell me what I need to do because I’m about to have a coronary from stress.”

  Assuming his serious expression, her doctor spent the next half hour answering her questions and giving her a list of dos and don’ts. He stepped out to let her dress and when he came in with a prescription for vitamins, Demi felt bad about her threats.

  Clearing her throat carefully, she told him, “I’m sorry I said I was going to punch you in the junk.” She even censored her language!

  His laughter boomed off the small exam room walls. “I’m sorry, I’m worse than a thirteen-year-old girl when it comes to keeping secrets. I know better and I only do it with you. It is strange to watch you grow up.” Dr. Tantov gave her a small smile. “You were a fighter from birth, you know. You punched me in the nose before we could cut the cord.”

  She kissed him on the temple. “I hope this child does the same. I still get lectures from mom about what not to do regarding waxing.”

  With a wink at his grinning face, she walked to the checkout desk to schedule her next appointment. There were going to be a lot of them in her future.

  In the car, she called Claire. “I need help.”

  “I…what happened? Please tell me you didn’t hit another reporter!”

  Rolling her eyes, Demi retorted, “No! That was a one time,
er…two time, thing. Let it go.”

  There was rustling on the other end of the line. Claire was trying to cover the phone and a man’s voice said, “Sugar, you have to understand.”

  Demi would know that deep voice and southern drawl anywhere. The shock rolled through her and she belatedly realized her mouth was open. Claire was with Shredder? Demi strained to listen more closely. She even reached over and turned off the air conditioning in the car.

  “I don’t have to understand a damn thing.” Uh oh…that was Claire’s no-nonsense voice. “We have nothing else to discuss.”

  “Honey…”

  “Don’t you dare honey me. Be gone when I get back.” There was more rustling then the sound of a door slamming before Claire said cheerfully, “Hey, Demi. I’m all ears. What’s going on?”

  For a second, she forgot why she called. “Um, oh yeah. Top-secret info coming your way. I’m pregnant.” Something was dropped on Claire’s side and she cursed. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine. You’re pregnant?”

  “Yup, about nine weeks, according to blabbermouth Tantrov.”

  “Damn, your entire family probably knows by now.” She was trying to be lighthearted but Demi heard the strain in her voice.

  “What’s the matter, Claire?” Something was way off. “Can I come over?”

  There was a long pause then her best friend and assistant for most of her adult life sighed heavily and, if Demi wasn’t mistaken, she was about to cry.

  “Actually, I’m going to head to your place until you have to go get Nikolai.”

  The speed limits were merely suggestions as she drove home. She and Nikolai hadn’t decided what to do as far as buying a home yet so he gave up his place and moved into hers between trips. Her comfort was utmost in his mind.

  “When you decide where you would like to live, that is where we will live. You’re home more than I am. Familiar surroundings are important for you.”

  She pulled into her designated space, grabbed all her crap, and realized she couldn’t find her key for the building. Rummaging frantically in her purse, she smiled gratefully at one of her neighbors who let her in. She didn’t bother waiting for the elevator, instead running the stairs to her floor.