His hands are everywhere, his tongue sweeping into my mouth. The copper taste of his blood fills my mouth, but I don’t have it in me to pull back. Not when he clearly needs this so badly. I’ve no idea if he’s hurt, if he won or lost, but none of that is important right now.
He briefly drops me to my feet, but only for long enough to drag my leggings down. The second my bottom half is naked, he has me back against the wall.
Something digs into my back, and at the same time he pushes inside me we’re covered in a torrent of water.
It’s freezing for a couple of seconds, but my heated body barely notices.
He trusts up into me violently, his fingertips bruising my arse as he holds tight.
“I. Couldn’t. Fucking. Find. You,” he mutters between thrusts.
“Carter,” I cry, my head falling back as the pleasure begins to get too much to bear.
“I needed you there. I needed to know you were safe.”
“I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m fiiiiine,” I scream as I fall over the edge.
He drops his head into the crook of my neck and roars out his own release.
Our chests heave against each other’s as we fight to catch our breaths.
“Fuck. I’m so sorry.”
He pulls me from the wall and away from the now warm water and sits himself on the bench with me astride his lap. His arms circle my waist, holding me tight.
I gasp when he pulls his face back and I get a look at him. A lot of the blood has now washed away, but there’s a fresh stream of it coming from both his eyebrow and his lip.
“Carter,” I breathe, lifting my hand to wipe it away.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re bleeding.”
“Doll, this is nothing.”
“Did you… did you win?”
A smile curls at his lips. “What do you think?”
“I’ve no idea. I left because I couldn’t bear to watch him hit you, and now here you are, angry and covered in blood. I’ve no idea what I’m meant to think.” My eyes search his, trying to read his thoughts.
“Doll, I always win. Why do you think Mickey wanted me to fight the kid?”
“To teach him a lesson,” I whisper.
“Exactly. Maybe next time he’ll remember this when he starts spouting about him being the best.”
“So… you don’t box then?”
“Sometimes. I’ve just always preferred to leave the gloves out of the ring.”
“Y-you’re a cage fighter?”
“We prefer MMA, doll. Sounds… less vicious.”
“Jesus, Carter. You didn’t think to tell me any of this?”
“I wasn’t hiding it, hence why I brought you here. What I said earlier was true, I’ve not fought for months. I haven’t needed to.”
Silence crackles between us for a long minute. “Why did you need to?”
“To escape. To forget my demons for a few minutes.”
My brows draw together. I desperately want to ask, but now really isn’t the time. We’re in the locker room at his gym, having just fucked in the showers, and I’m half naked.
“We need to clean you up.”
“I’ll be fine. As long as you’re okay.”
“Nothing was going to happen to me.”
“I know. I just needed you to be there when it was over. I needed to see you.” My heart damn near breaks in my chest. He leans in towards my ear, and his next words rip me in two. “You’re my lucky charm.”
A sob rips from my throat.
“Hey, don’t cry.”
Tears well in my eyes as I think back to him in that ring.
“I’m sorry. It was just scary. I’m glad you won though.”
“There was never any doubt.”
“And you’re worried about the kid’s ego.” I roll my eyes, the tears thankfully staying put.
“I think we’re done here for the day. Get sorted and we’ll head home, yeah?”
I want to argue. There’s still blood running down his face, but I keep my lips shut and nod. After a couple of seconds, he places me beside him on the bench and stands.
“I’ll wait for you outside. Don’t go anywhere else.”
25
Carter
Fucking Mickey. Despite the fact I’ve not fought in a long time, he knew I wouldn’t back down from a challenge. He also knew I wouldn’t lose either, which was the point.
The kid was good. Better than I was expecting after what Mickey said about him. I thought it was going to be a walk in the park. It was not. It was hard fucking work and just proved to me how unprepared I was.
With my family mostly minding their own business and me finally having a life I was enjoying, my need to fight wasn’t there, bubbling under the surface, like it had been in the past. Getting in the ring was the wake-up call I needed. I need to step up my game. Not because I intend on fighting again anytime soon, but because I want to know that I can. If for some reason I need to fight and the only guy here is bigger than me, I need to know I can hold my own.
All eyes turn on me as I pull open the women’s locker room door and step out. They’ll have all seen me race in here in a panic once the fight was over and I made it through the exuberant crowd. It’ll be the reason why we weren’t disturbed. Smiles spread across most of the faces; they know why I went in there and they know what went down.
I nod before slipping into the men’s and walking straight to the showers. I’m already soaking wet from our accidental downpour a few minutes ago. I may as well finish the job.
I strip out of my wet shorts and stand under the hot spray. It stings against my cuts, but I push the pain away. My ribs ache, but I’m confident they’re just bruised, not broken, and my jaw smarts where he got a few good solid punches in. But it’s noting I can’t handle.
Don’t get in the ring if you can’t handle the pain. Words from my past float down to me. I picture myself in an old warehouse, much like this one but a million times less fancy, as the crowd cheers, hungry to watch some action, to smell the blood.
I remember just how fast my heart was racing that first night. That was before I met Mickey. I was that big-headed, loud-mouthed kid back then. Much like Xander. But Mickey saw something in me, thank fuck. Aside from my art and the studio that had taken a chance on me at only sixteen, Mickey was the only one who thought I was worth something. He didn’t give a shit that I’d failed every exam I’d sat. He didn’t care that I never went to college or university. He didn’t think I was a let-down, a total failure, because I could fight. And fuck, I could fight fucking well.
I don’t allow myself to stand there any longer than necessary. I need to get out for Danni.
The look in her eyes when I found her in the middle of the locker room… She was terrified. It might sound awful, but in those seconds, seeing how scared she was for me, it was the fucking happiest moment of my life.
She cared. Despite all her pretences and walls, she fucking cares.
I quickly drag on a pair of sweats and a shirt before shoving my feet in my trainers and rushing from the room. I doubt she’ll be ready before me, but I want to be waiting for her when she does emerge.
Mickey spots me the second I step from the room and starts over.
“For someone who hasn’t fought in a while, that was epic, man.”
“Yeah, well. I needed it.” I had someone to fight for all of a sudden. The little voice in my head rings out. In the past when I’ve fought, it’s only been for me. Other than a crowd of strangers and fellow fighters, I’ve never had anyone in my corner cheering me on. And, although that wasn’t exactly what she was doing, she was here. For the first time in my life, I had someone who cared if I walked out of that ring or not, and fuck, was I making sure that was the case.
“You should come back, you know. The guys on the circuit would love to see your face again.”
“I doubt that,” I mutter, knowing that I’ve beaten most of them.
“We’ve got a load of newbies
, and with your rep, they’d pay me to fight you.”
“Always about the money, Mick.”
“Fucking right. Don’t tell me you don’t remember it. You’re still my highest earning fighter.”
“It was fun while it lasted, man. But I’m done.”
“Oh, come on, you can’t tease me with that.” He gestures toward the ring.
“I can. You saw my girl, I won’t put her through that again.”
“They all get used to it. We’ve all seen it before. Hell, give her a few weeks and she’ll be up there too.”
I can’t deny that the idea of her in the ring with another woman doesn’t turn me the fuck on, but no. Not happening.
“Never.”
Something catches his eye over my shoulder before he looks back to me.
“I’ll text you the next location. Consider it an open invitation.”
“Is everything okay?” Danni’s warm hand slips around my forearm and squeezes.
“Yeah, doll.”
“We’re just reminiscing about old times.”
“Ready to go?” I turn to Danni, ignoring Mickey’s attempt to drag me back into this life.
I gave it up for two very good reasons. I need to remember those and focus on what I want right now.
The car journey back is in silence, and I hate it. I’ve no idea what she’s thinking or where her head is.
The second it pulls up in front of her house, she’s out of the car and heading for the safety of her flat.
“Danni, wait,” I call, jogging in behind her.
She spins on her heels and stares at me. Her eyes are hard, her muscles pulled tight, and for a second I’m afraid that she’s about to call time on this, that I’m about to be sent back to Spike with my tail between my legs.
A phone ringing breaks the tension and she digs inside her bag for it. She hesitates for a few seconds before swiping the screen and putting it to her ear.
“Hey,” she says, a smile forming on her lips for whoever she’s talking to. My stomach twists, knowing that it’s not for me. “Uh yeah, that should be fine.” Silence. “Yeah, I’ll ask him, but he owes me, so it shouldn’t be an issue. Text me the time and place. Or did you want to go together?” Silence. “Okay, yeah. That sounds perfect.” Silence. “Okay, I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
She hangs up but continues staring at her phone.
“Danni?”
I take a step forward, but she doesn’t react.
“I… That was Biff. She needs us at some charity event her parents are organising on Saturday. She’s introducing them to Zach for the first time and needs some support.”
“I work Saturdays.”
“Well, get it off. Biff needs you. Zach needs you. I need you.” Her voice cracks, and it damn near breaks my heart.
“Doll,” I breathe, closing the space between us and wrapping my arms around her. Her body trembles against me as she sucks in calming breaths. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have forced you to watch that. I’m sorry. I’m fine.”
When she pulls back and looks at me, there are tearstains down her cheeks and her eyes are flooded with many more.
“Please, don’t… don’t do that again.”
“Okay.” I take her cheeks in my hands and stare down into her eyes, needing her to see exactly how serious I am.
“I heard what Mickey said. He wants you to fight again. But I can’t… I don’t think I can do that, Carter.”
“It’s okay. You won’t have to. Today was a one-off.”
“O-okay. I…” She hesitates. “I trust you.”
My heart constricts at her words. “Fucking hell, doll. You fucking slay me, you know that, right?”
She shakes her head shyly. “Go and sit on the edge of the bed. I need to clean up your face.”
“It’s—”
“Don’t argue.”
Putting my hands up in surrender, I step around her and towards the door. Ripping my shirt off, I throw it towards her washing basket and drop down as instructed while she crashes about in the bathroom.
After a few seconds, she emerges with a bowl of warm water, some cotton balls, and her first aid kit.
“You really don’t need—” My words are cut off with one look from her.
“Sit back.” I do as I’m told and she straddles my waist after placing everything beside us.
The first touch of the cotton ball against my lip stings, but it’s very much sweetened by having her pressed up against me.
“Hmmm… this is nicer than I was expecting.” My hands grip onto her arse, and I grind her down against me as she continues to work.
“Carter,” she warns.
“Oh, don’t play innocent. You didn’t sit here because it had the best access.”
Her cheeks redden slightly.
“No,” she admits. “I sat here as a distraction. I thought this might hurt.”
“I don’t feel a thing, doll.”
“That’s because all the blood in your body has rushed south.”
I shrug. I can hardly deny it. She can feel it.
My fingers trail over her body as she works. She cleans up the blood before putting a Steri-Strip over the split in my eyebrow. I want to tell her not to bother, that I’ve had much worse in the past, but I know it’ll be pointless, so I keep my mouth shut and enjoy her tending to me.
She squirms on me when I tickle up her ribs.
“Will you stop trying to distract me?”
“Sorry, you’re too close. Too tempting.”
“Yeah, well, I need to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. I keep telling you this.”
“But I need to know.”
“You know what that means, right?” She looks into my eyes, a line forming between her brows as she tries to figure out what I mean.
“No. What does it mean, ol’ wise one?”
I lean forward until my lips brush her ear. “It means that you do actually like me. Some might even say that you care.”
She sighs and pulls away slightly, forcing me to find her eyes. They’re soft and hold so many things I want to discover. “Of course I like you and care. You think I’d have let you move in here if I didn’t?”
I shrug, not wanting to expose my insecurities about how she feels. “I wondered if it was just my kitchen and bedroom tricks that kept me here.”
“Carter,” she sighs. “All of this. Us. It’s been crazy. But…” She trails off, and the hope I was beginning to feel dies a little.
“But,” I encourage.
“I-I do like you. I do care. And… I think there might be something here.”
I can’t fight the smile that finds its way onto my lips.
“Yeah?”
“Don’t tell me you don’t feel it.”
“Oh, doll. I feel it. I felt it from the moment you shouted at me the first time we met.”
“Well, what did you expect? You tricked me.”
“It got you here, didn’t it?” I lift my hips once again and she gasps as my cock brushes her core. Leaning forward, I press open-mouthed kisses down her neck. “And… you know you love my tricks.”
She chuckles, and everything in my world suddenly feels right.
“Now, I think it’s time you show me just how much you like me, seeing as you were the one who got me in this state. Getting an injured man all aroused, whatever next?”
“Well, if you weren’t stupid enough to put yourself in that ring then you wouldn’t be injured, would you?”
“I own that ring, doll. For a lot of years, it was the only home I knew.”
She opens her mouth to respond, but, not wanting to say more, I use it to my advantage and plunge my tongue into her mouth.
“Fine,” she says, her chest heaving once I let her up for air. “Challenge accepted.”
Her small hands land on my chest, and she pushes until I fall back on the bed. One side of my lips curls up in delight as she flits her eyes all over my chest and abs.
/> “Do these hurt?” she asks, her fingers brushing the slight bruising on my ribs.
“A little. I’m hoping you’re about to distract me though.”
A wicked smirk covers her face before she folds herself over me. Her lips start at my collarbones before slowly making their way down my body. She stops at both of my nipples and runs her tongue around the small discs, making me shudder.
“Danni,” I complain, threading my fingers into her hair and gently pushing her lower to where I need her.
“A little impatient, are we?” she jokes, resisting my encouragement and instead trailing her tongue around the indentations of my abs.
“Fuck, doll,” I groan when she runs the tip of her tongue along the waistband of my boxers.
My cock jumps in desperation, hoping to get her closer, but instead of doing so she sits up.
Staring down at the bulge in my joggers, she reaches out and run her fingers along the length of me.
My teeth grind as I try to keep control of myself.
“You hungry? I think I might go and make myself some lunch.”
She lifts her leg as if she’s going to get off the bed, and I panic. Her wrist is in my hand in a second.
“Don’t even fucking think about it.”
She manages to keep her serious face for all of two seconds before she laughs. “Relax, I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Good,” I bark. “Now, as you were, please.”
“Only because you asked so nicely,” she sasses, crawling down my legs and hooking her fingers into the waistband of both my joggers and boxers. She tugs until my cock springs free. Her eyes zero in on it as if she’s deciding what she wants to do—either that or just torturing the fuck out of me. I guess I deserve it after making her watch me fight.
After what feels like a year, she moves. She pulls the fabric from my legs before settling between them.
The second she takes me in her hand, I damn near come like a fucking teenage boy getting his first stroke. But that’s nothing compared to when she leans forward and licks around the head. My entire body flinches with the sensation, one hand comes up to thread into her hair while the other twists in the sheet.
“Fuuuuck,” I growl when she takes me into her mouth. It’s hot, wet, and so fucking good. “Danni, fuck. So good. Fuck.” I fight to keep my eyes open to watch her, but as my release closes in on me, I lose all control. My eyes slam closed as my balls draw up and pleasure hits me so hard that I swear the fucking world tilts slightly.
Trick You: A Brother's Best Friend Romance (Rebel Ink Book 2) Page 19