The Heartbreaker (Fighting the Odds Book 1)

by Tricia Andersen

  “Sure,” she replied weakly.

  He crossed the room to her, his large powerful hands wrapping around her hips, his thumbs gently kneading the soft flesh at the edge of her skirt.

  She could hear him breathe “fuck” under his breath. Am I really turning him on? The thought made her feel nearly as beautiful as he said she was.

  He gently lifted her onto the table then sat in the chair beside her.

  Once the artist arranged her ink and needles on the tray, she smiled at Lily. “Are you sure? This is permanent.”

  “I am completely sure.”

  “All right. Let’s get started.”

  Lily stared at the ceiling, lying stone still, as the hum of the tattoo gun filled the room. It reminded her of a dentist’s drill. Reese took her hand and held it tight. She felt the pressure of the tattoo artist’s hand on her hip right before she felt the needle. The vibration of the gun was almost soothing. The sensation of hundreds of bee stings in rapid succession made her jump.

  The artist glanced up at Lily from her work. “You’re going to have to lie still.”

  “I know. It just shocked me a little.”

  “I understand. You’re a tattoo virgin. The first can be an experience.”

  Lily shot her eyes to Reese as the artist continued.

  His eyes held pure sin.

  This won’t be my only first by the end of the night.

  After a few minutes, Lily was able to relax and the conversations began. They learned the artist’s name was Summer and she owned the shop. She had an art history degree from the same school that Lily attended. They even graduated the same year. She was also a huge MMA fan and had seen Reese’s fight. Lily loved listening to them discuss it. Seeing the photos wasn’t the same as watching the fight and Lily had never seen one. Watching Reese talk so proudly of the job he loved made her proud of him.

  After a little over an hour, Summer was finished. Setting down her tools, she offered a hand to help Lily sit up then to stand.

  Lily wandered to the full length mirror, gasping as she saw the heart now etched into her skin. “It’s beautiful,” she gushed.

  “I’m glad you like it,” Summer beamed.

  Reese wrapped his arms around her and pressed a kiss to her temple. “It’s nearly as beautiful as you. Why don’t you pull your skirt up? I’ll go pay the bill and we can go get something to eat.”

  Lily frowned at him in the reflection. “I can pay for it.”

  He winked at her. “My purse from my fight finally caught up with me. It’s my treat.”

  She smiled. “All right.” Lily straightened her clothes while Reese settled the bill. After getting care instructions from Summer, the couple raced to the truck to find something to eat.

  Much like the pizza place the night before, the only memory Lily had of the Mexican restaurant was great food and Reese’s hot, sweet kisses. Being in a corner booth away from the eyes of the other patrons, his hands weren’t content with just her knee. The pads of his thumbs searched for her nipples beneath her blouse, teasing them until they were hard nubs poking through the fabric. He clenched her rump tight as his lips wandered the curve of her neck. By the time their order arrived, she was an incoherent mess in his arms. Lily wasn’t sure she ever ate so fast in her life. She just wanted the sweet torture to continue.

  Reese didn’t disappoint her on the way home to Braden. As they sped down the highway past the moonlit cornfields, he pushed her skirt up her legs until his fingers wrapped around her thigh. The side of his hand pressed tight against her, her underwear a thin barrier between him and where she needed him desperately to touch. “So, back to my place?”

  She took a deep breath to answer, “I can’t just walk in with you. Someone will see. Rumors will spread.”

  “Your Dad will find out.”

  “Well, yes.”

  Reese sighed in frustration.

  Lily fought to think against the building, burning need. “What if you drop me off at Molly’s and I find a reason to go to Buddy’s?”

  “Like what?”

  “I’ll think of something.”

  “I think it‘d just be easier to go home. Who is that bored that they nose around other people’s lives?”

  “Do you remember Daryl Cox? Reverend Dixon’s daughter and Braden’s bad boy? That’s rumor mill gold.”

  “Fine. We’ll do it your way.” Reese was quiet the rest of the way to Braden, his eyes focused on the road. He never moved his hand from Lily’s leg.

  She curled against him. I bet he thinks I’m going to chicken out on him. Worse than that, part of me thinks I should.

  Reese huffed as he pulled into Molly’s farmyard and parked the truck. He took Lily’s chin in his hand and stared into her eyes. “I’ll see you in a little bit. Right?”

  “Of course.”

  “Good.” He parted her lips with his, reminding her exactly why she needed to go to him.

  The taste of the margarita he had with dinner on his tongue drove her crazy. “I’ll be right there.”

  “Good,” he purred. He helped her from the truck.

  A perplexed Molly already dressed in her pajamas stared at them. “I thought you weren’t coming back.”

  “Can you drive me to the library?” Lily asked.

  Molly glanced at her then Reese. She shrugged. “Sure. Let me get my keys.” She shuffled back into the house.

  Reese’s eyes locked with Lily’s as he backed towards the truck and climbed in.

  She watched him speed down the road towards town, never noticing Molly return until the redhead nudged her. “Want to explain?”

  Lily shrugged. “I need a reason to go to Buddy’s.”

  “Right. Your Dad. Didn’t you get a couple of new books on beer brewing?”

  Lily’s eyes lit up. “Yes.”

  “I’m sure Buddy would like to know how to brew his own beer. Go deliver them.”

  Lily reached out and hugged her friend. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Now let’s go before Reese thinks you’ve backed out.”

  The ride into Braden only took minutes and it took less time than that for Lily to find the books on the circulation counter. With one last hug with Molly, she started her walk to Buddy’s house.

  Lily knocked on the door, two large books on the art of beer making clenched in her arms. She could feel herself shake as she glanced down the street on her left then her right. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe she should just go back to the library…

  The door opened without anyone there to answer it. Lily took a deep breath to steady her nerves. It didn’t help. She nudged the door open further and stepped inside to find Reese standing in the foyer. Her eyes wandered from his tennis shoe covered feet up his tight jeans stopping at the bulge at the V of his thighs. They continued across his broad, muscular chest and finally stopped when they reached his brilliant blue eyes. “You weren’t at the door,” she breathed, her voice barely a whisper.

  “You don’t want anyone seeing us together, remember?” Reese growled.

  “I know. It’s just—” Her voice was robbed by Reese’s mouth smothering hers, his body slamming against hers shutting the door closed behind them.

  His hands knocked the books to the floor then pinned hers over her head as he tasted her, his teeth gently tugging on her lips, his mouth and tongue trailing across her cheek to her neck. He breathed in her ear, “Do you know how long I’ve wanted this? Before prom. I wanted to kill Connor Baker when he bragged he took your virginity. Your first time belonged to me.”

  “You’ve wanted me that long?”

  Reese grasped her chin in his free palm and turned her eyes towards his. “I’ve been in love with you since I was a kid, Lily. Since I kissed your cheek on the playground.”

  Lily stared at him wide-eyed at this revelation.

  Reese gazed at her then his fingers left her face and trailed down her chest.

  Her breath caught in her throat as he tugged and yanked at
each button on her blouse until they were all free. She clenched her eyes closed. Reese Cooper, the sexiest man she ever met, the guy who at the thought of being naked set her on the verge of orgasm, was looking at her without her shirt. She couldn’t hide her pale skin, the soft bit of pudge where a perfect set of abs should be…

  “Holy fuck, Lily,” he breathed.

  She couldn’t answer. She opened her eyes and met his.

  He caressed her cheek, keeping her hands pinned with his other hand. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on.”

  “Reese—”

  “I’m serious. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. Want me to prove it to you?” Reese pressed against her tighter, the evidence of his erection hard against her hip.

  Lily could do was moan.

  Reese let go of her hands then took one in his to lead her to his bedroom.

  Lily dug her heels in the doorway at the sight of the neatly made bed waiting for them.

  Reese turned back to her frowning. “You don’t want to do this now?” he demanded.

  “It’s not that,” she squeaked. “It’s just… Do you remember what you said about Connor?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Connor lied.”

  Reese’s beautiful blue eyes grew wide. “You’re a—?”

  “Not in my daydreams. But yeah.”

  The stunned look on his face grew slowly into a wide grin. He tugged her to him and placed a deep, hot, triumphant kiss on her lips.

  She melted against him, breathing in his masculine scent, as his hands trailed up her back and undid the clasps of her bra.

  Pulling from her, he tossed it and her blouse on the floor. His hands gently cupped the soft mounds in his large hands, his thumbs grazing her soft pink nipples. His eyes were glazed over as he stared at them, licking his lips. “Lily, you’re so beautiful,” he murmured. Reese let them go then slid his hands down her ribs to the zipper of her skirt, quickly releasing it and letting it drop to pool at her feet.

  Lily bit back her huff of disappointment. The thought of Reese’s mouth on her breasts made her heart flutter.

  After barely a touch, he moved on. He dropped to his knees before her and hooked his fingers into her panties. He looked up at her, a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. “Don’t worry, Lilybug. I’m going to spend plenty of time on those. But I need you naked in my bed right now. You have no idea how much I need it. I’m so hard it hurts.” He tugged her underwear off, nudging each ankle for her to lift her feet. He tossed the rest of her clothes in the corner then raised himself until his eyes locked with her heart tattoo. He gently kissed it, lapping his tongue over the sensitive flesh.

  She trembled at his touch.

  Reese rose to his feet and tugged his shirt over his head.

  Lily moaned as her eyes wandered over his sculpted chest, his perfect biceps, the soft trail of fuzz that grazed his chest down to the waistband of his jeans.

  By the smirk on his face, she knew he heard her. He made quick work on the fly of his jeans, dropping both them and his briefs to the floor, then kicking them into the corner with her clothes.

  Her eyes darted away as her cheeks flamed. She couldn’t look. She was a good preacher’s daughter…

  Reese tugged her to him, turning her face to him. “Not what you expected?”

  “No, Reese. You’re so—wow. It’s just…”

  He chuckled as he softly kissed her. “I forget. You’re innocent. Time to come get in bed with the sinner.”

  Lily’s heart raged as he led her to the bed, tugging her down on the mattress with him. His mouth found her breasts, his teeth nibbling on one nipple as he kneaded her other breast with his palm. She arched against him, shuddering as his lips weaved a path down her ribs, across her hip to the soft flesh of her inner thigh. His tongue swiped across her nub. Lily squirmed as she whimpered in protest. “No, please.”

  Reese looked up at her from between her legs. “Too soon? Later maybe.” He stretched out over her, pinning her hands to the pillow as he kissed her neck.

  The feel of his body, the heat of his skin against hers drove every coherent thought from her mind. She wanted one thing, needed one thing, was about to go insane if she didn’t have it. Him.

  As if he could read her mind, Reese kneed her thighs apart.

  She whispered soft pleas at the feel of him nudging against her wet warmth.

  Reese’s sucked on her earlobe before he pressed his mouth to her ear. “Baby, this is going to hurt.”

  “I know.” Her eyes opened wide in panic. “Condom?”

  “Slipped it on while you were being shy and looking the other way. Hold on to my hands. Look into my eyes. All right?”

  Lily nodded as she laced her fingers between his. She watched Reese bite his lips nervously. He rocked his hips, filling her quickly. Lily yelped then whimpered as the sharp pain shot through her.

  Reese softly kissed her, lying still. “Lily, baby,” he murmured.

  The pain quickly disappeared, replaced by the desperate need to feel Reese move inside her. She arched her hips, rocking against him. She heard him laugh as she kept her pace, a knot tightening deep in her core wanting to explode.

  “Go, baby.” Reese softly encouraged before he dipped his lips to her breast, nibbling and suckling. His hips rolled in tempo with hers, driving him deeper each time their bodies met.

  Lily pulled her hands free from his and knotted her fingers in his thick, dark hair as she panted. Her thrusts grew wild, her mewing louder. Reese’s own moans filled her ears as his hands wandered down to her ass, gripping the flesh. She cried out as he pulled her hard against him, burying him deep inside her. Fire filled her veins, her body exploding as she peaked. Reese thrusted fast, as she clutched his body tightly. He trembled in her arms as she felt him throb inside her. He didn’t let her go when he had finished. She had never been held so close to anyone in her life.

  “So, in those daydreams. Was I this good?” Reese teased.

  “Who said it was you?” Lily countered.

  “Then who was it?”

  Lily huffed.

  Reese laughed. “Because Baby, you were never this good in my dreams. It’s never been this good ever. Stay tonight. I don’t want to let you go. Please.”

  “My father—”

  “Tell him you stayed with Molly.” Reese pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. “Please, Baby.”

  Lily touched his cheek gently. Reese turned his face into it, pressing his lips into her palm. Her heart nearly burst. “Reese.”

  “For the first time in my life, things seem right. This seems right. You. This. Us. It’s right.”

  Lily nodded in response. It was all she could do. She knew what a mess Reese’s life had been. All of Braden knew. His mom left him and his father when he was just a baby. His father beat him regularly, leaving him full of bruises and the occasional broken bone. Social services didn’t intervene near enough. By the time he was twelve, he and the county sheriff were on a first name basis. If it weren’t for Buddy, who wasn’t exactly a saint himself and high school sports, Reese would have been locked up by the age of eighteen. The more Lily thought about it, fighting seemed the logical choice for a career for Reese. He’d been fighting all his life.

  He kissed her cheek softly before he pulled away from her and disappeared down the hall.

  She wrapped her arms around her legs, hugging herself tight. She just had sex with Reese Cooper. And he asked her to stay the night with him. He also pretty much told her that he loved her. She slipped her finger and thumb up her arm and pinched herself. Pain shot through the limb.

  Nope, not dreaming. Wow.

  The sound of the toilet flushing was quickly followed by the clicking of glasses. Moments later, Reese reappeared in the doorway, a bottle of wine and two wine glasses in his hands.

  Lily’s eyes darted away. She could hear him laugh then felt the bed shift with his weight.

  “Baby, you’re going to have to get us
ed to seeing me naked,” Reese chided.

  “I am?” Lily questioned.

  “Well, I was hoping this wasn’t a one-time deal. I don’t even plan on it being a one-time deal tonight.” Reese set the bottle and glasses down then took her hand. He led it to his cock, guiding her fingers around it. He let go a little hiss as he did so. “See it doesn’t bite.”

  “But it doesn’t seem comfortable for you.”

  “The woman I love, the one I’ve fantasized for years sleeping with, has her hand on my junk. Baby, it just makes me want me to start round two.”

  Lily gazed into his eyes with awe. “Really?”

  “I’m sure you can tell. I’m already getting hard.”

  “I mean the other thing. That—you know…”

  “That I love you? Not the most romantic way to say it to you but yeah, Lily, I love you.”

  She felt her cheeks heat up. Her lips curled into a smile as she softly squeezed him, feeling him grow harder in her hand.

  He squirmed as he gasped. “So much for good preacher’s daughter. You have an evil streak.”

  She giggled as he pried loose her fingers.

  With a sin laced smile of his own, he nudged her back down on the bed. “If you’re gonna play with me, I want to look at you.”

  Lily’s hands slid up her body to hide her more unflattering parts of her.

  Reese hopped up on her thighs and pinned her arms to her sides. “Nope, I want to see everything.” His hot gaze wandered over every pore of skin.

  She turned away, clenching her eyes shut. If I were as sexy as the swimsuit models in the sports magazines it would be different. But I’m not. I’m plain old Lily Dix—

  She was pulled from her thoughts by the sweet sensation of teeth gently nibbling on her breast. A voice rumbled across her skin. “Mine.” Her eyes popped open to find Reese looking at her, his mouth suckling at her nipple, his eyes hungry. He let go and stretched out over her. “Mine,” he repeated. “I want you in my bed. I want you out of my bed. You are mine.”

  Their eyes locked for several long moments. His? I’m his? He wants me? I want him more than anything in the world. With a soft smile, she raised herself until her lips met his, parting them timidly, so her tongue could tangle with his.