UnExpected (The Fighter Series Book 2)

by Matson, TC

  The conversation change means she’s at a loss for words. And for her to be at a loss scares the hell out of me, but I don’t argue. It’s early, but a drink sounds perfect.

  The satisfying “pop” of the wine bottle fills the air. It quenches the thirst of anxiety, sending relaxing pulses to your muscles. God, I sound like a wine-o.

  “I can’t wait to taste this bad boy,” she says pouring it into one of the glasses.

  “Since when did you drink wine?”

  “Guilty pleasure. Shhhh.” She places her finger over her lips and whispers. “Don’t blow my cover.”

  I chuckle and then take a small sip of the red, tart, but oddly sweet, liquid. It warms and cools my throat, a sensation I can feel all the way to my stomach.

  Holly leans back on the counter and rests her glass against her chest. “Feel him out when he gets here tonight. You’ll know if something’s wrong when you see him. You may be sitting here worried about absolutely nothing. Honestly, I think you have nothing to fret about anyway.”

  “His past is daunting.”

  Frustrated she slings one arm down. “It’s his past. He’s not the same Levi. He’s a gushy and sweet guy now, who I know loves you too much. I know it’s hard to forget, but come on, Paige. Don’t keep holding it against him.”

  “I know you’re right. I’ve told myself that a million times, but when it’s in my face like that…”

  “Yeah, it sucks. But driving yourself crazy over nothing is torture. You two are crazy about each other. Trust that. Your mind is an evil bastard.”

  I smile slightly. “Instead of stripping, have you ever thought of going into psychology? You’re pretty good at giving advice.”

  “Nah. Advice comes easily when you actually like someone.” She winks.

  A knock on the door sends my pulse jumping through the roof and I turn to Holly with wide eyes. “Please tell me you ordered pizza.”

  From her expression, she’s just as confused as I am heading to the door.

  “Hey, baby.” Matt’s deep voice fills the silent apartment.

  Holly hesitates. “Uh, hey.”

  And with that, I know Ryker is with him. My heart sinks.

  The moment they walk through the door, Ryker spots me and sports a cocky ass grin. And while he hugs Holly, his eyes never leave me.

  “Am I allowed to say hello?” he asks like a smug asshole.

  “Hello, Ryker.” That was facetiously enthusiastic.

  His eyes shine with hunger as they slide up and down my body. “You look exquisite today,” he says taking a seat on the gray loveseat.

  I cringe, rolling my eyes, and then ignore him turning my attention to the brown shaggy-haired man who has captured my friend’s heart. “How are you, Matt?”

  “I’m good,” he answers quickly. “Real good. How have you been?”

  I grimace on the inside as blades of awkwardness drag down my spine. “I’m good. Thanks.”

  “Close fight last night,” Ryker pipes in. “Katie about had her ass handed to her.”

  Reluctantly, I turn back and answer him. “With it being her first fight in front of hundreds of people, I think her nerves presented a battle she’s never fought before. I think she did well.”

  The right side of his lips pull up bestowing a winsome dimple. His electric blue eyes harden roguishly. “I could tell her trainer was very proud of her. Not often do you see a fighter wrap their legs around their coach.”

  It’s all I can do not to gasp from the gut-punch. Swallowing hard, I tighten my lips. “Then it’s apparent you don’t deal with women often.”

  All mischievous features melt away turning into conceit. “You’re very right. I enjoy savoring the finer things in life and if that means I don’t sleep with every woman I set my eyes on, then so be it.”

  The resounding fierceness raises my pulse in tempo. A tingle drives through my legs and takes my breath. I tilt my head. “If you’re insinuating anything about Levi, I’d appreciate it if you kept your opinions to yourself. Spiteful jealousy never looks good one anyone.” I end my sentence hardening my glare at him.

  I just added fuel to his fire. He looks amused while he peers down my body and then back up. He licks his lips and slides to the end of the cushion. “Paige, you’re still very breathtaking even as you’re trying to be a bitch.”

  I hold up a finger. “Don’t,” I warn him.

  He doesn’t waver. “What? Inform you of your beauty?”

  “I’m informed daily by my boyfriend, who by the way is the only opinion that matters to me.”

  He squints his eyes. “Not much you can do to stop me. I tell it like I see it,” he says conceitedly sliding back into the loveseat. He crosses his tattooed arms over his chest and smirks like a supercilious prick.

  I set my glass on the coffee table and reach for my purse, praying he doesn’t see the effect his smugness has on me. “You’re right. There’s nothing I can do to stop you. But I sure as hell don’t have to sit here and listen to it.” I swing around to Holly. “I’ll talk to you later. Thanks for today. And Matt…it was nice seeing you again.”

  I inhale deeply, letting it go slowly just after shutting the door. There’s something about that man. He’s arrogant and seems to have something up his sleeve, but past the hotshot ego there’s a hidden amiability. He makes no sense and reminds me too much of Levi.

  Chapter 14

  From the airport to Paige’s house is thirty more minutes and these fucking red lights are my enemies. Just when I think I’m on a roll, the bastards stop me.

  I figured Paige would’ve called me back, but she didn’t. I hate she’s hurt, but I understand why. And although, the situation wasn’t as it seemed, the vision had to be horrid for her. I tried explaining, but she didn’t hear it clearly. Like a wolf, she was fixated on her next kill. A confused and hurt woman never hears the truth. Only what she thinks she thinks. Get it? No? Let me explain further.

  I say nothing happened. She hears something could’ve happened.

  I say it’s not what it seems. She hears there’s a possibility of what it seems.

  I say baby, calm down. She hears I’m not interested in your feelings.

  Get it yet? Women do strange and confusing things. Yes can mean no. No can mean yes. They act like they don’t care when they really do. I’m just as baffled as you. I’ll get through the instructions written in the weird ass language one paragraph at a time. And when I finish, I might just write a damn book about it.

  It’s been weeks since I’ve gotten to feel my girl’s skin. I’m impatient about it. Weaving in and out of traffic, all I can think about is surprising her with my early appearance. Her eyes will light up. Her smile will dominate her face. It’s fucking gorgeous.

  I kill the headlights turning into her driveway. I texted Blain earlier to check on her, and he said that she had laid down to take a nap since I was getting in late. Good thing I have a key. Quietly I grab my suitcase and make my way to her door.

  And the answer to your worries is yes. I do know there’s a chance I push open the door and she sets her Ruger’s sight on me. It’s a chance I’m willing to take especially since Blain’s text wasn’t but forty-five minutes ago. I’m hoping she’s in a deep sleep.

  I set my suitcase down just inside of the door and make my way to her room. Silently, I turn the knob and push it open. My heart is making one hell of a racket in my ears, nearly deafening the shit out of me. I’m stoked to see my girl but nervous I’ll be shot in the next few seconds.

  Her lamp beside her bed is on. She’s curled on her side holding a pillow, her hair spread out behind her. She’s angelic. I smile wide at the sight before me. I sit on the edge of her bed and gently run my fingers over her hair. She smiles and faintly moans.

  “Sunshine,” I whisper in her ear, brushing it with my nose.

  Immediately, her eyes spring open and she twists, throwing a wild punch and frantically backing away from me.

  “Paige!” I yell laughi
ng.

  What? I can’t help it.

  Reality sets in and she blinks. Instantly her face lights up, her green eyes I’ve yearned for sparkle and she smiles wide. She squeals in elation, launching herself around my neck.

  “Surprise,” I say chuckling.

  She pulls back with damp eyes. “I’ve missed you so much.”

  I don’t waste any more time with all this mushy bullshit. Grabbing her cheeks, I press my lips to hers, the very thing I’ve been craving. A blaze of glory pumps through me as I inhale her soft moans. She grips my biceps as I run my fingers from her cheek to her nape, pulling her in closer.

  “I’ve missed you too,” I whisper against her lips.

  We release our kiss and embrace each other. Moments pass, catching up with the closeness we’ve missed in the recent weeks. Vanilla floods me…it’s a cure to all the misery.

  She yanks back and scoots off the bed. “If I had known you were coming early, I would have made you dinner. Are you hungry?”

  Immediately, I drop my gaze between her legs and with one finger under my chin, she pulls me back to her face. “I meant for food.” She giggles.

  My lips tighten as they curl up. “It’s been too long.”

  She takes off down the hall and my eyes watch her vivacious ass bounce to each step. Remember the old cartoons when a character smelled a pie and their whole body would levitate and float off following the heavenly aroma? Yeah, her ass is that magical.

  She rips open the fridge scanning its contents. “Um, grilled chicken salad? That won’t take long. I have the stuff,” she says shutting the door and landing face first into my chest. She’s so frantic to make sure I’m fed that she’s not paying attention to her surroundings.

  Ladies, let me tell you something about yourselves. It sounds chauvinistic, but if you take care of your man, trust me when I say it will be reciprocated. We are not complicated creatures, unlike you. We’re simple and require no user’s manual that should be translated by someone. I don’t mean this by sexual favors, although we really enjoy you taking the best care of us in that category. I’m speaking of our emotional needs. Yes, we have them, somewhere hidden inside a treasure chest in our chest with a lost key. We love surprises whether you buy us something or initiate sex. I mean what is sexier than the woman we love feeling frisky? Appreciate us by showing how much you care. For instance, Paige wants to make sure I’m fed. It’s simple but it speaks words of magnitude. She’s taking care of me. Get the gist?

  I place my hands on her shoulders, smiling tenderly. “How about we make dinner together?”

  Rule number twenty-eight: Do things together with your woman. It inflates her self-esteem. And adds a bonding moment you women crave.

  Her eyes change from a frenzied scramble and soften to relieved adoration. See? Her wild mind just relaxed realizing she doesn’t have to go out of her way to take care of me alone. Plus, this will allow me to stay close and touch her as much as I want. It’s a win-win situation.

  She grabs all the ingredients and I grab the pan to fix the chicken. She’s beside me preparing the salad cutting the lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers. She brushes against me and it overwhelms my rational senses causing blood to rush to my cock.

  Patience. Fuck it. I’ll be damned if I’m going to wait any longer to feel her. I grab her by the waist and plant her ass on the end of the counter and capture her divine lips. Her breath hitches as our tongues dance together. I lift her shirt and cup her breast, pinching her nipple. She drops her head back, twisting her fingers through my hair and pulls me into her neck.

  I fucking love the silent directions.

  I nip at the soft skin and wrap my arm around her waist to slide her closer into me. She’s a frantic mess. Nails scrape across my shirt, pulling it over my head.

  Ah, yes. There’s the dreamy gaze that tugs my heart and inflates my ego knowing my girl is wildly attracted to me. She takes in the sight before her, etching every inch of my chest to my abs. She bites her lip innocently staring at the tattoo she knows is just for her.

  She can look at me later. I’m too impatient. Tucking my thumbs under her waistband, I pull her yoga pants and panties down and sling them to the side. What a sight. Leaned back on her elbows, her legs open waiting for me, a soft glow on her face. Cue cock jump although he’s well aware of everything going on.

  I drop to my knees, place her feet on my shoulders and do exactly what I’ve wanted to do—feast on my girl. She sucks in air, her hips push forward and she moans as my tongue strokes across her clit. Dragging my fingers in and out, she thrusts against them and it’s not long before I feel her walls tighten around them.

  “Levi…” she mutters.

  Yep. She’s there and in for an amazing awakening. She whimpers as I stop. Her eyes are heavy with lust watching my hands move to undo my pants, and when I pull out my rock hard dick, her gaze flicks back to my eyes.

  I place myself at her soaked entrance and grab her calves. Slowly, inch by inch, I ease into her, savoring the feeling of her being wrapped around my cock. The immediate rush to my balls, the euphoric zing of emotions overtakes me.

  I begin to pump into her, driving deeply using her legs as leverage to push and pull. She drops her head back, mewling for me and her back arches. Her walls start clamping down on me.

  I fucking love knowing I can drive her into an explosion.

  Her moans become louder, her body rigid as she reaches that glorious peak I’ve waited so long to see. She jerks unable to control the ripples of her orgasm. I grab her nape and pull her into my lips and instinctively she wraps her arms around my neck. I scoop her up from under her legs, lift and slam her back down on my cock taking her down the hall to her room.

  Her breaths are short and ragged and I inhale them all. Slowly, I lay her down on the bed and let go of her legs allowing them to fall to the side of my waist.

  “You had your eyes closed,” I say quietly against her ear.

  She tries to say something but it comes out as a gasp as I slide in and out of her throbbing pussy. I lift her to pull her shirt off and take to her tits. Flicking my tongue across her hard nipple, a shudder rolls down her body and she bucks underneath me. I lap between both breasts and then make my way to her neck. From there I place soft kisses under her earlobe.

  “I’ve missed you, Sunshine.”

  “I…” she trails off. She’s never been one to talk during sex. She’s too self-conscious.

  Rocking together, push after push, our skin touching, our breaths in sync, she drags her hands all over my body. They leave a path of euphoria and satisfaction. My chest tightens as a silent pull grips my heart. It feels full and intense. I feel flooded by sappy emotions, but they don’t scare me. They feel addictive. It’s as if she’s kissed my soul.

  “I fucking love this,” I growl becoming more frenzied with my thrusts. “Knowing this pussy is mine…” I drive deep. “Knowing your eyes are rolling because of me.” I press harder. “I love it.”

  Her eyes roll, her legs tighten against my hips, and her back starts arching.

  Fuck that. “Open your eyes, Paige. I want to see what I do to you.”

  The moment her blazing bright green eyes hit mine, we both lose it. Bright lights flash, and built up tension floods my body as it releases a voracious, mind-shattering roll of ecstasy. I buck like a virgin, unable to feel any of my limbs. Paige cries out my name and rakes her nails across my biceps as I fall to my elbows, dropping my head beside hers.

  She nuzzles her sweat-glistened cheek against mine as shudders buzz through us both while we catch our breath.

  “Mmmm…” she hums in an abundance of satisfaction.

  “Mmmm is right.” I think I said that out loud.

  She’s drawing circles on my shoulder blade and it causes goosebumps to spread over my skin. I’ve become mush in her arms. Not because I just got my rocks off, but because my heart is behind every damn thing I do. I’ve never loved before Paige, and I wouldn’t trade all this sen
sual shit for anything.

  Chapter 15

  I wake and roll to an empty bed. Regardless how many times this happens, my heart always skips a beat. I stretch my sore body. Not having his rough touch in weeks wreaks havoc in my muscles. I grin thinking about the way his eyes lit up and secretly, I know he made love to me.

  Make no mistake. He may be strong and egotistical, but he has the warmest heart I’ve ever seen from a man. No matter how hard he acts, I know he’s super emotional and tries hiding every drop of it.

  I dress and then pad down the hallway. Blain is leaning against the very counter where my amazing night started and Levi is on the stool with his back toward me.

  “Good morning,” Blain says looking over Levi.

  Levi twists around and his lips quirk up in a sexy as hell grin. “Sunshine.”

  “What’s with the Sunshine nickname?” Blain asks.

  Levi turns back to him and waves his hand dismissively. “Just a nickname.”

  I sling my arm over his shoulder and kiss his cheek before looking at Blain. “He says it’s because I’m as gorgeous as the sunrise and I remind him how phenomenal the sunlight feels on his skin,” I tease lightheartedly.

  I push off toward the coffee maker and flirtatiously cut my eyes to him. I can see the wheels in his mind are spinning as a playful grin emerges.

  “Cute,” Blain picks in disgust.

  “Cute’s for—”

  “Puppies, Blain,” I interrupt Levi. “He prefers to be called adorable.” I giggle.

  Levi launches from his seat and rounds the island and I take off running. I’m laughing too hard, dodging his grip, bounding over couches and around chairs that I don’t pay too much attention to where the hell I’m going. I’ve landed my butt in the corner.

  Levi stalks to me and grabs my arm, tossing me over his shoulder, and then spins to Blain.

  “I believe she’s forgotten to take her meds this morning.”