Black Belt Knockout

by Winter Travers

  She looked up at me with a sad smile on her face. “This sounds like an amazing opportunity for you, Roman.”

  “It is, and it’s also amazing for Powerhouse because SKW wants me to wear my regular uniform, just with a few patches added to it. This could be the thing that puts Powerhouse on the map finally.”

  “Then I don’t know why you’re thinking about it. You need to do this.”

  “But what if something happens with the baby, and I’m not here?”

  “If you mean my doctor appointments, I’ll just schedule them around you. It’s not that big of a deal. Once I get to the end of my pregnancy, I go more frequently, but right now, it’s only once a month.”

  “I’ll still take Sam to class, and if I happen not to be here, Kellan said he can pick him up and drop him off.”

  She pushed her half-eaten sandwich away and sat back on the couch. “You need to do what’s best for you, Roman, and I think this sounds like an amazing opportunity for you. I assume they don’t hand out endorsements to just anyone who does karate, right?” I shook my head. This was a big deal. “Then you’re doing it. Don’t worry about the baby or me.”

  That was exactly what I didn’t want to hear. I knew Sage already thought I was some cocky asshole who only thought about himself, and me taking this endorsement wasn’t going to help change the way she thought. “I’m always going to worry about you and the baby, Sage.”

  She waved her hand at me. “You know what I meant, Roman. I’ve made it this far by myself with Sam. I’m pretty capable.”

  Again, not what I meant. “You’re not hearing what I’m trying to say.”

  “Um, yes I am. You wanted to run it by me, and you did. I say go for it. I know nothing about karate, but I know basics of things. Being offered a sponsorship is a big deal. You’re stupid not to take it.”

  “This is not how I expected this conversation going.”

  “Did you expect me to beg you stay? You’re still gonna be here, just not on the weekends sometimes, right?” I nodded my head. “And you’re gonna be making more money and growing the Powerhouse name, yes?”

  “Yes.”

  “Call ‘em, sign the papers, do whatever you need to do. Be a badass ninja, and take all the money they throw at you.”

  I sat back and looked at Sage. “You literally just blew my mind.”

  “Because I tend to be level-headed and not think like one of the bimbos you date?”

  “I don’t date.” I didn’t.

  She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. “Sure.”

  “I don’t,” I insisted.

  “Look, you can call it whatever you want, Roman. But I can tell you I’m not like the girls you…do whatever with.”

  I sat forward and turned my body towards her. “I don’t know exactly what you think of me, but I can tell, you’re probably wrong.”

  A smug smile spread across her lips. “So you mean to tell me you don’t have a list of different types of women you wanted to sleep with?”

  How in the bloody hell did she know about that? “That was when I was younger.”

  “You’re twenty-seven, Roman. That’s young.”

  “No, I mean when I was twenty and on the circuit.”

  “So you’re saying you had a list of women you wanted to sleep with because you were on the circuit.”

  “Yes.”

  “And you just told me five minutes ago you were going back on the circuit. So, does that mean you need to make a new list, or you’re just going to redo the one you finished?”

  Son of a bitch. “First off, I want to know how you found out about that list. Second, I’ll have you know, I just finished that list.” So, ha.

  Her eyebrows rose. “Oh, is that so?”

  Oh fuck. What hole did I just dig? “Well, not just finished.”

  “It’s good to see you really didn’t waste any time after we were together. You must have just texted me because you were bored, yeah?”

  Double fuck.

  She tucked her legs underneath herself and wrapped her arms around her middle. She was retreating, and I didn’t fucking like it.

  “That was in the past, Sage.”

  She nodded her head slowly. “You’re right. That is in the past, just like you and I.”

  “Wait, what? I meant the list was in the past.”

  “You know, I really shouldn’t ask, but I need to know what exactly was on that list.”

  Everything inside me screamed to keep my mouth shut. No matter what I would say, she was going to spin it to make me look like an asshole. “We’re not going to talk about this.”

  “Oh, but I think we are. I can just guess a couple of them. Blonde? Brunette? Redhead?

  Yes, yes, and yes. I kept my lips sealed.

  “But there had to be some more creative ones on there, right? Cheerleader? Nerd?”

  This was torture. “I’m not sure what the point of this is.”

  “But what could be the final one that took you so long to find?” She tapped her chin, and her eyes traveled over me. “Unless I was the last piece to the puzzle.”

  I swallowed, my Adam’s apple bobbing hard. “This isn’t going to fix anything, Sage.”

  “What is something different about me that put me on the list? I’m brunette, but I’m sure you scratched that one off your list right off the bat.”

  “Maybe I should go wake Sam up and see if he has to go to the bathroom.” I would walk through a pit full of snakes to avoid this conversation.

  Her mouth dropped, and she sat forward. “That’s it. That is how I was on the list. I’m a mom.”

  I knew where Sam got his smarts from. It didn’t take her long to figure that one out. “I didn’t know you were a mom when we were together, Sage.”

  “But that doesn’t change the fact I was on your list. You found out after I was a mom, and your list was complete.”

  She was right. Again. She was like a dog with a bone, not letting this drop. “What movie did you chose to watch?” Distract, distract, distract.

  “Mistletoe Jingle. I’m not mad at you, by the way. Just like I was rational about you going back on the circuit, I also understand I can’t be upset about something that happened before I even met you. Well, except for me scratching the last thing off your list. That’s a little perturbing.”

  Perturbing. I wasn’t sure if that was better or worse than being pissed. “It’s nothing, Sage.”

  She sat back, settling on the couch. “If you say so,” she mumbled. “Are you really going to stick around and watch this with me?”

  I glanced at her. “Am I welcome to stay, or are you still perturbed?”

  “I suppose you can stay. But you can’t complain about what we’re watching. This is cheesy as hell, but I love it.”

  I held up my hands and sat back on the couch. “You’re not going to hear a word from me.”

  She turned up the volume on the TV and grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch. “Good. If you’re lucky, we’ll have ice cream in a little bit.”

  “You do know I’m not a kid, right?”

  Her eyes roamed over my body. “Trust me, I fully know you are not a child.”

  “Try to remember that, babe.”

  Her eyes connected with mine, and she smiled. “It’s hard to forget.”

  Well, that was promising. For a second there, I thought she was going to try and rip my dick off.

  Thank God Sage was level-headed. Although it had been touch and go there for a little bit. I just needed to figure out a way to get on her good side.

  And stay there.

  *

  Chapter 8

  Sage

  He was handsome.

  No doubt about it.

  With chiseled features, full lips, piercing blue eyes, and banging body, it wasn’t hard to understand why Roman didn't lack female company.

  He had passed out halfway through the movie and was lightly snoring on the end of my couch.

  I t
hought for sure I would have been the one to fall asleep, but I was wide awake, watching Roman. The TV was turned off, and the only noises were Roman breathing and the sound of the kitchen clock ticking.

  I was a bitch before.

  He had been right about us not needing to discuss his list. It wasn’t any of my business. It wasn’t like we had been dating while he was doing it. He hadn’t hurt anyone, and it wasn’t like he had slept with the whole city. At least, I hoped he hadn’t.

  A glance at my phone showed it was half-past eleven, and I was ready for bed. I just had to get Roman off my couch.

  I inched down to his end of the couch, getting up on my knees, and leaned over him. “Roman,” I whispered. I had hoped he was a light sleeper, but I didn’t think he was. I gently shook his shoulder, and he didn’t move.

  I contemplated slugging him on the shoulder but figured that was going to have to be my last ditch effort. My hands grabbed both of his arms and shook him harder.

  This time, his eyes sprung open, and his piercing blue gaze locked with mine. “Um, hi?”

  “What’s wrong?” he asked immediately. He grabbed my arms and gently squeezed.

  I bit my lip. “Nothing. The movie is over, and I’m ready to go to bed. I didn’t think you wanted to sleep on my couch all night.”

  “You’re sure you are okay?”

  Roman was obsessed with asking me if I was okay. It was slightly annoying, but in the end, it was endearing. “I’m okay.”

  “Good.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “More than okay.” A slow grin spread across his lips.

  “Uh, good. You think you can let me go now?” I was much too close to him. My brain was foggy when he was this close, and all intelligent thought left me.

  “Not yet.”

  Ergh, huh? “Do you know when you’ll let me go?”

  “As soon as you answer a question.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Why do you hate me?”

  My jaw dropped, and I shook my head. “I don’t hate you.”

  “Be honest.”

  I was honest. I didn’t hate him. I just…I just didn’t know. “I am.”

  “Then how do you feel about me?”

  “Roman, do we really have to do this right now?” I was tired, he had just woken up, and dammit if I didn’t know what to say.

  “Yes.”

  And I thought I was the one who was calling the shots. “I don’t know what to do with you.”

  “I can think of a few things you can do with me.” His eyes flared, and he moved his head closer.

  “Not what I mean, ninja. We both know when it comes to that, we both know what we are doing.”

  “Really? I think maybe we need a double-check.” His hand snaked around my middle, and he pulled me close.

  I licked my lips and looked into his eyes. I needed to pull away. I knew this wasn’t a good idea. Things were already messed up and confusing between Roman and me. Whatever the hell we were doing right now was not going to fix anything. “Roman.”

  “Just one kiss, Sage. You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about that night. Not even a little bit?”

  I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. I also couldn’t lie. “You know what happened last time with just one kiss.”

  “The good thing about that is, I can’t get you pregnant again. We’re good to go.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. What a smug ass. “I don’t know. All it took was one time. I’m pretty sure you have some bionic cum.”

  “Bionic cum?” he laughed. “Where do you come up with this stuff?” He pulled me onto his lap, and my legs straddled his waist.

  “I don’t know why you’re laughing. It might be a medical condition.”

  “Really? Maybe you should check me over.”

  I rested my hands on his shoulders. “I think you’re full of shit, Roman.”

  He shrugged. “I got you in my lap again, so I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “What happens after I get out of your lap?”

  “Pretty sure it’ll just be a continuous cycle of me trying to get you back into my lap.”

  I was okay with that. “And you think you can get me back here?” I wasn’t going to let him know I was okay with that, though.

  “That’s iffy.”

  At least he wasn’t acting like a cocky asshole who thought he had me where he wanted me. “Where’s the confident Roman Yeck we all know?”

  His hands rubbed my back. “He’s still here. I just don’t want to set you running again.”

  “Hard to run when you won’t let me go.”

  He stared up at me.

  I didn’t know what else to say.

  His hands moved over my back. “I’m gonna kiss you now, Sage. You got five seconds to tell me no.”

  I chewed on my lip, knowing I should say no, but the word was stuck in my throat.

  He inched closer as his hand traveled up my back, and his fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me in. “Times up, baby.”

  His lips met mine, and the kiss was electric. There wasn’t anything between us except for that kiss.

  My lips moved against his as my fingers delved into his hair and held him close.

  He pulled back slightly and looked me in the eye. “Holy fuck.”

  I guess he also felt the pull between us. “Yeah,” I whispered.

  “I should go.”

  And just like that, it was like he poured a bucket of cold water over me. “What?” I was ready to rip my clothes off and let this man have his way with me right here, and now he had to go?

  “It’s late. You need to get some sleep, and I need to be up early to start training.” His arms relaxed around me, and he leaned back on the couch.

  Sexy ninja say what? “Oh, okay.” I clumsily clambered off his lap and stood up. I bumped into the coffee table, and I moved off to the side. Why did I feel like an idiot? I had let him in a fraction of an inch, thinking that maybe something good could happen between us, and now he was leaving.

  “Sage,” he called.

  My eyes connected with his, and I sighed. “Yeah?”

  “Stop thinking so hard.” He stood up and brushed his hands on his pants.

  “I’m just a bit confused.” That was becoming my new state of mind. Confused. “We were there,” I mumbled, pointing at the couch. “And now we’re here.”

  “I’m not dragging you off to bed again without knowing what we both want.”

  “I’m pretty sure we wanted the same thing one minute ago.” He stepped toward me and pulled me into his arms. “Have you ever heard of mixed signals?” This man was all over the damn place.

  His hand cupped my face, and his thumb stroked my cheek. “I want you, Sage. More than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life. But, I don’t want to fuck it up like I did before.”

  “You mean by getting me pregnant? I was just joking when I said you had bionic cum. You can’t get me pregnant again.” Pretty sure I would tell him I was the Virgin Mary if he would just touch me again.

  He leaned forward and rested his forehead on mine. “I’m not that naïve about being pregnant, Sage.”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “Just letting you know,” I whispered.

  “I’m gonna be honest here, Sage. I don’t have a clue what I’m doing. With you, and with the baby. But I know I don’t want to fuck it up any more than I have.”

  “We both fucked it up. I can’t just blame you for getting me pregnant. Pretty sure I had an integral part in that.”

  “You seriously blew me out of the water when you let me kiss you that night.”

  I had blown myself out of the water too when I had done that. I had planned on telling Roman he could shove it where the sun didn’t shine and be on my way. That all changed when he answered the door with no shirt on, and his hair was a sexy, tousled mess that my fingers itched to comb through.

  “Sage?”

  I gulped and ripped my eyes off his bare chest. Could you sa
y sexy? Sweet Jesus. “Hi.”

  “Uh, hi?” He ran his fingers through his hair and leaned against the doorframe. He crossed his arms over his chest, and I took a second to admire his bulging biceps. Oh, my. “Did you just drop by to say hi?” he asked.

  I looked up, scolding myself for being distracted so much. “You aren’t going to date Kennedy.”

  “Okay.”

  What the hell did he mean by okay? He was supposed to put up a fight, then I was going to tell him what an asshole he was, then he would agree not to date Kennedy or be her decoy, and that would be that. “What do you mean okay?”

  “Pretty sure the only thing okay means.”

  “Why don’t you want to date her?” Kennedy was amazing. He should be damn thankful his name was even brought up for the possibility of being the decoy.

  A smirk spread across his lips. “First, you tell me I can’t date Kennedy, and now, you wanna know why I don’t wanna date her? You drunk, Sage?”

  I scoffed and shook my head. “What? Of course not. I’m just making sure you aren’t going to be part of this decoy fiasco.”

  “Heard about it, decided Dante was a better fit for it.”

  I tilted my head to the side. “I figured a no strings attached girlfriend would be right up your alley.”

  “Not in the market for a girlfriend.”

  All of my fight left me, and my body sagged. “I was all amped up, and you totally just wrecked my tirade.”

  “Sorry, baby. You’re welcome to come in and yell at me if you want.” He stepped back and swept his arm out.

  He was inviting me into his lair. I looked up and down the hallway. No one knew I was here. Mary had insisted on Sam spending the night, so there wasn’t anything from keeping me from going in. “I’ve kind of lost my steam,” I mumbled as I walked past him.

  “Maybe I can get you fired back up.” He shut the door and leaned against it with his arms crossed over his chest. “It’s different not seeing you in the café.”

  “I tend not to wear an apron just hanging around the house or walking down the street.”

  “To each their own,” he mumbled.

  I looked around his apartment expecting to be blown away by its opulence and pure extravagance and was surprised that it was…bare. “How very minimalist of you.”