Mr. July: An MMA Sports Romance (Calendar Boys Book 7)

by Nicole S. Goodin

  I don’t know who I think I’m fooling. He might not own my heart yet, but he’s undoubtedly the one holding the strings.

  “Deal,” I whisper.

  He kisses along my collar bone and down to the swell of my breasts. I go weak in the knees all over again.

  “If you’re going to kiss me like that, you might have to hold me up.” My voice comes out like a moan as he nips and kisses my skin.

  “I’m going to do so much more than that, Ramsey,” he says, his eyes coming back up to meet mine.

  They’re a promise, those words.

  This boy is going to steal my heart, I can feel it – I just have to pray that he keeps his word and doesn’t break it to pieces once he has it in his hands.

  We both know he’s capable of destroying anything. Even me, that’s if my brother doesn’t kill me first once he finds out what’s gone on here tonight.

  Shit.

  Hudson’s still staring at me, and for a moment I think he might really be able to read my mind, because his gaze softens, and his hand reaches up and brushes the stray strands of hair from my face before gripping my chin between his thumb and finger.

  “It’s only us,” he whispers. “Just you and me, pinky.”

  Fuck the consequences. Fuck the rules. I’d give up just about anything right now for it to be just me and him.

  “It’s only us,” I reply as I tug his face to mine, our lips coming together in a flurry of passion and heat.

  I’m backed up against a wall, one of my legs hitched around his hip before I can even take another breath.

  “Hudson,” I moan as he pulls his jacket off and lets it fall to the floor.

  “Lift up,” he growls as he tugs on the hem of my jersey.

  I do as he asks, and he pulls it over my head, taking my shirt with it.

  He tosses them over his shoulder, his eyes never leaving my body.

  He takes his time, his gaze lazily roaming over my now only bra-covered chest as his fingers make quick work of the button on my jeans.

  He leaves them on but undone, and I take the opportunity to rid him of his t-shirt.

  I let my fingers roam over his toned torso the way I’ve wanted to every single time he’s laid on my treatment bed.

  I explore every groove and every ridge of his muscles until his head falls forward and he groans.

  “You’re barely even touching me and I feel weak.”

  “I know what you mean,” I breathe as his lips meet the skin on my neck again.

  His fingers skim down my bare sides and I feel goose bumps tingling in their wake.

  “Take me to my room,” I whisper.

  He reaches around me and lifts me effortlessly into his arms, our fronts pressed together and my legs around his hips.

  He walks us, his eyes never once leaving mine, through the living room and down the hallway to my bedroom.

  The guy’s got skills; we don’t bump into a single thing.

  “This is my room,” I state lamely when he sits down on the edge of my bed, with me in his lap.

  “I know, I looked in here when you were in the bathroom once.”

  “You snooped around my room, champ?” I grin.

  He chuckles. “I did, and I’m not even sorry about it.”

  I run my hands up the back of his head, past the closely shaven section and into the longer hair on the top.

  I could touch him like this all day.

  “I can’t believe this is finally happening. I’ve wanted you so bad.”

  I nod in agreement, words getting caught in my throat. I don’t know how to process the fact that he wants me. I know he really does, I can feel how hard he is.

  I doubt there’s a woman in the world who would turn him down, but he’s here with me – not with anyone else.

  That knowledge makes me feel powerful.

  “You’re so pretty,” he says and laughter bubbles from my throat.

  The word sounds wrong coming from his mouth.

  “Too cute?” He smirks.

  “Way too cute… but I like it.”

  “You’re the sexiest fucking woman I’ve ever laid eyes on,” he growls as he flips me with ease so I’m on my back on the bed and he’s hovering above me.

  I gasp at the look in his dark eyes. It’s primal – feral even.

  It’s hot as hell.

  “That better?” he growls.

  I nod, eyes wide.

  He chuckles darkly, his lips turning up into a grin.

  He pushes back so he’s standing at the end of the bed, watching me as he undoes the button and fly of his dark jeans.

  He shoves them down his legs, and I almost moan at the sight of him in his grey Calvin Klein’s, looking powerful as hell and sexy as sin.

  I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone look so good, and I’ve spent a lot of time on Google images.

  Every inch of him is toned to perfection. He’s put back on the weight he lost before his last fight and his muscles are full and defined.

  “You like the view?” he asks, a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.

  “Like is an understatement,” I murmur.

  He chuckles and drops forward, his hands landing on either side on my hips.

  He hooks his thumbs into the sides of my jeans and tugs them down my legs.

  I’ve never felt so exposed in my entire life.

  I’ve had sex with a handful of guys, but none that have looked at my body the way Hudson is – like he wants to worship every inch of it.

  I’ve got a feeling that tonight is going to teach me the difference between men and boys.

  “Seriously, Ramsey, you’re so fucking beautiful.”

  His words, his tone, the look in his eye… he’s the perfect mix of sweet and scary.

  His fingers graze the lace of my underwear, and I have to hold back a moan.

  This is too much, too intense and we haven’t even got started yet.

  He’s barely touched me, and I’m so turned on.

  He chuckles, the bastard knows exactly what he’s doing to me.

  I push up to my elbows and reach down with one hand, stroking his hard length from base to tip through his boxer briefs.

  I swear his eyes roll back in his head.

  “You’re not laughing now, are you?” I smirk.

  He presses my shoulder down, forcing me back onto the bed before settling between my legs.

  He thrusts his hips and presses against me in the most delicious way.

  “I need you, Hudson,” I moan.

  I’ve never needed anything more.

  He dips his head to my ear and tugs the lobe into his mouth all the while continuing to grind his dick against me.

  I feel my nails digging in, one hand on his back and the other in his hair.

  His hand slips between us and I feel him tug.

  The fucker just ripped my brand-new underwear.

  “Those were new,” I say, my voice coming out breathy and light instead of firm like I intended.

  “I’ll buy you a new pair,” he mumbles against my neck.

  He brings his mouth to mine at the same time I feel his fingers slip inside me.

  “Jesus, Ramsey,” he groans, his tone pained.

  Something inside me snaps and I reach for his underwear, I shove at the band and he helps me get them free.

  “Condoms in the top drawer,” I whisper.

  He reaches across the bed, still inside me, driving me insane.

  I almost whimper as he slips his fingers out of me to slide on the condom, but when he replaces them with his hard length, I can’t find a single thing to complain about.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Hudson

  I just had my way with my best friend’s little sister, and I know damn well it won’t be the last time.

  I don’t want to think about what kind of mate that makes me.

  She’s staring at me with those beautiful golden eyes, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.

  She
’s thinking about the implications of this the same way I am.

  We crossed a line tonight; one we can’t just hop back over.

  Things are different now.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” she offers.

  I feel my lips curving up into a smile – I can’t seem to help it when she’s around. I’ve never felt so content.

  “Honestly?”

  She nods.

  “I was thinking about Justin and what’s going to happen next.”

  Her eyes fall. “Me too.”

  “Hey, look at me.” I tip her chin, so she has to look me right in the eyes. “We both knew what doing this was going to mean, but you’re worth it, Ramsey, no matter what happens.”

  “But he’s your best friend.”

  “And you’re …”

  My soul mate.

  The love of my life.

  The most significant person I’ve ever met.

  My other half.

  “You’re really important to me, pinky,” I settle on saying.

  “You’re important to me too,” she sighs, “but what if—”

  “No what ifs,” I cut her off. “Not tonight. We’ll have time for that tomorrow.”

  “Okay,” she whispers.

  “It’s still only us,” I promise her, even though I’m pretty sure I heard Juliet get home about a half hour ago.

  She smiles and leans in for a kiss, and yeah, I was dead right – I’m definitely going to have her again.

  ***

  I hear my phone ring and I blink a couple of times against the harsh morning light.

  I’ve got no clue what time it is, but judging by the sun streaming into this room, I’d say it’s close to midday.

  I glance down at Ramsey, her head on my shoulder and her eyes still peacefully closed.

  I slip out from underneath her and try my best not to wake her – it’s the least I can do after having her up so late.

  I find my phone in the pocket of my jeans, thrown on the other side of her bedroom.

  There’s no sign of my shirt or jacket and I wince when I realise, they’re still probably out by the front door for anyone who walks in to see.

  I hope like fuck that Justin hasn’t been to visit.

  I unlock the screen and see six missed calls, one from Rusty and five from Justin, spanning from last night until this morning.

  “Shit,” I mutter.

  It’s eleven-thirty in the morning.

  I don’t know how the hell I’m going to cover this one up, if I haven’t already been caught out, that is.

  My car is sitting right outside her house, and if I’m right, a collection of my clothes are scattered through her house.

  I run a hand through my hair.

  I hit ‘call back’ on Justin’s missed call and glance back at Ramsey, she’s still sleeping.

  I tip toe out of the room into the hallway and leave her door ajar behind me.

  “Horror, where the fuck have you been?”

  I rake a hand over my face. I can’t lie and say I’m at home, because for all I know, that’s where he is.

  “I’m over at Ramsey’s,” I reply.

  “You’re back there already?”

  I scrunch up my face as I weigh up my options. “Nah, I never left.”

  He’s deathly silent.

  Fuck.

  I don’t know what to do. I can’t tell him this over the phone, and especially not without consulting Ramsey first.

  That only leaves me with one other option – lie to him.

  “We watched a movie when we got home, and I crashed out on the couch pretty late – I guess she left me there. I just woke up.” The bullshit flows from my lips.

  “You ditched a fight night to watch a movie with my sister?”

  “Well I was hardly going to bring her back in so she could just faint again, was I?”

  He’s quiet for another few beats, and I run my hand through my hair again. I’m freaking out. I think he knows I’m lying.

  “Is there something going on between you and Ramsey?”

  “No.”

  Yes.

  “We’re friends.”

  We’re so much more than friends.

  “You told me to look out for her like she was my sister, so that’s what I’m doing.”

  I almost gag on the words as they come out.

  I don’t think of Ramsey as a sister, not even one little bit.

  “If you sleep with her, I’ll kill you, you know that, right?”

  I drop my forehead against the wall.

  “What do you think is going on? That we’re going to sleep together, fall in love and run off into the sunset? Not going to fucking happen. It’s me; you know that’s not going to happen.”

  Lies. So many lies.

  I hear a noise behind me, but when I turn around and peek through the gap, Ramsey is still sleeping soundly in her bed.

  “Alright,” he replies, satisfied.

  I blow out a breath. “What do you want anyway?”

  “Just checking in – seeing where the hell you disappeared to.”

  “Well I’m right here…”

  We talk about the results from the fights I missed before agreeing to meet at the gym in the morning for training.

  I hang up the call and listen down the hallway for any signs of life.

  I can’t hear anyone, so I stalk down to the living room, collecting clothes as I go.

  I’m sure Juliet has seen them already, but before anyone else does, they’re coming with me.

  I slip back into Ramsey’s room and shut the door behind me.

  Her eyes are still closed, and I can’t help but smile even though everything is a mess.

  Shit is going to get all fucked up with Justin when this comes out. He’s going to hate me. Rusty and Beast will probably hate me on his behalf too.

  I wouldn’t even blame them.

  I shove my feet into my jeans and yank them up. I’ve got a meeting at one with Owen to go over my nutrition for the next few weeks and then Randy wants to show me a few clips of my floor work from my last bout and see where he thinks we can improve.

  I’ve got to go home and shower, eat, and get back downtown to the gym in an hour and a half.

  I sit down on Ramsey’s side of the bed and sweep some of her pink hair from her face.

  She’s so fucking beautiful.

  “Pinky,” I whisper as I shake her shoulder gently.

  Her eyes open slowly. “Hey,” she whispers, her voice unsure.

  I know how she feels; I felt the same way when I watched her sleep just now, but we’ll figure something out.

  We have to.

  “I have to shoot off, I’ve got a meeting at one.”

  “What’s the time?” she asks, her voice thick with sleep.

  “Half eleven.”

  “Okay,” she says, and I can hear something in her voice that makes me feel sad for some reason.

  I lean down and kiss her forehead. “I’ll call you later, okay?”

  She nods, and I swear I can see tears catching in her lashes.

  “Are you alright?”

  She smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m good, go, you’ll be late.”

  I stand and shrug on my shirt and jacket I rescued from near the front door.

  I pause by the door to her room.

  Jesus, what the hell is wrong with me… I miss her already.

  I glance back at her and her eyes are closed again.

  I turn the door handle and do my best to push aside the feeling that something is wrong.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Ramsey

  I run to the window and watch as he drives off down the street in his fast, expensive car.

  The tears I was holding in so tight spill down my cheeks.

  I feel so stupid.

  Here I was, falling. Thinking this was something real between us.

  “What do you think is going on? That we’re going to sleep together, fall
in love and run off into the sunset? Not going to fucking happen. It’s me, you know that’s not going to happen.”

  I don’t know who he was talking to, but the message was clear.

  It’s not going to fucking happen.

  Everything I’ve fantasised about and after last night, believed was possible, came crashing down around me after I heard him speak those words.

  I’m such a fool.

  My phone beeps with a new message and I grab it off my nightstand as I climb back into bed and the safety of my covers.

  My hand shakes as I see his name on my screen.

  To: Ramsey

  From: Hudson

  I miss you already, pinky.

  I laugh bitterly and hit the power button, turning it off before tossing it onto the bed.

  Hudson Scott may have fooled me once, but it won’t happen again.

  No matter how much I might want it to.

  I can still feel where he touched my skin, where he’s been inside me.

  Another tear slides down my cheek.

  I feel so used.

  He played me and he won.

  I guess I said it myself. He always wins.

  There’s a soft knock at my door and I swipe away the moisture from my face.

  “Ramsey?” Juliet asks gently. “I can hear you crying…”

  I huff out a laugh, but it comes out croaky and wet sounding.

  “Can I come in?”

  “Yeah.” I bury my head in the pillow so she can’t see how pathetic I am.

  “What’s wrong?”

  I feel the bed dip as she sits down in the same spot Hudson sat in only a few minutes earlier.

  The thought has tears welling up in my eyes all over again.

  I don’t answer.

  “What the fuck did he do? Ramsey, you never cry.”

  She’s right. I don’t cry, but this… it hurts.

  “Ramsey!” she demands when I still don’t answer.

  “How’d you know he was here?” I ask.

  “You mean beside the fact that there was a trail of your clothes leading to the bedroom and his car was parked out front all night?”

  “Shit.”