Fighter's Secret Page 3

  “Yeah.” It’s no big deal. From now on, I have no room in my bed for any woman other than Harley.

  Chapter Three

  Harley

  On Monday morning, Crown MMA Gym is bustling. By the time I rock up, having slept longer than I’d have liked, there are half a dozen people hitting bags, being taken through pads, or using the weights in the corner. I spot Devon immediately, working with a big Samoan man who has tattoos everywhere. My brother is in the cage with a lean white guy who’s perhaps twenty or so, and whose ash blond hair is tied back in a ponytail, much the same as mine.

  I kick my shoes off, stuff my bag in a locker, and grab a skipping rope. Thirty minutes pass as I observe the action around me, a little surprised that no one has approached. I expected questions. Curiosity. But except for a few glances, none of the men seem interested in talking to me. Even Devon hasn’t come anywhere near me, although he’s met my eyes once or twice and smirked in a way that makes me think he knows what I dreamed about last night. But he can’t, right? It’s all in my head.

  When I finish, I hang up the rope and stretch. I’m on my back, working on my hamstrings when a face appears above me. Slate gray eyes, a stubbly jaw, and cheekbones sharp enough to cut. I recognize him immediately. Jase Rawlins, one of the first fighters Seth worked with, who’s been with him for years. I don’t know whether Jase is aware or not, but Seth considers him a younger brother. Jase offers a hand, and I take it and leap to my feet.

  “Nice to finally meet you,” I say, smiling. “I hear you’re going to teach me how to grapple.”

  “Sure am.” His lips curl in a slow, cocky grin that probably drives women crazy—although I believe he’s off the market these days. I’m sure teenage girls with crushes are crying into their pillows all over the country. “You’ll be unbeatable by the time I’m done with you.”

  “Perfect. I’m not sure how much Seth’s told you, but I need to be able to win three fights in one night, and I’ve got two months to do it.”

  He nods. “The eliminator. He mentioned it to me. For what it’s worth, I think it’s incredible what you’re doing.”

  Something warms inside me. I love the respect I see in his expression. It’s not always something I come by easily, and it’s nice to know that I have someone other than Seth onside.

  “Thanks.” I roll my shoulders, loosening them up. “I was going to do a few rounds on bags. Did you just come over to say hi, or are we grappling now?”

  “We’ll do it now.” He glances at the electronic timer that’s counting down on the wall. “Start of the next round. I’ll talk you through some basic moves and give you a chance to practice. Then, afterward, we’ll roll, so you can try them when you’re under pressure.”

  “Sounds good.” I drink from my bottle, mop sweat off my face and neck, and wrap my hands so I’m ready to go when the timer beeps.

  Over the next five rounds, Jase demonstrates an armbar and several maneuvers with the word “choke” in their names. It’s a somewhat unpleasant experience. Striking and taking hits is one thing, but I’m not used to trying to fight when there’s no blood or air getting to my brain. It adds a whole new aspect to the game. Not to mention I’m genuinely afraid he might break my arm. But I’m a trooper and I didn’t give up my life in Thailand just to fail. I’m determined to learn each and every thing he shows me.

  When we’re freestyling, and I tap out for the third time in a row and flop back against the mat, gasping for breath, I have to admit to being out of my depth. The thing I like about Jase, though, is that he doesn’t treat me differently than anyone else. He doesn’t go easy on me, or hold back his full strength for fear of hurting me. He goes just as hard as he would with a man, and even though I’m struggling, I know I’ll be better for it in the long run.

  “Yo, Dev!” he calls across the room as he lets me catch my breath. “You sub in. I want to coach her from the outside. See where she’s going wrong.”

  Closing my eyes, I stifle a groan. Great. Just great. As if I’m not having a hard enough time without introducing Devon and his sexy lips to the equation.

  Treat him like any other sparring buddy, I tell myself. Because that’s all he is. That’s all he can be.

  I roll to my feet, and find him far closer than I’d thought, almost chest to chest with me. My nipples want to poke holes in my sports bra to get to him.

  “Harley.” He dips his head in acknowledgment, and there’s a gleam in his eye that I shouldn’t like but do. Jase clears his throat, and gives Devon a look with a little censure in it. What’s that about?

  “Rein in the crazy,” Jase tells him. “She’s just learning, so we’re working through the basics. She doesn’t need you pulling any of your weird-ass moves.”

  “Got it, boss.” He salutes, and I have to laugh. He’s so irreverent, and any female with eyes would find his cheeky smirk appealing.

  “Harley”—Jase turns to me—“don’t overcomplicate things. Your number one focus at the moment should be taking advantage of any opportunity you see to get him into a hold, but otherwise, get on top or upright as soon as possible, since that’s where your strengths are.”

  “Okay.” I lower myself to the floor, and Devon faces me. Awareness flutters through me and the nerves in my abdomen come to life. It’s ridiculous, but I’d swear I can sense the heat of him near me, and that both of our pulse rates have doubled. The space between our bodies is charged, and his pupils dilate, his eyes nearly black. I can’t bring myself to look away.

  What’s wrong with me? I’ve never been turned on during training before. Not even when I was banging my coach. There’s no way the slightest brush of Thaklaew’s skin against mine would have had me on the verge of shivering.

  The timer sounds, and we launch into action. Our bodies move with the grace of two people who are hyperalert to the barest change or movement in the other. Somehow, the distraction of his sleek muscles gliding over mine takes the edge off my nerves and my actions are much smoother than they were with Jase. He tries to shift me into an armbar, but I extricate myself before he has me stuck, then I tuck his head into a choke hold and he slips fluidly out of it before I can lock him in.

  We’re rolling on the floor, our movements more of a dance than a battle for dominance. I take charge temporarily, then he shifts the balance of power. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I can hear Jase issuing instructions, but I’m operating on instinct more than anything else. The round ends, and I pin Devon to the floor, staring down at him. There’s an animal expression written across his features that I’m certain must be echoed in mine. He wants me, and he can’t hide it.

  Something long and hard pulses between my legs, and my eyes widen. Now he definitely can’t hide it. He looks as stunned as I am, but neither of us move. He’s stuck where he is unless he wants someone to know the condition he’s in, and I’m so shocked it doesn’t even occur to me to get off him. This has never happened before. When his expression becomes pleading, it makes me think it’s a new situation for him, too.

  “Think unsexy thoughts,” I hiss. “I can’t cover for you forever.”

  His gaze rakes up and down my body and he gives me a helpless look. “You’re kinda making that hard.”

  I snort. The situation isn’t the only thing that’s hard, and I have the strangest urge to rub myself all over him.

  “What the hell are you guys up to?” Jase asks, right on cue, putting an end to my wayward thoughts.

  “Devon is explaining the half guard to me,” I say, even though we’re clearly in the wrong position for that.

  “He’d better speed it up, or people are going to get uncomfortable.” Jase’s tone indicates that he’s already uncomfortable.

  Devon gives me a slight nod, and I climb off him. I guess hearing his friend’s voice is enough to ruin the mood.

  “Thanks,” he murmurs, and then takes off toward the bathroom.

  Devon

  It should be illegal for anyone to be this turned on during training. Shame oppresses all other emotions as I scuttle off to the bathroom like a kid who’s peed their pants, then shut myself in a cubicle.

  It was the fire in her eyes that did it, and the way it felt to have her toned legs wrapped around me. Am I going to spring a boner every time I spar with her? Because that’s both awfully inconvenient and fucking embarrassing. The only reason I’m not the laughingstock of every guy here—and Seth’s personal whipping boy—is because she took pity on me and helped me hide my reaction to her. If she’d been repulsed and made a scene, I’d never be taken seriously again. Thank fuck she’s a decent person who isn’t horrified by random erections. In fact, for a moment, it seemed like she was as caught up in the attraction as I was, with a flush on her cheeks that had nothing to do with exertion, and a softness to her body that was all about man-woman chemistry.

  “Fuck,” I mutter, picturing her blushing that same way as I slide inside her. Just like that, my dick is hard again. Squeezing my eyes shut, I reach into my shorts to adjust it, but the contact sends a bolt of heat shooting down my spine and I groan and wrap my fist around it.

  I can’t jerk off in the gym bathroom, can I?

  It’s a terrible, disrespectful idea, but I also don’t see how I can return to training in my current state, so I give my cock a lone tug and take my bottom lip between my teeth to keep from making a sound. Shit, I’m close to coming already. With a sigh—and praying like hell that no one walks in—I shove my shorts all the way down, cup my balls in one hand and start stroking. It’s fast, furious, and with no finesse at all, but at this point, it’s a practicality and nothing more. I just need to deal with the problem so I can get back out there.

  I return to the mental image of Harley’s face as I drive into her. In my mind, it’s not my hand I’m pumping into, it’s her pussy, and it’s slippery and ready for me. My imaginary Harley plays with her nipples, which are perfect pink buds, and then I’m coming, my thighs trembling as I empty myself. Resting my forehead against the wall, I wait for my heart to stop jackhammering. When it’s calmed, I clean up my mess, pull my shorts back up, and wash my hands. For good measure, I splash cold water on my face.

  As I step back into the training area, Jase glances over and narrows his eyes, but he doesn’t approach. He probably suspects what I’ve been doing but doesn’t want to ask because he doesn’t want to think about it. Can’t say I blame him. The new guy, Jimmy, has taken over sparring with Harley, and jealously strums at the strings of my heart. I don’t want any other man that close to her, not unless he’s neutered or already off the market. But given her profession, I guess I’d better get used to it.

  For the next half hour, I take my frustration out on the heavy bags, and once I’ve recovered enough to be less ashamed of myself, I wait for a break between rounds and approach her. She’s moved on from grappling and is doing squats. I force myself not to look at her firm, rounded ass because that way lies trouble.

  “Thank you for covering for me.”

  “Don’t mention it.”

  “Want to come go-karting with me after training?” I ask. It’s the first activity that pops to mind, and I get the impression it’s the sort of thing she’d enjoy. “My treat, as an apology.”

  “No, thanks.” She doesn’t even pause in her squatting to shoot me down.

  I clutch my hand to my heart and affect a wounded expression. “I swear, I have the best of intentions.”

  She raises a brow, and her eyes dip to my crotch. “Uh-huh.”

  Okay, so there’s not much I can say to that.

  “Is it me, or the go-karting?” I ask.

  “A bit of both.”

  I nod. I can respect that. She needs more time to adjust to the idea of us, but she’s definitely attracted to me. I can tell by the way her gaze lingers on my body. Still, I need her to say it, otherwise I feel like a persistent creep.

  “You’re not uninterested in me though?”

  She hesitates, then inclines her head. “I guess you could say that.”

  “Good.” I can work with that. If she’s reluctant, or has some concerns, I can figure out a way to address those. I wink, and open my mouth to say something flirty, but then spot Seth watching us out of the corner of my eye, and instead I jerk my chin at her the way I might with one of the guys and stride away.

  Did I leave her wanting more?

  I sure as hell hope so.

  Chapter Four

  Harley

  For the rest of the week, I find Devon every time I turn around. Smiling at me, winking at me, giving me that cocksure look that says he knows exactly what to do with a woman when her body responds to him the way mine does. My hormones are out of whack, my nerves constantly on edge. The man is intruding on my peace of mind.

  What’s worse is the way I’m coming to admire him. He may be a loose cannon, but he treats everyone well and he’s passionate about MMA. In fact, he might be the only person who trains as long and hard as I do. The difference is that he probably blows off steam with parties and women in the evenings whereas I crash on the couch with Seth to watch TV or meditate in my room.

  His flirtatiousness is growing on me too, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t erase the memory of his hard dick beneath me. By the time Friday comes, I’m starting to wonder if it wouldn’t be the worst thing to go to bed with him once or twice. My body is tired of being in a constant state of arousal, and it’s not as if I haven’t had casual sex before. Besides, any loyalty I may have felt toward Thaklaew is gone.

  When I enter the gym after returning from a run, I’m immediately greeted by one of his perusals that’s so heated I may as well be naked. He doesn’t even have to touch me, and I want to strip off all his clothes and ride him like a wild mustang. Based on the way his lips curl slowly, he’s aware of his effect on me. Would it really hurt so much to be with him once and get it out of my system? It’s not as if he’d want anything more than that. Men like him get bored with women like me. Maybe I could find out what he’s capable of, just to satisfy my curiosity.

  No. Bad Harley. Sleeping with someone from your gym is part of what got you into this mess.

  Devon isn’t Thaklaew though, and it wouldn’t be a relationship, just a quick fuck. I don’t have any feelings for him, other than professional admiration. He’s hot, that’s all. That body… My gaze dips to his strong thighs, and I swallow. Very hot.

  “Harley, you’re with me,” Seth barks across the gym, holding up a couple of Thai pads. Shaking away thoughts of Devon, I slip on a pair of gloves and join him. He takes me through a few rounds, issuing instructions while I punch, kick, knee, elbow, slip, and weave. It’s while I’m practicing my low kicks that I sense a change in the atmosphere and glance toward the entrance. A pretty black woman with her hair tied back is hovering just inside the door, looking around.

  “Who’s that?” I ask Seth as I aim a straight right at the pad in his hand.

  “Sydney. Gabe’s girl.”

  “Hey, Syd.” I hear Devon’s voice behind me, deep and welcoming. “You’re looking particularly beautiful today. Is there a special occasion I don’t know about?”

  My heart sinks and I don’t hear her reply. He’s flirting with her. Of course he is. I’ve already ascertained that he’s a flirt. He’s not truly interested in her, but perhaps that means he’s not truly interested in me either, and I’ve been silly to take his winks and smiles to heart. Maybe he’s just messing with me the same way he is with Sydney—because it’s in his nature and he enjoys it.

  I’m a fool.

  Setting my jaw, I make up my mind to pay him no heed in future.

  “Left hook,” Seth calls, and I smash my fist into the pad with all the power and aggression I can muster. Unfortunately, it doesn’t make me feel any better.

  Five minutes later, I’m doing crunches in the corner when I hear a quiet voice saying my name.

  “Harley?”

  Pausing, I roll into a seated position and look up to see Sydney standing over me. Up close, I can see she has deep brown eyes, flawless skin, and a kind smile.

  “I’m Sydney. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “You too,” I say, getting up and thrusting my hand out before realizing it’s sweaty as hell and she probably doesn’t want to touch me. She takes it anyway. “You’re dating Gabe?”

  “Yeah.” She smiles, and tucks her hair behind her ear. “It’s very new, but we’ve been best friends basically since first grade.”

  My heart squeezes at the way her eyes soften. It’s clear she’s in love, and for some reason, envy grips me for a few seconds before I manage to dismiss it. I’ve never wanted a perfect romance before, so I don’t know why her obvious giddiness gets to me.

  “That’s pretty cool,” I reply, wishing I had something better to offer.

  “Yeah.” She tilts her head. “I know all of the guys here, and you’re in good hands.”

  “Thanks.” I study her, wondering if there’s a reason she came over other than to introduce herself. She seems to have something on her mind.

  “Did you know one of the newbies has a fight tomorrow night?” she asks. “Jase and Seth will both be there to corner him. Gabe, too. He’s taking a break from training, but he’ll still be helping out with things like this from time to time.”

  I nod. Seth has mentioned the event. Apparently he has some concerns about whether the fighter is up to the task, but not because of any lack of training, just that his attitude is a bit off.

  “Anyway, Lena—that’s Jase’s girlfriend—and I are getting together while they’re at the fight, and we’d love for you to join us.”

  “Really?” I hadn’t expected that, and I’m not sure how to respond. I haven’t had female friends I could just hang out with in over eight years. The only ones I’ve kept up relationships with trained with me at the gym, and we lived muay thai. Then there’s Ashlin, but considering we’ve been in different countries, it’s not as if we’ve had the chance to spend time together.