Fighter's Secret Read online

  My laugh catches me by surprise and turns into a snort. My cheeks flame. Talk about embarrassing. “So you should be.”

  He meets my eyes, and my stomach somersaults. Unlike the bartender, I have his full and undivided attention, and the appreciation in his gaze makes me feel things I ought not to. Tingles. Stirrings. Stupid little flutters in my heart.

  Except for the novelty of being a white female fighter in Thailand, I’m used to flying under the radar. I get the feeling Devon won’t let me get away with that. He’s trying to drag me, kicking and screaming, into the light, and I’m not sure what to do about it.

  Squeezing my eyes shut, I angle my face away, only to feel the heat of his palm as it settles on my thigh. His touch is light and casual but my skin throbs beneath it and it occupies my mind so entirely that I couldn’t even say whether the woman entering the ring is blonde or brunette, and I’m looking straight at her. All of my being concentrates down to his touch, and when his thumb rubs circles on my inner thigh, I twitch in surprise. At least, that’s what I tell myself it is. Surely the racing of my heart and rush of arousal are simply side effects of shock. Thank God there’s a layer of fabric between his thumb and my bare leg, or I’d be burning up. A sigh eases between my lips.

  “Good?” he asks, voice low and wicked.

  “No idea what you’re talking about,” I reply, determined to keep my focus on the next woman to enter the ring. She’s another from my tournament, and looks like the girl next door with doe-like eyes, more curves than your average athlete, a smattering of freckles, and light brown hair that’s braided to the nape of her neck and tied in a low ponytail. “What’s her deal?”

  I sense him turn toward the cage. “Enya Sears. Everyone’s favorite girl fighter. Humble, tough, and cute.”

  “Huh.” For some reason, hearing him call her cute bothers me. It shouldn’t. He’s a playboy, and he’s done nothing to hide that, but perhaps I like to think I’m the only female fighter he finds attractive. “Cute isn’t exactly a selling point for a pro athlete.”

  “Isn’t it?” he asks, turning back to me. “Want to bet she rakes in the dough from sponsorship deals?”

  His thumb has stopped drawing on my thigh, and I finally dare to look at him. “Ugh, I have such mixed feelings about those deals.”

  He raises a brow. “Why?”

  “Because sponsors judge people based on the package they present to the world, not on how good they are or how much work they put in. It pisses me off.”

  “Why?” he repeats. “It’s not as if they’re all overlooking you. If you tried, you could probably bring in the big bucks, too. I mean, you don’t have that sweet and wholesome thing going on, but you’re hot as hell.”

  I don’t dignify that with a response. I’m not sure whether he thinks false compliments will butter me up, but there’s nothing I can say without looking ungrateful or vain, so I clamp my mouth shut.

  The fight starts, and to my surprise, Enya Sears is more than just a doe-eyed cutie. She may not be tall or bulky, but she’s technically proficient and moves with the grace of a ballet dancer and the speed of a gymnast. Despite myself, I’m impressed, and excited for the chance to face off against her.

  Game on, Sears.

  Once it wraps up, nature is calling so I let the others know where I’m going and head for the restroom.

  Chapter Eight

  Devon

  The moment Harley is out of earshot, Gabe and Jase shuffle along and trap me between them.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Jase demands, eyes narrow.

  I feign innocence. “What do you mean?”

  Gabe scoffs. “He means that you’re putting your hands all over Seth’s baby sister, and it’s not cool.”

  I do my best not to squirm. “‘All over’ seems like a stretch.”

  “But you would be if you thought you could get away with it,” Jase says.

  “I’m flirting,” I allow. “But I flirt with everyone, so what’s it matter?”

  “I think it’s the intention behind the flirting that they’re concerned about,” Lena says, joining the conversation.

  Great, now it’s three on one. I glance at Sydney. “Where do you sit in all of this, Syd?”

  “Oh, no.” She holds her hands up. “Don’t bring me into it. I’m Switzerland.”

  “But aren’t you on the side of love?” I ask. “Because that’s what I want with her. This isn’t about a body in my bed. I could get that anywhere. She’s different.”

  Her eyes soften, as I knew they would because she’s still hopped up on love juice from her new relationship. “Once you show that with your actions rather than your words, I’ll support your crusade for love, but at the moment, you’re still the same guy who, only a few weeks ago, said that a relationship wasn’t in the cards for him yet.”

  “Because I hadn’t met her,” I huff, frustrated that none of them seem to see my point. “I get where you’re coming from, and I’ll prove my sincerity to you and Seth. He won’t stand in the way of love if he knows our feelings are genuine.”

  Gabe gives me a weird look, and I reflect on my words and realize I just said more about my feelings than I have in a long time. Maybe ever.

  “Bro, you’re toast,” Jase mutters, and for once, I have to agree with him. Especially when I glance in the direction of the bathrooms and spot Harley talking to Karson fucking Hayes, AKA Jase’s nemesis, and Lena’s ex, in addition to being the biggest asshole on the Vegas MMA scene.

  He says something to her, and she shakes her head, but he lays a hand on her arm anyway. She snatches the limb from him and starts to sidestep, but he blocks her path. Dark fury consumes me as I zero in on her expression. She wants nothing to do with him, but he won’t leave her be. In two seconds flat, I’m on my feet and striding across the room toward them, with Jase and Gabe at my back. However annoyed they may be at me, neither of them want Karson Hayes anywhere near a woman, kickass battle princess or not. In this, they’ve got my six.

  Arriving at Harley’s side, I slide an arm around her waist and settle my hand on her hip. Karson’s cold blue stare flicks down to my hand, then returns to my face.

  “Hi, asshole,” I say.

  He jerks his chin. “This your girl? You should keep a tighter leash on her. She’s a flirt.”

  Taking a deep breath, I suppress the flames of anger burning in my gut. We all know he’s lying. A flirt is the last thing Harley is, and arguing the point isn’t going to get us anywhere. To my surprise, she hasn’t shaken me off yet, although she’s not exactly leaning into me either. She just stands there, shoulders tense, glare strong enough to vaporize any man with a conscience. Of course, a conscience is just one of many things Karson lacks.

  “She’s not my girl,” I reply. “She’s her own person. You might have a hard time understanding that seeing as your head is stuck so far up your ass, but if you pull it out for a bit, you’d find that she could pulverize you without any help from me.”

  Harley stiffens, and it occurs to me she might be mad I’ve intervened. Too late to take it back now though.

  Karson snorts, and his gaze drifts sideways, as though he’s just noticed that we outnumber him and he has no backup. “Yeah, right.”

  “You wanna try me and find out?” she asks, raising her fists.

  His lip curls and he looks like he’s about to say something derogatory. For the sake of not making a scene, I cut him off. “It’ll be less embarrassing for all of us if you just leave her alone.”

  “If you think…” he begins, but trails off when a blonde appears behind him and grabs his arm. She has wide blue eyes, full pink lips, and the kind of thick curves a lot of guys find sexy. Not Karson though. Who is this girl?

  “Let it go, K,” she says, tugging at his arm, a hint of fear in her expression.

  He gives Harley a nasty scowl, then follows the girl away.

  “Is that his girlfriend?” Harley asks. “Because someone should tell her what a creep she’s dating.”

  “That’s Camile,” Jase replies. “His twin sister.”

  Gabe and I both turn to stare at him.

  “Twin?” I echo in disbelief. “Why is this the first I’m hearing of it?”

  He shrugs. “She keeps out of the limelight. I think she’s shy. I only know about her because of Lena. Karson isn’t one to share attention.”

  “You got that right.”

  Gabe and Jase start back in the direction of their seats, but I pause. “You okay, Harls?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Good.” I turn away, not wanting to crowd her, and follow my brothers, hoping she’ll be close behind. But when I sink into my seat and finally look over my shoulder, she hasn’t moved. My heart sinks. Did I just lose my chance with her?

  Harley

  “Excuse me?”

  Glancing around, I spot one of the ring girls—a petite Hispanic woman in a belly-baring crop top, who must have approached from behind. “Yeah?”

  The girl—who looks to be all of twenty—leans closer, her dark eyes sparking with interest. “Is he your boyfriend?” She nods toward Devon.

  “Uh, no.”

  A furrow forms between her brows. “Fuck buddy?”

  “Again, no.” Where is she going with this?

  My bewilderment must show on my face because she smiles and explains, “I don’t want to step on any toes, but he’s hot as hell and it was cool of him to stand up for you like that.” She blinks, her false eyelashes making her eyes seem even bigger. “Does he have a girlfriend?”

  I sigh. “As far as I know, he’s a free agent.”

  “Perfect, thanks!” She wiggles her fingers in a little wave and sashays across the floor. I watch her go, frustration tearing me up inside. When she settles her dainty hand on Devon’s arm and beams at him, I want to rip her off him and stuff her in a coat closet, however nice she might be. Why does it bother me so much when he returns her smile? And why didn’t I lie and say he was taken?

  Gah! Life is so damn complicated. All I want is to do the sport I love somewhere away from my ex. I don’t want to be enchanted by a cheeky grin and killer body all wrapped up in a playful package. I didn’t ask for this. But when the ring girl throws her head back, laughing, and I have the urge to pull her silky hair, there’s no denying it either. I want Devon for myself.

  “You did the right thing.”

  My gaze snaps to the woman who’s approached while I was glaring across the bar.

  She offers a hand. “Lynn Nicholson. Nice to meet you.”

  “Harley Isles,” I reply. “You too.”

  “Related to Seth?” she asks.

  “He’s my brother. Or half-brother, technically.”

  She chuckles. “You were an oops baby, huh?”

  The question puts me on the defensive. “What makes you say that?”

  “You’re much younger than him.”

  “I might be older than I look.”

  She raises a brow. “Twenty bucks says you’re not a day past thirty.”

  “You’d be right,” I concede. “What did you mean about me doing the right thing?”

  Lynn runs a hand through short hair that’s streaked with gray. Her fists are both wrapped, which means she’s fighting tonight. “Letting that cutie go after your man. Men only complicate things. Trust me, you’re better off avoiding them if you want a good career in the industry.”

  “He’s not ‘my man’.” I roll my eyes at how old-fashioned and ridiculous those words sound coming out of my mouth. “He can be with whomever he wants.”

  “Uh-huh.” Her tone is skeptical. “We both know he could be your man if that’s what you wanted.” She smirks. “He had that look about him, so don’t even try to deny it, sweet-cheeks.”

  I grumble, but don’t belabor the point. “You know all about men, do you?”

  She holds three fingers up. “Three weddings, three divorces. I know more than you can possibly imagine.” She rolls her eyes. “More than I ever wanted to.”

  Curiosity gets the better of me. She looks like she’s been on the fight scene for years. She must be in her forties at least. How has she found time for three marriages?

  “What did you learn?”

  She holds up one finger. “Men cheat.” She raises a second finger. “They can’t handle a woman who knows her own mind.” A final finger. “At the end of the day, they’ll let you down.”

  She drops her hands and presses her lips together. Another thought occurs to me. One that I definitely shouldn’t share: apparently, bitterness causes wrinkles.

  “Wow. You’ve given this some thought.”

  Is this what my future looks like? Still alone in another twenty years, cynical and blaming it on the men I’ve known? God, I hope not. I always pictured myself marrying eventually. Not right now, but I have no desire to spend my best years without someone to share them with.

  “I have plenty of time to think,” she replies. “It’s just me, myself, and I these days. That’s how I like it.”

  “You don’t get lonely?” I ask.

  She shrugs one shoulder. “Yeah, but everyone does. Lonely beats heartbroken any day of the fuckin’ week.”

  Suddenly, I’m not so sure I agree. I can’t help wondering how bleak her life is. Does she go home at the end of the day and find everything exactly as she left it? Does she sit on her couch with a chicken salad for dinner and mull over everything that’s gone wrong? Does she have pets, or is she completely and utterly alone?

  I don’t want to be alone.

  I won’t always live with Seth. I’m already thinking about moving out, but I have no friends here besides Ashlin, and Seth would be gutted if I moved in with her. If I try to keep my heart to myself, am I going to end up like this thrice-divorced fighter, only without all the sex I’m sure she’s had along the way?

  “I’m sorry, I’ve got to go,” I say distractedly, and beeline across the room to Devon, who has already gotten rid of the ring girl. Grabbing him by the hand, I ignore the questioning looks from the others and drag him outside and around the corner of the building, into a more secluded area. Then, just as he opens his mouth—probably to ask what the hell I’m doing—I stretch onto my tiptoes and kiss him.

  Chapter Nine

  Devon

  Oh, my God.

  She’s kissing me.

  Harley freaking Isles is kissing me. Her lips are petal-soft, in contrast to her firm, toned body. They part on a sigh, and although I have no idea why this is happening, I deepen the kiss, sweeping my tongue inside her mouth, getting my first taste of her. She has a faint peppermint flavor. She must have brushed her teeth before coming out tonight.

  Her body presses closer, and she winds her arms around my neck. I shiver, loving the friction of her nails on my scalp. Of their own volition, my hands journey down her back and cup the perfect ass I’ve admired from afar more times than I can count. It feels just as good as it looks. I’m not surprised. I’ve seen her use the squat rack like a boss.

  But why is she kissing me? Why now?

  Surely the opportune time would have been right after our run-in with Karson, so what’s happened since then to change her mind?

  I pull back, shaking my befuddled head. “Why?”

  She scrapes her teeth over her bottom lip, uncertainty flashing across her features. “Because I want you. Don’t you want me too? Or was that just some forbidden taboo bullshit?”

  “I want you,” I assure her, caressing the side of her face. “This just seems to have come out of nowhere.”

  She shrugs. “I changed my mind.”

  Her gaze dips, and I catch a glimpse of vulnerability that makes my heart squeeze. She’s afraid I’m going to reject her. As if.

  “Look at me, Harley.”

  She raises her chin, hazel eyes glinting defiantly. Fuck, I love that expression. My heart bangs inside my ribcage like a jackhammer.

  “Kissing you is a dream come true.”

  With that, I reclaim her mouth. To my surprise, she softens into me, going pliant in my arms. I pictured her more as the type to battle for control, but I like this. It’s as if she’s allowing me to see a side of her that no one else does. Her tits brush my chest. One of my hands settles on the skin of her lower back, which is exposed by the outfit she’s wearing. She probably intended it to be unsexy but it’s been driving me crazy all night. I love the feel of her. I’ve touched her before, but not like this. In training, there are other sets of eyes on us and I can’t slip up, but in this moment I can explore her satiny skin the way I want to.

  She shivers and stretches, reminding me of a cat—all litheness and repressed energy. When she rubs against my dick, which I’ve been doing my damnedest to ignore, a groan tears from my throat. I’m hard as hell, straining against my zipper, trying to get closer to her. She freezes, her eyes meeting mine. Have I freaked her out? But then, slowly, she undulates her hips. Teasing me. She does it again, and again, I groan. I’m doing my best to behave, but if she keeps that up, I’m going to lose my shit. When her hand goes to my belt, I summon the most willpower I’ve ever displayed and stop her.

  Her brows knit together, and her swollen lips pout. “Don’t you want more?”

  “Yeah,” I admit. “But not here in some dark alley. You deserve better than that.”

  She cocks her head. “What if that’s all I want?”

  “Nuh-uh.” I step away from her. “You and me aren’t a one-and-done kind of deal, and I think you know that.”

  “So you don’t want to have sex,” she clarifies, and my cock twitches from hearing the word “sex” emerge from between her well-kissed lips.

  “Hey, now, I didn’t say that.” I hold up my hands, grinning. “Don’t get carried away. I was thinking we could head back to my place. Unless there are more fights you want to watch?”

  She grimaces. “Two more. But maybe that’s just as well.” Her haze of lust seems to be wearing off. “If we left, the others would know what we’ve been doing.”