His face fades out, and I’m attacking Michael Hearst, laying into him with every ounce of pain and loathing in my body.
The dude tires before me, and when I spot the weakness in his eyes, I pounce. I charge at him, pummeling his body and his face repeatedly as he struggles to push me away. His breathing is labored, his will to end this alive more powerful than his arrogant need to win.
When he falls to the ground, I jump on him, relinquishing my anger with every punch.
My fists pound into him.
Bone crunches.
Blood splatters.
Sweat flies.
And still I don’t stop. Fueled by naked fear and raw rage, the like I’ve never felt before.
When I’m eventually dragged off him, and announced as the winner, it feels good. My knuckles ache and my body radiates pain, but I’ve released some of my inner demons.
“Better?” Hunt asks, handing me my shirt.
I use it to wipe the blood and sweat off my chest and face as I climb out of the ring.
“Yeah.” We hustle through the room, with hostile vibes openly directed at us.
Most bettors bet on their local legend, and they’ve just lost their shirts, so I’m public enemy number one.
As much as the thought of a group fight excites me, I’d prefer to walk out of here than leave on a stretcher or in a body bag, so I keep my head down and ignore the taunts thrown at me.
We push out into the alleyway, and the frigid air is like a balm to my hot skin.
“I want to bury that bastard Hearst,” I say, when we’re back in the car and Hunt is driving us home. I grind my teeth to the molars and flex my damaged knuckles, feeling the truth of those words resonate in every nook and cranny of my being. “I’ll enjoy taking him down.” I crick my head from side to side. “He’ll regret the day he stole from me.”
“Did you know?” I bark down the phone the minute he answers.
He sighs. “Yes.”
“Thanks for the heads-up,” I snap.
“It wasn’t my place to tell you. You know that.”
“That’s why that fucker agreed to let her come to me, isn’t it? He wanted her to break me.”
“I’m not so sure what his motivations are,” he admits, sighing. “We’re barely talking, and I’m not involving him in shit anymore. But it doesn’t matter, because you two needed to heal together.”
I crank out a bitter laugh. “How the fuck is she expected to heal from that?”
“Are you saying you won’t take care of her?” His tone turns icy cold.
“I’ll take care of her. But it’s not like slapping a Band-Aid on a wound!”
“Just love her, Kaiden. Show her there’s a different way.” I don’t respond, and after a minute of silence, he adds, “Don’t make me regret my decision.”
“I won’t,” I admit, sighing as I drag a hand through my hair. “She’s still my everything. Even if I want to throttle her for using this against me.”
He chuckles. “Can’t say I’m surprised.”
I don’t share his humor, and I want this to be done. “We need to change the plan.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve probably just compromised us.”
His grunt of frustration trickles down the line. “Do you have something in mind?”
“I do.” And I fill him in.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Abby
My eyes open, and they’re heavy and sore thanks to last night’s crying-slash-breakdown-session. But I feel a little lighter too. Or maybe lighter is the wrong word. Because my loss, our loss, is a scar on my heart that will never heal. But…there is something freeing about telling the truth and releasing some emotional torment.
Movement in the room startles me, and I jerk my head sideways.
Light is trickling into the room through tiny gaps in the blinds, highlighting his silhouette. Although he’s slouched in the chair, Kai is fully alert. My heart pounds in anticipation as I sit up, rubbing my eyes and squinting at him. “Do you hate me?” I blurt, because terror is doing a number on me. I hate how vulnerable I sound, but I’m wide-open after my revelation, and I couldn’t disguise my emotions even if I tried.
He put my needs first last night. Holding me. Getting in the shower with me to wash off all the mud. Soothing me while he blow-dried my hair. Cradling me in his arms until I fell asleep.
But I’m not naïve. He comforted me because I was in agony, and he was in pain too.
But he’s had time to think about it now.
Time for anger at my deceit to seep into his brain.
“I don’t hate you, Abby. I’ve told you that. And I understand why you did what you did.”
I slump against the headrest in relief even if I still don’t know where we stand. “Why are you all bloodied and bruised?” I ask, frowning as I take in the torn skin on his knuckles and discoloration on his chin and cheeks.
I’m guessing the injuries extend beyond his face, and it’s obvious he’s been fighting.
He ignores me, standing and moving to the end of the bed. In one lightning-fast move, he throws the covers off and grabs my ankle, tugging me down the bed. Panic alternates with excitement as he hovers over me, his eyes glimmering with dark menace and sultry promise. “What are you doing?” I stammer as he pulls my legs down over the edge of the bed, nudging my knees apart.
“Punishing you,” he confirms through gritted teeth as his callused palms start a slow, seductive trail up my legs.
My core throbs as liquid heat rushes to my lower regions. “You’re not leaving me?” My eyes pierce his as I question what’s going on.
Crawling over my body, he holds himself upright by his palms, and dangerous vibes roll off him in waves. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.” Lowering his head, he licks the side of my neck, and a whimper flies out of my mouth.
“But I lied to you.”
Rolling onto his side, he presses his body flush to mine as he glares at me. Yanking the straps of my nightie down, he pinches my nipple.
Hard.
And it fucking hurts.
But I prefer rough treatment over a tender touch because I hate these new boobs and everything they represent, so, if he must touch them, I’d prefer he treat them like this. “Do it again and I won’t hold back.” His words send shivers tiptoeing up and down my spine, and I arch my back, pressing my boob into his hand. I writhe in need, beseeching him with my eyes. “Promise me.” He tugs on my other nipple so hard my eyes water.
“I won’t keep stuff from you again.”
He lowers his head to my chest, sucking one taut nipple into his hot mouth, and a loud moan slips out of my mouth.
I’d wondered if I’d lose sensitivity in my breasts after the augmentation, and now, I have my answer. Kai has a wicked mouth made to deliver intense pleasure, and I doubt there’s a single part of my body he could touch that wouldn’t be highly sensitive to his caress.
He roughly kneads my other tit while he continues to bite and suck my nipple, and my panties are soaked with need and longing. “You are mine, Abigail.” He rolls my nipple between his teeth, and I cry out at the pleasure-pain sensation.