Chapter Fifteen
Gabe
I slapped an envelope with two tickets into Noah’s hand. “Tell your dad thanks again for me.”
He tucked the envelope into his back pocket. “He’s excited to see you in action again.” Neither of them had seen me compete live, but he and his dad had watched a bunch of my fight tapes from before I retired.
“Here’s hoping I don’t disappoint.” Boxing was—or at least used to be—the one area I usually didn’t.
The slam of the front door rang across the gym, and Noah glanced out of the office to see who it was. He broke into a shit-eating grin. “Your girl is here.”
I tamped down my facial expression as my heart set off at a sprint, and my shoulders snapped straight as if a rod had been shoved down my spine.
He laughed at my sudden nerves. “I knew it. You’re so into this chick.” He peeked toward the front again. “Holy shit, she’s hot.”
I pointed at the door. “You’re leaving.”
“What? No way. I wanna meet her.”
That much couldn’t be avoided at this point, but I could make it the shortest introduction possible. “You say hi, and that’s it.”
He beamed as Aubrey stepped into the office wearing a short ruffled skirt and leather jacket with a soft-looking sweater underneath. A small paper bag hung from her fingertips.
“Oh,” she said, surprised to see Noah. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You’re good,” I said. “Noah was heading out.”
He thrust his hand toward her for a shake. “I’m Noah, Gabe’s fighter.”
“Soon to be,” I said. “Once he’s done winning the Olympics.” There was no keeping the pride from my voice.
“I heard about that,” Aubrey said as she shook his hand. “Congratulations. I’m Aubrey.”
Noah grinned. “Thanks. Maybe I’ll see you around while I’m training—”
I shoved him toward the door. “You’ll see me tomorrow at six a.m. for our run.”
Aubrey suppressed her smile.
“Okay, okay,” Noah said as he made his way out. He spun back to add, “Thanks again for the tickets. It was really nice meeting you, Aubrey.” He shot her a wink and ducked around the corner.
Little shit was going to run sprints until he puked.
Aubrey turned to me. “Tickets for the tournament?”
“Yeah. You want another one?” I joked. “I’ve got a few left to sell.”
Not that I’d let her take me up on it. I was still trying to figure out if there was a way I could convince her to let me pay for the ticket she’d already bought.
Even though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t dying to have her there. That the chance to impress her wasn’t pushing me to train that little bit harder. That knowing it meant enough to her to contribute her own money didn’t make me want to kiss her until our lips gave out.
“Jase might want some,” she offered. “I think his brother’s pretty into sports. I could ask him for you.”
There she went again, caring. It melted something in my chest. “That’d be great. Thank you.”
She smiled at the bag in her hands.
I sat on the edge of the desk. “How was the wedding yesterday?” The one we’d spent most of Friday night prepping for. As someone who bought my fruit and vegetables precut or frozen, I had no idea how much work went into making even the simplest ingredients taste good. I owed major props to my dad.
“It was good, all things considered. I had zero downtime and was exhausted by the end, but I think the couple was happy.” She tucked a wave of dark blond hair behind her ear and extended the paper bag to me. “This is for you. As a thank-you for all your help.”
I parted the bag’s handles and pulled out a round plastic container filled with quinoa salad.
“I was going to make sable cookies, but I know you don’t eat sugar while you’re training. And then, I thought maybe steak or something more exciting, but I worried it’d get cold by the time you ate it, and since you don’t have a microwave here, this seemed like a better option.”
My mouth lifted higher with each word because she was right.
I had an old mini fridge here that had been lying around Coach Lou’s garage that I kept stocked with fruits, juices, and almond milk for my protein shakes, but that was the extent of my cooking capacity.
For most of my meals, I either ate at my dad’s or grabbed something at the diner a few blocks away.
I could get an egg-white omelet the size of my face and a bowl of oatmeal for a steal.
I pulled off the lid and breathed in the nutty aroma layered with fresh herbs and lemon. My mouth watered. Healthy didn’t always smell this good. “I’ll be your dishwasher full-time if you agree to pay me in this.”
Her eyes brightened and her cheeks flushed as she drank me in more fully. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
The shift was subtle but instant. A breathlessness to her tone that pulsed in the base of my spine. I resealed the lid and set the container aside. “Why not? You don’t like the idea of being my boss?”
She bit her bottom lip. My blood pumped faster.
“How about telling me what to do? Having control over me?” I rose to my feet and stalked toward her. She craned her neck to hold my gaze as I freed her lip with my thumb. “We know you like it when I give you what you want.”
Her breath escaped on a sigh.
I lowered my mouth to her ear. “What do you want, Aubrey?”
Her eyes fluttered closed as her chest rose and fell in quiet pants. She gripped the hem of my long-sleeved shirt as if to steady herself before locking her heavy-lidded gaze with mine. “I want you to have sex with me.”
Everything in my body tightened. “You want my mouth on you? My fingers?”
She shook her head and bit her lip again, her gaze going hazy as if she was thinking of something else. Remembering it. “I want your cock.” Her gaze cleared, and she pinned me with her stare like she was pinning me to the mats. “I want you to fuck me with it.”
My skin flashed hot, her eyes hard with determination as if daring me to challenge her. I had no plans to. If she said she wanted it, I believed her, and the arousal rushing through my veins had me more than ready to serve.
I stepped forward, my body meeting hers, guiding us to the wall behind her.
Before she could catch her breath, I slid the leather jacket from her shoulders and hooked behind her thighs to hoist her to my waist. Her skirt rode up as she locked her ankles behind my back, and my hands settled on their favorite place in the world and gave her ass a squeeze.
Her ragged breaths weren’t quiet anymore. She went for my waistband, but I caught both her wrists with my hand.
“Not so fast, greedy girl.”
She whimpered.
“You’ll get me,” I whispered against her lips. “But you have to be patient first.”
Given the painful sex with her ex, I didn’t want to rush this. As comfortable as she’d become, chances were she’d still have some nerves, and the idea of her in any discomfort while I was inside her was enough to shred my stomach.
That she was initiating this, impatient for it even, was a good sign, but I wasn’t willing to risk it. Not this first time.
That didn’t mean I had to be gentle.
I ravaged her mouth with my kiss, fusing our bodies against the wall. She dominated right back, scraping her nails over my shoulders and driving her fingers into my hair, tightening her legs around me to get the leverage she needed to grind on my dick.
I sucked on her tongue, then released her mouth and sucked on her neck, feeling her moan travel up her throat.
“Please, please—” she panted, rocking her hips.
“What?” I licked beneath her ear, then sucked the same spot. “What do you need?”
“To be filled.” She groaned and flexed her thighs around my waist. “I’m so empty.”
The thought of lowering her onto my cock had my abs clenching and groin aching. I’d fill her exactly how she needed as soon as I was sure she was ready for me.
I considered setting her down and sinking to my knees, filling her with my tongue the way I knew would get her off, but she seemed to like this position, me holding her with my strength, my body hers to use.
“Take off my shirt,” I told her. Let her look at my muscles she liked so much.
She tugged the shirt over my head and down my arms one at a time as I alternated my hold on her, then tossed it aside and fixed her stare on my chest.
“Look your fill, baby,” I coaxed.
Her lips curved as she dragged one finger up the center line of my abs at the same time I tugged her panties aside and sank one finger into her from behind.
She was soaked. A perfect, slick heat already dying to come. Her walls clamped around me like a vise as she moaned my name and rolled her hips, trying to take me deeper.
“There you go. Ride my fingers.” I added another one, stretching her a little more, letting her adjust to the fullness.
She grabbed either side of my face and hauled my mouth to hers, breaking away a moment later to tear her sweater over her head, leaving her in a lacy pink bra with her skirt trapped around her waist.
Later, I’d suck on those hard nipples peeking through the lace. I’d trace my tongue over every single one of her tattoos and kiss my way over her naval. I’d get her bare and worship every inch of her until neither of us could move.
I eased a third finger inside and curled them toward my palm. Her hips bucked in response.
“Oh fuck, do that again,” she gasped. “Do that again.”
I repeated the steady motion, taking in her dazed expression that meant she was climbing the high to orgasm.
“Yes.” Her moans filled the corners of the room, making me smile at how vocal she’d become. “Keep doing that. Keep doing—ah.” Her voice cut off as her pussy pulsed, the rest of her muscles locking up.
I brought my lips to the curve of her shoulder, sucking gently while my fingers pumped her through it, waiting for her to come down. When she finally did, I spoke against her skin.
“Ready for my cock, greedy girl?”
She didn’t wait to catch her breath before pushing and tugging at my waistband. “Please.”
Her hand found my cock, and I held a groan low in my throat.
“Here.” I reached into my pocket for my wallet and handed it to her. “Grab the condom for me?” I hiked her higher on my waist.
“If you need to put me down—”
“No way.” I dipped my head to kiss her again before speaking the truth. “I’ve been dying to fuck you just like this.”
“Against a wall?”
I tightened my hold “In my arms.”
Her eyes softened, the green at their edges shining through their hazel depths.
She plucked out the condom and tossed my wallet to join my shirt at my feet, locking her eyes with mine as she ripped open the wrapper.
Her focus shifted to the condom itself, making sure the right side was up before pinching the tip.
Then she rolled it down my shaft, both our breaths shortening in the process.
My dick strained from me, as if reaching for her on its own. I gave it one quick stroke to make sure the condom was good before returning my hand to her ass, moving her panties aside, and notching myself at her entrance.
I kissed her cheek. “You ready?”
She nodded.
“Tell me.”
“I want you inside me,” she said.
So that was what I gave her.
I lowered her onto me slowly, scanning her face for the slightest sign of pain.
Her pussy was so swollen it choked off my air supply, forcing me to drag in thick breaths from how good it felt.
My arms burned from moving so slowly, and probably a little from holding her this long, but I didn’t care.
I had the strength to manage it, and if anything, the burn heightened the pleasure.
The question was whether it felt as good for her.
Her brow creased, and her mouth hung open.
“Talk to me,” I groaned, sinking deeper. “How do you feel?”
She heaved out a breath and tipped her head against the wall. “Full.” A laugh clenched her muscles around me, and we both moaned. “Really full. You’re way bigger than my vibrator.”
“Want me to stop?”
Her headshake was firm. “It’s not painful. Just strange. I’m not used to feeling this much.”
I buried my head in her neck, breathing in the rich coconut of her hair and licking the salt off her skin. Our bodies trapped heat between us, adding to the warmth from the space heater that was still on from overnight. “Touch your clit for me,” I grumbled. “Let yourself feel even more.”
Her fingers explored her entrance, feeling where I disappeared inside her and how much more I still had to give. I nipped her neck with my teeth, my hips jerking the smallest amount.
“Oh,” she breathed.
“Sorry.” I stilled and studied her face.
“No, I-I liked it,” she said, almost surprised. “Do it again.”
I eased my hips forward and back with a few experimental rocks, letting her taste the friction while only giving her half my length.
Her eyes fell closed as she hummed in response. “It’s never felt like this before. It’s good. It’s so good. Keep going.”
I licked into her mouth and rocked deeper, driving into her in full, long strokes so she could savor every inch. Her fingers rubbed over her clit, drawing more wetness from her heat, soaking the base of my shaft.
“Gabe,” she whined. Her hips were restless in my hold, her legs clasping tighter to drive her up and down, seeking whatever feeling she’d discovered. Like she’d struck oil, and now it was time to drill deep and get every drop.
“More?” I asked.
“More.”
Tightening my grip on her ass, I pulled her onto my length with each thrust, grinding my pelvis against her clit in short bursts. A strap of her bra slipped off one shoulder, the cup dragging down with it, leaving her breast exposed.
I wanted to latch onto that breast with my mouth and savor it. See how tight I could get her nipple to become. I could practically feel the hard bud on my tongue.
My muscles flexed as grunts escaped me, everything about her so fucking sexy I could hardly hold myself back. Knowing she needed me to was the only thing that allowed me to maintain control.
And not for much longer if the blush on her cheeks and the fever in her eyes were anything to go by. I could already feel her pussy trembling around my shaft, the race to her orgasm rounding the final turn.
Her fingers raked through the short hair at the base of my neck as I held her down on my cock an extra few beats, grinding my pelvis against her clit when a clatter in the other room made us both freeze.
Aubrey’s eyes went wide, her voice an alarmed whisper. “Did someone just walk in?”