Chapter 18
E mmeline
Christmas morning found Malachi and me alone. Later, we were picking up his kids and stopping at the gym for something, but we had hours until then.
We woke up kissing, and just as fast, my senses connected up to discover he was hard inside me. Had we moved together in our sleep? Or was that all him, waking before me and taking what he needed? I didn’t care. It felt too good for enquiry.
I moaned against his lips, and he pulled out of me and moved down the bed to recline at the end by my feet, his dick in his hand. I curled up around my nakedness and blinked at him.
“Show me how you made yourself come to videos of me,” he said.
Ah, so that’s what he’d been thinking about. I’d easily accepted his interference in my life with only a few questions. All he’d done had been in my favour and without expectation. Yet he hadn’t asked the same in reverse until now.
I squirmed under his dark gaze. “I can’t.”
“Aye, you can. Part those knees and let me see you, angel.”
There I went, obeying him again.
I spread my legs, loving how his pale-blue gaze darted to between them, to the part of my body he spent countless hours worshipping.
“Get those fingers wet.”
“It’s better when you do it,” I complained.
Even so, I played with myself, grazing over my clit and hitching my breath at the pleasure that rippled through me. I was already heavily aroused from how we’d woken, but I got even more so by Malachi’s expression.
He jerked his cock. His hips worked with tiny thrusts like he couldn’t stop from the urge to fuck me.
My na?veté caught up. This wasn’t for me, it was all for him.
“I was on my sofa in just a dressing gown.” I painted the picture. “Waiting on a food delivery for dinner after a long week. My hair was damp. My heart thumped so hard when I saw you in a fight. You were so savagely beautiful, and it woke some dormant part of my brain. I wanted you to grab me. I imagined your hard body under my hands and your blood on my thighs.”
The muscles of his forearm tightened. “You wanted me on first sight?”
“I did. I have never, ever wanted a man in that way, but with you, I had a race against time to get myself off before my food arrived. Then I woke again in the night with you on my mind and did it again.”
He grunted approval, breathing through his nose. “I was obsessed with you from the second you exited that office. Your smart little outfit, your voice. It did that same thing to me. You wanted me to dirty you up. I needed your pristine body under me.”
I smiled. The animal attraction thing had worked for both of us. “I read everything I could find about you.”
“You wanted me to be yours,” he decided.
“I did. Bring that big thing to my mouth.”
“Fuck.” He climbed up and knelt over me.
I scooted up on my elbows to suck on him. He brushed my hands away.
“Get back to work. I want you panting around my dick and desperate.”
Malachi fed me his dick. I sheathed my teeth and took him in deep. Something about having him in my mouth heightened my need, and after only a minute of deep and slow strokes, I was panting, just like he wanted.
With a groan, he pulled away and rolled us, so fast I was surprised.
And sitting astride him.
He held my hands. “Ride me until you come. I’m so fucking close but I can hold off until I see you fall apart on my dick.”
I lifted to get into position then sank down. The stretch was so perfect, just as it had been when I woke. “Did you have sex with me in my sleep?”
“Yes.”
No apology. Nothing but unfailing honesty.
“Can I do that to you?”
“I’d fucking die to wake with you on me.”
Using his hands as grips, I rose and fell on him, finding a rhythm that hit a place deep inside me that had me seeing stars. I chased the feeling, using him to build myself up, and up, and up. My climax struck me down in a hard hit of desire.
Malachi gave a shout and bucked into me, his orgasm right behind mine, and the combination of us both creating such heady pleasure that I could never get over.
Stunned, elated, and blissed out, I dropped to his tattooed chest.
Malachi stroked my hair. “I’d do anything for you, angel. All I need to know from you is if this is forever for you. It is for me. Right from the very first sight, all I could imagine was a life for us spreading out ahead of me. I wanted to take care of you. Grow old with you. I can’t explain it and I don’t want to. If you need more time?—”
“I don’t. I love you. I had such strong feelings for you that scared me to death, but they slowly proved they were real. I have a little more time off work, too. There is nothing I want to do other than be with you. I want this.”
“Even if that means being public? My fans will lose their shit about you. Rumours have already started.”
“Why do you think I took you to my Christmas dinner where you could meet all my colleagues? I’d never hide you.”
“Then let’s get dressed. I have something to ask you.”
I held my breath. Shade had informed me that the game typically ended in proposals at the end of the thirty days. Not everyone got married, but there was a tradition of announcements for the happy couples.
The tone of Malachi’s voice told me exactly what this was going to be.
“Is that why we’re supposed to be going to the gym?”
Malachi kissed me. “It’ll be busy. It always is on Christmas Day as we throw a party. My kids will be present, my manager and coach, a camera to capture the moment. Or, angel, I can do it right now.”
The choice didn’t even need consideration. “I want the world to know.”
We were at the gym in under an hour.
In a smart grey shirt I’d bought him as a gift, Malachi let me linger outside for a moment, claiming back my peace of mind where the attacker could’ve stolen it. But I was done letting people walk over me. I wore a spiked necklace Malachi had gifted me, and I wasn’t going to be intimidated by anyone again.
The contestant had been charged by the police, then Shade called me to say he’d stepped in as enforcer of the rules. That guy would never bother me again, which sounded so ominous, but bolstered by my boyfriend’s strong arm around me, I felt just fine.
When we entered the big open gym, it was to a wall of noise from a crowd made up of his family, fighters, Tilly and Jess, who gave me happy waves, and others.
Tables were laid out with food and drink, and a Christmas tree had been put up in a corner. Malachi was pulled in a dozen different ways with people wanting to talk to him. He clutched my hand, keeping me with him. In my pocket, my phone buzzed.
Automatically, I found it and read the screen, expecting an emergency to summon me into the hospital, though I was still on leave. But it was Annie calling.
“Do you mind if I take this?” I asked.
Malachi kissed my hair. “I need a minute, so aye, no trouble.”
I moved to a quieter corner by the tree and accepted the call, making sure to keep Malachi in my eyeline. “Hello?”
A sob met my ears. “Oh, Emmeline, I’m so glad you answered.”
“Annie? What’s wrong?”
“Everything. I was so awful to you, and you have every right never to speak to me again, but you answered. Of course you did. You’re the one person who has always been there for me.”
I clutched the phone tighter. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her that it was fine, but it really wasn’t. “Can you explain what happened?”
“Josh has been cheating on me. I found it out because he used the kids’ iPad when we were away with his parents and forgot to log out. I read a long chat thread where he and his girlfriend arranged meet-ups when he told me he was on business trips with Ian, of all people.”
I winced. I’d been upset with her but I couldn’t stay that way. “I’m so sorry.”
“I am, too. I didn’t tackle him for a while and just let it fester, which is why it overspilled when we spoke. Then I found a receipt for him buying her a fucking car. When he told me I was spending too much on our children. It was the final straw.”
“The nerve. I hate him.” I’d never liked the man.
“I do as well. Though on the plus side, I don’t have to deal with his toxic parents anymore. And my lawyer is sure I’ll get the house in the divorce.” She sniffed. “I really am sorry for the way I spoke to you. You’re my best friend, and I blew up on you in the worst way when all you did was tell me how happy you were.”
The collision of the two events made sense in my head now. I’d been so happy when she’d been plummeting.
“What are you doing now?” I asked.
“I made the kids Christmas lunch then Josh’s mother collected them for the afternoon. I get them back later.”
“So you’re free?”
“I am. What’s going on?”
“Get in your car and come to the address I’m about to send you. There’s someone I really want you to meet.” I paused. “In case this is a sore point, I’m pretty sure he’s about to propose.”
“Oh God. Make him wait. I don’t want to miss it!” Annie got off the call.
She was coming. That little gesture and her apology provided the final piece of happiness I needed. The one person I could bring to the party.
I stepped back into the melee, getting a hug from Petra and turning to offer a fist-bump to Maisie. But I pulled up short. She was holding a tiny puppy. A dove-grey French Bulldog with huge ears and a snubbed nose. She handed it to me. Instantly, I fell in love.
“Who’s this sweet girl?”
Their mother, Lucille, crept over, her baby on her shoulder. “A gift from Malachi to you and the girls. He knew you’d be busy at work so asked if we could have joint custody of Bess, but she’s as much yours as Maisie’s and Petra’s.”
I stared at the puppy. “Her name’s Bess?”
Just like the dog I’d shared with my aunt. He’d heard that story then worked out a method to give me that comfort again in a way that worked with my job.
Lucille nodded, and I held the velvet-soft dog close. The puppy licked my nose.
Tilly sidled up, her smile secretive.
“Where has Malachi gone?” I peered around.
“He’ll be back,” Tilly answered. “It’s my job to make sure you wait. Oh, your puppy is darling!”
Music blared from the gym’s speakers. I recognised the tune that played when Malachi walked into fights. Then the man himself burst from the locker room, a robe over his shoulders and his only other clothing his fighting shorts. Behind him, a posse of other fighters emerged, whooping and clapping to rile the crowd.
I cuddled the puppy closer, the noise probably too much for her ears. Lucille reached for her and carried her outside, along with her baby.
I stared at the ring. “What’s going on?”
Bill approached and heard me. “If he wants you, he has to earn you.”
He grabbed a mic, turning to address the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, recently, our one and only Malachi ‘The Warrior’ Hunan met his greatest competitor yet. Will the fates go easy on him in his quest to win his lady? Not a chance. Get in the ring, Malachi. Show Emmeline what she’s getting.”
Malachi passed me and stole a hard kiss then climbed into the elevated cage. He prowled around it, a second fighter named Tank entering after with Bill acting as some kind of referee.
“Fight!” Bill yelled.
Both men dropped to a fighter’s stance. With one mighty swipe, Malachi downed the other man.
Another entered in his place.
And so it went on. Every fighter in his gym had a go, a queue forming, and some even getting in lucky hits and drawing blood. But there was a reason Malachi was the best in the country, and he smiled his savage grin as he won each short bout.
A figure wove through the crowd. Annie reached me, her blonde hair messy from rushing, but otherwise my pretty, well-put-together friend. We hugged. I couldn’t hold a grudge. I didn’t want to.
She clutched my hand. “Am I too late?”
“Nope. There he is.” I gestured to Malachi in the ring.
Annie’s eyes bugged out. “God.”
“He prefers me to use his name.”
She sputtered a laugh. “He’s just so… And you’re…” She held me at arm’s length. “I was going to say different. But you seem different. You’re happy.”
“I am. I’m sorry you’re not.”
She huffed. “Don’t be. It was a long time coming, and I’m already seeing the greener grass on the other side. Josh never wanted me to work, but why did I struggle all those years just to have letters after my name? I want to get back into medicine. Then if you’ll set me up with one of your man’s friends, I’ll be right as rain.”
Bill’s booming voice rang out. “Last man standing, as always, give it up for The Warrior!”
A rousing cheer filled the air, and the final, laughing but defeated competitor left the ring.
The trainer peered my way.
I stood taller.
“We all know Malachi’s reputation of never letting anyone pin him down. Today, that changes. Emmeline, has he proven to be the protector you need?”
“He has,” I called.
“Then come on up and join us, sweetheart.”
I squeezed Annie’s hand and strode up, Bill helping me climb into the cage and to the padded mats where Malachi waited.
From the fights, he was sweaty and bloodied, though his chest heaved with what appeared more like emotion. It did something to my heart. I couldn’t have torn my gaze away if I tried.
“Over to you, Malachi.”
Bill handed him the mic and stepped aside, and the stark overhead lights dimmed, bathing us in the glow of the fairy lights from the Christmas tree and more that lined the walls.
He’d planned this, all of it. The party, the romantic lights. I wouldn’t have put it past him to have called Annie, too.
My boyfriend went down on one knee. “Emmeline, from the very start, I knew you were the one, despite the fact that we were worlds apart in every other respect. The smart, beautiful surgeon and the scrappy fighter. No one could have predicted this, but every day since that first sight, I’ve only fallen deeper.”
I pressed my fingers to my lips to stop from ugly crying.
“You accepted my crazy world and you’ve given me the gift of your love. I’m a simple man, and that trust is all I needed. As Bill said, I never let anyone pin me down. Except for you. Please, do me the greatest honour and beat me at my own game. Emmeline Watts, will you marry me?”
There was only one answer I could give. “Yes.”