“Where?”
“Between my legs.”
Kane pushed her dress up her body until it bunched around her waist, leaving her bottom half completely exposed to him. Sliding down on the bed, he placed small kisses and nibbles on her right hip bone, moving diagonally inward. Reaching her smooth mound, he let his tongue graze along the surface of her sensitive skin as his hands gripped her knees and opened her wider.
The motion put her most intimate secrets on display, and she grabbed the comforter beneath her, twisting the fabric with her fingers as he blew cool air against her. Kane licked from the inside of one knee up to the top of her inner thigh, then switched to do the same on her other leg. Nora squirmed below him, not entirely certain she wouldn’t melt away into nothing right then and there.
“I’m between your legs, kitty. Tell me where…” he coaxed her, and her frustration made her groan. He let his lips touch the top of her mound once more, just north of where she really wanted him. “Here?”
She shook her head, lifting her hips in an attempt to move him to the right spot. Kane ducked his head to the side and kissed just right of where she’d been trying to guide him.
“Here?” he asked again.
“Kane, please,” she begged, having enough of his games. “Please!”
He was relentless. “You know what I want, kitty.”
Nora squirmed and closed her eyes, letting the words out in a rush. “Lick my clit, Kane…please!”
A low chuckle came from him, but he didn’t make her wait any longer. His tongue lay flat against her core, gliding up in one smooth lick as she shouted and arched her back at the contact.
“Oh!”
Slipping between her folds, his tongue explored every part of her. Soft, long strokes all the way over her, then small, quick flicks right over her clit. Nora moaned and twisted beneath him, thrusting her hips against his mouth as her body climbed further and further toward her impending climax.
“You taste so fucking good, kitty.” His voice vibrated against her core, and she trembled under his caresses.
His hands moved from her legs to slide underneath her bottom, lifting her even closer to his face as he devoured her. When she began getting closer, her body shaking harder, he pulled back slightly. This time, he let one of his hands squeeze her ass as his other joined him at her entrance. At first, he slid only one finger inside her, and she welcomed his intrusion with a loud gasp, grinding her hips harder against him.
“Come for me, kitty.”
His tongue on her clit, firm and unrelenting, and his finger inside her, she was certain she was seconds from coming. When he added a second finger, she was done. Nora’s entire body stiffened as she felt the wave of her orgasm slam into her. She spasmed and jolted beneath his manipulations, unable to focus on anything but the intense wave of pleasure soaring through her body.
“Fuck, yes,” he moaned, removing his hand and tongue and unbuttoning his pants. She barely registered his pulling off his clothes before he was on top of her again, his rock-hard member at her slick entrance. His mouth was on hers in seconds, her taste still on him.
“I need you, Nora, please,” he whispered into her mouth, repeating back the need she’d voiced to him minutes earlier.
He didn’t move, refusing to enter her until she gave him the go-ahead. Despite the orgasm she’d just experienced, his handing her control immediately aroused her again. Reaching down, she placed her hands on his bare ass and pushed him down, slowly, inside her.
“Fuck me, Kane,” she whispered with a confidence she hadn’t known she had.
He growled and gave her everything she asked for, slamming inside her hard and fast. She gasped and shook with the suddenness of it all. His lips found hers again as he held himself over her, thrusting in and out with a force she was craving. They’d done sweet; they’d talked love. Now, she just wanted him.
Without warning, Kane pulled out and grabbed her waist, flipping her over. Nora squeaked as she found herself suddenly facing the bedspread, her bare bottom in the air. He grabbed the zipper on the back of her dress and yanked it down, then slid the whole thing up and over her head. Both of them sat back on their knees, her back to his front as he unclasped her bra and let it fall away.
She felt his length against her bottom as his hands reached around to her breasts, cupping them in his palms as he kissed her shoulder. She tilted her neck to give him more access, and he bit down harder than she’d expected. At the same time, his index fingers and thumbs gripped her nipples and pulled.
She gasped at the sensation, grinding her bottom into his shaft as her desire increased tenfold.
“Someone likes a little roughness, huh?” he teased as he pinched her nipples again, eliciting another moan from her. “Do you like that, kitty?”
“Yes,” she cried as he increased the pressure. “God, yes!”
Letting go, he pushed her forward till she fell on all fours. Kneeling behind her, he gripped her hips and entered her quickly. Nora’s head fell forward as he thrust in and out, completely infatuated with the full feeling of him deep inside her. He didn’t allow that for long, though, as he reached forward and twisted one hand in her hair, pulling her head toward him slightly. Her back arched at the movement; suddenly he was deeper inside her, and it was…amazing.
“Damn, Nora, I don’t know how much longer I can last,” he grunted above her.
Her response was unintelligible as she couldn’t figure out what was up and what was down, and she didn’t want to. Electrical sensations crept across her skin as she jolted and trembled against him.
“Come with me, kitty,” he instructed, reaching his other hand around her body and settling between her legs. As he slammed in and out of her from behind, he rubbed his fingers furiously over her clit until they were both coming hard. He buried himself as deep as possible, pulsing inside her as he came. Nora fell against the bedspread, her legs like jelly as her body shuddered on waves of pleasure.
He eventually collapsed on top of her but slid to the side to avoid crushing her. The moment he left her, she missed him. Missed the fullness of having him be a part of her. Missed the warmth of his body around hers. But just as she was feeling lonely, he reached for her hand, interlocking their fingers.
He lifted the back of her hand up to his lips, kissing it softly. “I’m falling hard, kitty. So fucking hard.”
Nora’s lips twitched into a smile as she turned her body toward him, curling into him as he wrapped his arms around her. His loving words meant everything to her in that moment. His assurance that this hadn’t been like before, that it was more…that it was making love.
He kissed her forehead as they cuddled together, naked and spent. And she knew, without a doubt, she had already fallen.
Chapter 26
Ring ring! Ring ring!
Kane opened one eye, looking up at the hotel ceiling as he tried to figure out where the noise was coming from. His phone on the nightstand was lit up and buzzing against the wood. Nora was curled in his arms, breathing deeply as she slept, oblivious to the noise. He gingerly reached over, doing his best not to move her, and grabbed his phone.
“Hello?” he answered it, slightly annoyed at the abrupt wake-up.
“Are you fucking sleeping?” Rory’s voice thundered through the receiver, then grew muffled as he spoke to someone beside him. “Can you believe he’s sleeping on fight day?”
“Worst fucking client of all time!” Kane recognized Quinn’s voice in the background.
“Kane, wake the hell up and get down to the training room,” Rory ordered. “You’ve got the biggest fight of your life tonight.”
Kane glanced at the clock. It wasn’t even six a.m., and he doubted the sun was up yet, but he was definitely running behind. “I’m coming. I’m coming. Give me thirty minutes.”
“Thirty minutes?” Rory somehow screamed and groaned at the same time. “You must be trying to kill me. Make it ten.”
Kane laughed. “See you in th
irty, asshole.”
“Fine, but if you’re even a minute late, I’m breaking down your damn door and ripping you out of that bed.”
“You better not,” he warned. “I’ve got company.”
“Oh,” Rory paused. His voice became muffled again. “He said he’s got company.”
“Who is it?” Quinn asked in the background. “Is it Nora? Are they back together? Tell me fairy tales are true!”
Quinn began to hum the tune of a Disney song, and Rory chuckled, returning to the phone. “All right, forty-five minutes. Got it?”
“Got it,” Kane replied, hanging up the phone and tossing it on the bed behind Nora.
“Who was that?” she said with a sleepy yawn, curling tighter into his body.
Kane nuzzled her face sweetly, so happy to have her next to him. “It was just Rory and Quinn. Sorry to wake you.”
“Oh no, are you late?” Her hazel eyes looked up at him with concern. “Today’s fight day!”
“Only a little, but it’s fine,” he said, letting his lips gently graze against hers before kissing her deeply.
“Mmm,” she hummed into his mouth and then smiled against his lips. “I certainly don’t mind a few extra minutes together.”
He nodded in agreement, letting his hands roam her skin as they slid from her back down to her bottom, squeezing her cheeks. She giggled and pushed her hips forward against him, but he pulled away.
“I can’t today, kitty,” he told her, kissing her again before untangling their limbs and sitting up. “I need all my strength, and you are way too hard to say no to.”
She sat up behind him, kissing his shoulder. “All right, all right, but after you win?”
“Oh, we’re not getting out of bed for a week.”
Nora laughed and climbed off the mattress, grabbing her dress from the floor. “I’m holding you to that.”
“Please do,” he growled, crossing the room and grabbing her before she could put on her dress. “Damn, my girlfriend is so sexy.”
“Girlfriend?”
“Mmm-hmm.” He slid a hand between her legs, stroking her softly, as his lips crashed down on hers. She moaned against his mouth, pressing down on his fingers as he slid one inside her.
But just as quickly as he started, he stopped and pulled away.
“Ugh,” she groaned, clinging to his chest. “That was so mean.”
“So you’ll be looking forward to tonight,” he teased as he headed for the bathroom to shower. “Or you could come shower with me.”
He licked his lips at the thought, not caring if he’d be a little late, but she shook her head and smiled mischievously at him.
“Nah,” she said simply.
He raised one brow as he watched her put on her dress. “Now who’s being mean?”
“Karma,” she said with a laugh, before walking back over to him. “Can you zip up my dress?”
He exhaled loudly, but acquiesced and zipped her dress for her. “Tonight needs to hurry up and get here.”
“I can’t wait,” she replied, turning and pecking him quickly on the lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “This fight is going to be amazing.”
They kissed slowly, sweetly. He wanted to say more, but he also didn’t want to let go of her. He wanted to tell her that everything he’d said last night he meant even more now.
Waking up with Nora in his arms was as wonderful as he remembered, and he felt a peace in a part of his soul that he hadn’t even known existed. He felt a shift in everything that was once important to him. He’d spent so much time valuing himself, meeting his own needs, and feeling pride at what he’d done to make himself a success. Seeing Nora’s sleepy smile, feeling her warm body against his…all he wanted was to take care of her.
He wanted to be a man who deserved her, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever reach that goal, but he wanted to never stop trying. The way it felt to be inside her, how immediately her body reacted to him, was intoxicating. He had no idea how he could ever have told himself he didn’t want a relationship with such a strong and beautiful woman, and he felt so lucky that she’d given him a second chance.
“I should get going,” she whispered against his lips, her eyes smiling at him.
He shook his head. “Stay.”
“You’ve got to get ready,” she said.
He kissed the tip of her nose, then her forehead. “Thank you, kitty.”
“For what?” Her face was so innocent, as if she truly didn’t know what a gift she’d given him last night.
“For you. For last night, giving me another chance. For everything.”
She blushed, and he loved the way the crimson teased her cheeks. “Kane…”
“I’m serious, Nora. I don’t want to go another morning without having you wake up next to me.” He kissed her again, his hand on the back of her head as he stole the air from her lungs.
“Mmm,” she sighed. “Well, you still owe me a date, boyfriend.”
“I owe you a lifetime of dates.”
She glanced up at him quickly. “Kane, don’t say things like that.”
“Why not?” He meant every word. The thought surprised him, but the moment it left his mouth, he knew it was completely true. Everything about her that had first drawn him to her was only magnified now.
He wasn’t falling in love. He was already in love.
She shook her head. “Because, that’s a lot…and so fast. I don’t want us rushing into something you might regret.”
He took her chin between his thumb and index finger, lifting her to look at him. “Kitty, there’s nothing about you and me that I’d ever regret. Ever.”
She trembled slightly, then leaned up and kissed him. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“I’ll look for you,” he promised, kissing her back. When she turned to leave the room, he playfully swatted her bottom, causing her to squeal.
“Mine,” he declared, pointing at her ass as she looked back at him with a smile.
“Tonight!” She emphasized that he had to wait, then covered her bottom with her hands.
“Tonight,” he agreed.
It was a promise, and she might not believe him yet, but it would be his promise every night. She was his. There was no doubt in his mind. He’d never been one to falter on a decision.
And he’d decided on her.
Thank God, she’d decided on him, too.
Kane showered quickly, missing Nora as soon as she’d gone. His thoughts were soon taken over by nerves for his upcoming fight, though. After he’d showered, he threw on some gym clothes and grabbed his room key and phone. His plan was to stop by a café downstairs to get some breakfast, then go meet Rory.
The moment he opened his hotel room door, all those plans changed.
Chapter 27
“Did you know that your girlfriend has been breaking all kinds of rules lately?” said the smug-faced man at Kane’s door.
Kane stiffened and shot a narrow-eyed glare at the bookie he’d fought with weeks earlier.
The tall, lanky man leaned against his doorframe nonchalantly. His cheek still had the trace of a scar from where he’d been cut as Kane had punched him repeatedly, but the black eyes had healed.
“I thought I was really fucking clear with you before,” Kane ground out, clenching his fists. “Do you need a reminder?”
Lachlan shrugged. “Wouldn’t do you any good.”
“Want to bet?” Kane grabbed the bookie’s collar and lifted him straight off his feet, dragging him inside the hotel room and shutting the door. He threw him on the floor and paced toward him. “That’s what you’re good at, right?”
“Clever word play,” Lachlan said with a sly smile, “but I’ve got a proposition for you, and I don’t think you’re going to want to say no.”
Something in his expression made Kane pause, as though he knew something Kane didn’t but should. “You’ve got five seconds to explain to me why I shouldn’t kill you here and now.”
Lachlan put his
hands up, getting back to his feet. “All right, all right. Hold your horses.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a tablet, clicking it on and swiping over to his photos. Holding it up, he brandished a photo of Nora in her Tacos & Ta-Tas outfit. “Look familiar?”
“Where the fuck did you get that?” Kane grabbed the entire tablet from him, hit Delete on the bottom of the screen, and then threw it against the wall, where the device smashed and the glass shattered.
Lachlan rolled his eyes. “Apparently you’ve never heard of the cloud, because destroying my tablet doesn’t erase the photo. I have backups, of course.”
“Five seconds is up,” Kane said, pulling back his fist.
The bookie put his hands up again. “Okay, okay, I’m getting to the point. Your little missus there is in a program that doesn’t allow her to work outside jobs, and I bet they’d be even more upset to learn the nature of her job. Especially since she works with kids.” He shrugged. “But, hey, you know, who am I to judge? Maybe I should just send the photo to them and see what they think.”
Kane paused, exhaling slowly as he tried to calculate the best way out of this situation. “What the fuck do you want, Lachlan?”
“Oh, did I forget to say?” The tall man brandished another devious smile. “I want you to lose.”
“What are you talking about?” Kane clenched his fists, confused.
“Tonight. I want you to throw the fight. I’m going to place a bet on it, and when I win, I’ll collect back all the money your bitch girlfriend and her mother cost me.”
Kane’s mouth dropped open as he stared at the callous, cocky idiot in front of him. “Are you fucking kidding me? Do you remember how well it went for you last time you threatened someone I love?” The words slid out, and he didn’t even question them. In this moment, he knew that was exactly how he felt, and he’d do anything to protect that. To protect her.
“I remember,” Lachlan agreed, cradling his jaw in his hand. “Just because you and your Neanderthal family got the jump on me once doesn’t mean I was ever going to forget about the money owed me.”