Doomsday Love: An MMA & Second Chance Romance (34 page)

“Thank you for giving me another chance, Jenny.”

“I’m trusting you.”

He looks around, his brows dipping a bit. “Are sharks your thing?” he asks, as one passes by.

I laugh. “They are interesting creatures. I have no problem with them.”

He turns me to face the glass, and a large tiger shark swims by. It moves fluidly and looks strong, swimming with utter grace.

“Sharks are my favorite animal.”

“Yeah?” I quirk a brow. “Why?”

“I don’t know. I’ve always loved them. They’re… majestic. They know what they want and when they want it. They only attack when they feel threatened, but they protect themselves at all costs. They are independent animals. They intimidate people at first sight, when really there’s not much to fear but the bite. Fierce at times, yet calm during most.” He looks towards a white shark. “They remind me of myself.”

I look at the white shark, watching it swim above our heads, revealing its plump, white belly. Drake looks up with me, a shadow casting down on us.

“This is nice, Drake,” I whisper.

He lowers his line of sight to look at me. Turning to face me, he caps my shoulders and studies my eyes.

“I don’t want to see you like I did last night, Jenny. Alone. In your fucking pajamas, drinking scotch.”

I swallow the emotion down. He doesn’t dare pull his gaze away, but I do. He tilts my chin right back up, forcing my eyes on his again.

His lips come close. So close I can feel the heat of them. Everything around us is serene. The sharks that pass by are like quiet strangers. They are the crowd—the allies of Doomsday—waiting for us to seal this deal.

“I need to kiss you.” Drake’s voice is smoky and deep, and his eyes are still on mine. His hand still clutches my chin. “I have waited years to feel your lips on mine again. Years to have you next to me again. All I need is one right now.”

I study his pool of sparkling green eyes. They are serious. I could say no—pull away—but I won’t, because I’ve wanted to feel his lips on mine ever since I saw him last night.

So, I nod. And it’s with that nod that Drake smiles and wrenches me closer to his large body. His hands cup my face, tilting my chin even further, and when our mouths connect, something inside me awakens.

It’s like fireworks are exploding in the core of my chest, and my lips tingle so damn much from the warmth of his. His mouth is so soft on mine, so greedy, as he deepens the kiss. I seriously can’t help myself, and neither can he.

I let go of all of my problems in this moment, because anything outside of it doesn’t matter. My hands lock around the back of his neck and I bring him as close as possible, so close I can feel him breathing. His groin sinks into mine, and before I know it, my back is against the glass and his tongue is skimming through my parted lips.

He tastes so sweet—just like I remember. People walk by us and I can feel them staring, but I don’t care. I have wanted this for years now—Drake so close to me that I don’t know what to do with myself. I’ve wanted him hungry for my body—to die for a taste of me.

He groans behind our embrace, and especially when our tongues collide. His hands move from my face to my hands and he slides the backs of them up the cool glass, exposing me to him.

My head falls back, and his mouth hesitantly parts from mine to kiss me on the collarbone. He drags his lips back up to the bend of my neck, sucking there, marking me.

My core clenches, a moan filling the air.

I sigh as he squeezes my hands tighter. They are above his head now, and I am completely vulnerable to this man. He could take me right here, right now, and I don’t think I would be able to stop him.

That’s how insatiable his hunger is.

That’s how badly I’ve missed him.

He gains some self-control, though. He knows this isn’t the place or the time, and he’s lucky there aren’t many people here at the reef to see what the almighty Doomsday is doing to me right now.

“Shit, babe,” he groans in my ear, and the sound of his husky voice alone is enough to make me wet for him. “God, I missed that so much. You… so fucking much.” He kisses me on the chin, and I whimper, squeezing his hands in mine. “Tell me you did, too. Tell me you missed how I touched you—how I worshipped this beautiful body of yours. Tell me I’m not the only one feeling this way.”

“You’re not. I missed you too, Drake,” I breathe. I pull my hands from his to clasp his face. His eyes lock on mine, and they are blistering with heat and desire. “I missed everything about you. Everything.”

He leaves no room for error. His mouth comes crashing down on mine again, and I swear I could do this all day. I have missed the aura only he can supply. I have yet to encounter another man like Drake and I don’t think I ever will.

He is unique.

He is powerful.

He is the complete opposite of me, and yet we work better together than chocolate and peanut butter.

Someone clears their throat behind us, and Drake looks back, only to see Oscar. Kylie is standing right behind him with a broad, silly grin.

“You two love birds coming, or what?”

Drake looks up at me with a crooked grin, and after giving me one final kiss, he releases me. Grabbing my hand, we lock fingers just as Oscar and Kylie spin around to do the same.

“Take me back to your hotel later?” I plead, holding onto his thick upper arm.

“Trust me,” Drake says with a smirk. “That was already a part of the plan.”

A
fter the Shark Reef
, we end up going to a bar on the strip.

I have a photo shoot to make up for tomorrow morning, and two interviews for fitness magazines after that, but none of that shit matters because with me is the girl I have loved since I was ten years old.

Her laugh has become the light of my fucking night. The way she smiles—how she holds onto me and snorts over the silliest things Otto says, I can’t fucking take it. I just look at her and know I made a huge mistake by letting this woman go. And I know I can’t let that happen again.

With me, she seems so whole and content—like nothing heavy weighs on her shoulders. I missed the hell out of her. So much.

I can’t pretend that her ordering her fourth scotch within the past two hours doesn’t bother me, but she’s having a good time and we are all drinking. I won’t stop her, but it does make me wary to know she enjoys drinking this much.

She’s gossiping with Kylie now about God knows what. We are sitting in VIP and I can tell she’s having a great time. I shouldn’t ruin it, but it is getting late—nearing two in the morning.

We should get back to the hotel if I want to be in a decent mood in the morning. That photo-shoot is at 8:30 a.m. and I am far from a morning person.

I push out of my seat and walk in their direction. Kylie is laughing so hard she can barely breathe. Oscar is sitting right beside her, shaking his head with a smile on his lips, and Jenny is grabbing Kylie’s shoulders, trying to get her to snap out of it as she explains something.

Oscar looks up to see me coming and his face changes, brow tilting. He stands as I approach and meets up to me. “Leaving already, man?” he asks.

“Yeah. Got that shoot with the belt in a few hours. I should get some sleep.”

“What? You missed it the first time?”

I shrug and then focus on Jenny. “Something important came up.”

He glances back, chuckling. “Hey, I hear you.” He looks back at Kylie and Jenny, and frowns a little as he watches them. “There’s something I should to tell you before you go.” He gestures behind me, and then starts to walk forward. I follow his lead and walk with him until we are out of earshot.

“What is it?”

He sighs, running his fingers through his hair. “I couldn’t help but hear something about what that piece of shit Jenny came to Vegas with did to her.”

I frown. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Oscar looks back at Jenny and Kylie again. They are still giggling, completely oblivious to everything and everyone that surrounds them.

“I don’t know if I was hearing shit or whatever, so don’t get crazy when I tell you this, but you know when Kylie drinks it’s like she’s on truth serum or some shit. Look,” he sighs. “The guy Jenny came here with—Shane or whatever the fuck his name is—seems to be a little too aggressive. I don’t see any bruises or scars, but we know there is always a way to hide them. We were witnesses to shit like that. With the way Kylie talked about him, it seems we need to keep an eye out on her. Make sure Jenny doesn’t end up going back to that fucking prick. The only reason I’m telling you is so you can keep her with you, man. I don’t even know if it’s true, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. You need to ask her about it, make sure this isn’t a misunderstanding.”

“Abusive?” I hiss. “Those words came out of Kylie’s mouth?”

“Yeah. Last night she was talking to me when we got to the hotel and she kept saying how glad she was that you found her last night and how she knew you’d take better care of her. I asked her what that meant, and she told me that Shane fucker is a dick—that she saw him grab Jenny one time at a party, so hard that she became concerned.”

Rage instantly fills my veins. I was calm and relaxed, but the words that have just slipped out of my cousin’s mouth have set a fire ablaze. I look back at Jenny, running my eyes all over her body. She’s covered all over, minus the skin showing on her belly and arms.

I realize she was covered yesterday in the pajamas she wore and how, after her shower this morning, she asked me if I could step out of the hotel room so she could get dressed—like I never saw her naked before.

My jaw locks, and Oscar caps my shoulders, forcing my attention on his. “I don’t know if it’s true, but I’m telling you so you can be cautious. If she’s been acting weird, that’s why, so don’t think it’s you. Just do what you can to keep her with you. Don’t let her out of your sight. I don’t want to have to beat someone’s ass while I’m in Vegas. That just wouldn’t be pretty. I’m trusting you to handle this situation the right way. Be the bigger person.”

I grit my teeth, but nod, and when he pats my shoulder before walking away, my fists clench. I glance back at Jenny, wondering if this display of silliness is just for show.

Is this why she drinks so much hard liquor now?

Is this why she was so fucking dead inside when I found her by the slot machines?

Did that piece of shit do this to her?

I swear to God if he did I will murder that motherfucker!

I storm back for Jenny, grabbing her hand and easing her up.

“Drake,” she laughs, looking me in the eye. “What are you doing?”

“We should go, Jenny. I have a photo shoot in the morning, but I’m taking you back to my hotel, as promised.”

She grins. “Oh, right.” She winks at me before turning to look at Kylie. “Kylie, I’ll see you later?”

“Yes!” Kylie sings over her tequila shot. “We are going to have so much fun tomorrow!”

I hold on tight to Jenny’s hand as I walk off. Otto hollers goodbye to us from a distance, but I know he doesn’t give a shit about us leaving. He has two girls on his lap, both of them half naked. He’ll be good for the rest of the night.

I bob my head at Preach, who walks to the door and opens it for us. When we are outside, the fans are already waiting, but I’m not in the mood to sign shit right now. It’s fucking insane how I can go from chill to fucking broiling in a matter of seconds.

This is Jenny we’re talking about. This is the woman I love. I look over at her as she waves at a few people that holler for her. She’s smiling, like she has no care or problems.

She’s in denial.

She has to be.

This shit better not be true.

Preach calls for Bill, and in no time Bill shows up with the SUV, pulling up to the curb. We climb in, cameras flashing behind us, women screaming, but to be honest, it’s all tuned out.

Jenny slides across the backseat. I shut the door behind me and Preach climbs in the passenger seat.

Bill looks back. “Where to, Mr. Davenport?”

“Hotel.”

I feel Jenny looking at me when she senses my clipped tone, but I can’t look her in the eye. We can’t discuss this here—not that I don’t trust the men that work for me. This is just different. It takes the word
personal
to an entirely different level.

When we reach the hotel, I help Jenny out in her drunken stupor and hurry through the crowd. I reach the elevator and walk in, my arm wrapped around her. Preach stands in front of me, watching the numbers go up.

We reach my floor and as soon as I’m in the room, I sit Jenny down on the bed. Walking to the bathroom, I shut the door behind me and glare into the mirror. I pace quickly, thinking of how to fucking start the conversation—what to fucking say.

I don’t even know if it’s true, but deep down in my gut something tells me it is and I won’t be able to deal with her confession once it’s up in the air.

“Drake?” Jenny calls. Her voice is light and distant. I swing the door open and walk out, ready to unleash my questions, but then I stop.

And I can’t help but stare at her.

She’s taken her shirt and bra off and all I see are those perky, pink nipples. I stop walking, swallowing hard.

“Jenny. What the hell are you doing?”

“Nothing.” She runs a finger over the comforter, smirking, flirting. “I just need some company.”

“And attention,” I mutter.

She laughs. “I do not need attention.” She looks behind me. “Do you think you can turn the lights off?”

“No,” I grumble, walking ahead. I meet up to her, grabbing her hips and bringing her body between my legs. Her tits bounce when she moves. “If this happens, I need to see you. All of you.”

She blinks rapidly, eyes filled with shame now. I don’t know what there is to be ashamed of, though. She has a great body. She always has. This proves that she’s hiding something.

“I like it better with the lights off,” she whispers as our lips inch closer. I look down at her pouty mouth, knowing I need another quick taste.

I plant my hands on the bed and take it. I lean her back and she moans as she allows me to take full control. At first, my hand is cupping her face, kissing deeply, passionately. Her groin rocks against mine, and I feel my cock throbbing in my jeans.

I groan, becoming greedy and forgetting all about the problems at hand for a second. My hands travel down her waist and back up to cup her tits. I sink down, shoving her skirt up and then sliding between her legs, getting as close as possible.

I need to feel her—all of her if I want to stop thinking about what may have harmed her.

With her, I can’t control myself. My fingers comb through her silky brown hair, gradually moving down to her smooth thighs.

Her skin is so soft, the delicate curves and hills of her body to fucking die for. I’m hard as fuck now, wanting so badly to sink into her sweet pussy.

“Shit, Jenny,” I breathe. Fuck. She just doesn’t know what she does to me.

I could take her. Right here, right now, and I know she’d let me…

Or would she?

I realize her body has somewhat frozen. Unlike the kiss we shared earlier at the reef, she’s not all in. I pull my mouth away from hers, searching her face for answers.

“What’s the matter?” I whisper. “Am I hurting you?”

“No,” she squeaks.

“So what is it?”

She shakes her head and sits up. I climb off of her quickly and stand, but as she tugs her skirt down with haste, that’s when I catch it.

“Hold on… what the fuck is that?” My forehead creases, brows stitching together as I reach for the skirt.

She stops me from pulling it up, but I know my eyes aren’t deceiving me. I know one when I see one.

“Drake, just stop.” Her voice is shaky and weak.

“Jenny, move your hands. Right now.” I look her hard in the eyes. She stares back at me, shaking her head.

“No… I can’t.” Her eyes well up, her face going blank. “I can’t, Drake. I won’t.”

“Why the hell not?” I tug on the skirt, but she has a strong grip. I could rip her hands off, but I won’t. I can’t. That’s not me. If I do, I could end up hurting her.

“It’s nothing,” she says, focusing on her lap.

Her fingers are still wrapped tight around the edge of her skirt.

My jaw pulses. I can’t ignore what I saw. I refuse. I try moving her hands away one more time.

Her head is shaking swiftly, her eyes shut, tears streaming down her cheeks now. Her pain is clear, and it breaks my heart to see her like this. I feel an indescribable ache in my chest as I watch her face while slowly removing her hands.

But that ache doesn’t mean shit when I finally have full access, lift up the skirt, and see that large bruise on the inside of her thigh.

For a moment, I don’t even know how to react. The bruise is huge—way too big and ugly to match a girl as beautiful as her. It’s worse than the bruises and scars I get after fights—worse than the ones I dish out.

I can feel my heart beating like hell, my palms growing clammy, and my throat thickening with unwanted emotion, but I can’t get any fucking words out. All I can do is look at her—up at my Jenny and see all the pain that I fucking feel.

I’ve seen this look before.

More than once.

Over and over and over again. All I can think about it Mom… how she cowered. How she hid her marks. How she lied.

“I hit it last night leaving the fight,” she musters.

“No you didn’t. Don’t fucking lie to me.”

“I did!” she wails.

“No you didn’t, Jenny!” My voice is deep and harsh and for a split second I’ve scared my damn self.

“I’m… I’m sorry, Drake. You weren’t supposed to see. I didn’t want you to worry. I’m sorry.”

Her tears are much heavier now. She’s a blubbering fucking mess. She picks up her hands and drops her face into them, as if it will rid her of the tears.

She’s sorry?
She’s sorry!
How the fuck can she be sorry for this—for getting abused by a no-good, punk-ass little bitch like him?

It’s not her fault. I know it isn’t. I have never thought about striking a woman in my life. That’s a cowardly move. A bitch move.

To know someone did this to her sets my blood on fire.

I hear my pulse in my ears and dangerous words chanting in my brain. My bloodstream seems to be filled with hate that is deadly and toxic, and the devil on my shoulder continues to whisper one thing in my ear.

The only thing I want to hear:

Go kill that son of a bitch.

I stand up straight and storm for the door, yanking it open and hearing it bang against the wall.

“Wait—Drake!” Jenny calls after me, but I’m already halfway down the hallway. Preach catches up to me, putting a hand on my chest as he rounds me.

“Doom, what the hell happened? Where you going?”

“Preach,” I seethe. “Right now is the wrong fucking time to be my bodyguard.” He’s still confused. I don’t give him much of an explanation. I rush around him, jamming my finger on the elevator’s down button. It’s taking way too fucking long, so I rush towards the stairs.

Only, I don’t make it there because someone catches my arm and spins me around. Wet brown eyes lock on mine and Jenny tries her damn hardest to drag me back while also trying to adjust her shirt.

I pull my elbow away from her.

“Drake, you can’t do this. Please,” she begs.

“Why the hell not, Jenny? He fucking hurt you! He left a mark on you! I know that son-of-a-bitch is here and I’m going to fucking handle it. My way! I will tear this city apart just to find him!”

“Your way is the wrong way, Drake! You can’t. We’re not in high school anymore. You can’t do whatever you want. Shane is—he’s not stupid. If he sees you, all he’ll see is Doomsday and he will file charges. He will have you sent to jail and he will also sue you!”