“I am now.” She rolled over, and he zeroed in on her breasts as they became visible. When she lifted her arms above her head and stretched, his cock pulsed and grew. Shit, they had fucked for hours last night, and had only been asleep since four, yet here he was, hard as hell again. One golden eyebrow cocked up in question, and a slow smile spread across her face. “I assume that was the call you were waiting for, the one where you get the details on fighting this Lion guy?” He lay back down and stared at the ceiling and nodded. “Are you scared?” He turned and looked at her and saw how worried she looked.
“Nah, baby.
This is what I do, who I am.”
“So when is the fight?”
London sat up and swung his legs over the bed.
“Tonight.
It is being held right on the county line in an abandoned industrial building off of Route 35.” He looked at her over his shoulder. . “Why, you want go?” He already knew the answer, and wanted her there, but he also liked teasing her. There was also a part of him that didn’t want her there. It was sure to be a madhouse, and having her in a situation like that worried the fuck out of him.
“You know I wouldn’t miss it. I know this is a really important fight for you.”
“But I need to make sure you are where I can see you at all times. It gets crazy out there, especially for this fight since the hype is so extreme on it, and I won’t be able to focus on the fight if I’m worrying about you.”
“I want to remind you I showed up at a fight and survived.” He lifted his eyebrow and didn’t respond. “Okay, okay.” She held her hands up. “You’re just as bad as my dad.” He grunted.
“Right where I can see you.
In fact, I am going to have Brock come to the fight, and you’ll stay by him, yeah?” She nodded. Although he and Brock had moved to Absinthe at the same time, since his friend had gotten pretty serious with his girl, Izzy, he had been keeping an even lower profile. London still saw him at the center on occasion, and even though Brock fought in the underground circuit as well, they didn’t run in the same circles. Besides, telling Sunny not to do something, like going to watch him when it was pretty fucking hectic and dangerous, was like nailing Jell-O to a tree. It just wasn’t going to happen, but her stubbornness was one of the things he loved about her, amongst many, many others.
Chapter Ten
Sunny looked around the packed warehouse. It was still half an hour before the fight, but the building was packed wall to wall with bodies. London gripped her hand tighter and pulled her even closer to him. He wore a sweatshirt with the hood over his head, and she couldn’t deny that he looked like a badass. People parted for them, and she knew it was because he gave off the aura that he’d kick their asses if they rubbed him the wrong way. When they made their way to the cage he turned and looked at her.
“You stay here, right here, Sunny.” She nodded and felt someone touch her shoulder. Looking behind her she saw Brock step up to them and smile down at her. London leaned down and kissed her on the mouth hard. He pulled back and held her gaze for a suspended minute. “Stay right next to Brock, baby. I want to concentrate on the fight, yeah.” She resisted the urge to roll her eyes, because he had repeated this exact phrase several times already. She knew her place when it concerned a fight, and wasn’t about to wander off and risk him worrying about her and getting his ass kicked because of it.
“I know, London. Don’t worry. I’m not going to go walking around. I’ll stay right here beside Brock.” She leaned into the big guy and smiled when London scowled at her actions. He was so jealous, but it made her also feel loved. He might be possessive, but not to the extreme where he was barking orders at her and demanding she get rid of her friends for him. Besides, if he tried any of that shit she’d kick
his
ass. He gave her one more kiss, looked at Brock and had some kind of silent communication with him, and headed to the back of the building. She turned and stared at Brock. “He always
like
this?” She was teasing, but Brock didn’t even crack a smile.
“He’s pretty serious about you, Sunny. I’ve never seen him like this with anyone else.” She nodded. “Just don’t get swallowed by the crowd because then I’ll be the one that gets his wrath.” They turned and faced the cage, and she let her eyes scan all the people. Some of them were clearly already drunk, high, or both, and nearly all the women were dressed in nothing but a few strips of fabric. She made another sweep over the crowd, and stopped when she saw the brunette with the bobbed hairdo that had given her shit at the previous fight. She was closer to the back of the warehouse, but there was no mistaking her almost anorexic frame, or the face that would forever be ingrained in Sunny’s head. Her heart stopped when she saw who she was talking to. It was the guy who had blocked London’s path when she had seen him fight just days before. He was definitely the same asshole who had challenged London, and she knew that this was The Lion. It was like an instinct inside of her, especially when his hard stare turned and looked at the door London just disappeared behind. He turned to the side, and Sunny saw the massive tattoo of a lion’s head covering his back.
Brock leaned in close and said. “That’s the guy London is fighting.” She nodded, because she knew as much already. The brunette wrapped herself around the guy, speared her hands in his strawberry blond hair, kissed him like she wanted to crawl inside of him, and when they broke apart he slapped her hard on the ass. He stalked away, and Sunny swore that damn lion tattoo was watching her the whole time.
The minutes ticked down slowly and agonizingly, but after what seemed like forever the announcer’s voice rang through the room.
“Now, for the fight of the fuckin’ century, The Lion versus the undefeated champ of the underground,
Londoooooon
Motherfuckin
’ Stein.”
The Lion came back out and climbed into the cage. He looked like an asshole right off the bat, and a lot of the crowd booed him. When London came out there was a chorus of cheers, and her pride for him swelled, but she couldn’t help the dread that settled in her belly. Something didn’t feel right, and she knew it had to do with the sadistic gleam in this guy’s eyes.
London zeroed in on her and gave her a wink. Sunny noticed that a lot of the women beside and around her squealed, and she wondered if they thought he was giving his attention to them. It didn’t matter, because she knew who he was looking at, and her body heated more when that lopsided smile came into play. There were a few more words from the announcer, and then it was like all hell broke loose. The Lion came at London full force, but her guy dodged several blows that would have come right at his head. He delivered his own punches, but it was like the other fighter was on speed. He didn’t even flinch, but London kept his game face on and stayed on his feet. They moved like perfectly choreographed dancers, each one seeming to know the other’s moves. Clearly this Lion guy had studied London, knew his tactics, and was now using it against him. It seemed like that thought passed quickly over London’s face, and then his expression became harder and he switched up his moves. She recognized several of the ones he had done on Mack, ones that were meant to take down a bigger guy. The Lion fell on his back, and London was on him, hitting his face repeatedly. But he was thrown off seconds later, and now it was London that was put in a submission hold.
Brock put his hand on her shoulder, and she wondered if she looked how she felt … a big fucking wreck?
They broke apart and took a minute to rest in their corners. London’s eye was already starting to swell, but a sick part of her loved the fact The Lion had a split lip and blood dripped down his chin. They met in the center again and went back at the most brutal fight she had ever seen. London was good, with quick moves and precise actions, but his opponent was also good, almost as good as London was.
The fight seemed to go on and on, and Sunny grew more nauseous with every passing second. Never had she been on pins and needle watching two guys go at it, but then again this was
her
guy, and there were a lot of blows he wasn’t able to deflect. She noticed London kept glancing over her way, and that had been one of the reasons he had gotten hit so many times. He was too worried about her, and that was costing him. He was taken to the ground again and was put in a chokehold. London tried to get out of the hold, but it was no use. The other guy’s face was a mask of rage, and his lips were moving as he spoke. London’s face started to turn red, and he turned his head to her direction. Their eyes locked, and she knew he needed to get his head in the game. He could take that asshole, and needed to realize that.
She cupped her hands around her mouth, rose on her toes and shouted, “Kick his fucking ass, baby!” She knew London heard her because a smile slowly covered his face. In a move she didn’t think he could maneuver with the big fucker on top of him, London flipped them over until he was the one dominating the fight. He pinned the guy’s arms under him, contorted his legs like some kind of human pretzel, and turned to look at her once more. She smiled, and conveyed all of her
love for him in that one look
. “Do it, London, finish him.”
She yelled out, loving how the crowd went wild and started chanting London’s name. He started going to town on The Lion. Over and over he hit him with his fists, elbows, and knees. There was no way for the guy to deflect London’s blows. Blood sprayed from his mouth and nose, covered the mats below them, and sprayed across London’s chest. Her fighter looked like some kind of possessed Spartan, defeating his enemy like a warrior. Sunny looked over at where the brunette was standing, her face a mask of rage as she watched her recent conquest being taken down. Not sparing her any more of her time, Sunny looked back at London just in time to see him bring his arm back and slam his fist into the side of his opponent’s head, causing The Lion’s whole body to jerk to the side. His limbs went limp instantly, and London raised his fist again, but at the last minute dropped his hand and got off. He stood, and looked down at the lifeless form, his chest rising and falling from his exertion. For an instant she thought London had killed him, but a breath of relief left her when she saw his chest slowly rising and falling. There were plenty of horror stories she had heard at the center about guys hitting another guy just right and killing them, and she had thought this might have been one of those times. Fortunately, London wouldn’t have to live with the weight of taking another man’s life.
Medics rushed to the guys to check both of them, but London pushed them away and stalked out of the cage and right to her. Her heart pounded hard, and Brock moved out of the way just when London stopped in front of him. Blood and sweat covered him, and he looked like he had been put through a meat grinder with all the hits that had been dealt to his face, but he looked damn fierce, and gorgeous. And he was all hers.
“Hi.” He smirked, and she didn’t hold herself back from jumping into his arms. It didn’t matter that he was dirty and covered in not only his blood but the other guy’s as well, because she loved him all the same.
“Hey, yourself.”
He held her as tight as he could. “You won.” She closed her eyes and smiled into the crook of his neck.
“Did you have doubts?” He didn’t say it with a cocky attitude, and she started chuckling.
Sunny pulled back and looked into his battered face.
“Never.”
As she kissed him gently on the lips because she was mindful of the bruise starting to form in the corner, he started striding out of the warehouse with her wrapped around him like some kind of contortionist. She didn’t care if people were watching, or if they were trying to stop him, because this wasn’t about anyone else. The only thing that mattered was London and her, and what the future held.
Epilogue
One year later
“Baby, if you don’t put some fucking clothes on I’ll definitely be getting into a fight or two tonight.”
Sunny looked down at herself and scowled. “London, we’re going to a wedding. Women wear dresses to things like this, believe it or not.” He walked toward her, and she couldn’t help but admire how good he looked in his tux. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and brought her flush with his body. He started kissing her, and she knew if she didn’t stop this they wouldn’t get out of the house. London started moving his hands down her back and toward her ass, and she smiled against his lips. His appetite for her was insatiable. Even a year later their sex life was still like two hormonal teenagers that just found out that it felt good. But then again when someone had a guy as potent and carnal as London Stein always walking around without a shirt, and intent on showing her that she was the most desirable thing to him, what girl could say no? He broke the kiss at the same time he gripped both cheeks of her ass. After squeezing the mounds roughly, he growled against her neck and thrust his pelvis forward, digging his rock hard erection into her belly.
“Maybe we should just stay here.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “London, you’re the best man. You’re kind of required to go.”
He grunted in disapproval and pulled away.
“I think Brock would totally understand if I wanted to stay in bed with you all day.” He dipped his head and started kissing her throat. “It isn’t like he isn’t in love. Hell, the asshole as stood me up more times than not because he wanted to stay home with Izzy.”
She smiled, but any amusement fled when he started dragging his teeth along the side of her throat. A sigh escaped her, and she leaned into him more. “You’re like a freaking machine.”
“Only with you, baby.” He tightened his hold on her, right under her ass, and lifted her so only her toes touched the ground. As he buried his face at her cleavage, a sigh left her when he ran his tongue along the part of her breasts that rose over the hem of her dress. It wasn’t like her outfit was obscene or tacky. It was a sapphire blue color, with an empire waist and a low back. It fell mid-thigh, but apparently that was too little clothing where London was concerned. “Yeah, definitely going to have to make it known you’re mine, especially with your chest hanging out like it is.” He growled again, and she loved it, loved how it made her skin grow tight, and loved that it always made her instantly wet. He pulled back and looked down at her, his expression instantly serious.
“What’s wrong?” He set her on the ground and took a step back. “London, are you okay?” She started to panic because his face was starting to grow a little pale, and her normally self-assured boyfriend was looking a little worse for wear. He had gone from hot to cold in a matter of seconds. “You’re starting to scare me.” She reached out for him, and he took her hand and brought it to his mouth, placing a little kiss right on the center of her palm.
It took him a minute, but he finally spoke. “Maybe we should do it.” His words confused her.
“Do what?” There was so much vulnerability in his expression that it broke her heart. She wished she could see in his head right at that moment, because whatever he was thinking about had him looking like he might pass out.
“The whole marriage thing.”
His words were low, almost hesitant.
She blinked, not knowing if she had heard him correctly. “What?” Her hands started to become clammy, and her pulse pounded fiercely in her ears.
“Yeah, I mean,” he broke eye contact and looked around, looking anywhere except back into her eyes. “Shit, I am totally screwing this up.”
“London.” She reached for his hand, not really sure if he was actually doing what she thought he was doing.
“I’m no good at this, but I’m
gonna
try, baby.” She licked her lips and held her breath when he got down on one knee. He reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket, and pulled out a small black velvet box. Sunny let go of him and covered her mouth with her hand. “I asked your dad and Mack for your hand in marriage.” He smiled, and she laughed softly through the forming tears in her eyes. “They gave me their blessing. But Mack looked like he was about to rip my balls off.” He chuckled, but it was of the nervous variety. “I’m a pain in the ass, I know, but there isn’t anyone on this planet that will love you the way I do. There isn’t anyone that will protect you with their last breath, or make sure every day you’re smiling like I will. I love you more than anything else, and if you accept my proposal, you’ll make me the happiest man on this earth.” He popped the lid of the box open, and a gasp left her when she got a look at the huge solitaire diamond revealed. “It isn’t nearly large enough for you, but I didn’t want to seem cocky with a bigger diamond, and I know you’re not into shit like that.” His lopsided grin and teasing had her tears finally breaking free and spilling down her cheeks. “Sunny Marie McGrieve, will you do me the extreme honor of being my wife?”
For a moment she couldn’t speak, and as the seconds ticked by she saw his worry grow. Wiping away the wetness on her cheeks she nodded.
“Yes, London, yes, I’ll marry you.”
He let out a huge sigh, and they both smiled. “Damn, girl, you had a guy worried there for a moment.” He stood and took the ring out of the box and slipped it on her finger. “I planned on asking you tonight, after the reception and all that, but you look so beautiful and I’m not really one to put things off.” He wiped his thumbs under her eyes, brushing away more tears, and leaned down to kiss her. “I swear, Sunny, you won’t regret saying yes.” He hugged her tight, and she rested her head on his chest. No she wouldn’t, because as big, tattooed, and scary as London could be with his opponents, he was a softy at heart. He was her tattooed fighter, and she wouldn’t change that for anything in the world.
The End
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