Challenge: A Contemporary MMA Romance: Oni Fighters Book 3 (17 page)

Right now though, I needed to find my bed. I hated to admit it to anyone, even less to myself, but I was fading fast.

“Why don’t you head to the bedroom?”

“That anxious to get me naked, babe?” I joked, not wanting it to seem weird that she was putting the invalid to bed.

“Yeah, yeah, funny guy. Let’s get you into bed then worry about everything else. From here, it looks like you need a nap rather than anything else.”

I wasn’t about to admit that she was right. “Ready to go when you are,” I said confidently.

“Sure, go get naked and I’ll be right in. I’m just going to get you some water and some snacks for beside the bed.” She breezed off to the kitchen, showing me the contempt I well deserved.

Slowly, I made my way down the hallway to the master bedroom, my hand out, bracing my progress all the way. I still couldn’t walk properly without the aid of something to balance on.

Sophia had left the walking frame near the front door and, as far as I was concerned, that was where the fucking thing could stay—a step away from being tossed out. Old people needed walking frames. Not me.

The room was spotlessly tidy, the king size bed perfectly made. Sophia had really gone all-out, right down to the pleasant citrus fragrance that seemed to be everywhere.

I edged over, using the dresser as support and slowly lowered myself down onto the mattress.

The move took my breath away. I sucked in a huge breath at the agony and held it, all the time willing the pain to pass.

It was lower than the bed had been set in the hospital and the extra few inches made the exercise all the more difficult for my hips and thighs.

“Shit.” Sophia rushed in and placed the water bottle and plate or fruit on the bedside table. “I should have helped you with that, sorry.”

“It’s a tad lower than the hospital bed.”

She pulled the covers back and helped me lift my legs up onto the bed.

It sucked being a cripple.

The pain had subsided to a level where I could breath again. I dragged my shirt off over my head, pissed that I was struggling to even get into my own bed.

Then, I went for my shorts.

“What are you doing?”

“You told me to get naked,” I protested, knowing full well she’d been joking.

She gave me a look that said
“You’re an idiot.”
And I was. I’d rather be that than the injured cripple at the moment.

“Why don’t you take a nap and let’s see how you feel when you wake up?”

“I thought the sex was only supposed to dry up when you got married?”

She just smirked. “And when you decide to flip your car off a cliff, it seems. Take a nap.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I was going to do some work on the internet and tackle that washing of yours. Plus, I’ve got to do a session with Dane.”

Didn’t sound like much fun but I guess it needed to be done. Actually, she’d been doing all my washing for the last few weeks. Just something else….

“Okay, but I want naked time later on.” I gave her my best serious, domineering look so she knew I meant business.

For my troubles, I got a chaste kiss on the forehead and a “Whatever big guy!”

Yeah, she was so going to be in trouble when I was up and around.

T
he extra training
was kicking my arse!

“Come on, Soph, pick it up,” Dane yelled at me over the sound of my fists hammering at the pads he held. No one hit harder than Dane. Seth was close, but even he’d admit Dane’s pound for pound punching power was insane. “You’re hitting like a girl.”

That was my cue. Nothing pissed me off more than being referred to as a girl, even if that was the case. I liked to think I could mix it with the men or, at least, put up a show they’d respect.

I dug deep as my stomach reeled. Sheer damned will kept that energy drink I’d had in my belly. I wouldn’t puke even if my body was drenched in sweat and every muscle was jittering.

“That’s it. Better,” Dane praised as I found something more.

“I’ll count it down, ten, nine, eight…” He kept calling the seconds as a I put two hits on the pads to every count.

“Nearly there…” Fuck, I hated it when they did that. It just added another four or six to the exercise. “…seven, six, five. A few more big ones, Soph, finish it strong, girl.”

“Ahhhhhh,” I screamed as I hit the pads with everything I had those last few times.

“Four, three, two…last ones.”

I hated him.

“One.” I slumped over, spent, my chest heaving to get oxygen. “Good job.”

I immediately knew my mistake.

My stomach spasmed and I realized my error. I shouldn’t have bent over like that. I shoved my glove-covered hand over my mouth and hoped to hell I could keep the eruption in my stomach and took off like a scalded cat to the bathroom.

Somehow, I made it to the nearest toilet. A split second later, the remnants of the fruit I’d eaten and the energy drink I’d been sipping while training greeted me.

My body shook and my stomach rolled time and time again until nothing returned.

Even more sweat drenched my brow before I managed to flush the toilet and stagger to the sink.

Never had cold water felt so good as when I splashed it on my face, not caring about wetting my gloves.

Finally, I felt up to heading out. The nausea had passed, which made sense because there was nothing left in my guts to come back up.

Dane was hovering by the office, obviously waiting for me to make an appearance.

“You okay? I was about to head in.” He sounded really worried.

“Yeah, just tossed my cookies, I seem to feel better now.”

“Wow, Xan let’s you eat cookies on a fight diet? Shit, that wasn’t on my meal plan.” I appreciated him making light of my pain and suffering.

“Well, I think I’ll be skipping that energy drink in future. It tastes like shit coming back up.”

“I hate that flavor going down, let alone when it comes back up,” he agreed.

“Sorry.” I felt a little embarrassed. “I’ve never had that happen before.”

He shrugged it off. “Don’t worry about it. We’ve all done it many times. This sort of training will take you to the edge. Train hard, fight easy—remember. Nothing to worry about. It’s bound to happen more and I was working you really hard.”

I nodded, appreciating he wasn’t making a big deal of it. Although, I didn’t like the sound of throwing up more, at least it was the result of hard work and not hard partying.

Actually, Dane was making it out as if as if I’d somehow earned a badge of honour rather than grossly vomiting.

“Thanks…I think.”

He bumped me on the shoulder. “Go turn your legs over on the bike for ten minutes and then do some cool down stretches. I think you’re done for the day.”

“You sure I shouldn’t do more?” I didn’t want Dane or Xan to think I was slacking it.

“You worked really hard today, plus you went out running before you picked up Seth. That’s enough. He’s probably wondering where you are anyway.”

“Yeah, wondering how he can convince me to have sex with him,” I shot back.

Dane just looked at me strangely. “You serious?”

“It seems to be fast becoming a running joke between us. We both know he’s not up for it yet, pardon the pun. But that’s not stopping him from trying his luck even though I’m sure he knows he’s not going to get any yet.” Dane chuckled and shook his head. “He’s such a dick sometimes.”

“Yep, not going to disagree with you, Soph, but you can’t knock a guy for trying.” Dane’s voice held a hint of admiration.

“The rest of the world recognizes it for what it is—stupidity.”

“Well, there is that, but we are talking about Seth.”

“True, very true. I guess I’d better finish up. I don’t actually like leaving him for long. He said he’d be fine but…”

“You don’t need to explain, Soph. You’re doing an awesome job of looking after him. We all know that and appreciate you doing it.” It was a really nice thing for Dane to say. “I’ll try and pop around in the next couple of days. I’ve got a couple of things on with Isaac but I’m sure I can slip away for a couple of hours.”

“Bring Isaac and Arianne with you, if you want.”

He nodded. “We’ll see. Go finish up.”

* * *

T
hirty minutes later
, I let myself into the house. I could hear the television on in the main bedroom so I figured Seth must be awake. I’d left a note and quietly slipped out not long after he’d gone to sleep. Even if he wouldn’t admit it, I could tell after the trip home he was exhausted.

Stubborn male!

I made my way through the house and tossed my training bag in the yet to be renovated spare room. I’d deal with that smelly mess after I had a shower. All I wanted to do right now was stand under the hot water and clean my teeth.

Seth was propped up in bed on the mound of pillows I’d added for his comfort. He was normally a one pillow kind of guy but then his injury changed all that. Right now, I figured he couldn’t have enough to ease whatever hurt. At least he’d have options if he wanted them.

“Hey, babe, how was your workout?” His face brightened immediately on seeing me, which made me feel kind of warm and gooey.

“Tough. Dane worked me over.” I realized what I’d said after the words left my mouth and I waited for the sexual innuendo.

Instead, Seth’s brows narrowed. “Is he pushing you too hard.”

I shrugged. “Probably not. God, I need a shower.” I pulled my T-shirt off over my head, leaving me in a sports bra and a pair of compression workout tights that I wore under my MMA shorts.

I headed to the ensuite bathroom.

I went to close the door separating the bedroom and the ensuite. “First, I want a kiss and I want that door open so I can watch.”

“I’m not kissing you. I threw up at training. No kisses until after I clean my teeth.” I rolled the tights down my legs and leant into the shower to start the water.

“You threw up at training? What the hell did Dane have you doing?” He sounded annoyed.

“We were doing pad work. You know what a nut he is with pads in his hand.”

“Yeah, but I don’t want you pushing yourself that hard.”

“Why? You guys go until you throw up at times?”

“Yeah, but we’re guys.”

“And I’m taking a serious fight. I need to be ready.”

“Babe, you will be. Even though you’ve only been doing marital arts for a few years, I’ve not seen a tougher female fighter. You’re going to be fine. No girl is going to best my girl.”

My heart squeezed. Seth called me his girl and he sounded proud of what I did as a fighter. That meant a lot coming from someone like Seth.

“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.” I unhooked my bra then slipped off my g-string panties.

I heard a heavy sigh come from the bedroom halting me from stepping into the shower. When I spun around and looked at him, his hot eyes cut over me and took in my form from head to toe. I wasn’t embarrassed at all about my nudity.

Seth had seen it many times before and I thought nothing of going to the beach almost naked.

“Fuck, you’re hot, Sophia. Come over here.” His voice was low and sexy.

“Nope. I don’t think so. In fact, I think I might shut the door, otherwise you’ll get too worked up.” I reached for the sliding door that separated the two rooms.

“Don’t you dare.” It came out as a demand and I raised my eyebrows at him in challenge. Then, his face softened. “Please, let me at least look.”

“Why do you insist on torturing yourself?” I glanced across at him and realized exactly why. Seth had pushed back the sheet and he was naked underneath. His hand was slowly stroking his length, his eyes glued to me.

“Because I’m trying to figure out how far I can go. If I can finish.”

“Why not just give yourself a bit more time. It seems like you’re putting an awful lot of pressure on yourself for nothing.”

“Nothing! You mean you don’t want me to fuck you with my dick anytime soon? I know how much you love me getting you off. Hard and deep,” he argued.

I stepped into the shower. It sure looked like I was going to have a disagreement with him, might as well have a shower at the same time and be more efficient, I decided.

“And yes, I do want you, but not if it’s going to hurt you or be difficult.”

“Fuck that. I want our sex life back,” he argued.

“I’m sure you do. I’d also like to see you walk without pain. I’m going to place a higher priority on that than getting off on your dick.” I lathered body wash over myself, pleased with my come back.

That seemed to shut him up, at least momentarily long enough for me to finish my shower and dry my hair.

When I emerged from the bathroom and finally paid him some attention, he was laying there looking sullen and grumpy. The sheet was back in place but the television was switched off.

I was wearing nothing but a towel around my body. I’d left my clothes in the other room when I’d brought my things over the other day. I didn’t want to be too presumptuous, I wasn’t sure that he’d want me sharing his bedroom just yet. I didn’t want to be disturbing him or causing pain for him by accidentally bumping him or rolling the wrong way when sleeping.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.”

“You don’t sound okay.”

He rolled over a little and glared at me. “Well, you’d be pissed off too if you were sexually frustrated and your girlfriend didn’t seem inclined to be interested in doing something about it.”

Something about the way he was carrying on made me pause and think for a moment. I did like the fact that he referred to me as his girlfriend though. That seemed like a little victory for me.

“Did you get fully hard?”

His glare dropped and he turned his head away.

“So, the answer to that is no, right?”

There was silence between us for a few long moments.

“I’m going to take that as a no.” I stopped for a split second before deciding to push on. This needed to be said. “You’re not really sexually frustrated, are you? You’re just pushing to see how far you can go. This is you testing yourself, pushing yourself not a genuine need. Am I right?”

He finally looked up at me sheepishly.

“Yes. Although I do feel turned on, it’s not quite as desperate as I’m making out.”

I moved over towards him and sought his mouth with mine. As soon as I was within reach, he cupped the back of my head and and pulled me down so our lips fused together. No sooner had his lips touched mine than his tongue was demanding entrance to my mouth.

He caught my upper lip between both of his and licked along the edge of it before fusing our mouths together again, tongues dueling for control. He was edging for dominance and I enjoyed our teasing, tantalizing fight for a while before I gave in as we both knew I would.

I let him take my mouth—fuck my mouth with his tongue. I let him him do all the the things to my mouth that he wanted to do to me with his cock in my pussy. It would have to be enough for now.

He growled at my surrender and snagged me around the waist, pulling me closer to him. I felt the towel slip and then drop to the floor to pool around my feet. My back protested at the strange angle. I pulled back from him, feeling hot and needy.

His eyes registered confusion.

“My back doesn’t like that angle and I didn’t want to put my weight on you.”

He looked frustrated. “Come around here.” He motioned for me to join him on the other side of the bed.

I was worried. “Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Get over here, Soph. I haven’t had you properly in my arms since that night.” There was no hesitation in his voice.

I moved around the bed and slipped under the covers on the far edge of the other side of the bed. Then, I carefully made my way up beside him. Settling in his arms did sound good. I just didn’t want to do it at the expense of him being in pain.

Our eyes met as I inched closer.

“I’m fine, Soph, keep moving across.” He raised his arm and indicated for me to slide up tight to him. I reached out with my hand and slipped it onto his chest and brought the rest of my body slowly in contact with his.

“You okay?”

“Much better.” His voice held no indication of pain and his body was still relaxed. I edged even closer until the length of my naked body was pressed down the length of his.

“Still okay?”

His arm tightened around my shoulders, pulling me in even harder to him. “I’m fine now.”