Fighting Strong (5 page)

“Not bad,” Adam said. “Some scrapes and bruises.”

“An ambulance is on its way.” She walked closer. “You were damn lucky… that was one bad storm last night. You’d have been OK in here, though.” She looked in approval at the blankets and water and bandages. “You certainly travel well-prepared, huh?”

“Yeah,” Adam said. “
Some
people
complain about all the space it takes in the trunk and say that always having my camping stuff in the car is idiotic.” He grinned down a Katie. “Maybe now those
some
people
will back off a bit, huh?”

Katie fluttered her eyelashes up at him. “I have no idea of what you speak.”

They both burst out laughing; they felt an odd combination of relief and giddiness.

Deborah shook her head.

Young love.

Chapter Five

Mia woke up slowly. She was warm and comfortable and her first thought was to wonder why her pillow was moving. She opened her eyes and she saw a muscled chest right in front of her.

“Good morning.”

Startled, she raised her head and saw Nick looking down at her.

“Good morning.”

He stroked her back. “Did you sleep OK?”

She nodded.

Nick had spent the past twenty minutes watching her sleep, almost bursting with happiness to have her back in his arms. For the first time since he’d made love to her and then run out of her apartment six weeks earlier, they had shared a bed, and he didn’t even care that they were both in t-shirts and underwear. All he wanted was to hold her again while she slept.

OK, that wasn’t strictly true. He wanted far more than that, but everything else could wait. What he wanted more than sex was her trust. Her love. Once he had regained those things, the sex would follow.

He lifted her chin and kissed her lightly. She closed her eyes, remembering how intense the kissing had gotten the night before. She had loved every second of lying in his arms, fully clothed, just kissing him and talking. It was the most intimate, passionate thing she’d ever done with Nick and she knew he felt the same way.

Nick gently rolled over and pulled her up and against him. She clung to his shoulders and pressed her breasts against his chest. Their tongues and legs intertwined as their kisses deepened and lengthened.

Mia’s breath came faster now and she felt her centre moisten and open. She stirred on the bed.

“Nick?”

Nick opened his eyes. She was gazing up at him, her eyes ablaze with desire and his whole body responded to her unspoken request.

“Are you sure, babe?” he said.

She arched. “Yes. Oh, yes.”

He hesitated. “Maybe you want to take it slow?”

She raised her hips to his, rubbed herself against his cock. “It’s been six weeks. I think that’s slow enough.”

“I can make you feel good in other ways. I can touch you… kiss you. We don’t have to do everything.”

She smiled and it was that pure, perfect smile that he had seen at the bar when they first met. His heart flipped in his chest to see it again.

“But I
want
to do everything, Nick.”

She lifted his t-shirt up, over his chest, over his head. He ran his hands under her pj top, stroked her naked breasts. She gasped as he took it off and lowered his dark head to her nipples. His tongue flicked them gently and her hands clenched in his hair, pushing his mouth closer.

He lifted his head. “I’ve missed you, Mia. I’ve missed us.”

“Me too,” she whispered. “Make love to me, Nick. Please.”

He kissed her again and she ran her hands across his back, loving his strength. He trailed his fingers down her stomach, down the material of her underwear. He rubbed her lips through the cotton and she opened her mouth against his and gasped.

God, she was just so wet, so open. So ready. Nick groaned and slid his fingers under her panties, stroking lightly. Mia shuddered as his finger moved closer to her vulnerable bud, an inch at a time, slowly. When he finally touched her clit, she gave a low cry.

Nick circled her hard knot, loving how she moved against his fingers. She was soaked and he spread her sweetness around and around, feeling how slick she was.

My God. How could I have been so fucking stupid as to risk losing this? Losing her?

He lowered her underwear down her thighs, past her knees. She kicked them off and reached for his boxer shorts. She pulled them down and sucked in her breath when she saw him – hard and long and perfect. She wanted it. She wanted him.

“The condoms are in the bedside table,” she said.

“Not yet,” he said. “Not yet…”

His fingers went back to her pussy and she opened her legs to them. He stroked her up and down before sliding a finger inside. They both groaned as her muscles pulled on him, pulling his finger in farther, closer. Mia tensed as her pussy started to flicker in small, pre-orgasm waves.

“Nick,” she breathed. “Oh, God… it feels so good.”

“I want to kiss you, babe. I want to taste you again.”

She flushed and almost came just at the thought. “Please…”

Nick moved down her body, giving her small kisses the whole way. He was fighting to stay in control, but it was getting more challenging by the second. She was just so hot, so wet, so beautiful. He wanted to be inside her so much.

Mia was so turned on, she couldn’t believe it. His tongue touched her clit and his finger pushed deeper inside of her, and she felt the flickering burst in to a wildfire. She gasped and her back arched helplessly. His tongue stroked her once, twice; his fingers plunged once, twice. And she came immediately.

Nick felt her explode against his mouth and hand and almost came himself. Her body was quivering all around him and he licked the length of her pussy, sucking up every last drop of her release. She cried out again and her head dropped back. She clenched and released, her orgasm going on and on, barely catching her breath between cries.

Her body went limp under him and he wiped his lips on the sheets. He crawled back up her shaking body and gathered her in his arms. She was gasping, panting, saying his name over and over again, and he thought that this was the closest thing to heaven he’d ever find on earth.

“Mia,” he whispered. “You OK, angel?”

She nodded even as the tears began. He expected her to be emotional after everything she’d been through, so when she started to cry he was ready. He held her close and tight, whispering in her ear that she was OK and safe. That he had her and he wasn’t going to let her go again. Slowly, she calmed, her body going pliant and soft next to his. He stroked her hair and waited.

Mia felt like she was in the safest, warmest place it was possible to be. She had never thought of
home
as a man before, but with Nick, that’s what she felt. She pulled back and looked at him. He was so gorgeous and his face was so tender, she almost started to cry again. Instead, she kissed him, deep and hard, and his desire flamed. She felt his erection against her leg and she reached down to stroke him with two hands.

Nick closed his eyes, rested his forehead on hers. His breath was hot and he was murmuring her name. His cock throbbed and pulsated in her hands, loving her touch.

“I want you, Nick. Please… I want you inside me.”

This time, he reached for the condom. Mia watched him roll it on, biting her lip at the thought of making love with him again. Her whole body was straining, wanting to be one with his.

Nick kissed her as he settled between her thighs. “I’m not sure how long I’m going to be able to last, babe.”

“Me either.”

They smiled at each other, their eyes hot. Nick pressed the tip of his cock against her and she rose to meet him. In one smooth thrust, he was inside her, and she had never felt so taken. He stretched her in the most delicious way, and she closed her eyes as he began to retreat and plunge. Nick felt his climax approaching fast, so fast, and he fought to make it last. It was a losing battle, he knew.

Desperate for her to come again, he licked his fingers and reached between their bodies. He pressed on her clit as he rammed in to her and her body rose up off the bed as her pussy began to clench him.

“You’re close, Mia… give it to me, babe. Give me another one.”

She writhed under him, almost insane with the need to come again. When she came apart, she screamed and the sound drove him over and beyond. His whole world was between her legs and he slammed in to her body, his mouth against her throat, his hands clenched in her hair.

“Oh, God, Mia. Mia… oh,
God
.”

He stiffened, burst inside her. She felt him throbbing and she clutched his back, wanting to hold him close while he came. He gave one final thrust, then collapsed on her, trembling and almost sobbing.

Mia stroked his shoulders as his body relaxed. His face was still hidden against her throat and she pulled back a bit.

“Nick?”

He raised his head and she saw his tears. She froze, remembering what had happened the last time he’d been that vulnerable in front of her.

He saw her face and smiled. “It’s OK, angel. I’m not going anywhere.”

She reached out and touched his lips. He turned his face and kissed her fingers.

“I love you, Mia.” He held her head in place, looked in her eyes. “I love you.”

And that’s when she knew that they were really past it, that they were both all-in. That they belonged to each other.

“Oh, Nick.” She smiled and it was radiant. “I love you too.”

**

Adam held Katie’s hand as the doctor entered the examination room. She had a blanket wrapped around her upper thighs and she looked tense.

“Hi. I’m Doctor Gillis.” She smiled at them. “You’re the couple from that car crash just near the Play Barn?”

They nodded.

“You were lucky. It could have been way worse.” She looked down at the chart. “So Katie, let me see your leg, OK?”

Katie extended her right leg. “OK.”

Dr. Gillis lifted the blanket a bit higher and Katie stiffened. Adam stroked her hair.

“It’s OK, baby.”

The doctor paused. “That hurts?”

“No.” Katie tried to look calm.

“Hmmm.” The doctor cocked her head. “If you say so.” She returned to the cut and examined it closely. “Well, it’s not bad at all.” She glanced at Adam. “You did a good job.”

He nodded. “I hope so.”

“And how’s your head?”

“No problem,” he said. “I’ve boxed for almost twenty years, twelve of them pro. I barely feel a little tap on my head anymore.”

Sarah Gillis’ eyes lingered on his arms and chest for a few seconds.

A boxer. Yum. This guy is incredible. I’m not sure how much
I’d
mind being trapped in a sleeping bag on a barn floor with
him
during a snow storm.

“OK, then,” she said briskly to Katie. “No stitches, but I will prescribe you some painkillers, just in case. Try to keep it dry when you shower, and don’t let your clothing rub it. Give it time to heal.” She cleaned the cut again, put on some cream and quickly bandaged it up.

“Thank you,” Katie said.

“Sure.”

“I was wondering – is there any place I can go and freshen up?” Katie asked. “The sleepover in the barn was fun and all, but I’d kill to brush my teeth.”

Adam grinned.

“Yeah, of course.” Sarah smiled. “Down the hall about seven doors and on your right.”

“Great.”

“OK, take care, you two. The best of luck.”

“Thanks,” they both said and they watched her leave the room. When the door closed behind her, Adam handed Katie a pair of loose sweat pants.

“Here you go,” he said. “Put those on.”

She got to her feet unsteadily and he held her elbows. She set the blanket on the examination table and he looked at her slim thighs. The scars were very white in the morning sun and she looked up at him. His face was hard.

“They’re so awful, aren’t they?” she said softly. “I’m – marked for life. Disgusting.”

He took her in his arms so quickly she stumbled. He tightened his grip.

“Never again Katie. You hear me?
Never again
do you say anything like that about yourself… you’re not marked
or
disgusting. I don’t give a crap what that sick fuck said about burning some punishment in to your skin. He was wrong.”

She looked down, her eyes filling with tears.

“Katie? You hear me?”

“Yes.”

“Look at me. Right now.”

She forced herself to lift her chin, fought to meet his eyes.

“I know you don’t believe me yet. But I hope one day you will.”

“Me too.”

He leaned forward, his hands in her long dark hair, and kissed her on the forehead. She closed her eyes and held his forearms, amazed at how good his lips felt on her skin. Adam held her there for a few seconds, his mouth caressing her softness, then he pulled back, holding her face in his huge hands.

“You ready to end this?” he asked her. “Ready to have that bastard leave you in peace once and for all?”

She looked up in to his blue eyes. “Yes.”

“Let’s go, then.” He ran his thumb over her neck. “Let’s get cleaned up and take a taxi to a car rental place. We’ll drive over to the impound and grab all the stuff from the trunk of my car and I’ll arrange for it to be towed back to Denver. With a bit of luck, we’ll be back on the road in two hours.”

**

Adam insisted that Katie sit in the back seat with her injured leg stretched out in front of her. Ignoring her protests, he scooped her up and deposited her in the car. The women watching in the impound office almost swooned with delight.

“Seat belt,” he said just before shutting the door.

She waited until he was in the car. “This is so dumb, Adam. I mean, I feel like you’re my chauffeur or something.”

He grinned at her in the rearview mirror. “Well, I kind of am, aren’t I?”

She paused. “Maybe. In a way.”

They smiled at each other. Katie felt butterflies in her stomach; Adam had to tear his eyes away from her face.

She looked… well. The only word for it was
amazing
. She had entered the hospital bathroom with her hair all messed up and her makeup running under her eyes. She had emerged ten minutes later, her long hair pulled back, showing off her cheekbones, and her face scrubbed free of any and all makeup. She was fresh-faced and glowing, her mouth a perfect rosebud, her beautiful eyes large and round. He hadn’t even noticed until that moment that her brown eyes actually had flecks of hazel in them, making them brighter in her oval face.

I was right. She
is
stunning.

Adam pulled out of the parking lot, glancing at the clock. “We’ll make good time today, I hope. The weather is clear all the way to Nevada. I figure that in the end, we lost about four hours, which isn’t that bad. We’d have had to stop last night anyway, to sleep and wait for the storm to pass.”

She nodded. “Depending on weather and the road conditions, we’ll be there by tomorrow evening at the latest.”