Hard Knocks: An Ultimate Novella (2 page)

Always had, probably always would.

He’d had his chance before he left for the new camp. Even with the demands of training, he’d wanted her while he was away. Now he was back and the wanting boiled over.

Her head perfectly reached his shoulder. He stood six-three, nine inches taller than her, and he outweighed her by more than a hundred pounds.

But for a slim woman, she packed one hell of a punch. “Harper,” he chided. She was the only person he knew who seemed to take maniacal delight in tormenting him.

Rolling her eyes, she said, “You are such a grouch when you’re being pathetic.” She stepped away to arrange the cups on a long table placed up against the wall. “Everyone feels terrible for you. And why not? We all know you’d have won. Maybe even with a first-round knockout.”

Did she really believe that? Or was she just placating him? “Darvey isn’t a slouch.” Gage wouldn’t want an easy fight. What the hell would that prove?

“No,” she agreed, “but you’d have creamed him.”

“That was the plan.” So many times he’d played it out in his head, the strategy he’d use, how he’d push the fight, how his cardio would carry him through if it went all three rounds. Darvey wasn’t known for his gas tank. He liked to use submissions, manipulating an arm or leg joint to get his opponent to tap before something broke. His plan was always to end things fast. But Gage knew how to defend against submissions, how to make it
his
fight, not anyone else’s.

“Sucks that you have to sit this one out,” Harper continued. “But since you do, I know you’d rather be brimming with confidence, instead of moping around like a sad sack.”

Folding his arms over his chest, he glared down at her. “I don’t mope.”

She eyed his biceps, inhaled slowly, blew the breath out even slower.

“Harper.”

Brows raised, she brought those big blue eyes up to focus on his face. “What?”

He dropped his arms and stepped closer, crowding her, getting near enough to breathe in her unique scent. “How do you figure we’d fake things?”

“Oh, yeah.” She glanced to one side, then the other. “People are looking at us.”

“Yeah?” Currently the only people in the gym were the guys helping to set it up for the party. Armie, Stack, Denver, a few others. “So?”

“So...” She licked her lips, hesitated only a second, then came up against him. In a slow tease, her hands crawled up and over his chest. Fitted against him, she went on tiptoe, giving him a full-body rub.

Without even thinking about it, Gage caught her waist, keeping her right there. Confusion at this abrupt turnaround of hers stopped him from doing what came naturally.

Didn’t bother her, though.

With her gaze locked on his, she curled her hands around his neck, drew him down to meet her halfway and put that soft, lush, taunting mouth against his.

Hell, yeah.

Her lips played over his, teasing, again provoking. They shared breath. Her thighs shifted against his. Her cool fingers moved over his nape and then into his hair. The kiss stayed light, slow and excruciating.

Until he took over.

Tilting his head, he fit his mouth more firmly against her, nudged her lips apart, licked in, deeper, hotter...

“Get a room already.”

Gasping at the interruption, Harper pulled away. Embarrassed, she pressed her face against his chest before rearing back and glaring at Armie.

Gage just watched her. He didn’t care what his dipshit friends said.

But he’d love to know what Harper was up to.

“Don’t give me that look,” Armie told her. “We have high school boys coming over tonight.”

“The biggest kids are already here!”

“Now, I know you don’t mean me,” Armie continued, always up for ribbing her. “You’re the one having a tantrum.”

Gage stood there while they fussed at each other. Harper was like that with all the guys. She helped out, gave as good as she got, and treated them all like pesky brothers that she both adored and endured.

Except for Gage.

From the get-go she’d been different with him. Not shy, because seriously, Harper didn’t have a shy bone in her hot little body. But maybe more demonstrative. Or rather, demonstrative in a different way.

He didn’t think she’d smack any of the other fighters on the ass.

But he wasn’t stupid. Encouraged or not, he knew guys were guys, period. They’d tease her, respect her boundaries, but every damn one of them had probably thought about sleeping with her.

For damn sure, they’d all pictured her naked.

Those vivid visuals were part of a man’s basic DNA. Attractive babe equaled fantasies. While Harper hustled around the rec center helping out in a dozen different ways, she’d probably been mentally stripped a million times.

Hell, even while she sniped back and forth with Armie, Gage pictured her buck-ass, wondering how it’d feel to kiss her like that again, but without the barrier of clothes in the way.

“You need a swift kick to your butt,” Harper declared.

“From you?” Armie laughed.

Fighting a smile, she said, “Don’t think I won’t.”

“You wanna go?” Armie egged her on, using his fingertips to call her forward. “C’mon then, little girl. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

For a second there, Harper looked ready to accept, so Gage interceded. “Children, play nice.”

“Armie doesn’t like
nice.
” She curled her lip in a taunt. “He likes
kinky.
”

In reply, Armie took a bow.

True enough, if ever a man liked a little freak thrown into the mix, it was Armie. He’d once been dropped off by a motorcycle-driving chick dressed in leather pants and a low-cut vest, her arms circled with snake tattoos. She’d sported more piercings than Gage could count—a dozen or so in her ears, a few in her eyebrows, lip, nose. The whole day, Armie had limped around as if the woman had ridden him raw. He’d also smiled a lot, proof that whatever had happened, he’d enjoyed himself.

Unlike Gage, Armie saw no reason to skip sex, ever. Not even prior to a fight. The only women he turned down were the ones, as Harper had said, that were too nice.

“Come on.” She took Gage’s hand and started dragging him toward the back.

“Hey, don’t leave my storage closet smelling like sex,” Armie called after them. “If you’re going to knock boots, take it elsewhere!”

Harper flipped him the bird, but she was grinning. “He is so outrageous.”

“That’s the pot calling the kettle black.” Just where was she leading him?

“Eh, maybe.” She winked up at him. “But I just act outrageous. I have a feeling it’s a mindset for Armie.”

Ignoring what Armie had said, she dragged him back into the storage closet—and shut the door.

Gage stood there watching her, thinking things he shouldn’t and getting hard because of it. Heart beating slow and steady, he asked, “Now what?”

CHAPTER TWO

C
OULD
A
MAN
look sexier? No. Dumb question. Harper sighed. At twenty-five, she knew what she wanted. Whether or not she could have it, that was the big question.

Or rather, could she have it for the long haul.

“Is that for me?” She nodded at the rise in his jeans.

Without changing expressions, Gage nodded. “Yeah.” And then, “After that kiss, you have to ask?”

Sweet. “So you like my plan?”

Looking far too serious, his mellow brown gaze held hers. “If your plan is to turn me on, yeah, I like it.”

As part of her plan, she forced a laugh. She had to keep Gage from knowing how badly he’d broken her heart.

Talk about pathetic.

Gage was two years older, which, while they’d been in school, had made him the older, awesome star athlete, popular guy that
every
girl had wanted. Her included.

Back then, she hadn’t stood a chance. He’d dated prom queen, cheerleader, class president material, not collect-for-the-homeless Goody Two-shoes material.

So she’d wrapped herself in her pride and whenever they’d crossed paths, she’d treated him like any other jock—meaning she’d been nice but uninterested.

And damn him, he’d been A-okay with that, the big jerk.

They lived in the same small neighborhood. Not like Warfield, Ohio, left a lot of room for anonymity. Everyone knew everyone, especially those who went through school together.

It wasn’t until they both started hanging out in the rec center, her to help out, him to train, that he seemed to really tune in to her. Course, she hadn’t been real subtle with him, so not noticing her would have required a deliberate snub.

She was comfortable with guys. Actually, she was comfortable with everyone. Her best friend claimed she was one of those nauseatingly happy people who enjoyed life a little too much. But whatever. She believed in making the most of every day.

That is, when big, badass alpha fighters cooperated.

Unfortunately, Gage didn’t. Not always.

Not that long ago they’d been dating, getting closer. Getting steamier.

She’d fallen a little more in love with him every day.

She adored his quiet confidence. His motivation and dedication. The gentle way he treated the little kids who hung out at the center, how he coached the older boys who revered him, and the respect he got—and gave—to other fighters.

She especially loved his big, rock-solid body. Just thinking about it made her all twitchy in private places.

Things had seemed to be progressing nicely.

Until the SBC called and put him on the main card for freaking other-side-of-the-world Japan, and boom, just like that, it seemed she’d lost all the ground she’d gained. Three months before the fight, Gage had packed up and moved to Harmony, Kentucky, to join Cannon in a different camp where he could hone his considerable skills with a fresh set of experienced fighters.

He’d kissed her goodbye first, but making any promises about what to expect on his return hadn’t been on his mind. Nope. He’d been one big obsessed puppy, his thoughts only on fighting and winning.

Maybe he’d figured that once he won, his life would get too busy for her to fit into it.

And maybe, she reminded herself, she was jumping ahead at Mach speed. They hadn’t even slept together yet.

But that was something she could remedy.

Never, not in a million years, would she have wished the injury on him. He’d fought, and won, for the SBC before. But never on the main card. Knowing what that big chance had meant to him, she’d been devastated on his behalf.

Yet she’d also still been hurt that the entire time he was gone, he hadn’t called. For all she knew, he hadn’t even thought about her. Ignoring him had seemed her best bet—until she realized she couldn’t. Loving him made that impossible.

And so she decided not to waste an opportunity.

Gage leaned against the wall. “I give up. How long are you going to stand there staring at me?”

“I like looking at you, that’s all.” She turned her back on him before she blew the game too soon. “You’re terrific eye candy.”

He went so silent, she could hear the ticking of the wall clock. “What are you up to, Harper?”

“No good.” She grinned back at him. “Definitely, one hundred percent no good.” Locating napkins and paper plates on the shelf, she put them into an empty box. Searching more shelves, she asked, “Do you see the coffeemaker anywhere?”

His big hands settled on her waist. “Forget the coffeemaker,” he murmured from right behind her. Leaning down, he kissed the side of her neck. “Let’s talk about these no-good plans of yours.”

Wow, oh wow. She could feel his erection against her tush and it was so tantalizing she had to fight not to wiggle. “Okay.”

He nuzzled against her, his soft breath in her ear, his hands sliding around to her belly. Such incredibly large hands that covered so much ground. The thumb of his right hand nudged the bottom of her breast. The pinkie on his left hovered just over the fly of her jeans.

Temptation was a terrible thing, eating away at her common sense and obscuring the larger purpose.

He opened his mouth on her throat and she felt his tongue on her skin. When he took a soft, wet love bite, she forgot she had knees. Her legs just sort of went rubbery.

To keep her upright, he hugged her tighter and rested his chin on top of her head. “Tell me what we’re doing, honey.”

Took her a second to catch her breath. “You don’t know?” She twisted to face him, one hand knotted in his shirt to hang on, just in case. “Because, seriously, Gage, you seemed to know exactly what you were doing.”

His smile went lazy—and more relaxed than it had been since he’d found out he wouldn’t fight. He slipped a hand into her hair, cupping the back of her head, rubbing a little. “I know I was making myself horny. I know you were liking it. I’m just not sure why we’re doing this here and now.”

“Oh.” She dropped against him so she could suck in some air. “Yeah.” Unfortunately, every breath filled her head with the hot scent of his powerful body. “Mmm, you are so delicious.”

A strained laugh rumbled in his chest. “Harper.”

“Right.” To give herself some room to think, she stepped back from him. So that he’d know this wasn’t just about sex, she admitted, “I care about you. You know that.”

Those gorgeous brown eyes narrowed on her face. “Ditto.”

That kicked her heart into such a fast rhythm, she almost gasped.
He cared about her.
“And I know you, Gage. Probably better than you think.”

His smile softened, and he said all dark and sensuous-like, “Ditto again, honey.”

Damn the man, even his murmurs made her hot and bothered. “Yeah, so...” Collecting her thoughts wasn’t easy, not with a big hunk of sexiness right there in front of her, within reach, ready and waiting. “I know you’re hammered over the lost opportunity.”

“The opportunity to have sex with you?”

Her jaw loosened at his misunderstanding. “No, I meant...” Hoping sex was still an option, she cleared her throat. “I meant the fight.”

“Yeah.” He stared at her mouth. “That, too.”

Had he somehow moved closer without her knowing it? Her back now rested against the shelving and Gage stood only an inch from touching her. “So...” she said again. “It’s understandable that you’d be stomping around in a bad mood.”

He chided her with a shake of his head. “I was not stomping.”

“Close enough.” Damn it, now she couldn’t stop staring at his mouth. “But I know you want to blow it off like you’re not that upset.”

“I’m not
upset.
” He scoffed over her word choice. “I’m disappointed. A little pissed off.” His feet touched hers. “I take it you have something in mind?”

She shifted without thinking about it, and suddenly he moved one foot between hers. His hard muscled thigh pressed at the apex of her legs and every thought she had, every bit of her concentration, went to where they touched.

Casual as you please, he braced a hand on the shelf beside her head.

Gage was so good at this, at stalking an opponent, at gaining the advantage before anyone realized his intent.

But she wasn’t his opponent. Keeping that in mind, she gathered her thoughts, shored up her backbone and made a proposal. “I think we should fool around.” Before he could reply to that one way or the other, she added, “Out there. Where they can all see.”
And hopefully you’ll like that enough to want to continue in private.

He lifted one brow, the corner of his mouth quirking. “And you called Armie kinky.”

Heat rushed into her face. “No, I don’t mean anything really explicit.” But that was a lie, so she amended, “Well, I mean, I do. But not with an audience.”

Again his eyes narrowed—and his other hand lifted to the shelving. He effectively confined her, not that she wanted freedom. With him so close, she had to tip her head back to look up at him. Her heart tried to punch out of her chest, and the sweetest little ache coiled inside her.

“I’m with you so far,” he whispered, and leaned down to kiss the corner of her mouth.

“I figured, you know...” How did he expect her to think while he did that? “We could act all cozy, like you had other things on your mind. Then no one would know how distressed you are over missing the fight.”

“First off, I’m not acting.” His forehead touched hers. “Second, I am
not
distressed. Stop making me sound so damned weak.”

Not acting? What did that mean? She licked her lips—and he noticed. “I know you’re not weak.” Wasn’t that her point? “So...you don’t like my plan?”

“I like it fine.” His mouth brushed her temple, his tongue touched the inside of her ear—
Wow, that curled her toes!—
then he nibbled his way along her jaw, under her chin. “Playing with you will make for a long night.”

“Yes.” A long night where she’d have a chance to show him how perfect they were for each other. And if he didn’t see things the same as she did, they could still end up sharing a very special evening together. If she didn’t have him forever, she’d at least have that memory to carry her through.

But before she settled for only a memory, she hoped to—

A sharp rap on the door made her jump.

Gage just groaned.

Through the closed door, Armie asked, “You two naked?”

Puffing up with resentment at the intrusion, Harper started around Gage.

Before she got far, he caught her. Softly, he said, “Don’t encourage him,” before walking to the door and opening it. “What do you want, Armie?”

“Refreshments for everyone.” Armie peeked around him, ran his gaze over Harper, and frowned. “Damn, fully clothed. And here I was all geared up for a peep show.”

Harper threw a roll of paper towels at him.

When Armie ducked, they went right past him and out into the hall.

Stack said, “Hey!”

And they all grinned.

Getting back to business, she finished filling the box with prepackaged cookies, chips and pretzels, then shoved it all into Armie’s arms, making him stumble back a foot.

He just laughed at her, the jerk.

“Where did you hide the coffeemaker?” Harper asked, trying to sound normal instead of primed.

“I’ll get it.” Armie looked at each of them. “Plan to join us any time soon?”

Unruffled by the interruption, Gage said, “Be right there.”

“Not to be a spoilsport, but a group of the high school boys have arrived, so, seriously, you might want to put a lid on the hanky-panky for a bit.”

“People are here already?” She’d thought she had an hour yet. “They’re early.”

Armie shrugged. “Everyone is excited to watch Cannon fight again.” He clapped Gage on the shoulder. “Sucks you’re not out there, man.”

“Next time,” Gage said easily, with no inflection at all.

Harper couldn’t help but glance at him with sympathy.

“If you insist on molesting him,” Armie said, “better get on with it real quick.”

She reached for him, but he ducked out laughing.

She watched Armie go down the hall.

Gage studied her. “You going to molest me, honey?”

Did he want her to? Because, seriously, she’d be willing. “Let’s see how it goes.”

His eyes widened a little over that.

She dragged out a case of cola. Gage shook off his surprise and took it from her, and together they headed back out.

A half hour later they had everything set up. The colas were in the cooler under ice, sandwiches had been cut and laid out. A variety of chips filled one entire table. More people arrived. The boys, ranging in ages from fifteen to eighteen, were hyped up, talking loudly and gobbling down the food in record time. The women spent their time sidling up to the guys.

The guys spent their time enjoying it.

“Is there more food in the back room?”

Harper smiled at Stack Hannigan, one of the few fighters who hadn’t yet staked out a woman. “Yeah, but I can get it as soon as I finish tidying up here.” Every ten minutes she needed to reorganize the food. Once the fights started, things would settle down, but until then it was pure chaos.

Stack tugged on a lock of her hair. “No worries, doll. Be right back.” And off he went.

Harper watched him walk away, as always enjoying the show. Long-legged with a rangy stride, Stack looked impressive whether he was coming or going—as all of them did.

In some ways, the guys were all different.

Stack’s blond hair was darker and straighter than Armie’s. Denver’s brown hair was so long he often contained it in a ponytail. Cannon’s was pitch-black with a little curl on the ends.

She preferred Gage’s trimmed brown hair, and she absolutely loved his golden-brown eyes.

All of the fighters were good-looking. Solid, muscular, capable. But where Stack, Armie and Cannon were light heavyweights, her Gage was a big boy, a shredded heavyweight with fists the size of hams. They were all friends, but with different fighting styles and different levels of expertise.

When Stack returned with another platter of food, he had two high school wrestlers beside him, talking a mile a minute. She loved seeing how the older boys emulated the fighters, learning discipline, self-control and confidence.