UNBROKEN: A Bad Boy MMA Romance (Midwest Alphas) (Book 2) (3 page)

My stomach lurches as he pulls me off the wall and slowly carries me towards the hay bales in the corner. I coo with disappointment as he slides out of me, but as he turns me around and bends me over the bales, I grin with sweet anticipation. He enters me again and I feel the power of his thrust inside of me. I submit myself to him, all of me. He is my
Alpha;
my bodyguard and lover. There’s no part of me I wouldn’t give to him.

He takes me faster and leans forward to leave kisses and nibbles along my neck. His teeth nibble small pains on my skin, fueling the flames inside of me. My body twitches beneath him, but he easily holds me in place against the bale. His nails dig into my flesh as he grunts out one final, hard thrust. I clench my inner muscles around his quivering member and feel his own climax take hold of him. He collapses against my back and breathes softly into my pink skin.

I wait for him to move first before standing up. My knees shake beneath me, but I keep myself upright as I gaze up into his beautiful, loving eyes. Tobias grips my cheeks and kisses me softly before lowering himself down to his knees and wrapping his arms around my waist. It’s a sudden, graceful show of affection, not entirely out of character for him either. As tough as
Tobias the Untouchable
is, his softer side holds just as much power over me. He kisses my belly softly and moves his lips over to the scar on my side, just above my right hip, left there by Rick’s blade. He pauses for a moment before laying a kiss along the jagged, white line.

I’ll take care of you.

I push my fingers through his thick, black hair and plant a kiss on his forehead.

The Alpha and his Dame.

Chapter 2

We’re Not Like Other Couples

I open my eyes and feel more exhausted than when I fell asleep.

A year ago, I was used to this schedule. Bouts of insomnia left me up until the three in the morning and I’d get up around five to assist Charlie with chores. I was coming down from withdrawal, the remnants of a long-forgotten drug problem.

Now, I easily fall asleep before midnight. Last night was the first time in a long while that I’ve stayed up so late, but when I wake up with Tobias in my bed, it’s hard to complain about a little bit of exhaustion.

I feel his arm lying around me long before I even open my eyes. A smile creeps across my lips as I turn around to look at his sleeping face. The morning sun shines through the window next to the bed, casting his skin a precious orange. My eyes move down his bare torso and I take in the sight of his tattoos along his skin. I recall the first time I saw them. It was my first full day in the house and I accidentally walked in on him in the bathroom, half-nude with only a towel wrapped around his waist. Back then, he was covered in red and purple bruises. Now, they’re gone, leaving behind a perfectly toned, strong abdomen. The only evidence left behind of his days as a prized MMA fighter is the scar on his left side where Pike stabbed him. I reach out and run my finger along the stiff scar tissue. I never want to see anything as brutal as that ever again.

Tobias stirs in the bed as his eyes slowly start to peel open. He blinks to adjust to the sunlight shining in and smiles as he recognizes my face. “Hey…” he whispers.

I return his smile. “Hey.”

A quick knock strikes the door. “Hey, Claire—”

Tobias bolts upright, his entire body instantly wide awake as his father’s voice carries into the room from behind the door. He rolls out of the bed and takes two long strides towards the closet and silently hides inside as Charlie pushes the door open.

“You awake yet?” he asks me.

I force a yawn and carefully watch Charlie’s eyes for suspicion, but he seems blissfully unaware. “I’m up,” I say. “Just a bit slow today, is all.”

“You and Amy get back late?”

I nod. “Yeah, she insisted on stopping to eat first before coming back.”

Charlie rolls his eyes. “Well, that sounds about right.” He grabs the door knob again. “Get some coffee in you. Lots of errands to run in town today.”

“Okay.” I push the blankets off of me and plant my feet on the floor as he closes the door again. I stand up and walk over to the closet.

Tobias flinches as I pull the door open quickly. “I fell asleep,” he says through clenched teeth.

“I know.” I lean back against the door frame. “I think we’re getting a little too sloppy.”

“Think he noticed?”

I shake my head. “But it’s Charlie… if he hasn’t already, he’ll notice
eventually.
”

“True.” Tobias steps out of the closet. I reach around him and grab a shirt off the rack, one of Mary’s old shirts.

He’s never given up hope. I’ll catch him sometimes, set adrift in a moment of quiet reflection, his eyes wandering the world around him. Every piece of his life is a constant reminder of the sister he lost, including me. It can’t be easy for him to mourn with me living in her room, wearing her clothes.

After Tobias told me what happened to her, it felt wrong to use her things, but the both of them insisted that it was all right. I didn’t bring very much of my own wardrobe down here with me. I don’t even remember what I left back in Chicago anymore, as the life I left behind has no place here. Charlie’s not one to be wasteful. He told me I might as well get some use out of her old stuff, including her vast collection of cheesy romance novels scattered about the room. I’ve already read over half of them, but there’s not much to entertain myself with around here with the lack of internet and basic cable.

I get dressed and cautiously open the door to look for Charlie. I focus my hearing and I quickly narrow the sound of his boots down to the first floor. “He’s in the kitchen,” I whisper to Tobias.

He lingers behind my shoulder and sneaks a kiss before stepping out into the hallway. “See you later,” he whispers back before retreating into his own room across the hall.

***

I empty the last bag of feed onto the floor of the coop and watch as the dozen or so chickens go wild. Of the few animals Charlie raises on his farm, the chickens are by far my least favorite. Trying to get out of the room in one piece is always an adrenaline rush of terror as the hungry birds jolt around, randomly jumping passed me to get at their meal. I retreat outside and close the door just as my phone vibrates in my pocket.

I pull off my glove and reach into my pocket. A warm surge rattles me as I look at the screen and see the smiling face of my mother looking back at me.

“Hey, Mom,” I answer. “What’s up?”

“Hey, honey,” she says. “You busy?”

“I can always take a few minutes to talk to you,” I say. I bend down to knock a few strings of hay off my pant leg before wandering back towards the house. “What’s on your mind?”

“Well, I was just wondering…” Her voice softens and I can hear her feet as she paces around the room. “Have you heard from Rick lately?”

I pause. My eyes dart around me out of instinct, even though I know the only things I’ll see around me right now are hay, tall grass, and the barn. “No,” I answer. “Why?”

My mother sighs with relief. “I just figured he’d try and contact you.”

“Why would he?”

“Thomas told me not to say anything to you, but I heard them talking the other day. Your name came up, but I didn’t hear what it was about—”

“Mom, what’s going on?” I ask.

She lowers her voice so much that I can barely hear it. “A few months ago, Rick moved to St. Louis. He said something about a job—”

“He’s
here
?” I ask, my voice breaking. Chicago is six hour drive from here. St. Louis is less than two. Needless to say, I feel much safer with Rick in Chicago.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” my mother says with a slight chuckle. “But I wanted to give you a heads up, you know?”

“Yeah,” I say. “Thank you, Mom.” I swallow my fear down. “Is everything going okay with you?”

“Of course, honey,” she says. “Everything is fine.”

I close my eyes and sigh. There was a time when my mother and I barely spoke to each other. That ended shortly after the tournament, when our relationship slowly began to heal. I talk to her several times a week now and every time, I ask her the same question. And every time, she lies to me. I haven’t seen her since Christmas and I have a strong feeling that Thomas is behind that.

“Just let me know if there’s anything you need,” I say, repeating the response I always give her.

“I will,” she says.

I hang up and glance around me again as the hairs on the back of my neck stand tall.

***

“Go into the store and grab some steaks for tonight,” Charlie tells me.

I chuckle as I hop out of the truck. “What’s the occasion?” I ask.

“One does not need a special occasion for a delicious meal with his family,” he says as he reaches into his wallet. “Get some potatoes, too.”

I take the cash from him. “Where are you going?” I ask.

“Nowhere,” he says as he pulls out of his old phone out of his pocket. “I just have to make a call.”

I look down Main Street, my eyes trained to search for anything suspicious around me. There’s nothing but green trees and the same old buildings I see every time we drive in. With the news of Rick living in Missouri right now, I feel more vindicated than ever that my feelings of paranoia aren’t just my mind playing tricks on me. It may even have been him staring at me from the dark crowd in the club last night. My skin crawls just thinking about it.

“Earth to Claire.”

I blink as Charlie draws my attention again. “Sorry.” I stuff the cash into my jacket pocket. “Steaks, potatoes. Got it.”

“I’ll catch up in a few minutes.” Charlie’s thick fingers start dialing a number on his phone and I turn away to leave him to his privacy.

I step into the grocery store and shoot a quick wave towards the cash register. Amy stands behind it with perfect posture and her long, blonde hair tied back in a pony tail. She winks at me, then her attention quickly turns back to the long line of customers waiting to be checked out, each one carrying bags of chips, large cases of sodas and beer, and other snacks. It must be some televised sporting event, but I couldn’t say. There’s only one sport I pay attention to anymore, and that’s illegal underground MMA fighting.

I’m getting a little excited just thinking about it. It’s been nearly a year since the last fight and honestly, I can’t wait for them to start again. After the tournament, part of me was done. I never wanted to see anyone get hurt as much as Tobias did ever again. But after a few weeks, I wanted more. I started dreaming about the sound a bare fist makes against toned flesh. I spend my nights in the barn, hurling jabs and kicks at the punching bag. Tobias even helps me train, teaching me different kicks and punches, but it’s not enough. I need to
see
a fight again, to experience the thrill of watching a battle, and I need it soon.

A smile touches my face as I stand in line at the checkout counter.

“What’s got you all happy today?” Amy asks when I finally get up to her.

I quickly drop the smile. “Nothing,” I say. “Just looking forward to a few things.”

“Big date with Tobias?” she asks as she swipes the steaks across the scanner.

I pause as the realization strikes me. “No…” I say. “And it just occurred to me that Tobias and I have never been an official
date
.”

Amy chuckles. “You’re surprised?” she quips.

“Kind of.” I hold out some cash for her.

“Well, you guys aren’t exactly the standard, everyday couple.” She takes the money. “You’ve done everything backwards.”

“We have?”

“I mean, you live together, you’re family, and you’ve already had sex, so it’s probably not all that surprising that the first date would happen at the end.”

“The end?”

“Not
the end
the end—” She swipes a hand through the air. “You know what I mean.” I take change from her. The coins slip through my fingers and my knuckles twitch as I try and pick them up off the counter. “Just don’t sweat it, Claire. Okay? I think it’s great how unique you two are.”

I nod slowly, trying to take comfort in her words, but the more they repeat in my head, the more terrifying they feel. “Right…” I say.

Amy clears her throat. “Anyway, have a nice day,” she says with a forced smile. Her eyes gesture to the rather impatient looking woman standing behind me and I quickly step out of the way.

“Thanks, Amy.” I take the bag of groceries.

“I’ll call you later tonight,” she calls after me. “We have business to attend to this week!”

I wave a quick goodbye and turn towards the door with my eyes down to the floor.

“Whoa—”

Thick hands grip my shoulders as I plow right into someone near the entrance. “Oh, god! I’m sorry—” I immediately say before glancing up.