BEAST (MMA Bad Boys Book 1) (14 page)

Beeping. That’s all I hear as I come crashing back to reality. The throb in my head makes me groan but I can’t move. My body feels dead and it’s frustrating. Where the fuck am I? What happened.

“Car? Car, it’s Gemma. Can you hear me, babe?” Gemma’s soothing voice washes over me and I relax slightly knowing I’m not alone. I’m confused, hurting and my face feels like I’ve been a round with Mike Tyson.

“Gem…” My voice is croaky and my throat dry.

I feel her hand clutch mine and water droplets hitting my arm. “Oh God, Car. I’ve missed you. Please tell me you’re okay.” She sniffs and I can tell she’s crying. I’m growing concerned with what’s happened, Gemma never fucking cries, she’s the hardest, toughest, bitch I know.

“My head…Water…What happened?” I’m rambling and there’s a slight slur to my speech but I need to know.

“I’ll get the doctor, babe. Stay put.” Not that I can fucking go anywhere, is what I want to say but I mentally roll my eyes as the beeping of some sort of machine soothes me in a dozing state.

“Miss Denver?” A male voice asks. My eyes are pulled open and a light is shone in them. I flinch away as the pain in my skull intensifies.

“What happened?” I ask again, hoping this time I get answers. I refuse to open my eyes knowing the assault of light with cause too much pain.

“You had a fight with a former world champion, remember?” Gemma says, smoothing a hand in my hair. “She knocked you out pretty bad.”

The memories rush back and it catches my breath. “Yeah, I remember. Am I in the hospital?”

“Yes, babe. They’re doing an amazing job but you’ve been sedated for three days. The doctor will explain.” She clutches my hand in hers and I squeeze back, finally getting some feelings into my limbs.

“Miss Denver, you’ve had quite the knock to the head. You have a depressed cranial skull fracture. We had to sedate you so we could monitor the swelling of your brain safely. The swelling has reduced which is why we woke you up.” He quiets as a blood pressure cuff is wrapped around my arm.

“What’s a cranial fracture thingy that you said?” I ask. My mouth and throat are so dry that my words are coming out croaky and I cough. A straw is placed against my mouth and I sip the iced water and moan as it trickles down my throat. God that feels so good.

“It’s a small fracture at the front of your skull. It will heal on it owns and you’ll be given pain killers when you’re released. But we’re keeping you in for at least a week to monitor your brain for any signs of brain damage. But so far, we’re seeing nothing abnormal apart from swelling. You’ve been very lucky, Miss Denver.” His warm hand touches my arm gently and I’m grateful for the comfort it seems to bring. “You’ve also broke your nose and your left cheekbone, that will also heal on its own. We’ve set your nose and we’re hoping that there will be no lasting damage. I’ll leave you to rest now.”

I hear the door swing shut and silence once again greets me, but I can still feel Gemma’s hand in mine. “You’ll be okay, Car. Fuck me, I was so damn scared.”

“I’m fine. I’m fine.” I blow out a breath and I can feel the tears falling from my closed eyes.

“Carlotta?” I’d recognise that deep tone of voice anywhere, and goosebumps rise on my skin. Gemma’s hand slips away and the door once against clicks. “You okay, baby?”

“I’ll be okay. What are you doing here?” I turn my head to where I heard his voice. I may have disliked him when I first met him, but since he fucked me senseless, I can’t stop thinking about him.

“I needed to talk to you.” His hand, that’s twice the size of mine, slips into mine and a sense of comfort envelopes me in its embrace. Safety, that’s the word I would describe how I felt at this precise moment.

“About?” I whisper, not sure if I really want to know right now when my head is broken and I still have the anaesthesia in my system. But I’m intrigued.

“I don’t want to do casual sex with you, Car. I can’t get you out of my fucking head.” I feel the smile pull at my lips, knowing that I’ve gotten under his skin as much as he’s gotten under mine. “I’ve never had a relationship, don’t even know how that shit works. But I want one with you. I’d have anything with you if it meant that I get to see your smile on a regular basis. Just don’t tell anyone this shit. I’m meant to be impenetrable and hard as shit.”

A giggle pours out of me at the same time as another tears slips through crack in my right eyelid. The giggle hurts my head and I groan as I squeeze my eyes shut. “You mean that, Beast? Or are you trying to get into my knickers again?”

“Baby, if I just wanted to get into your panties, I would. No question about it. But I want all of you.” His soft lips kiss the back of my hand and butterflies swarm in my belly. Could I do this with him? His ego and arrogance piss me off something rotten but I can’t deny that we have a connection. I can’t deny that my heart skips a beat when he’s close.

“Okay,” I murmur. Not loud but I know he hears me from his thumb stilling its movements on the back of my hand. “But…”

“Why is there always a ‘but’?” I can sense him shaking his head as he chuckles in that way of his that has my nerves pulse with desire.

“Kiss me,” I tell him. “Seal the deal with a kiss.”

“This isn’t a business transaction, Car.” He laughs but his body looms over me, shadowing the light that was in front of my eyelids.

His lips brush against mine gently and I sigh. Pressing his lips against mine more forcefully, but not enough to hurt me, I reach my hand up and cup his prickly jaw. The kiss turns passionate but gentle as our tongues dance together. All too soon, he pulls away and I groan at the loss of those amazing lips on my skin. “You’re mine now,” he whispers in my ear.

A wistful smile takes over my face and the butterflies are doing full back flips in my belly. Can I really be this happy as I lay in a fucking hospital bed looking like I’ve had a brush with death? Yes, yes I fucking can. I deserve a little bit of happiness even if this is kinda the wrong time. I’m investing in a relationship with a ruthless man. His reputation is in the past and I cling to my inner self with glee. The future looks brighter now I have a man by my side. I’m never fighting again; this time has taught me a lesson that I’ll never forget. This chapter of my life is over and I’m embarking on a whole new journey with a man that can easily crush me. Body and heart.

Three months later

I’m lying on my front in the park close to our apartment, lapping up the sun. Beast lay beside me, propped up on his elbow as he stares at me. The last three months have been bumpy with me recovering and Beast taking over the London side of MMA. It’s been a complete change around and Beast has managed to get it onto the right side of the law with approval from the main bosses. He’s done a fucking good job as well. I help out when I can with paperwork but I’ve poured my heart and soul into my tattoo shop. The vow I took in hospital to never fight again stuck, and I’ve not once stepped foot inside the ring. Gemma, on the other hand, loves it more than ever now the new rules have been stamped. She’s climbing the ranks and I have all the faith in the world that she can be world champ. I cheer her on from the ring side like she did for me at the last fight. I couldn’t be more proud of her.

I moved in with Beast a month after I left the hospital. I don’t think anyone knew he had a gentle side but he has with me. He pampered me, in the only way he knew how…and I’m not complaining. It’s been the best couple of months of my life and I couldn’t ask for anything more in life.

“What have you got planned for the evening, babe,” Beast says as he brushes his lips against mine.

“Well, you’re at the warehouse so I’m going to kick back with a glass of wine and watch Sons of Anarchy all night long. Well, until you come home.” I smile at him and lean forward to capture his lips in a sizzling kiss.

Pulling away, he trails kisses along my jawline to my ear where he gently nibbles before whispering, “We’re in a public park, Car. I’m not opposed to a bit of exhibitionism, but not when there’s kids about.”

I laugh as I slide into his embrace and wrap him in my arms. “I love you, Beast, even when you’re a weird, stubborn man.”

“I love you too, Car. More than you’ll ever know.” My life is complete. For now.

THE END

(Keep reading for a preview of An Honest Mistake, book one in the Crusaders MC series)

AN HONEST MISTAKE

(Crusaders MC #1)

   “Argh.” I can’t think straight. All these damn demons swimming in my befuddled brain distract me from stupid, mundane tasks, including eating this petite blonde beneath me. I can’t shut my mind off, not even the sweet smell of blondie’s pussy is keeping these thoughts at bay.

  Sitting on my haunches, I take stock of the bombshell sprawled out on my bed. Looking from her peroxide hair to her painted toes, she’s just another blonde, just a different fucking day.

I sigh heavily and move away. “Sorry, babe. I can’t, not tonight. Hell, at this rate, no night.” I move off the bed and drag my legs through my faded jeans. Commando.

“You have got to be joking me, Cobra. You’ve got me all hot and bothered and you’re bailing? Seriously?” Her eyes go wide and her arms fly through the air showing her frustration.

I point a stern glare in her direction while hurrying to shove my arms through my shirt. “Don’t, Chantelle. I’m in no mood to deal with your childish attitude. You’re just another club whore. Get the fuck out of here and find another brother to fuck.”

I threw her little yellow dress in her face and shrugged into my cut.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

“VP! Church. NOW!”

Fuck. It’s seven in the evening and they’re calling church. This can’t be good. Hell, church these days is never good. My blood pumps faster at the possibility of trouble. There’s always some shit to deal with and for the life of me, I can’t get my head in the game.