Consumed: A MMA Sports Romance (78 page)

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Authors: Claire Adams

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CHAPTER FORTY

Kya

"
Hello
, beautiful. Aren't you going to invite
me in?" Jackson asked. His bright white teeth flashed when he smiled.

Jackson was hard to
resist. His tan skin, his warm brown eyes, the square jaw, he was the picture
of the perfect man. He was also tall with broad shoulders. His biceps were well
defined, his stomach flat and hard. He was stronger and more intimidating than
his pastel shirts and friendly smile suggested.

I felt a cold chill
despite his warm smile. "Actually, I would, but I'm just on my way out.
I'd love if you wanted to walk me out," I said.

"I know, I know, the
big title fight. I suppose you do have to go support your other client. Don't
worry, you still have plenty of time," Jackson said. "Why not enjoy
the view from your suite one more time? I mean, your boss wouldn't want it to
go to waste while he's paying for it, would he?"

"I'm sorry,
really," I said. "I promised some friends I would meet them
early."

"Your friends will
understand. Just tell them I wouldn't take no for an answer," he said. He
stepped forward and put a wide hand on the suite door. "Come on, nothing
wrong with us spending a little time together."

"Fine, let's go have
a drink out by the pool. It’s one of my favorite spots. Where we first met for
the second time." I tried to laugh, but it got caught in my throat. I
almost choked.

He pushed hard against
the door and stepped past me. If I stood my ground, he would have just shoved
me aside. So instead, I shuffled back and had to welcome him inside. It
suddenly seemed important not to upset him. Jackson smiled and there was still
warmth in his brown eyes, but there was a sharpness, an impatience to him that
put me on edge.

"I brought you a
bottle of champagne. I knew you'd finally be alone, what with your other client
off getting ready for his big moment. I think we should celebrate."

"Celebrate
what?" I asked. The suite was isolated. There were no other guests on the
floor that day. I did not like to think about how the soundproofing had already
been tested by loud parties.

Jackson reached in his
pocket and pulled out a manila envelope. "Here's the signed contract. Our
business is finalized and that means we can put it aside. Now that it's done,
we don't have to be so businesslike, either. We don't have to celebrate as
colleagues – I don't want to be just your colleague."

"This is wonderful.
I'll call my boss right away and tell him the good news. Like you said, get all
the business out of the way," I said. I gripped the phone hard to stop my
hand from trembling.

Jackson shook his head
and reached for my phone. "Don't you think your boss would be really upset
if you didn't close this deal? I mean, you'd have unhappy clients, and from
what I've heard, the power tool people are longstanding clients of your boss.
They'd all be unhappy if you messed this up somehow."

"And, how would I
mess it up?" I asked. "I know things have been a little crazy here in
Las Vegas, but the contract is sound and you have no objections. So, what is
the problem?"

He dangled the signed
contract high in the air. "I don't know. I'd like to say I'm a satisfied
client. I'd like to think you've taken care of me."

"Is there something
you want me to change? Let's go down to the hotel's business center and we can
review the contract while we get my boss on a conference call," I said.

I headed for the door,
but Jackson caught my arm and turned me around. "So professional, so
polished. It’s very attractive. I like a woman who likes to get things done.
Tie everything up in a pretty bow. That's why I can see a future with you, Kya.
You know how to make everything look and sound so perfect."

"Thanks," I
said. It was hard to tell what Jackson was thinking. Maybe I was overreacting.
Maybe I was just nervous because of Fenton's fight. All I knew was that my skin
was crawling, and I did not want to be alone with him. "Well, if
everything is fine with the contract, then I demand you let me take you out to celebrate.
My boss would be mad if I made you settle for a quick drink in my suite.
Especially one that you brought yourself."

Jackson held on to my
arm, shook his head and smiled. "No, I think it’s my choice. I've made you
happy by signing the contract, and now it’s your turn to make me happy."
He set the champagne down on the coffee table and drew me towards the master
bedroom.

My jaw dropped, but I
could not force a sound out. I wrenched my arm free, unable to pretend anymore.
"What exactly are you suggesting?"

"I'm suggesting, no,
demanding as you said, that you stop teasing me and give me what we both
want," he said.

"This is not what I
want. I want you to leave," I said.

Jackson's smile
disappeared. "Don't be like that, Kya, don't think you get something for
nothing. You've got my business, the commission, and you've got me. Now, how
about a kiss? Just a little kiss, to start."

"No. To start? Do
you hear yourself? What do you think you're doing? I don't trade contracts for
sexual favors, and I'm disgusted that you think that."

"Disgusted? I'm
disgusted at the way you tease me. Do you really think you can get away with
that? I know you want me. I'm practically bachelor of the goddamn year. So,
when I say I want a kiss, the least you can do is give me a kiss."

"Is that what you
asked Sienna for? When you cornered her at the golf luncheon? And to think I
believed you," I said.

I backed away around the
coffee table and tried to aim for the door. Jackson lunged and grabbed for my
arm, but I twisted away at the last second. He stumbled and slammed his shin
against the glass coffee table. I saw his face turn crimson before I turned and
ran.

He made it to the door
one step behind me and slammed his hands on either side of my head. He pounded
them on the door a second time, for terrifying effect. I cringed against the
door and felt panic cloud my thinking.

His breath was on my
neck, but I forced myself to stop and think. Then, I ducked down and ran for my
discarded phone. I scooped it up, but it was no comfort. Jackson had turned it
off before he set it aside, and I had been pressing frantically at a blank
screen. I turned it on and faced him.

His cheerful chuckle
froze the blood in my veins. "And who exactly are you going to call? Your
boss is thousands of miles away and will be more annoyed that you are
compromising the deal than he will be concerned about your sudden chastity.
Your big bad fighter is already at the arena. And, face it, whoever you call is
not going to believe you, anyway."

"I'm calling the
police," I said.

Jackson lunged at me
again, and he knocked my shoulder as I turned. I stumbled off balance and saved
myself on the edge of the couch. He was right behind me, his hands clamping
around my waist. I started to pummel his chest with my fists, but all he did
was chuckle again.

That is, until the front
door of the suite splintered open. Fenton charged through the broken door and
headed straight for Jackson.

Jackson backed off with
his hands up, palms open. "Now, look what a mess you're gonna make poor
Kya clean up. I'm telling you, he's no good for you."

"Fenton, I'm so glad
you're here. I'm so sorry," I stopped when he waved me into silence.
Jackson still stood between us, and Fenton was concentrating on his opponent.

"This is ridiculous
and you know it," Jackson said. "What, are you really going to waste
your chance at the title standing around here trying to accuse me of something
that will never in a million years stick?"

"You're not above
the law," Fenton said.

"No, but I know an
awful lot of people that create the law, uphold it, and defend it. Face it,
someone like me is untouchable, especially for someone like you," Jackson
said.

"Not with
witnesses," I said.

"Just you? Of course
you're going to take your lover's side. It will never hold up. It looks like
you two banded together to con me into this endorsement deal," Jackson
tossed the signed contract on the coffee table.

"I know you did
something to Sienna. Fenton and his manager saw it," I said.

"Again, a
conspiracy," he said.

"Then, what about
all those dancers at my sister's club?" Fenton asked. "You really
didn't think they would talk to each other, band together against a threat?
You're banned, the word is out, and they will have no problem making statements
against you."

"No one is going to
believe that bunch of whores," Jackson said.

Fenton lunged for him,
his first kick landed on the side of Jackson's knee. Jackson cried out in pain
but stood his ground and tossed a series of wild punches at Fenton.

The air fled my lungs.
Fenton was going to get hurt before his title fight, and it would be all my
fault. He was going to lose the title because of me. I could not let it happen.

Neither man saw me as
they locked together, each determined to see the other bleed. I jumped over the
white couch and grabbed the bottle of champagne Jackson had brought in. I stood
up on the white cushions and waited for an opening.

Fenton slammed an upper
cut into Jackson’s gut and I knew the next punch in the combination was a right
hook to his cheek. Fenton could not afford to bruise or possibly break his
knuckles on Jackson's face. So, I raised the champagne bottle high in the air
and swung it down as hard I could.

There was a sickening
thud, and Jackson crumbled. Fenton froze, his clouded blue eyes confused. Then,
he blinked and saw me.

"Please tell me he's
not dead," I said.

Fenton leaned down to
check Jackson's pulse. "Not dead, not even fractured. Too bad."

He stood up, and I
launched myself from the couch into his arms. "Thank you, thank you. I
can't believe you came. I'm so sorry. Oh, Fenton, I never would have forgiven
myself if you had gotten hurt. Oh my God, the fight! You have to go."

Fenton held me, his hand
smoothing down my hair. "Shh, it's fine. You took him out in the first
round. We have plenty of time. Are you okay?"

I felt my body shaking
but the strength of his arms soon dispelled it. "I'm fine. You came for
me. Wait, why did you come here?"

His lips curled into a
smile inches from mine. "I came to see you. I wanted to make sure you were
safe. Dana Maria told me about Jackson, and after what I saw with Sienna, I was
worried."

"Oh," I said. I
loosened my hold on his neck. "Thank you."

Fenton shook his head and
laughed. He brushed a soft kiss across my lips. "I came for you. Turns out
you were right. You said in your message last night that you had good luck.
Well, I want some of it. Hell, I want you."

"You can have all my good luck. I don't
believe in it anymore. I just believe in you."

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