Hammer's Fall (The Breakers' Bad Boys) (22 page)

Hammer moved closer to her until he was sitting right in front of her, with their knees touching lightly. His heart was pounding so loud it sounded like a drum beat in his ears, and he vaguely felt like he wanted to throw up. Courage, he told himself.

Just say the words and don’t fuck this up…

“I love you, Kali. I want you with me, always. Be mine. Spend a lifetime being my Valentine. Help me build a family with Ranger and Tink. Marry me.”

Kali looked up and his heart dropped when he saw the tears streaming from her eyes. “What about the job offer from the CFL?”

Hammer let out a soft curse. “You heard about that? I was going to tell you about it later. I said no, Kali. I may go out of town occasionally since I agreed to announce at the championship fights, but my life is here, with you if you’ll have me. I want to build a life together.” He paused, then let out a frustrated growl when she simply stared at him with wide eyes. “Say something! Damn it, you love me, woman!”

She nodded slowly. “I really do.”

His face paled as she held out the ring to him, then he felt his heart burst with joy as she held her left hand out for him to put the ring on. “I love you, Jared. Of course I’ll marry you,” she whispered tearfully.

He slid the ring onto her finger and felt a wave of possessive pride sweep through him at seeing his ring on her finger. He yanked her into his arms and held on tight, loving how well she fit against him. Here was everything he ever wanted, and he almost couldn’t believe she said yes and really belonged to him now. Feeling emotions well into his own eyes, he buried his face into the crook of her neck and breathed in her sweet scent.

“God, I love you, my sweet little fairy. I’m going to make you so damn happy.”

“You already do,” she said as she pulled back to cup his face. They stared into each other’s eyes as she laid her lips onto his and let herself sink into him. His hand gripped the back of her neck as he took her to the ground with him so he was half on top of her. Taking the kiss deeper, his tongue stroked against hers, showing her what she meant to him without words.

Her delighted laughter rang out as he cursed when the puppies ran back over to join in their game and jumped on him. Kali rolled onto her side and she smiled as she watched the two puppies climbing all over Jared, wanting to play.

Her big man was such a wonder to her. He was a fighter and a bad boy, but he could be so sweet and gentle like he was now, playing with their new dogs. He was offering her his heart and his home, and she knew, without a doubt, that she had found her soul mate. He was the perfect mix of everything she had ever wanted in a man.

And he was all hers.

Epilogue

The roar of the crowd filled the Palace Arena as the winner of the CFL Heavyweight Championship match was announced. Kali smiled to herself as she listened to the sound of her fiancé’s voice over the loudspeakers. His deep, gravelly voice sent shivers down her spine every time she heard it, and tonight was no different.

Murmuring her goodbyes to Leanne Durbin, who was seated next to her in the VIP section, Kali made her way through the crowed aisle and left the arena, heading back to the bank of elevators that would take her back up to her and Jared’s luxurious suite in the Las Vegas hotel.

In the last month she had met the Durbins twice when they had come to visit Breakers to personally escort some of their fighters to Fight Hard. She immediately liked the couple, and she and Leanne had become good friends since their first meeting. Kalista knew that Leanne would send Jared up to their room to join her, and she needed time to set the stage she wanted to have ready for when he did.

A few short days after he proposed, she found herself officially moving into his house. Once the decision had been made she didn’t feel any need to wait to start their life together. It had worked out perfectly since Becca’s lease was up, and she had been overjoyed to move into Kali’s apartment over the bakery.

Ranger and Tinkerbell had become the mascots at Fight Hard, and Jared brought them to work with him almost every day. He and Kali liked having both of their dogs close, and she visited them several times a day. If that gave her another reason to stop by the gym to see Jared, it was just a bonus. Fortunately, there was always someone around the gym that was willing to take the dogs out into the yard to play with them while Jared and Kali were otherwise occupied in his office.

When Shane was released from the hospital, he became their official dog walker after school. The poor boy had trouble adjusting to his new life, considering the severe trauma he had endured. He had become extremely introverted, not trusting anyone at first, and it took him weeks to even speak again despite the therapy he was offered. He was able to complete his physical therapy at Fight Hard, and it broke their hearts because no one knew how to help the young boy.

It wasn’t until he started playing with Ranger and Tinkerbell that he became more like the boy he had been before the attack. Taking care of the dogs after school helped him feel more secure with his surroundings, and allowed him to open up again. Pleased with his progress, Anna and her husband started taking him to the Beaumont Rescue Center on the weekends so he could volunteer since it seemed like being around the dogs worked better than any other therapy.

Kali briefly considered calling Anna’s house to check on Ranger and Tinkerbell since Shane, Nate, Anna, and her husband were dog sitting for them while they were out of town, but she fought the urge. Calling to check on her dogs seemed a little extreme, even for her.

Once she was back in their suite, she went to work setting up the room exactly how she wanted it. She pushed the chairs and sofa out of the way and moved the coffee table to make a large, open space in the center of the living room.

Going into the bedroom, she pulled out the bag of candles that she’d hidden after she bought them earlier. She set them up all over the flat surfaces in the living room and lit them so the entire room was bathed in golden light. She pulled out her chosen outfit and changed as she considered her plan again.

Since they had gotten engaged, Jared had become her best friend and closest confidant. They shared everything with one another and there was nothing they couldn’t talk about. She knew that he was anxious to get married, and if it were up to him they would have just gotten it done while they were in Vegas. Despite her own disinterested parents, she still wanted a traditional wedding where they could make their vows in front of all their friends and family.

After a brief negotiation, they planned to get married in three months.

Jared’s own family had pretty much adopted her, and his mother and stepfather had thrown them a wonderful engagement party the weekend after Valentine’s Day. Evie, Hunter, Beckett, and Francesca had become like her own siblings, and she loved spending time with all of them.

When she had told her own parents about her engagement her father had said that he hoped she didn’t expect him to pay for the wedding, and her mother…well, her mother had been so shocked that it had been downright insulting. They had opted not to attend the engagement party since they already had plans. It hurt Kali that they hadn’t bothered to come, but she was used to their indifference. Of course her parents thought it was her fault for not checking their busy schedule before planning the party.

Everything seemed to be going well for her and Jared, but she couldn’t help but be concerned that he missed his old life as a professional fighter. Being in Vegas for the championship fights had made her worry even more. She had seen very little of him the last few days, but she had kept herself busy at the spa and by the pool. It was while she had been sunbathing that she had come up with this little surprise for him.

Checking her makeup and hair one last time, she made her way back to the living room to wait for him. She opened the bottle of champagne that she’d ordered earlier and poured herself a glass. She took a sip just as the sound of the front door opening reached her. Setting down her glass she fisted her hands on her hips and posed, waiting for him to see her.

“Kali? Are you okay? Leanne said you…” Hammer’s voice trailed off as he got his first look at her, and he felt his heart stutter in his chest.

Damn it, she was trying to fucking kill him.

After the last match had concluded, he had sought out his little fairy, wanting to finally spend some time with her now that his obligations had been fulfilled. He was instantly worried when Leanne told him that Kali had gone back up to their suite. Rushing upstairs to check on her he lost his breath as he saw her standing in the middle of the living room.

Like out of some fantasy, Kali was dressed in a pair of black shorts so short that her ass cheeks were hanging out and a tight hot pink tank top with the words “Rough & Tough” across the front. The tank was so low it had her ample breasts practically spilling out over the top. She had wrapped her hands and wrists with hot pink hand wraps like he had taught her when she was hitting the bags at the gym. With legs braces apart and her hands fisted on her hips she looked sexy as hell staring him down.

“Christ, you look like a wet dream, baby. What is all this?”

He could see the nervousness in her eyes, but had to admire her bravado as she tilted her cute little chin up. “It occurred to me that being here tonight surrounded by all of this, you might miss being a fighter.” When one of his brows quirked up she continued. “I thought we could have our own match…right here, right now. A private, no rules match until we’re naked and sweaty. Winner gets to be on top.”

He slowly smiled. “With an offer like that, it seems like we both win regardless of the outcome.”

“Exactly,” she said with what she hoped was a seductive smile. It seemed to work, because his eyes flared with heat as he gripped the back of his shirt with his fist and pulled it off, tossing it to the side not caring where it landed.

Her breath quickened as she surveyed his naked torso. She loved the light dusting of hair on his broad chest, and her knees always went a little weak watching the corded muscles of his huge arms ripple as he flex. He toed off his shoes as he grinned, knowing exactly what the sight of his body did to her.

Wanting to turn the tables on him, she leaned down and stretched, giving him a perfect view of her cleavage. She looked at him through veiled lashes and felt a surge of satisfaction when he lost his smile and he gulped. Anticipation burned in his dark gaze, and she could all but feel his excitement. She was pleased he liked the little game she’d set up, and couldn’t wait to get started.

“You’re on dangerous ground, little fairy.”

“Just where I like to be,” she taunted back. “I’m a wild woman, didn’t you know? My fiancé is a bad-ass, so I figured I should show him exactly how well we fit.”

“Oh, we fit,” he growled, striding toward her. “And I’ll show you exactly how well we fit when I’m deep inside you where I belong. You want to spar with me, baby? Show me what you got.”

“Them’s fighting words,” she quipped as she got into position.

She was ready when he lunged toward her. He had been training her in ground work at the gym and at home, showing her what to do if she were ever attacked so she’d be able to defend herself. There was no way she could ever take him in a fight, so she used this opportunity to rub her body against his as she squirmed out of his hold time and time again, knowing that he would never hurt her.

A few minutes later they were both breathless with laughter as he let her pin him down to the floor. She could feel his thick erection pressed against her heated core as she straddled his hips, and she leaned down to brush her lips against his. “Looks like I’ve got you.”

“You do,” he agreed. “Kali, my God…I need you.”

“Should we take this into the bedroom?”

“No time. I feel like I’m going to come in my fucking pants if you keep rubbing your pussy against me like that.”

“Well, we can’t have that,” she murmured as she sat up. Looking him in the eyes she slowly unwound each of the wraps from her hands until they were free from the bindings. She tossed one away, but kept the other ribbon of material in her hands as she eyes him contemplatively. “Hmm, why don’t we make sure you stay still so I can claim my prize.”

Hammer’s dick felt like it was going to explode as she pulled his hands above his head. She looped the hand wrap around the base of the couch, then his wrists before she tied it into a nice, pretty bow.

“I never thought I’d see the day when I’d be caught using pink hand wraps,” he said wryly.

Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “I think I can make it worth your while.”

Kali slid down his body, until she was sitting between his legs. She carefully unzipped his jeans, allowing his hard shaft to spring free as she pulled his jeans and boxers down his legs so he was completely naked. She looked up to see he was watching her with an intensity that made her insanely wet.

He let out a vicious curse as she took his thick cock in her hand. “Fuck, Kali. I’m not kidding. I’m so close, I’m not gonna last if you touch me like that.”

“Good. I want you to come in my mouth this first time,” she whispered and felt his cock jerk in her grasp.

“God, yes. Open up your mouth, baby. Open that pretty little mouth for me and suck my cock.”

She opened her mouth, licking at the drop of pre-cum on the head of his cock, teasing him so his entire body went rigid with pleasure. She did it again and enjoyed the way the thick shaft jerked in her hand. She looked up at him through her lashes and saw the pleasure on his face as she began to stroke him lovingly, wanting to push him over the edge.

“Fuck. Quit teasing me, Kali. Open up and suck my cock.”

His harsh command had her thighs clenching, and she felt the liquid heat spilling from her pussy. Watching him, she wrapped her lips around his cock and sucked hard enough to make his body jerk. She lashed her tongue underneath the head of his cock, and relished the groan that tore from his throat. Drawing him deep until the head of his cock hit the back of her throat, she pulled back only to repeat the action over and over again. She felt his hips jerk, but he didn’t force her to take more of him than she could handle as she worked her mouth over him.