The fact that she allowed it and was even moaning in response then stopping mid-kiss just to say that she missed him too, was all the assurance he needed. This trip wouldn’t be what he’d dreaded. “I wanna make love to you,” he whispered anxiously against her lips before burying his tongue in her mouth again.

He moved the small suitcase she’d been packing on her bed aside, and immediately Nellie lay back down on the bed. Like a man on a mission, he yanked her shorts and panties right off, pulled her to the edge of the bed, and dropped to his knees. Sucking the inside of her soft thigh until he saw the pleasing hickey that would be there for days, he moved on to what he really wanted to suck. Opening her with two fingers, he went in for his prize. God damn it! He needed to make this his and only his.

Instantly, her back arched, and she moaned loudly as he licked and sucked all her juices. There were plenty. Round and round he moved his tongue rhythmically, loving her body’s reaction to each one of his strokes. She tasted so damn good that he couldn’t get enough.

Every time he thought she was getting close, he’d slow, not wanting to have to stop yet. It’d been too damn long since he’d had this, and he wanted this to last as long as possible. Her entire body quivered more and more with every stroke of his tongue, and she’d cry out with every suckle until he latched on to that perfect little spot, the one he knew would have her screaming his name in seconds.

Her fingers ran furiously through his hair until he heard what he now loved hearing. “Abel! Oh my God, Abel!” With her body quivering out of control, she continued to cry out in undeniable pleasure until she was begging for him to stop. “Please, I can’t take anymore.”

Getting one last taste then kissing her one last time, he looked up at her gasping and still squirming in delight. He smiled completely satisfied that she couldn’t possibly need another guy in her life.

Abel wasn’t beyond begging now if she ever spoke of needing to be free to date others. Right then and there, he decided he wouldn’t be bringing it up, but if and when the subject ever arose again, he was going for it.

Nothing, not his pride nor the fear of her running away, would keep him from telling her that he absolutely refused to share her. She was his now, and he’d just staked his claim on her. One way or another, he’d get her to agree.

***

The drive was far more pleasant than what he’d been dreading all week. For most of it, Nellie had snuggled up next to him. As much as he still wanted to know if she’d seen Sam again, he dared not ruin the mood. The drive was too long for any awkward silences, and that’s what would happen—either that or him blowing up.

She’d pulled out her tablet earlier to check her emails. She was supposed to meet the director of PR later that evening to go over the 5th Street booth that they’d be setting up in the hotel lobby. Starting tomorrow, the eve of the fight when all the hype really got going, a Los Angeles radio station would be broadcasting from there. They’d be giving away all kinds of free stuff with the 5th Street logo on them. Nellie would be in charge of making sure it all got set up and went smoothly.

He glanced at her, so glad now that he’d made up his mind. It was still a risk, but one he had no choice but to take.

His earpiece beeped. Glancing down at his phone, he saw it was Andy. The guy called him nonstop, now that the fight was this close. The media coverage for the fight was nuts now, exactly why Abel hadn’t wanted to fly in. He tapped his earpiece.

“Hello?” Nellie glanced at him at the sound of his voice, and he pointed to his earpiece.

“Hey, you almost there?”

“A little more than halfway.”

“Listen, today was supposed to be a free day for you. I figured after the drive you’d be in no mood for work. But would you consider having drinks with some of the reps from Fitness magazine?” Andy was speaking quickly. Abel had picked up on this habit from him. Since he was so quick to say no to so many of the things Andy wanted him to do, Andy would speak quickly and get it all out before Abel could reject the idea as he already felt like doing. “It’d be twenty—thirty minutes tops. It’s just a very informal meeting to get a feel of any specific ideas you have for the photo shoot. What date and time of day works best for you—that type of thing. You’d meet them in a VIP lounge. No paparazzi allowed. So you wouldn’t have to worry about dealing with any of that.” Andy cleared his voice then laughed. “They get that you’re, um, I don’t wanna say difficult but that you’re not exactly thrilled about being in the spotlight, so they just wanna make sure you’re taken care of—happy.”

Happy was exactly how Abel was feeling right about then. He glanced back at Nellie, who was still very much engrossed in whatever it was she was reading on her tablet. “What time are you meeting with Reynolds tonight?”

“Six,” she said without even looking up.

“How long do you think you’ll be?”

Now she looked up at him. “He said about an hour, but you’ve talked to him, right? He goes on and on and on. So it could be a little longer.”

“Is that all you have going on tonight?”

He’d meant business-wise, but the look she gave him was a strange one. She couldn’t possibly have social plans, could she? She looked away too quickly, making his insides turn, and he swallowed hard. “I’m not sure yet. My friend is supposed to text me when he gets into town.”