After breakfast we share a shower. We stay in until we’re both pruney and the water runs cold. I could have spent hours sudsing up all the hard lines on Nico. He’s even more sexy in the full light of day. His broad square shoulders lead to his thick tattooed and rippled arms. His flat abdominal muscles feel as if they’re carved of stone and he has the most delicious v that points down to his impressive manhood. Truly a work of art.

Nico tells me he wants to take me out for the day and I agree, although he won’t tell me where we are going. We pass through the gym on the way out and I’m surprised at how packed it is for a Sunday. A lot of shouted greetings are exchanged and Nico waves and keeps us moving. I hear a catcall or two as we make our way to the garage and I feel Nico’s grip tighten on my hip.

He opens the door to the SUV for me and helps me in. “Sorry about that. Sunday is match day and it’s a testosterone fest. They come in pumped up to compete and their manners go out the window.”

I smile. “It’s fine. Doesn’t bother me. I waitressed through college at a place that hosted private bachelor parties every weekend. I learned to smile and ignore real fast.”

“Yeah, well, I’ll be kicking some asses when I get back, all the same.”

***

We pull up at Navy Pier Park and Nico comes around to open my door. He helps me out of the SUV, but doesn’t release my hand. Together we walk with our fingers laced tightly from the parking garage toward the Ferris wheel. I’ve never been one for public displays of affection, but it feels good, oddly natural, not forced or contrite.

There’s a fair going on, as there is most summer weekends down at the pier, and vendors are set up all over the park. We walk around for a little while and the way that Nico directs us, I feel like we have a destination to get to eventually. But I don’t ask. It’s so unlike me to go with the flow and let someone else take the lead.

We come upon a bunch of tables set up, covered in Girl Scout cookies and dozens of girls in scout uniforms. A little girl is charging in our direction and for a minute I think she is running away from someone. Her face is so intent on where she is going. I can’t help but smile when I see her smile, her entire face lit up like a Christmas tree on Christmas morning as she yells, “Uncle Nico, you came!”

Nico lifts her up and swings her into the air as the little girl is about to crash into us. “Yeah squirt, I came. You asked me to, right?” He sets her back down on the ground and she grabs Nico’s hand and begins pulling him in the direction of the cookie table. Nico looks to me apologetically, and grabs my hand, pulling me with him. We’re a human train led by what looks to be a six or seven-year-old girl.

“This is my Uncle Nico and he’s famous!” The little girl yells to her friends. A gang of little girls swarm Nico and it’s the first time I see the big tough guy look a little scared.

A woman stands next to me and introduces herself as Katie, Sarah’s mom. She apologizes for her daughter’s excitement and tells me that Uncle Nico is very popular with his nieces and nephews. I’m listening to her talk, but I can’t tear my eyes from Nico as he interacts with the kids. He’s such a walking contradiction, everything that he doesn’t appear to be. Soft, gentle, sweet, and playful, nothing like the bad boy fighter who I first laid eyes on more than a year ago at a random fight that I had no business being at.

As if he senses me watching him, Nico looks up at me and catches me watching him. He smiles at me and I smile back. When I finally tear my gaze from the man who has captured my attention like no other, I find Katie is staring at me smiling. “What?” For a second I think I must have missed something during my momentary lapse of consciousness.

“Oh boy. You’re in trouble. I know that look he has. It’s the look of determination and the Hunter boys don’t stop till they get what they want.”

I laugh off her comment, but the thought that I could be Nico Hunter’s prey makes my stomach do a little flip flop.

Chapter 23

Nico

“We’re all set. Five weeks from Saturday you take on Kravits. The Commissioner himself gave me his word that it’s a one win hurdle to the title bout. You kick Kravits’ ass and we’re back in the belt.” Preach always sets me up, knows what I want to take away from a fight.

I nod and start swinging the jump rope.

“They want some new pics for the promo by Wednesday. Their dime, their shoot. All we have to do is bring the girls you want in the shots with you for the eye candy.”

I whip the rope faster, taking two turns with each jump. “No girls.”

Preach looks at me like I have two heads. “Whatta you mean, no girls. You’re Nico the f**king Lady Killer. Your shots always have ladies.”

I can hear the rope slicing through the air, each turn whistling as I increase the speed. “Yeah, well. Not this time.”

Preach squints as if he’s trying to read words that are written across my forehead. “This have anything to do with the girl?”

I don’t respond. It’s none of his business anyway.

***

Preach ratcheted up the workout today and I’ll probably be sore as hell tomorrow, but right now I’m running on sheer adrenaline. I do an extra five mile run after he leaves, sprinting almost the entire time. I just can’t seem to tire myself out, I’ve felt this way for the last few days.

I let the hot water work its way into my muscles, blasting the shower on the massage setting. My muscles don’t hurt yet, but I know they will when I come down. I’m restless and I can’t seem to relax. I give in to the mental debate I’ve been having since yesterday about not coming on too strong with Elle. I don’t want to scare her, but, f**k I want that woman. And more than in my bed. I send off a quick text, before I change my mind. I’m acting like such a pu**y. Can’t get you out of my mind. What are you doing? I’ll throw the ball in her corner and see where things lead.

I’m surprised when my phone chimes back quickly, indicating a new text has arrived. Me too. About to order dinner.

What are you in the mood for? I deliver.

You.

I don’t respond to the text, but twenty minutes later I’m at Elle’s door.

She opens it and smiles. “Where’s my dinner?”

“I’m right here.”

Chapter 24

Elle

I barely shut the door when I find myself thrust up against it by six foot three inches of pure man. He’s all strength and power and there is no mistaking he wants me. Badly. Almost as much as I want him at this very moment.

I can feel his thick erection as he pins me to the door with his hips. He’s hard as steel and it makes me crazy to have so much clothing between us. I reach down for his zipper and yank it down in one desperate motion. The sound reverberates loudly between us and Nico growls as I reach in to free him. I need to touch him. Now. Feel his warm thick c**k in my hands. Freeing him from his boxers, I give him one quick pump from the base to the tip, squeezing firmly as I slide my way up.

Nico tries to grab for my skirt, his actions as desperate as mine. But I catch him off guard and grab his hand to stop him. He stills. I know already he will stop to check that I’m okay, even in the throws of passion. I use the seconds that pass, as he gives me room to confirm I’m okay, to slide down the door that I’m cornered against and drop to my knees.

I look up at him under hooded eyes. “You said you were bringing me dinner.”

The wide tip of his smooth c**k glides past my lips and I’m rewarded with a groan and small burst of pre-ejaculation on my tongue. I suck hard on his thick head and pump my fist up and down the length of him. Another throaty groan makes my clit swell and I drown out everything but the desire to hear the sound again. I need to hear it. Need to know what I can do to him. That I can bring him to the same place he has brought me before. The place I haven’t been able to stop thinking about for two full days.

I feel Nico’s fingers thread into my hair, winding until his hands are tightly wrapped. I lick him from base to tip on the underside and then slowly repeat the action on the top. I can feel his eyes watching me. Even though I can’t see his face, I know he is laser focused on me. As I reach the tip, I swirl my tongue around, giving him a good show, letting him watch as my tongue worships his thickness.

One last swirl and then I suck him in deeply, unexpectedly, taking him by surprise as I swallow him down my throat so far it’s difficult to breathe. His already thick c**k swells and I have to adjust my breathing to my nose in order to continue. A few short bobs and he glides in and out more easily. My throat muscles relax, opening for more of him to slide down my wet throat. Nico hisses out a deep breath and his hands in my hair tighten almost to the point of pain, but not quite. Then it happens. His body tenses and he begins to unravel, his hands wrapped in my hair pull tightly, and he corners my head against the door as he begins to slide in and out of my mouth, pushing his c**k deeper into my throat. He growls as he f**ks my mouth and the sound of him losing control has me on the brink of my own orgasm.

Nico’s hands suddenly release my head on a loud throaty groan and I feel him begin to slide out of me. “I’m going to come, Babe.” His voice is strained and I want to finish what I started. I need to finish. So I push forward as he begins to pull away and catch him back in my mouth just as he begins to spurt long streams of creamy hot se**n. I swallow it down and greedily suck on his head, desperate to milk every last drop out of him.

After he is emptied, his body gone lax, Nico pulls me to my feet and lifts me, cradling me as he carries me into my apartment. He gently kisses my forehead as he walks to the couch, and sits with me still cradled tightly in his arms. “That was incredible.” He kisses the top of my head and speaks gently. “Thank you.”

I snuggle into his chest and look up at him. “I don’t think it’s proper etiquette to thank someone after o**l s*x.” I’m coy in my response.

“I’m not much for etiquette, Babe. I say what I feel and I feel thankful. And not just about the blowjob.”

***

A few hours later we lie in my bed, spent. Nico twists a lose strand of my hair around his finger as we talk. I’ve always been a sleep after sex person, preferring to avoid the lingering intimacy that comes after two people share their bodies. But it’s different with Nico, I like the quiet time getting to know each other almost as much as the physical time. Both settle me, leave me feeling replete.

“I set a date for a fight.”

Mindlessly, I trace the beautifully woven ink patterns on his thick chest, following the circular design lightly with my nail. “It’s your first fight since...” My voice drops off, I don’t know how to finish the sentence.

“Yeah.” Nico’s voice is low and contemplative, but it doesn’t sound like I’ve upset him with my thoughtless question.

“How long’s it been?”

“Too long.” He pauses. “Since May 1st last year, a little over 13 months.”

His answer tells me the day is etched in his mind. I bet he can recite the number of days and hours and seconds since it happened. It’s always there, in the back of your mind, even when you aren’t thinking about it. It never goes away. I should know.

“What made you decide it was time?”

A long moment passes as Nico contemplates his answer. “I don’t really know…I’m just ready to move on.” His arm pulls me closer and he kisses the top of my head. The gesture is so small, yet so big.

Chapter 25

Elle

“Good morning, Regina.” I hand my friend a tall caramel latte as I walk in even later than my usual late.

“Looks like you had a good night.” Regina raises one eyebrow with a knowing smirk.

I look down at myself, wondering if something is out of place. Is my shirt on backwards? How could she know? “Are you joking? Is it that obvious?”