Bastard’s Baby(143)

“Okay,” he said finally. “Let’s do it.”

“Guys,” Dave the manager said, “I really don’t think I can be a part of this.”

“Dave, if you don’t fucking draw up some contracts to make this thing real, then I swear I will tell your wife about those strippers you fucked in Canada last year.”

Dave sputtered something noncommittal and surprised, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Dave?” Trent asked. “Your marriage or the contracts.”

“Fine,” Dave said.

“Classic move, Trent,” I said. “Blackmail seems to be your thing.”

“See you in the ring, shithead.”

There was a click.

“He hung up,” Dave said.

“I know. Email me the papers. I’ll send you the signed copies.” I paused. “You should consider dropping him as a client.”

I hung up and crossed my arms, leaning my head against the wall.

That was it. I was putting everything on the line for this fight. My relationships and my career hung in the balance. If I won, the blackmail was over, and I could have Alexa however I wanted her.

But if I lost, well, everything was finished. I wasn’t going to lose. I couldn’t lose. It just wasn’t in my fucking nature.

I tossed my phone back into my bag and began to clean up the basement, feeling lighter and happier than I had in a long time.





17





Alexa





I couldn’t believe what Cole was willing to risk.

I had watched as Cole stormed out of my room, not sure what he was doing, but I knew he needed space. I was leaning against my headboard, flipping through Facebook, when he walked back into the room.

“It’s done,” he said, sitting down at my desk.

“What is?”

“Everything. The fight in a few days is going to fix everything.”

I put my phone down, raising an eyebrow. “What did you just do, Cole?”

His grin was huge and cocky. “Just had a little chat with Trent and his business manager.”

“No. Cole, what did you do?” I felt panic rising up inside me.

“Relax,” he said. “It’s all good. I didn’t threaten to murder him or anything like that.”

“Okay, that’s a start. What happened?”

“Well,” he said, stretching lazily, “I made a deal. If I win the fight, he gives me the pictures.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And if he wins?”

“I retire from fighting forever.”

I stared at him, my mouth dropped open. “You can’t risk that.”

“I already did.”

“No. Go back on the deal. I don’t care what you have to do, but don’t go through with this.”

“Sorry, wife,” he said, standing, “but his manager is drawing up the papers. It’s a done deal.”

He began to walk toward the door and I scrambled out of bed. “Cole!”

He looked back at me as I walked toward him. “You can’t stop this.”

I didn’t say a word. I just threw my arms around his neck and crushed my body against his. He seemed surprised until I kissed him, pressing my lips hard against his. For a second, he didn’t do anything, and then he grabbed my hips and pressed me against him, returning my kiss.

It was the first time I had thrown myself at him, and I loved it. The heady scent of his body filled my mind, and our lips pressed together. His muscles were hard and strong against my body, his towering frame practically engulfing mine.

Slowly I pulled my mouth away from his, but he didn’t let my hips go.

“Finally giving in to me?” he said softly.

“You wish,” I said. “Just trying to repay you.”

“For what?”

“For risking this. I know what fighting means to you.”

I could practically feel his smirk as he kissed my neck. “This is what family does.”

“We’re not family,” I said, practically by habit.

“No. You’re just my wife.”

I bit my lip as his hands began to roam my body. “For now, maybe.”

He laughed softly, a sweet and painful sound, as he kissed my ear. “You’re lucky to have me at all,” he said.

“Don’t be such an asshole,” I replied.

He pulled me even tighter against him. “Feel that?”

I nodded. His cock was completely hard against me, straining against his pants. Slowly I reached down and grabbed the outline, running my hand along its length. He grunted and chuckled slightly.

“That’s what you do to me,” he said. “Everything about you gets me fucking hard. Your smell, your tits, your smile, your voice. I want to fuck you until you scream my name, and I want to watch you come again and again.”