Hard Justice(22)

Even as she made excuses about why she shouldn't give out her phone number, she smiled until her cheeks hurt.

Minutes later, Justice rejoined her and that got rid of the interested men real quick.         

     



 

It might have had something to do with Justice's sudden cross mood. He glared at everyone, including Armie, who kept snickering.

With the growled excuse that he'd show her around, Justice flipped off Armie, gave a halfhearted wave to the others and urged her from the room.

"What's going on?" Fallon asked.

"Nothing."

It was far too crowded to debate while walking in the hallway, so Fallon simply stopped. When Justice turned to her, she said, "Something, and I want to know what."

He stepped close, backing her to the wall and using his body to block her from passersby. He braced one thick arm on the wall above her head and leaned in. "Fine. You want to know what's got me irked?"

She'd never seen him in a mood like this. And, good Lord, he surrounded her! With every breath, she inhaled his hot scent, leaving her stomach filled with butterflies. No longer quite so certain, she whispered, "Yes?"

He angled closer still until his face was near hers and she could see her own reflection in his dark eyes. Then he said nothing.

His gaze dipped to her mouth.

Her heart went into her throat and her toes curled inside her shoes. "Justice?"

He drew a slow breath and his eyes met hers again. The impact was enough to weaken her knees.

Suddenly his mouth tilted. "Don't faint on me."

She shook her head, unwilling to make any promises.

"Guys are hittin' on you."

"They are?" Is that what bothered him?

"Yeah, and don't give me that innocent act." He tweaked her chin. "You liked it. But, honey, this isn't the place for it. Half the dudes here will be toasted by the end of the night, and half the ladies will be willing regardless. So Armie made a suggestion."

Was it the suggestion, then, that had him riled? Feeling very daring, she prodded him. "Let's hear it."

Justice took his time, tucking back her hair, then stroking her cheek with his thumb. "Tonight, if anyone asks, you're with me."

Going breathless, she repeated, "With you?"

"Yeah. That's the safest way for us to play it." He drifted the backs of his knuckles down her throat, then lightly cupped her shoulder. "So we'll be doing some of this tonight."

"This...what?"

"Touching. Teasing. Me making it clear to every yahoo out there that you're mine."

She had absolutely nothing to say to that. Little jittery explosions were going off in her body, making it hard to breathe, hard to think, but not to feel. Nope, she could feel just fine and the way he'd touched her...

"Okay?"

Well, shoot. He expected conversation. She managed a nod.

When Justice grinned, crinkles showed in the corners of his dark sinner's eyes. "You are so sweet." He looked her over, then playfully asked, "You sure you won't faint?"

No. "Pretty sure."

His grin widened. "You sound all raspy." He dipped his head, then said softly into her ear, "Don't get nervous. I won't be pushing the boundaries. We just need to convince everyone else."

Right. In order to protect her heart-and her pride-she seriously needed to remember that, for Justice, this was no more than a job. All the sudden flirting and intimacy was a game played to make the job easier. It would be beyond foolish for her to keep reacting to him so emotionally.

What she needed to do, she decided, was take advantage of the awesome opportunity now afforded her. How many big, buff, badass and sexy men would want to be this close to her? She could enjoy every second of it while keeping it in perspective by reminding herself that it wasn't real.

Play it cool, she told herself, but definitely go ahead and play.

"Fallon?"

Justice's low, gruff voice and the way his warm breath teased her ear wasn't helping her to get control.

He stayed very near to her, and his scruffy jaw brushed hers.

"Hmm?"

"You ready?"

For what? She didn't actually ask, because she knew whatever it was, yes, she was more than ready. Anxious even. She'd wanted some new experiences; now it appeared she'd get her money's worth.         

     



 

In a lust-induced stupor, she nodded. Satisfied, he pressed his warm mouth to her temple in a brief kiss that made her breath catch.

"For anyone watching," he explained, then he levered back and slung his arm around her shoulders, keeping her close as he headed back down the wide hall.

Luckily they had a few minutes before she was expected to speak to anyone. The crowds got thicker, giving her time to get her wits together as they wended in and out of human congestion. Eventually they ended up near the "cage." Justice showed her where their seats would be, right behind the announcers. An entire section was roped off for the group.

Many people-fighters and their wives, past and present champions, a few celebrities who'd shown up to watch, referees and announcers-all greeted Justice like a friend. The scope of his social circle amazed her.

He introduced her each time and allowed people to make the assumption they were a couple. One man grinned and gave him a fist bump with the murmured praise, "Nice."

After the man walked away, Justice whispered, "He means you," and gave her an affectionate squeeze.

Fallon bit her lip, but the implied flattery still made her grin.

Once the fight started, many of the women sat together but Justice didn't like that arrangement. He kept her at his side and she ended up sandwiched between him and Denver.

Since they were both gigantic men, she felt extra tiny and completely insulated from some of the jostling as people surged to their feet again and again to cheer or shout instructions. Fallon didn't think the men fighting heard all the yelling. If they did, they didn't acknowledge it. She figured the spectators just liked to give suggestions regardless.

Armie sat back with the ladies, including his wife. Fallon learned that Cannon's wife had stayed home with the babies. Apparently she and Armie's wife took turns on that.

Because Justice was so engrossed in the fight, Fallon asked Denver about Cannon. He explained that as an assistant coach, Cannon was in back with Stack, and when it came time for the fight, he'd be cage-side.

Trying to understand, she asked, "So Cannon not only runs a gym and fights, but he coaches, too?"

Denver started to lean close to reply and she suddenly found herself hauled up to Justice's side. He took over the explanations. "Cannon started the gym but everyone pitches in to help out there. And depending on who's fighting, different fighters step up as assistant coaches. They leave the real training to a dedicated, full-time coach, though." When the prelims ended, Justice went into more depth about the process, and the other guys chimed in, giving her a lot of insight.

The women, too, had much to say, and their perspectives, she found, were vastly different from the men.

Overall, she gathered that the fighters were something of a family. They stuck together, supported each other and accepted imperfections.

Even though he no longer competed, Justice was clearly still part of the family, and Fallon loved that for him. Her own family had always been small and after losing her sister-

"Son of a bitch."

Justice's muttered complaint drew her from her wayward thoughts. She glanced up-and found Marcus staring at her from across the aisle, several rows away. He, too, had good seats, but in a different section.

"That's Marcus," she said in surprise.

"Yeah, and I'll bet my ass the little weasel isn't an MMA fan."

Justice sounded accusatory and more than furious.

"Maybe not," she rushed to say. "But it appears he's here with clients. Notice the other men around him? They're probably fans and Marcus is wooing them for business."

When he started their way, Justice said, "Let me handle this," with evil relish. He started out of the row.

"No." Fallon caught the back of his waistband, which was the only thing she could reach, and inadvertently got pulled from her seat. She almost tripped over a seat, but three pair of male hands caught her.

Mortified, she thanked everyone, then in a very low voice hissed to Justice, "Don't you dare embarrass me by causing a scene. I mean it."

Expression fierce, Denver said, "I wouldn't."         

     



 

Already the others were staring at them, wondering what had happened. Fallon pasted on a smile before ushering Justice along. When they reached the aisle, she requested, "Give a minute."

He laughed like she was nuts. "Hell, no."

"Justice," she growled.

He cupped his hand around the nape of her neck, stalling her complaints. "With or without your boyfriend, I wouldn't let you out of my sight here. But I'll let you take the lead. How's that?"

Not good enough; however, debating it in front of everyone would only cause more conflict. So instead she said, "He's not my boyfriend," then looked at Marcus and pointed to the hall behind them.

He nodded and headed in that direction.

Giving Justice a stern frown, she said, "I'm trusting you to behave."

"Yes, ma'am." Keeping his hand on her nape, he walked with her to the very congested main hall.