Fight For Her Heart: Tattooed Seduction (Rock Hard Doms) (3 page)

“
Sorry. I should've warned you.” He let his
shirt fall with a sly grin on his face. “It's okay, Rosie. We
can work on that punch. When you move those fists right, you can make
a big guy like me groan. Seriously.”

Yeah. I'd like to see you groan, alright.

I wasn't sure if I was more annoyed or turned on. But I
meant the words racing through my head.

I flexed my hand. My fingers were still tingling, but
the pain wasn't as bad as it seemed at first.

“
I'm not whacking you again without gloves.”
I looked past him, toward the chair where our shoes were resting on
the floor. I'd noticed the fighter's gloves on my way in.

“
Maybe I should try those on?”

He turned, looked over his shoulder, then came back to
me and laughed. “Nah, Rosie, that's not for our training here.
I need those for my own obsession.”

I cocked my head, questioning him with my eyes.

“
I spend my free time on the underground fighting
circuit. Got a match coming up later this week, actually. But I can
always squeeze in a few extra clients, especially when it's for a
good cause.”

Good cause? I hope I'm not just your annoying charity
case.

I nodded, swallowing hard. I stared dumbly at his body,
following his hard angles with my eyes. I wondered what it would be
like to see him in action, throwing the same fists he'd used to save
me at a man just as sculpted and determined.

Punching, dodging, whirling in a warrior's dance –
I couldn't imagine him looking anything but sexy.

I shifted in place. All the better to keep my aching sex
from overheating. I feared how much I'd be able to keep a lid on
myself if he had to touch me again this session...

“
You've done well this evening. We're off to a
great start. I've been with plenty others who didn't do half as well
as you tonight, Rosie. You're motivated, and that makes all the
difference.”

I smiled shyly. Receiving praise from him was like kind
words from my favorite teacher. Not that I'd ever had any instructors
as mouth watering as him.

“
I'd like to watch one of your fights sometime.”
I gulped, ignoring what he'd just said, wishing our time weren't up
so soon.

Had it really been over an hour? Guess the clock high
above the gym door didn't lie.

“
Sure. I'll get you the time and place as soon as
it's sorted out next week. I'm fighting Orange Coal, the biggest
badass on this side of the city.” He handed me my coat, fixing
his hard eyes on me, alongside that familiar, damnably addictive
smile.

“
I'd like that. When do you want me back?”

“
Two more times this week. You'll be surprised how
fast progress hits. We'll do it a couple times a week, until you can
knock me flat. That's all you really need to fend off a fucker like
that creep in the alley.”

I snorted. He made it sound so ridiculously easy, but
perhaps I shouldn't have been so skeptical. His muscles, his
movements, the soft patience he maintained through my nervous sarcasm
– all of it pointed to a man who knew exactly what he was
doing.

William threw on his hoodie and we began to walk out the
back, down the notorious alley. I was safe at his side, more
disappointed to see his muscles disappear than the memory of what had
happened here yesterday evening.

I secretly hoped the bus would be late, but luck wasn't
on my side. We shook hands before I broke the grip to run inside its
waiting doors.

The
post-workout burn in my limbs should've been at the forefront of my
brain as I swiped my bus
card
and settled into the front seat. But the dull heat pulsing at the
base of my spine was all I could
think
about, the same fiery warmth mirrored between my legs.

What the hell's going on? I haven't been dreaming and
drooling like a schoolgirl since I was...well, a schoolgirl.

I hadn't even had sex after graduation. Keeping up with
the rent and what few friends I had since college was a full time
job. I didn't have time for dating, much less stupid, irrational
lusts.

But hellfire was exactly what William Gaulle had given
me.

The bus ride back to my apartment block through the icy
city streets was one of the longest and most painful I'd ever
experienced. When I got home, I shed my clothes and went straight for
the bedroom, making a direct line for my dresser.

No shame. I was going straight for my long neglected
Battery Operated Boyfriend, and I was going to run it with William on
the brain.

I started up, enjoying the burn and coming fast. I saw
his hard, inked muscles in my head the entire time I had it shoved
deep, purring in my wet, hungry opening.

II: Making Progress

“
Put your hands up, baby. I'm gonna hit you hard.”

William gave me no more than a second to assume the
position I'd learned. My hands darted up near my face, one hand
flying out to intercept his gloved fist with my forearm.

I panted behind my face guard. My right wrist shook
beneath its padding.

William had relented about protection now that we were
getting down to some serious sparring action.

His punch landed on my forearm. Hard, masculine energy
vibrated through me as I absorbed it.

There was no pain, just force. It took me a second to
realize what had happened.

Holy shit. I actually stopped it? Your fist? Little
me?

I couldn't help but grin like a fool. William lowered
his wrist and laughed.

He threw up his own face protector and pulled me in
close with his gloved hands. His warm breath poured across my face,
steamy and tinged with cinnamon.

“
Wonderful move. You took it just like I taught
you. And you didn't let your fear paralyze you. That's what's really
important here.”

His eyes glowed like big, sparkling moons. If it weren't
for all this damned protection covering our bodies, I might've had a
chance to steal a kiss.

Or else he might've pushed me down, gotten between my
legs, and taken me like a hungry wolf.

Fuck. As if I need to imagine that for the hundredth
time! And certainly not here.

My private fantasies after a long day of work were one
thing. But letting them run wild here, standing next to him on his
padded floor, promised more danger than any punch or kick he meant to
throw in my direction.

“
Come on. I think you're ready to move onto
something else. Lose everything except the gloves,” he said.

I turned my head, my eyes questioning his confident
orders.

“
It's okay, Rosie. We fight on the circuit all the
time with nothing except these on.” He lifted his fists. “Don't
worry. I'm not gonna throw anything in your direction. I want you to
strike out at me instead. Punch, kick, whatever. You'll learn from
the way I block everything.”

“
Okay,” I muttered, raising one hand to my
head to throw off the face guard. It felt good to lose the stifling
helmet, especially with the imprecise heater in the old gym pumping
steady warmth into our room.

“
If you're lucky, I'll miss a few times. Then you
can get some back against the jackass who's been trying to hit you
all evening.” His lips peeled back and exposed those perfect
teeth.

I laughed. Oh, yes. Part of me would enjoy making his
muscles ripple with my punches.

But I really wanted to feel them without any
restrictions between us, and caress him with softer, hungrier
fingers.

I threw off the pads across my body, stripping
everything except my gloves. When I was down to my tank top and
shorts, William turned around, a halo gleaming on his forehead.

Sweat ran down both our necks. If he didn't look as much
a mess as I did, I would've been intensely self-conscious.

At least you're a beautiful mess, William. What I
wouldn't give to rake my fingers across your rivulets, to taste your
salty waters, your skin, all over my wandering tongue.

My blush deepened. I had to stop and shift in place,
fanning away the incessant heat in my core, the sticky desire that
made me want to open my legs for him, wet and ready.

“
Come on. Hit me with your best shot.” He
hopped a little in place, exaggerating a boxer's stereotypical
swagger for my benefit.

Okay, big boy. I'll give it my best.

I ran at him. I stopped just mere inches from his face,
pivoted on my heels, and popped my dominant hand out.

William swerved. He didn't even block me with my hand.
The unexpected miss sent me careening toward the ground.

I yipped with surprise, and braced for the padded
floor's shock. But something caught me in mid-air.

I looked up, staring into his bright eyes. His stars
danced with amusement, and was there something else mixed in?

“
Ground yourself, Rosie. Don't put everything into
your fists. Better that you get off a few punches half as powerful
without losing your grip. Remember, if you fall, there's a good
chance you'll fall right into your enemy's hands. You'll miss
critical seconds, and they can make all the difference.” He
spoke the last sentence more seriously.

I blinked dumbly. His words reminded me this wasn't a
game, and we weren't just doing this for exercise.

I nodded solemnly and climbed back on my feet.
Excitement rippled through me as his broad hand pressed against the
small of my back, brushing my hips as I rose.

God! Maybe if I impress him enough, he'll throw those
arms around me. Hard, rugged, and relentless.

I wanted to absorb him.
Him,
and not just his
punches.

But right now, I had to give him one hell of a shock. I
narrowed my eyes until William's handsome body was a darker blur, a
fantasy shape just a little like my strange attacker in the alley.

I ran forward, fists flying. He caught my left arm with
his forearm. The shock rolled through me, even though I was wearing
my gloves.

Until we'd started sparring, I never imagined how much
power the human body had packed in its meager frame. Modern men and
women are taught to bottle up their physical strength, to bury it in
civilized non-violence.

Not this man. He reveled in the primal forces he
unleashed, tamed, and directed to his advantage – the very same
animal spirit he'd unchained in me.

I growled, shrill and jagged, ripping my blunted glove
away from his hand and sending the other fist flying.

Damn! Another block!

Punch after punch came. I inched my way forward, just
like he'd taught me, leaving him less room to maneuver.

His advantage was strength. Mine was speed,
maneuverability.

When William blocked my last left hook, I swung my right
arm lower, plowing up into his stomach. He grunted and his hard
muscle twitched as it collided with my sleek glove.

I clenched my teeth, admiring the unexpected hit I'd
landed, right on target. William stepped back, sucking in a heavy
breath, flexing his arms.

My savage face
softened. I'd
hit
him,
and pretty hard too. The gloves didn't always dampen everything,
especially on bare skin.

“
Jesus! William, are you okay?” I rushed
forward, lowering my arms for an embrace.

I didn't think about what I was doing. I threw myself at
him, smoothing the spot on his flank where I'd just hit him.

He looked at me and broke into a wide grin. “That
was awesome! Actually felt it jiggle in my ribs, Rosie. You hit me,
and you didn't hold back. That's the way you need to fight.”

My lips pursed with concern. He hadn't said anything
about being okay, but then I realized how stupid the question was.

This was a man who'd sparred for more than half his
life, and fought on the underground circuit for the last decade. He
was a little older than me and a hell of a lot wiser when it came to
the body's limits.

Even if I hurt you, I doubt you'd show it. You're too
good for that, aren't you?

“
I'm fine,” he said at last. “I've
suffered a lot more than a few punches for my progress. And I'm
always willing to suffer a little more to watch strength rise.
Strength, power, and confidence.”

A new drop of sweat broke along my temple. William's
eyes followed it as it rolled down my face, hot and heavy like a
tear, caressing my flesh the same way I wanted his fingers to.

Slowly, he pulled on his gloves. One came off, and then
the other. William moved his bare fingers to my face, brushing back
my moist hair, tenderly rolling along my neck in soft, exploratory
strokes.

I shouldn't be touching a client like this,
his face told me. But my expression tightened, growing firm and
hungry, signaling me to
do it!