FIGHTER: An MMA Romance Novel (9 page)

"
M
r. Holland would like
you to report to his office this afternoon after one."

Jax's hand trembled as he held his cellphone to his ear. What he heard was a voice mail, but the impact was the same as if he'd answered it live. Dripping with sweat, hot and sore, he listened to Kade's personal assistant. He just finished his first workout of the day. Digging through his locker for his shower flip-flops, Jax had happened to check his phone and find the message.
If Kade wanted to talk to him, it had to be something big.

When the message ended, Jax put the phone away and stripped down to shower. Drained as his workout left him, the call gave him a second wind. He showered down quick and collected his things. The rest of the day moved slow, and when lunch finally hit, Jax ended training early to head to the UFL's head office to meet with the man who was about to launch his career.

UFL headquarters occupied one of Las Vegas' taller office buildings. Thighs aching from his morning's workout, Jax took the elevator up to the twelfth floor. At half past one, he hadn't kept Kade waiting long. If the buses lined up better, Jax would’ve been there for one o'clock sharp. As it was, he was glad he arrived when he did.

"Mr. McCarthy," Kade’s secretary said with a smile. "Mr. Holland is expecting you. Let me tell him you've arrived."

"Thanks."

The placard on her desk said Karen Lemieux. Long red hair fell down her shoulders, skin as pale as porcelain. There was something ethereal about the woman that Jax found attractive, but there was no connection between them. What he felt for Nicole was unlike anything else. The thought soured his mood somewhat — Jax had been doing his best to forget about Nicole, and what he'd done with her. Emotionless sex wasn't like him, nor was sharing a woman like an object. If he could change the past, he never would’ve agreed to climb in bed with her and Kade Holland.

Karen placed a call to Kade, and when she set the phone back in its cradle, she gestured towards the door with a sweeping motion.

"He's ready to see you, Mr. McCarthy. Please go in."

Jax obliged. He opened the door at the back of the foyer to reveal Kade's personal office. The man sat behind his desk, and Jax approached.
Did he have a fight lined up? A sponsorship?
The door shut behind him.

"Welcome to the head office," Kade announced with cool glee. The billionaire sat in his office chair, reclined. Both his elbows on the arm rests, his hands folded together over his flat stomach. Jax continued to stand before his desk, not wanting to botch the encounter by being rude. He would only sit when he was invited to.

"Thank you, Mr. Holland, sir," Jax replied with a sharp bob of his head. The nerves he felt while in the ring were nothing compared to this.
Was he looking at bonus pay? A title fight?
The possibilities felt endless, but in every case, they felt positive. When Kade didn’t continue, Jax pushed him for more information. "To what do I owe the pleasure of being here today?"

"What do you think it might be?" Kade asked with a smirk. "Tell me what's churning in that mind of yours, Mr. McCarthy. I want to know what your heart's set on."

"A fight, sir. I want to get in the ring with a high profile fighter, prove what I'm made of, even if it's a struggle. Is that it? Is that why I’m here?" Jax was hopeful.

It felt awkward addressing a man he'd seen naked, and who'd seen him naked, as 'sir'. But he pushed the discomfort aside. After they'd both had sex with Nicole, at the same time, then one after another, Jax felt he should be able to call Kade by his first name. Two men didn't share an experience like that without coming out of it with a friendship, no matter how weak the foundation of that friendship was. Still, Kade hadn't corrected him, and Jax refused to push his luck.

"Interesting." Kade twisted his chair back and forth in a slow, pensive way. "You’ve made an impact on UFL fans. I guess a request like that isn't outlandish."

Why was Kade toying with him? Jax frowned for a moment. From the cryptic way he spoke, it didn't sound like a high profile fight was in Jax's future.

"I'm sorry for being so uh, outright, but... Can you just tell me why I'm here? I don't understand what you're getting at, if you're trying to be subtle, I’m not getting it. Sorry."

Kade shook his head, his smirk broadening as he fought back laughter. When at last he composed himself, he looked up and caught Jax's eye.

"Right. Right, I suppose I should get right to the point. Foreplay isn't one of your strengths, after all."

The positivity Jax felt walking into the office vanished.
How had he missed the snark in Kade's tone?
The man was making fun of him, but not like any of the UFL fighters did. T
his wasn't in good fun. Kade was insulting him.

"Uh, well, I'm sorry, sir. I don't understand..."

"Don't think, Mr. McCarthy, it isn’t your strong suit." Kade answered. "What I need you to do isn't to think, it's to fuck. Nicole is a wild bitch, but I've never seen her as desperate for cock as she was Friday night. I want you to drive her wild with me all over again. A girl like that needs to be bred hard, and often. You can join me from time to time in order to keep her on her toes."

There was a selfish twist in how Kade spoke about Nicole that Jax didn't like. The threesome had been a mistake made under the influence, and as much fun as his drunk-self had had, Jax wasn't looking for a repeat. It wasn't like him to do something like that. Women weren't sex toys, and Jax wished he could tell Nicole how he really felt.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Holland, I can't do that. I shouldn't have done it the first time, either. I was a little drunk. I'm not that kind of guy."

"Oh, come on. Every guy is
that
kind of guy, McCarthy. Just imagine how surprised Nicole will be when I bring her to bed and you’re already naked under the sheets, waiting?"

"Wait, you mean she doesn't know you're asking me about this?" Kade Holland may have been the UFL's head promoter, but he was treading on thin ice.
Nicole wasn't a sex doll.
"It's her body. Shouldn't she be the one to—"

"According to you, she
belongs
to me," Kade interrupted. "If I want to share
my
piece of ass, I'll share it. Fuck her with me and drive the slut wild, McCarthy. You know she'll love it."

Jax's hands balled into fists at his side and his eyes narrowed into slits of disgust.
How could Nicole stay with him when the guy was obviously pond scum?
She deserved better.

"You're disgusting," he bit back.

"How am I disgusting?" Kade countered. "Nicole isn't my wife. Fuck, she’s nothing. Just my piece of ass. A fine piece of ass, mind you, and a fun fuck, but nothing more. Let’s put her to good use. You shouldn't feel bad about filling up the little cum dumpster, and you have my word I won't tell anyone you're fucking a slut."

"Don't talk about her like that!" Jax hissed. He slammed his fist down on Kade's desk. Several pens clattered, but Kade was unfazed, reclined comfortably in his chair. "Nicole deserves your fucking respect! I'm not going to fuck her with you ever again, Kade. I'm not going to degrade her like you do. If that's all you wanted me here for, I'm out of here."

From the way Kade's eyes narrowed and his mouth set, Jax knew he was pissed. He didn't give a shit. If that was really how Kade felt about Nicole, he could go to hell. No one deserved to be treated like that,
especially not Nicole.

"Then go," Kade uttered, words pure frost. Jax stormed out of the office and across the foyer. Karen looked up from her desk as he made tracks for the door.

"I take it your business is concluded, Mr. McCarthy?" she asked. As shaken as he was with rage, Jax could hardly muster a reply.

"Yeah," he said at last. "I'm done."

No woman deserved to be treated like Kade just treated Nicole.
Why couldn’t she see that she was worth more than that?
Jax slammed the door closed and took the stairs down to the ground floor to burn off his steam. It was true that he didn’t know her very well. But he wanted to. Every time they'd talked she'd been sweet, approachable, funny. It wasn't only her body that had made him feel damn good. Burning up inside, Jax pushed through the stairwell door at the ground floor and hit the streets, destined for the gym.

It was time to work this out of his system. He'd lose himself in cardio. Nicole was her own person, and she'd decide when she'd had enough of Kade's asshole ways. Until then, Jax would get stronger and faster. One day, when Nicole called it quits, he'd be there to protect her and the reputation Kade was working so hard to ruin. He wouldn't get away with it forever, and Jax was determined to be the one to put him in his place when all was said and done.

"
M
s. Washington
, what’s the earliest you can meet me in my office?"

The door had slammed shut from Jax's little tantrum when Kade lifted his cell phone to his ear, number already dialed. The meeting didn’t go as planned, and it left a sour taste in his mouth. Luckily, he already had a plan that would make him forget all about Jax and his pathetic high horse.

"Oh hello, Mr. Holland," Nicole's tone was upbeat; Friday night had done her good. Kade intended to make it even better. "I’m just getting back in from lunch, I can be there in half an hour, if that works?"

Kade mentally swept his schedule for that afternoon. Half an hour gave him time enough to cancel his upcoming appointment. It worked out well enough.

"That sounds perfect. I’ll see you soon."

He hung up before Nicole could start gushing or get sentimental with him. There were other matters to tend to, and he wanted to make sure he had them all in line before Nicole showed up.

Pushing down the button of the intercom system that linked him to his personal assistant, Kade leaned towards the built-in microphone. "Karen, are you listening?"

"Yes, Mr. Holland," she replied. Karen was something else. Playful. Clever. It was hard to resist her.

"I need you to cancel my two-fifteen. After you cancel that, I need you to pencil in someone else."

"And who should I pencil in, Mr. Holland?" Karen asked. A door separated them, but even the short distance made it all the more thrilling. Kade couldn't hold back the smirk that spread his lips.

"You," he replied. The girlish laughter was all he needed to hear to know she was more than happy to oblige.

"And what is the nature of this meeting?" Karen asked.

"Personal," he replied. "I think it's about time we got together to perform an employee assessment. Don't you agree?"

Another twittering laugh. Kade couldn’t help but smirk back.

"I'd be delighted, Mr. Holland. I'll cancel the appointment immediately and slot myself in." Her flirtation curled his desire inside him, like a ribbon run across the blades of some scissors.

"Please do. I'll talk to you soon."

Life didn't get much better than this.

After fifteen minutes, the door to his office opened and Karen stepped in. Kade's personal assistant had served him well over the years, and as long as she maintained her smoking body and always came to work looking like a model, Kade looked forward to many more years of her service. Like any other day, today she didn’t disappoint. The gray short skirt and blouse combo she wore was tongue-in-cheek sexy secretary. It was as though she'd known he'd want to invite her in.

"As stunning as always, Karen," he praised her. Karen winked and approached his desk with a sway in her hips.

"Thank you, Mr. Holland. Now how did you want this employee assessment to proceed?"

"Well, I suppose I'm interested in finding out how far you'll go to please the man who pays your salary… again."

There was no need for petty games between them. Karen was well trained, there was no need to seduce her. In fact, the brash statement saw the redhead smiling. She placed both her palms on his desk and leaned forward, exposing the curve of her ample breasts.

"I think you'll find me prepared to give you anything you want," she purred back.

The half hour was rapidly approaching. Kade wasted no more time, everything had to be perfect for when Nicole arrived.

"Come sit that juicy ass of yours on my lap. Come show me just how much you appreciate my money."

The delightful curl of Karen's Cheshire smile sent static-like arousal through his groin. Kade's personal assistant wove around the desk and settled down onto his lap. The warmth of her ass embraced him, and he longed to take advantage of it.

"I want you to act out all the slutty desires you keep pent inside,” he instructed. “I'm going to need you at your naughtiest today, do you understand?"

"Perfectly, sir," Karen cooed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. The tip of her nose ran across his cheek. She could always drive Kade wild. Today was no exception.

"I want you out of that skirt," he rumbled, arousal piquing. "Out of that skirt, out of that blouse. I want to feel all of your soft skin."

Karen laughed, easy and free. With a wink and a wiggle of her hips, she began to strip for him. Soon enough, Kade's private assistant was left in nothing more than her bra and panties. Pale skin and a perfect body settled back atop him, and Karen kissed his cheek with girlish affection. The stage was set. Kade couldn't have asked for a better scene.

When the knock at the door he'd been waiting for followed, Kade felt alive with the possibilities.

"Come in."

The door creaked open, and Nicole squeezed her way through. When she saw the two seated behind the desk, Karen with her arms around Kade's neck, she stopped in her tracks. Kade pulled her back into reality.

"Ms. Washington, you're just in time for your surprise."

Tension squared Nicole's shoulders, her lips set in a tight line. No amount of pressure could flatten those luscious pillows though. Kade watched them purse from where he sat at the desk, grinning back at her.

"I should go," Nicole insisted, words choked. One of her hands clutched at the doorframe as though she were afraid it might detach from the building. The shock was cute, but Kade didn't consider it genuine.
A slut as hungry for cock as she was couldn't be this rattled by a little skin and a little touching. Hell, Karen was still in her panties. If Nicole was a few minutes later, she would’ve had a full view.
Nicole's display was just a cry for attention, and Kade was willing to give it to her.

"You'll stay," he insisted. "Come in and close the door, and I'll give you your surprise."

"It can wait until later, I'm sure. I'll come back at a better time," Nicole insisted, a little frantic. The same woman that sucked his cock while Jax took her from behind was squeamish about seeing another woman? How amusing. Kade shifted Karen's weight on his lap and ran a hand down her side plunging his hand in her panties and his fingers into her wet pussy.

"If you leave this office, then you can forget about crawling back later," Kade warned. Although the words were sharp, they were also edged with humor. The situation was hilarious, but he didn't want to risk losing Nicole by laughing in her face. The threat worked. Nicole stepped into the office and closed the door behind her.

"I'm here," she said. Karen made a show of kissing along Kade's jaw, doe-eyed and sensual. The fingers that explored her pussy were coated in her juices. What a vixen. "What do you want?"

"Obviously it's not about business," Kade assured her. "This is all about pleasure. Ever since the party, I've been doing a lot of thinking.” Karen purred as he thrust his fingers inside her deeper. “I saw how much you loved fucking two men, and I thought to myself, a girl like you must be up for anything."

Karen hooked her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer, rocking her hips to meet his thrusting fingers. The goddess of a personal assistant kissed him on the neck and cooed.

"And so here it is — your surprise." One arm wrapped around Karen, the other opened as to reveal the grand prize. "I figured you'd like to help another girl fuck me. Maybe get your pussy eaten by her while I fuck your tight little ass. Why don't you come over here and introduce yourself to Karen?"

Nicole's lips turned down in disgust. "I'm not a whore, Kade. Not yours or anyone else's. Why are you doing this to me? I thought you cared about me."

Cared,
that was rich. Kade laughed, the sound filling the room. Karen lifted her head from the crook of his neck to grin at Nicole as well, but Kade had already had enough of her.

Without warning he pushed her from his lap and forced her to kneel at his feet. A slut as well trained as she was didn't need verbal commands to do what she did best. Karen's slender fingers freed the button of Kade's pants and slid down his zipper.

"Cared about you?" Kade asked. "What the fuck do you think we have, Nicole? A relationship? Did you honestly think that I was going to fall in love with someone like you? Like you’re so special? Come on, you knew as well as I did that you’re here for fun. This isn't some Jane Austen novel."

Just short of the doorway, Nicole's gaze fell. The words had cut her deep, Kade could tell, but he found joy in the fact. There was no need to sympathize with a whore.

"Listen, you can keep your job. I'm not going to dangle money over your head like a donkey chasing a carrot; just because you realized you're nothing more than a slut doesn't change anything."

She was walking away now, repelled by his seething vitriol. Between his knees, Karen pulled down the zipper and wrested the underwear beneath aside so she could suck his cock. One day, not now, but soon, Nicole would give in to him as well and serve him just as mindlessly. Kade looked forward to it.

"You're not keeper material," he called out to her as she pulled the door open. "You're just another used up fuck and chuck piece of meat. When you accept that and choose to embrace it, you know where to find me. Until then, well, good luck finding that happy ending that doesn't exist."

The door slammed behind her, leaving him alone with Karen. Kade rolled his eyes skywards at the theatrics, clucked his tongue, and folded his arms behind his head as pleasure washed over him.

Nicole would come back. They always did. Once a low class slut, always a low class slut. Besides death and taxes, it was a fact of life Kade embraced and lived by.
No woman could resist his charm — and if not his charm, his riches — for long.

When the slut at his feet deep throated his cock, pleasure clouded his mind, and he let himself go. There was no point in worrying about the future. For now, he lost himself in the present. The skillful glide of Karen's soft lips whisked him away.