No Safeword: Matte - Happily Ever After (Safewords) (40 page)

“And I texted you last night to let you know we were fine, and we’d be home today,” Ethan said.

“Do you want to win, or get your ass handed to you?”

Sam splashed Jerrod and said, “He wants to win, same as me, but we needed time to reconnect before we head into these last two weeks.”

Miguel smiled at her words and said, “Ah, two weeks.” Sam realized, too late, that she’d once told him Ethan stayed celibate during the final couple of weeks of training.

He looked to Jerrod and said, “We’ll get it out of their asses. Ethan’s off work from here on out, and Sam only has court two days, and will be home the rest of the time. Let the lovebirds have their swim.”

He pulled his shirt off, tossed it on a chair, and did a huge cannonball into the pool, soaking everyone.

As they were working out in the downstairs gym on Tuesday, Miguel told Sam, “Dave signed Tara on again; she’ll arrive in Vegas the Friday before the fight.”

This seemed to remind Jerrod of something, and he looked at Ethan and said, “Oh! Dave also hammered out the contract with…”

He looked at Sam as if he’d just screwed up, then looked at Ethan apologetically.

Sam smiled at her husband and asked, “Something you haven’t told me?”

Miguel turned and left the room, and Ethan glared at Jerrod.

No one said anything, and Sam said, “Close the door on your way out, Jerrod.”

Ethan spoke up. “Before you go, can I at least know what Dave said?”

“It’s all worked out.”

Ethan waved him away, and Jerrod nodded and left with a final apologetic look.

“What have you done?”

“You’re going to hate having a stranger follow you around to keep you safe.”

“Yes.” She was already dreading it, but had tried to block it from her mind since there was nothing she could do about it.

“I asked Dave to look into hiring Drake Security, and seeing if Tyler can be assigned to you.”

“Oh, that’s…why would you feel you had to keep that from me? It’s sweet.” And incredibly thoughtful.

“Because I didn’t know if we could make it work, and didn’t want to get your hopes up.”

“But, apparently it’s all worked out?’

Ethan smiled. “Sounds like it.”

She looked at the door and back to Ethan. “Well, while the doors are locked and they’ve likely run for the hills…we could take advantage of the time alone.”

Ethan shook his head. “No more sex until after our fights.”

“But you’re tempted.”

He grabbed the chin up bar, lifted his legs into a pike position, and pulled himself up with his arms.

Sam wasn’t ready to give up. “I should be spanked for tempting you.”

“I’m not putting any more marks on you until after the fight. You get enough from Miguel, Jerrod, and me during training.”

Sam looked at the door again, shifted her gave back to Ethan, and pulled her shorts and underwear off. She dropped to her knees on the mat, and rolled to her back with her legs spread.

Ignoring Ethan, she closed her eyes and ran her hand down her stomach, to her mound, and teased herself a few minutes before sinking two fingers inside with a groan. God, she needed release.

She felt movement on the mat and opened her eyes to Ethan standing over her, looking down.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he asked.

“Release may be a bad thing for your training schedule, but denial doesn’t work for me. I get it if you need to refrain, but I need to come.”

He sighed and dropped to his knees. “I’ll help you this time, but I’m going to ask you to masturbate without me knowing about it until after the fight. Okay?”

Sam stopped, suddenly mortified and self-conscious. “You don’t have to help me. And I’m sorry for trying to push you. I’ll…I’ll go upstairs and finish myself off.”

He shook his head and pulled her legs farther apart. “No. You’ll lay back and come when I tell you, and not before.”

Her heart sped as she pulled her hand away and lifted both above her head, showing him she’d submit. “Yes, Master.”

He started with three fingers, and she gasped at the stretch and friction. She was close to coming when he altered his angle and stroked her g-spot, and just as she was about to beg, he ordered her to come.

He kept her going a long time, but when he finally let her down from the peak he merely patted the inside of her leg and went back to the bar and began a series of upside down crunches.

When she could breathe again, she looked towards him and said, “Thank you, and I’m sorry.”

“We have different needs during training,” he said without stopping his crunches. “You’re free to give yourself as many orgasms as you want between now and the fights, just don’t let anyone else give you any without talking to me.”

“You have to know I’d never—”

“Yes,” he interrupted. “I know you wouldn’t without my saying it’s okay, which is why I’m telling you to let me know if you need more than you can give yourself, so I can work something out.”

“I don’t want anyone but you.”

“Happy to hear it. You’ll still let me know.” He stopped long enough to glare at her as he hung upside down. “It’s an order, Samantha. Not a suggestion.”

She sighed. “Okay. I’ll let you know.” He didn’t look away from her until she added, “Sir.”

He nodded and went back to his crunches. “Why don’t you put your clothes back on and let the guys know it’s safe to return.”

* * * *

Sam had arranged to be gone from work for most of the final two weeks, but needed to be in court two days.

Miguel followed her to the courthouse to watch her in action at work, which actually made Sam feel better about being there without a gun, which was silly since he didn’t have one, either.

She’d long ago realized the panic she felt every time she stepped out of the courthouse door on a sunny day wasn’t rooted in logic, so she just went with it.

After all, she felt no panic when it was raining, and bullets travelled just as fast in the rain as the sun.

When she stepped outside the courtroom into the beautiful atrium, she was taken aback by a large man who began shouting at her about “ruining fighting”.

“Bitches like you spoil it for everyone. We don’t want to see pussies fighting!”

Luckily, one of the bailiffs came to her rescue and interceded before she needed to do anything.

She’d walked out with her client, but Miguel had come to her when the man began shouting, close enough he could intercede, but not so close he escalated the situation. Her opinion of him went up, and she made a mental note to tell him later.

“I apologize,” she said to her client. “Are you okay?”

He laughed and brushed it off. “No problem. I loved watching you kick Clemente’s ass, and look forward to seeing you fight Karen Johansen.” His face glowed with happiness as he added, “And I love you for convincing the judge my son needs the stability I can provide.”

Sam nodded. “We’re both trusting you’ll be fair to your ex. I know she’s flighty and undependable, but she’s his mom and your son needs her in his life, too.”

“I know. I’m glad they have a good relationship, but he needs someone to stay on him about school, and she didn’t even make him go unless he wanted to.”

Miguel stood to the side until Sam split with her client, and he fell in beside her. “I’ve had my fair share of men just walk up to me and swing with no warning.” He shook his head. “As well-known fighters, lots of people will want a go at you and Ethan. If they can say they took one of you out, they get huge bragging rights. Never mind you were just walking to dinner and not expecting a punch to the face by the person strolling nonchalantly by from the other direction.”

Sam looked at him in question and he said, “Just wanted you to know it isn’t only the women who have to deal with crazies. The men do, too.”

“Ethan hasn’t. Or, if he has, he hasn’t told me about it.”

“Just wait until he holds the title. It may not happen as often with him because he’s so damned scary looking, but it’s bound to happen at least once.”

Sam sighed and changed the subject. “Thanks for the way you handled yourself, by the way. You inserted yourself close enough to help if needed, but not so close you escalated the situation. I’m impressed.”

He looked embarrassed, as if he didn’t know how to respond, so she said, “I have about thirty minutes to an hour of paperwork before I’m yours to torture again. Do you want to get something to eat while you wait? Or you can go on back to the house and I’ll meet you there?”

He considered it and said, “If I went to the house I’d just go online while I waited for you, and I can do that on my cellphone from your office, if you don’t mind my hanging out. Then we can ride our bikes back to the house together, and maybe make a few uphill detours on the way.”

Sam took a breath and prepared to step from the cool courthouse to the baking heat outside, and almost growled as she saw a camera crew on the sidewalk. She didn’t know for sure they were there for her, but they’d situated themselves right where she’d need to walk to get back to her office.

“If I had to guess, I’d say they want the attorney version of you on camera.” Miguel smiled. “And you
are
hot, with your smart looking suit and your hair up all prim and proper. And don’t get me started on those
delicious
heels.”

This was the Miguel who’d pissed her off so frequently while Ethan was training, and she realized it was his public face. She glared at him, then smiled. “I think I’m figuring you out.”

She stepped sideways out of the flow of traffic and scanned the media until she recognized someone. “Yeah, looks like they’re here for me. The big dude, isn’t he a sports reporter?”

Miguel nodded and she turned to go back inside, but he stopped her. “They aren’t here to attack you. Media attention is
good
. Ethan had a talk with me this morning and explained you’re a little jumpy when you leave the courthouse, and why, and I realize this’ll be hard, but just chill out and talk to them. Okay?”

Sam took a breath, realized he was right, and nodded.

“Another breath. Find your center.”

She smiled. “I’m good. Come on.”

Most of the questions were easy —
What are you doing to prepare for the fight? When will you leave for Vegas? Why is your coach with you in court?

But, when someone asked, “Will your husband threaten Karen Johansen like he did Jose Clemente?” she saw red.

Miguel stepped forward and said, “Ethan Levi recanted his statement about Clemente, and as far as I know, he will once again trust the league to be sure it’s a clean fight.”

Sam touched Miguel’s arm and he stepped back. She looked into the cameras and said, “Karen has always fought clean and has given no indication she’ll treat this fight any different. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some paperwork to prepare and file.”

* * * *

Training grew more intense each day until it was finally time for them to leave for Vegas.

They were making use of every moment of their time before they left, so Miguel was sitting in the chair in her room as she went in and out of her closet, piling the things on the bed she intended to pack.

“We’ll continue to train once we arrive, as we did before,” Miguel told her, “but with the media and other distractions it’ll just be a matter of keeping what you’ve gained and not acquiring new skills or reflexes.”

“Yeah, I remember how it was the last time. Do you think Dave will want to send us out on dates again, for media attention? Should I pack evening wear?”

“Maybe. Jerrod and I
might
decide the two of you need a night off. Especially the final couple of nights.”

“How weird has this been? The two of you working together and training us at the same time?”

He shook his head. “I’m not sure it would work with any other couple, but the two of you are solid enough, and driven enough, it’s been a great experience.”

“I’m not sure it would’ve worked with two prima donna coaches, either. The two of you have worked together, as a team. Jerrod has helped me almost as much as you, and I think you’ve helped Ethan a great deal as well.”

Her coach smiled. “It almost feels like cheating. You’re cross-training, in a way. I’ve prepared you for your weight class, but you know how to fight the other, also. You practically slaughtered Clemente. If Karen Johansen hasn’t prepared for your specific skillset she’ll be in a world of hurt, too.”

Sam nodded, but didn’t point out Karen was smart and had likely prepared well. She only asked, “And Ethan?”

“Same thing. He has more speed and agility than any other heavyweight I’ve seen at this level, but he also has raw punching power and strength. I believe there’s every chance we’re about to see a husband and wife both holding titles at the same time.”

Miguel followed her into her closet when she went in and stayed a while. She was looking through her evening clothes, deciding what might make the most feminine impact, when Miguel said, “What’s this?”

She turned as he straightened, standing near her work clothes with the stainless cane in his hand. If it was just a steel wand she could have made something up, but the black handle kind of gave it away.

“Looks like a steel rod with a handle.”

“No shit. Why’s it in your closet?”

“None of your business. Please put it back where you found it.”

“Is this a joke thing, or does Ethan use it on you?”

Sam ignored him and went back to looking through her dressy clothes.

She pulled out the custom dress Jacob had made her. “Is this too skimpy?”