Moody: A Bad Boy Sports Romance Page 5

  “I’m only a few blocks from here.”

  “Oh.”

  “You going to invite me in?” Because I’m sure as hell not leaving until I find out who hurt her, and why she’s not wearing her engagement ring.

  “That’s not a good idea.”

  “Because you have a fiancé?”

  “Yes. No.” She closes her eyes and lets out a small sigh. “Because you’re you.”

  I can’t help but smile.

  “You’ve got a head injury. Isn’t there some rule about not being alone?”

  “It’s just a small cut. And I think I’m safer alone than with you.”

  “You wound me.” I clutch my chest over my heart and she laughs, despite how hard she tries not to.

  She bites down on her lush bottom lip, and it takes all my strength not to lean in and kiss her.

  “One drink,” she says, opening the door.

  “Are you going to tell me what really happened?” I ask, when she hands me a beer.

  “I fell.” She leans against the counter, watching me.

  “And you’re not wearing your engagement ring because?” I move towards her, breaching the distance.

  She winces. “You noticed that.”

  “Did he hurt you?” It takes all my strength not to growl out the words.

  “No.” She glances down at her beer bottle and her cheeks color. “I found him…with another woman.”

  “Shit, Izzy.” Fucking asshole. But then the guy always had a reputation of being a two-timing prick.

  “Don’t act like you’re sorry.”

  “No, I’m not. But I hate that he hurt you.” I touch her cheek with my knuckles, then push her hair back from her forehead. “And your eye?”

  “I tripped when I was running out of his house.” She holds up her hands, exposing her scraped palms.

  I breathe out heavily. He may not have put his hands on her, but I can’t shake the urge to drive over to his place and beat the shit out of the bastard.

  Sure, he did me a favor by fucking up. But I still hate seeing her hurt.

  I run the pad of my thumb gently across the bruise that’s starting to darken around her eye.

  “I can’t do this.” She watches me warily.

  “Do what?”

  “You,” she bites out, throwing her hands up. “I can’t do you.”

  Her cheeks pink the moment she says the words.

  I have to bite my tongue to hold back the smile pulling at my lips.

  “You know what I mean.” Her breath comes out in an exasperated huff. “I can’t think when you’re so close.”

  “Because you want me.”

  “Yes.”

  My brows raise at her admission. “So you want me, but you can’t do me.”

  She crosses her arms over her chest and her brows draw down in an adorable frown. “I’m being serious.”

  “I know.” If I only wanted sex, I’d keep pushing, and I have no doubt she’d cave. Her body practically vibrates under my touch, and I can see the need in her eyes. But if I want more than just one night, I’m going to have to be patient. “Let me be your friend. Nothing more.” I lean my hip against the counter, crossing my arms over my chest, grinning. “At least for tonight. Tomorrow all bets are off.”

  I can see the uncertainty in her eyes.

  “Come on,” I grab her hand and pull her towards the couch. I’m probably pushing my luck, but I don’t want to leave her, and she looks like she’s about two breaths away from kicking me out.

  I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt so desperate to be with a woman, when I knew the outcome wouldn’t be sex. Maybe never.

  “We can put on a movie. If you want to talk, I’ll listen.”

  I sit down, pulling her beside me, and feel her tremble.

  The original Planet of the Apes is on. “I love this movie.”

  “Really?” Her brows rise.

  “What? It’s a classic. Have you seen it?”

  “No.”

  “Then we have to watch it.” I rest my arm over the back of the couch, barely touching her, but still close enough to feel the warmth of her body against my thigh.

  Twenty minutes in, Izzy is laughing hysterically. “This is really terrible.”

  “But good terrible, right?”

  “Yeah.” She gives me a smile that brightens up her whole face.

  “God, you’re beautiful.”

  She sucks in a deep breath, and her eyes flick to mine, her whole face softening.

  I know I promised I wouldn’t touch her. But hell.

  Tangling my fingers in her hair, I gently pull her head back and cover her lips with my own, finding the fiery, soul shattering heat I’ve been missing for the past four years. And damn if the wait wasn’t worth it.

  She strains towards me, and I hear her soft whimper of pleasure as my tongue parts her softs lips.

  Primal hunger replacing the careful seduction I’d intended.

  She makes me feel things I never thought possible. Emotions I have no right to feel.

  My blood races at the sheer responsiveness I feel radiating from her.

  One kiss and I don’t know how I’ve stayed away all these years.

  Her fingers grip my biceps and she melts into me, moaning into my mouth. God…that moan. Memories of our one night together flood into my brain with absolute clarity. The sound of her little mewls of pleasure are permanently branded into my skull. There’s never been a more delicious sound.

  “Izzy,” I pull my lips from hers and cup her face. Blue eyes stare back at me, wild and a little unsure. It’s the uncertainty I see that makes me stop. “I said I’d be a gentleman. And when I have you again, it’s not going to be because you need payback sex.”

  “That’s not what–”

  “Trust me, sweetheart. You’d regret it. And I don’t want any more regrets between us.” I place a gentle kiss on the frown line between her brow, then tap her nose. “Now watch the movie.”

  I don’t let her move away when she tries to. Instead, I pull her back against my chest, and wrap my arms around her small frame. My cock is straining against my jeans, and I’m so hard it hurts, but I don’t care. This is perfect.

  “I’ve missed this,” she says softly, then she quickly adds, “Hanging out, I mean.”

  “Yeah.” I’d almost forgotten how easy it was to be with her. No forced conversations – just us.

  A sad smile parts her lips, and she looks up at me like she’s about to say something. Then she blinks and looks back at the television, emotions once again guarded.

  Something deep in my chest falters, because I know I put that wall there.

  She yawns and her lids grow heavy. I should let her sleep, but I can’t bring myself to leave, at least not until she asks me to.

  By the time the credits roll, she’s passed out, and there’s no way in hell I’m moving. Instead, I use the remote to turn the television off, then shift slightly so that she’s able to stretch out fully, her head resting on my chest.

  The warmth and weight of her body on mine is the best thing I’ve felt in years. And I’m not about to let it slip away again.

  Chapter 11

  Izzy

  Back stiff, I yawn, stretch…then freeze.

  Oh. My. God.

  My head is in Moody’s lap, and I can feel the hard length of his erection digging into my cheek.

  A feminine cough startles me.

  Kate is standing above me, holding two coffees and looking amused.

  Slowly, I crawl off the still sleeping giant, motioning Kate into the kitchen. She complies, but not without an appreciative look in Moody’s direction. Without any sound, she mouths the word, “wow.”

  A quick glance over my shoulder, and I agree with her assessment.

  God, if the man isn’t the embodiment of masculinity.

  He’s stretched out on the couch, one leg hanging off, an arm draped over his eyes. What makes me swallow hard is the impressive morning wood he�
��s sporting, visible even through his denim jeans.

  “And to think I was worried about you when you didn’t answer your cell. Good job, sweet cheeks,” Kate whispers, handing me one of the paper cups filled with a strong brew from the shop below my apartment.

  “It wasn’t like that. We just…watched a movie.”

  She shakes her head, chuckling, then her eyes go wide and her grin turns into a grimace. Two steps towards me, she brushes my hair away from my face. “What happened?”

  Tentatively, I touch my eye. “Jason.”

  “He did that to you?” she hisses.

  “No. I found him in bed with another woman. I was just trying to get away from him and I tripped.” The words come out almost stoic, as if I’m almost apathetic to the situation. Maybe I am.

  “Bastard.”

  “Yeah.” I take a sip of my coffee. “He really is. I was going to call you last night, but I ran into Moody, and then he came over…”

  Kate doesn’t say anything, just looks at me with a curious expression.

  “What?” I sigh, seeing the humor in her eyes. “Just spit it out.”

  “I’m proud of you.” She glances over my shoulder to where Moody is still sleeping, then winks.

  “I told you–”

  “Okay. You didn’t have sex. But him being here is something.”

  “It’s nothing. I went to Charlie’s last night to look for Griffin. I had a few drinks and he drove me home.”

  “Then spent the night on your couch.” Her lips turned up in an annoying smirk. “I’ll get out of your hair before sleeping beauty wakes up.”

  “Sleeping beauty?” Moody’s raspy voice makes every cell in my body start to hum.

  I wince and turn around as Moody saunters into the kitchen, rubbing a hand over the dark scruff on his jaw, and stretching. A slow easy grin spreads across his face when he looks at me.

  “Is that coffee?” He leans against the counter a few inches from me. Gaze never leaving mine, he reaches for the cup, taking a deep sip before handing it back to me. “Good morning, Beautiful.”

  Kate sighs audibly and I roll my eyes.

  “I have to get ready for work,” I say, unable to look at either of them directly.

  “What time is your shift done?”

  “Late.” I glance down at the floor.

  “And tomorrow?” His voice is soft as his fingers slip under my chin and gently force my chin up, so I’m forced to look at him.

  I can feel Kate watching us with amusement. I wrap my arms around myself because I need the physical barrier. I hate that my body’s natural inclination is to lean into him, to crave the heat of his touch.

  “I’ll call you.” My voice quivers.

  He places a thumb under my chin and tilts it up again. “I’ll be waiting.”

  A sliver of some long forgotten emotion creeps into the vacated space in my chest as I watch him leave the apartment.

  “Swoon,” Kate says dramatically when the door closes behind him. “Now that’s what I call heat. Hell, you could create an atomic bomb with that type of chemistry.”

  Chemistry has never been the trouble with us.

  “We’re just friends.” I open the fridge, thankful for the cool blast of air on my warm cheeks. “I just broke up with my fiancé last night, remember?”

  “Your cheating fiancé.”

  I grab the orange juice carton and shut the fridge door. “Yes.”

  “Your cheating, cold, fiancé who you haven’t had sex with in God knows how long.”

  “I’m not jumping into another relationship.”

  “Who said anything about a relationship?”

  Laughing, I shake my head. Sometimes I wish I could be as self-liberated as Kate. But the first and last time I had casual sex, my heart barely survived.

  I know this thing with Moody won’t end well, and yet part of me wants to sit back and let him take control, even if it means driving straight off the inevitable cliff that’s waiting for me.

  Chapter 12

  Moody

  Theo’s fist connects with my face and my vision blurs, but it’s the next two shots to my kidney that leave me winded.

  “You’re still holding back.” Theo comes at me with a left hook that I dodge. “Hit me.”

  I connect with two shots to his core and an uppercut that just clips his chin. But like the wall he is, Theo barely flinches.

  “What is it? I’ve seen you hit the bag twice as hard as you hit an opponent. You want to win, you’re going to have to let go of whatever is holding you back.”

  “You think maybe I just don’t want to hurt your pansy ass? Mac would kill me if I hurt that pretty face of yours, and trust me, she’s scarier than any opponent I’ll face in the ring.”

  Theo laughs. “Point taken. I just know what you’re capable of.”

  I unwrap my hands and lean against the cage. “I’ve been fighting all my life. Maybe I’m just getting tired of it.”

  Theo’s eyebrows shoot up. “You thinking about retiring?”

  “Maybe.” I drag my hands through my hair, causing pieces to fall out of the tie at the nape of my neck. “I just see what you’ve got with Mac and the kid and wonder if this shit is really worth it. Maybe it’s time to hang up my gloves and settle down.”

  Theo shoots me a look. “You going soft on me?”

  “Fuck off.”

  “Seriously though. What would you do?”

  “Hell if I know.” But for once in my life I’d actually like to build something with my hands rather than break it. Something that would make Izzy proud of me.

  “This is cause of a girl, isn’t it?”

  “You know me too fucking well.”

  Theo’s laugh echoes behind me as I turn and walk towards the showers.

  I haven’t heard back from Izzy since I left her yesterday. I’ve got no clue where her head is at, and I’m terrified that she’s going to tell me it’s over before we’ve even had a chance to begin.

  Her walls are up, but I’m going to do everything in my power to bring them down. I’ll do whatever it takes to reach her.

  “Moody?” Griffin stalks towards me, looking pissed and more than a little frazzled. “I need to talk to you.”

  Shit, did he find out about Izzy and me?

  “Everything okay?”

  “No. Everything’s not fucking okay.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “I just spoke with Jason Reagan.”

  “And?”

  “And Izzy broke off their engagement last night. Apparently, she’s been sleeping around with someone else.”

  “Bullshit,” I say a little too forcefully. “It’s that fucker whose been cheating on her.”

  Griffin’s eyes narrow on me. “Who told you that?”

  “Izzy came into Charlie’s last night looking for you.”

  “She told you about it?” His mouth tightens in a thin line.

  “Yeah.” I cross my arms over my chest. “What are you doing talking to that asshole anyways?”

  “He’s pissed. And he’s taking it out on me.”

  An uneasy feeling settles in the pit of my stomach. “How?”

  “He’s calling in my loan. Unless…” Griffin scrubs his hands over his eyes.

  “Unless what?”

  Griffin’s jaw tenses and he looks away. “Unless, Izzy takes him back.”

  Fuck.

  I let his words sink in for several seconds before I say anything, because I know there’s a reason he’s telling me this, and I also know I’m sure as hell not going to like it.

  “I hope you told the asshole where to go.”

  Griffin pulls his lips back over his teeth and looks away.

  Anger stirs hot in my chest. “What did you do?”

  “Nothing. I just said I’d talk to her.”

  The thought of Griffin and Jason bartering over Izzy makes my blood boil.

  “She’s not a pawn–”

  “I can’t pay back the loan
.” The words come out in a desperate howl, causing a few heads to turn in our direction.

  “That’s not Izzy’s problem,” I scowl at him.

  “You don’t know what he’ll do to me.”

  I have an idea and it isn’t good.

  “How much do you owe? I’ve got some cash in savings–”

  “Fifty grand,” Griffin mutters.

  “Jesus.”

  “I know.” He sits down heavily on a steel chair, and places his face in his hands.

  “How the hell did you manage to rake up that much debt?”

  “First it was the medical bills, then rehab. I haven’t been able to hold down a steady job since. Not with the headaches. So, I got involved with a few…business opportunities. Each one flopping worse than the last.”

  I pinch the bridge of my nose and exhale. “You should have come to me sooner.”

  “You’ve already helped out enough.”

  Not even close. I’ll never be able to repay what I took from him.

  “I’ll get you the money.”

  Releasing a ragged breath, his brows draw tight. “How?”

  I’ve got no fucking clue. But I’ll figure it out. Because this whole fucked up scenario is my fault.

  “I’ll come up with something. Just leave Izzy out of this. Understand?”

  Griffin nods tightly, but there’s something in his eyes that worries me.

  Chapter 13

  Izzy

  Griffin stands from sitting on the couch when I walk into my apartment. I’d forgotten that he still has a key. Probably time I changed the lock, what with both him and Kate walking in whenever they please.

  “You look terrible.” And he does. His eyes are caved in and his face is an awful ashen color.

  Griffin runs his fingers through his unkempt hair, then over the dark whiskers on his chin.

  “What’re you doing here, Griff?” I place the groceries I’m carrying on the counter, then start unloading them.

  Griffin follows me, and I can practically feel the tension rolling off him. He leans against the wall, arms crossed over his chest.

  “Jason told me what you did.”

  Back to him, I freeze with my hand on a carton of milk. Ice shoots through my veins, making it difficult to breathe.