Paxton's Promise (Gloves Off #3)(11)

“I know how to defend myself.”

“You’re right, but there’s no way in hell you can defend yourself against someone like me. That’s why I’m going to show you what to do. Most guys are going to take you to the floor and you’ll be in this position. You can punch the shit out of them all you want, but all it’s going to do is piss them off. Knowing you, that’s exactly what you’d do.”

I looked up at him. “What am I supposed to do then, lay there?”

“Yes. And most importantly you need to concentrate. When someone takes you down you have a split second to react. Do you see this?” he asked, putting his hands on the floor by both sides of my head. When I nodded, he continued. “Okay, with my arms like this, you need to bring yours up between mine and sweep them out from under me. That’ll make me lose my balance and fall forward.

“Before I do that, you take the palm of your hand and jab it upwards toward my nose. That type of blow will make the nose break, eyes water, and your attacker to lose focus. Afterward, you can always beat the shit out of him and run away.”

Grabbing my wrists, he pulled me up to my feet. “Now let’s practice it. Just don’t break my nose.”

I winked and got into position. “I’ll try not to.”

As soon as I was ready, he went on the attack and took me back down to the mat. Before he could grab my wrists, I did what he said and swiped his own arms out from under him and stopped with my palm at his nose. When I moved my hand aside, he smirked down at me.

“That’s f*cking amazing. I honestly didn’t think you’d get it that fast.”

“I’m a quick learner,” I murmured breathlessly. “Thanks for showing me.”

“You’re welcome.”

He laid there, star-fished on top of me. I could feel his heartbeat thumping and see the sweat above his brow. I instinctively clenched my lower stomach and his dick lengthened between us. I waited for him to move his lips toward mine, but he stayed in place, staring me down.

Ever so slowly, he moved his lips closer to mine and I parted my own slightly, closing my eyes. “Well,” he said, startling my eyes back open, “I think that’s enough for today.” Hopping off me, he put out his hand to help me get up.

What a whirlwind. I’d thought for sure he was going to kiss me. I was going to need to change my underwear. “Do you mind if I run by my apartment? I forgot some things.” It was the only thing I could think of to say.

“Sure, take the Hummer. I’ll just be here.”

He started lifting his weights while I stood there watching him, feeling completely out of sorts. I was just so used to him chasing me, always trying to get in my pants. I guess I stood there a little too long because he had stopped lifting and was looking at me cockeyed.

“The keys are on the kitchen counter. Was there something else?”

I stood there hoping he would talk a little more, but he kept going as if I wasn’t there. I wasn’t sure I like this change of behavior. How odd.





By the time I got to my apartment and trudged up the steps, I felt like a complete fool. I had laid under Paxton and closed my eyes, opening myself up to him, and he had done nothing. Was I the only one who felt something? Maybe he was done with my refusals. How much could one man take before his dignity was bruised?

Pulling out my keys, I had them ready to unlock my door when something caught my eye. Lying across the rug at the front door laid a single, black rose with a red ribbon tied around the stem. A note was attached, but I couldn’t open it unless I untied the ribbon. Who the hell would leave me a black rose? Surely, it wasn’t Bradley?

Once my door was unlocked, I walked inside and shut it. I untied the red silk slowly, so as to not prick my fingers on the thorns. There was no name on the outside of the paper, but when I finally had it free, I opened it up. Furrowing my brows, I read the words:





Flipping it over, there was nothing on the back. What the hell did that mean? All I knew was, it didn’t settle well with me. My spine prickled and my hair stood on end. The only reason I wanted to come home was to grab my pumpkin spice coffee. That was exactly what I did. I grabbed the box and put it under my arm, staring at the rose. I didn’t like the flower; there was something ominous about it. Leaving it on the counter, I snatched up Paxton’s keys and walked out the door, making sure to lock it behind me. I was ready to get back.





I WANTED GABRIELLA so bad I couldn’t f*cking see straight. My balls ached like a bitch and what was worse, I knew she wanted me too. I just needed her to make the first move. But she was too goddamned stubborn to do anything about it. The second I heard her leave the driveway, I picked up my phone and dialed the number I needed.

“Hey, Pax,” she answered. “How’s it going?”

“Not fast enough. Miss Stubborn refuses to face the fact she wants me.”

“You could stop waiting for her to come to you, and just tell her the truth,” she suggested. “Seriously, I know she wants to be with you. The only thing keeping her back is feeling like a traitor to her brother. He’s the one who doesn’t want her with any of you. The truth will set you free,” she laughed.

“That’s not the point, Ashleigh. Yeah, I could tell her the truth, but I don’t want to list reasons why she should be with me. I need her to admit she wants me, against all odds.”