Below the Belt(86)

Brad nodded, unable to speak.

They turned to watch each other silently, eyes wide, mouths trembling with the effort to hold back the laughter, both mouthing to stop it, shut up, no you shut up until he was out of hearing distance. Then they both lost the war of the laughs and doubled over, falling against each other. Brad leaned into the nearest exam table and pulled her back to his front, cupping her from behind as the hilarity subsided.

“Would you really have quit the team?” she asked a few minutes later, after they’d simply stood with each other, pressed together, absorbing each other’s presence. “It’s what you’ve wanted since your dad died. How could you give that up?”

He squeezed her tighter to him. “I would have lost this. How the hell could I give this up for some boxing award?” He nuzzled against her neck. Her eyes fluttered closed at the sweet feel of it. She wanted to imprint the memory of his lips right there, at the base of her hairline, forever.

“My mom talked me in circles a little. But really, it came down to the reason making the team was important in the first place. Because of my dad, yeah. I want it for me, too. But my dad was the catalyst. The reason I even considered trying out. And I think he’d be more disappointed in me if I’d let the team drag me away from you, than if I’d been cut for whatever reason. So what was I doing, if not making him proud, and not making me happy? Nothing. It was nothing without you.”

She sighed and turned in his arms, locking her fingers around his neck. “I’m not going to let you off the hook, you know. I read your paperwork, and I know exactly what you can and can’t do, per doctor’s orders.”

His eyes narrowed. “Okay, but maybe just some modifications on the—”

“Nope.” She pressed a quick, hard kiss to his mouth. “I’m not going to let you being my guy blind me anymore. In fact, I might be tougher on you than anyone from here on out.”

“Great,” he muttered, but she kissed him again.

“I’ll be all over your ass for icing, and wearing your brace, and doing your exercises at home. Oh, yeah,” she added when he winced. “I know exactly what they are, and I know exactly how much they suck. You’re still doing them. Because if not, I’m kicking your ass. Then I’ll step aside and let Coach kick it.”

“Point made.”

“We’re doing this right this time. We jumped in so fast before, we weren’t ready.” She took a deep breath and gave him the most serious look she could muster when he was pressing against her with an impressive erection. “I’m ready now.”

“Ready for what?”

“All of it. We’re doing this right.” She paused. “Maybe you should just move your stuff over to my place.”

He shrugged. “Works for me. Though I’ll have to keep a few things in the BOQ, for curfew nights when Coach asks us to stay here.”

“Understandable.” She grimaced. “And you’ll have to have dinner with my parents.”

He heaved a sigh. “It’s inevitable.”

“My mom will probably flirt with you.”

“Two for one, score.”

She pinched what little skin she could grab hold of on his stomach. He arched away. “Damn, woman.” Capturing her wrists in one hand, he locked them between their bodies. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” She rose on her toes to kiss him once more before they started their day.

“Hey, Marianne, I—oh.” Levi stood frozen in the doorway of the training room. “Wow, uh . . . awkward.”

Maybe a little. But not nearly as much as it would have been a week ago. “Sorry, Levi. We’ll be out of here in a second.”

“Okay.” He started to back away, then glanced over his shoulder. “Do you know why there’s a pile of Marines sleeping in the lobby like a litter of puppies?”

Marianne and Brad looked at each other, then both shrugged. Levi shook his head and walked toward the locker room.

“This . . . I’ve got to see.” Marianne started for the door, jolting back when Brad pulled at her arm. “What? C’mon, how do you pass up that opportunity?”

“I don’t. Bring your phone. We’re gonna want photographic evidence.” He waited for her to grab it from her desk, then kissed her hard and slapped her ass. “First one there gets to upload the photo to Facebook.”

“You’re so on.” She sprinted after him, knowing he’d win.

But they’d both won, in the end.





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AGAINST THE ROPES

COMING OCTOBER 2015 FROM BERKLEY SENSATION!





Greg’s nerves were on high alert, and had been since the second he’d ever-so-smoothly thumped Reagan’s back. That delightful move had earned him the Dumbass of the Night award. And the hits just kept on coming. But Fate had thrown him a bone and given him a very good reason to get the luscious Reagan Robilard alone in her car.

“Just keep driving straight now,” he said as they pulled through the main gate and past the sentry.

“There’s nowhere to go but straight,” she pointed out.

“You could turn right here for the hospital.”

“I don’t want that,” she said, her voice tight.