Awakened Desires (7 page)

The following morning, after Henry’s and my bonding session, a text came in from Drew when I was grabbing a cup of coffee at the local shop. I checked it quickly, smiling.
Perfect
. I grabbed a cab and had him drop me off a block from Cock-up’s gym. My nerves were buzzing through my body. I loved that feeling.

I approached the front entrance and was impressed by the beauty of the place. The windows were tinted and tall. You almost couldn’t see inside. It would have been completely fucking amazing if I could have just stared at Cock-up through the window for a few minutes. Sadly, that wasn’t going to happen.

Walking into the gym with a grin, I couldn’t wait until he saw me. It was going to be fucking epic, especially since I was now in control of the game. My eyes darted around the place. It was very modern and clean. A lot of light woods and metal accents throughout. Plus, it didn’t reek of sweaty arses and dirty bollocks. The community gym at my flat in Atlanta smelled like that. I only went there once before I decided to find a gym outside of the building.

“You look lost. What can I do for you?” I looked over at the guy at the front desk. My first impression. Slag musclehead with a military buzz cut. I’m built and take a lot of pride in my physique, but this guy? Total knob with no neck. He eyed my split lip and mild bruising on my cheek.

“Yeah. I was wondering if I could get a tour. I’m new in town and looking for a new gym.” I put my hands on my lean hips, opening up my chest. I don’t care how big that guy was, I could have had him down, snap his neck, and drain him in less than a minute.

“Let me grab someone to watch the desk and I’ll take you around. I’m Rich, by the way. I’m a personal trainer here.” He held out his hand as he walked from behind the desk.

“Gunther.” We shook hands. Of course, he looked at me oddly after touching my cold hand. He called someone up while I scanned the gym. There was no sign of Cock-up yet. What the fuck? I was licking my chops and wanted him to see me with a smarmy grin on my face.

“Hey, Vanessa,” I heard.

“And who might this be?” The purr in her voice drew me in. I glanced over at her. Jesus suffering fuck, the woman was quite fit and delectable.

“I’m Gunther.”

Her smile was a spectacular one. She was tanned to a nice golden brown, had long brown wavy hair, and her body was rocking. She was hard and tight. I do like a curvier woman, but sometimes a nice cut woman gets my juices flowing. Literally.

“I’m going to take him around. Show him the joint.”

“Make sure you come back and say goodbye to me before you leave.” She leaned over the counter and winked at me. I smirked, knowing I was going to get a date, or more, out of her. I could give two fucks about the whole date thing, but it was a necessary evil for my plans to work out.

“You will have to excuse her. She has a hard time keeping her hormones at bay.”

I laughed, knowing I had the exact same issue. “That’s quite all right. I don’t mind the attention.” I winked back at her.

Knobhead took me around to all the equipment. I heard the words “state of the art”, and some blah, blah, blahbity fucking blah’s while continuing to scan for Cock-up. I had hope when he showed me the weight room, but he wasn’t in there, either. I wondered if there was something wrong with the satellite signal. Maybe it was lagging…or maybe
I
was lagging.

I followed him around, not hearing a word he said. Then he opened the doors to the bag training and ring area. And guess who I saw? Cock-up was kickboxing in the ring. I grinned while watching him maneuver his way around.

“Impressive, isn’t he?” He was going against another no-neck knobhead. I will admit that he had improved greatly since his departure from the complex. He was physically larger and his speed was much better than I remember. “That’s Henry Daniels. He’s one of our best clients. A legend here in the gym. He has beaten everyone in that ring.”

“I bet I could take him.” I didn’t realize I said that out loud until I saw the expression on his face.

“You’re a big guy, so maybe, but everyone says that. He’s gone against bigger than you, and no one has defeated him yet. He’s here a few hours every day usually. We’ve tried to talk him into going amateur, but he doesn’t want to.” I stepped closer to the ring, hoping my presence would distract him.

As I watched, Cock-up dropped the knob with whom he was sparring. He held out his hand and helped him up. They fist bumped and laughed.

“Hey, Geoff!” my tour guide called out. “This guy here says he can take Henry.” Cock-up looked up and we locked eyes. That smarmy grin crossed my face when I saw his bruising and matching split lip.

Check-
fucking
-mate.

I was practically salivating. I could have pulled out my piece and taken him out, but that would have been messy. Plus, I’m not a fan of orange jumpsuits or jails. His nostrils flared as he glowered at me.

“Oh, yeah?” Geoff stepped out of the ring. He grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat off that was running down his bald head. “I tell you, he is quite the athlete.”

“He sure looks like he is.” I continued to stare at him.

“By the way, this is Gunther. He’s looking to join a new gym. Gunther, this is Geoff. He owns the place.”

“Geoff,” I snipped as I shook his hand.

“Christ, you and Henry could be brothers. You both have icy cold hands.”

Cock-up stepped out of the ring. “You think you can beat me, old man?” he asked in a growl. I wasn’t quite sure if he was challenging me to a match or challenging me in the game of life, which I held the key to. I was loving the head games.

“Oh, I am
more
than sure,” I drawled.

“You know where to find me.” Cock-up turned and headed for the locker room. You bet your arse I did. I knew where he was all day, every day. He had better watch his fucking back.

Score one for me. That put me in the lead.

Henry bolted toward the locker room, cursing under his breath. He wasn’t going to waste time, and just wanted to get the hell out of there before anything happened. Elaina was supposed to meet him there and they were supposed to go to breakfast. If anything, he was more worried about her safety than anything else. He rinsed off in the shower and dressed in record time.

He blew through the doors and Elaina was standing there with her beautiful smile. A small sense of panic overtook him and worried that she would see Gunther and recognize him.

“Hey, lover.”

“Hey,” he snipped and his face was hardened.

She grabbed him by the forearm. “What’s wrong?”

“I just need to get the fuck out of here,” he bit out with a growl.

“What happened? Did someone finally take down the greatest kickboxer of all time?” She giggled and his face softened.

“I love you. Only you could dial me back like that. Thank you,” he murmured as he leaned in to kiss her cheek.

“Love you, more.”

He raised his eyebrow. “We shall see about that.”

Henry took Elaina’s hand and they headed back out into the gym. He needed to eat and get to work, and Elaina had a day planned with Claire. He hoped that Gunther had left because he didn’t want to see his mug again.

After I watched Cock-up practically jog out of the ring area, his black-haired fox peeked in, then headed back toward the same area Cock-up went.

“Well played,” I laughed. My tour guide, sensing the situation was awkward, decided to continue to show me the gym.

“Anyway, this is our bag room. So, what do you think?”

“It’s quite nice. I haven’t moved into the area quite yet. I’m staying in a hotel for the time being until my flat is ready.”

“I see. Well, once you are ready, we can get you signed up.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I murmured.

Cock-up walked out of the locker room hand-in-hand with his bird. I watched him, making him feel the creepy-crawly paranoia. He glared at me as they walked by. Bloody hell, she was perfect. Soft skin, a perfect set of lips, and an arse that didn’t quit. Lucky man.

“Hey, Daniels!” my tour guide called out to him. He looked over. “Come here for a sec.” I could see the tension in his shoulders. He wrapped his arm securely around the fox’s waist, as if claiming his territory and protecting her. I was quite surprised that he didn’t push her behind him. Of course, that would have make her curious.

“What’s going on?” Cock-up asked with caution.

“He said he’s going to join when he finds a place to settle down. He’s in a hotel right now.” I turned and looked at the arsehole and gave him my best “what the fuck?” glare. Glad I didn’t say
where
I was staying because he probably would have volunteered that info, as well.

“Oh, yeah? Maybe I’ll see you around then.” His jaw clenched so hard, I could almost hear his teeth screaming under the pressure.

“You can count on that.” I poked him in the chest. The black-haired fox looked at him, then at me.

“Don’t fucking touch me again or you’ll regret it,” Cock-up growled. I smirked and stepped back.

“Henry…?” She looked at me and narrowed her eyes. I almost hoped that she would put two-and-two together, but she didn’t. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing, love. No problem at all. Come on. Let’s get out of here. We have shit to do.” The steam was rolling off of him.

I chuckled when they walked away. “Cocky, yeah?” I said knowingly. My tour guide laughed as well.

After he showed me the locker room and juice bar, we made it back to the front of the gym. Sure enough, Hard and Tight was still waiting at the front desk. I could hear her panting the closer I got to the desk. I was relatively sure I would be hearing her panting later in the night.

“Well? How did it go?” she asked with a killer smile.

“He took a special interest in Henry.” My tour guide chuckled again. Disappointment gripped Hard and Tight’s face. I knew exactly what she was thinking.

“Haven’t we all?” she sighed.

“You good up here for a few? I need to speak to Geoff.” Well, wasn’t that the perfect opportunity to bring it on?

“Yeah.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest, giving herself a mouthwatering valley, a valley that I wanted my face and so much more in. I stood there staring at Hard and Tight for a moment after my tour guide said his goodbye pitch speech to me. “So…I guess you swing for the other team,” she mumbled.

“What gives you that impression?” I smirked.

“Rich said you took a ‘special interest’ in Henry.”

“For kickboxing. Trust me when I say this—
I enjoy women
.” Leaning my hip against the counter, she smiled at me.

“Well, maybe we can enjoy each other sometime.” She had better watch herself. She may get more than she bargained for.

“How about tonight? I don’t have any plans and I could use some…down time. Been working hard all week, darling.” Which meant I needed to get laid and I needed a fix. I was feeling it in my spine.

She had the devil in her eyes. “Sounds perfect,” she purred.

“There’s a nice-looking bar down the street. I can’t remember the name of it. Want to go there?” I leaned closer and drew her into my gaze. Her lips parted when she locked eyes with me. “And if things go well…maybe we can go back to my suite.” My fingers found their way to the rogue strand of hair that swept across her cheek and tucked it back behind her ear.

A slow smirk crossed her lips. “I like that idea. And the bar’s name is Cam’s.” I was going to get that bird pissed up and fuck her senseless. I hoped she would pass out so I could get my donation because I was more than ready for my fix.

“I will meet you there at seven sharp. I suggest that you be on-time.” I tapped my knuckles on the glass top desk and walked out with a fucking grin the size of Mick Jagger’s.

When I was heading out for my date with Hard and Tight, I exited the elevators, only to run into Carly.
Shit
. She was standing in the lobby saying goodbye to a fellow patron. As she turned to go back to the desk, she saw me.

“Where are you off to looking so dapper?” I was dressed in my white striped button-down again, untucked, with a light blue tee underneath, and my dark washed, low rise Diesel jeans.

“I’m meeting someone for drinks.”

“Oh.” She looked disappointed. Oh well.

“Look, I enjoyed you a lot, but I’m not relationship material.”

“Right.” She swallowed hard.

Oh, for fuck’s sake
, I thought as her eyes grew sad. I took Carly by the arm and dragged her off to the side of the lobby.

“Carly…you need to listen to me. You are young and gorgeous. You don’t want me. I’m not loyal, faithful, or worthy of a woman like you. Trust me when I say this: You deserve better than me.” Her eyes filled with tears.
Motherfucker
! “Carly, don’t. Find yourself someone who will treat you with the respect you deserve. That’s not me.” I grabbed her face with my hands and, with my thumbs, wiped away the tears that trickled down her face. Why did I do that? Oh, that’s right. I was trying to be the gentleman.

“Why not you, though?” Her voice cracked and she choked on a sob. Christ. I took a deep breath, feeling regret for taking that second dip.

“I’m not that guy. I don’t do relationships. I’m a fuck and run. A ghost. You know that. Don’t do this to yourself. If it will help, I will find a different hotel to stay in. That way, you don’t have to see me again.”

She cleared her throat and did her best to stand tall. She tugged at her shirt and used the back of her hand to wipe the next set of tears that trickled down her face. “That’s not necessary.”

“That a girl. I’ve got to run.” She nodded. I turned around to leave without looking back, glad to have cut her out. That was precisely why I never fucked virgins. They always want more than what I was willing to give.

Carly stood at the door and watched Gunther walk away without even a glance back at her. She wiped the tears that continuously fell down her face. She tried to play it strong, but something about him made her weak. Her body trembled with sadness, and she felt as if a hole the size of a fist had opened in the center of her chest. She wasn’t sure if she would be able to handle seeing him coming in and out of the hotel with other women for however long he was going to take up shop there.

“Get a grip!” she growled at herself.

“What’s that?” She turned around and Kevin was standing at the desk. When he saw her face, he dashed out from behind the desk.

He was the typical twenty-year-old. Tall, handsome, sparkly grin, but reserved. Well, reserved until he saw how upset Carly was. That made Kevin’s blood boil. Unbeknownst to her, he had a huge crush on her ever since he began working at the hotel. He told no one and tried to keep his feelings for her under wraps. But when he saw her that upset, he was ready to choke the life out of the person who made her feel that way.

“Did he do or say something to you? Because I will go out there and fuck that old man up!”

“No. No. It’s not him. It’s something I did. I’m just stupid, that’s all.” He grabbed her arms and found her eyes with his own.

“Don’t say that. You aren’t stupid. Far from it.”

She laughed through her tears. “You are very sweet, Kev.” He pulled a neatly-folded hanky out of his pocket and handed it to her.

“Is there anything I can do to help you?”

“No. This is something I need to work through on my own.” He nodded and let go of her arm.

“Well, if you need anything, you know my number.” She smiled weakly. Wanting to curl up in a ball in the corner and rock herself until the pain stopped, she decided to go cry her eyes out in the privacy of her office. If she chose to do that, Carly had a feeling she would have been there for a long time.

Watching her walk away from him, Kevin felt sick. He knew she had fallen for that giant douchebag, and wished it was him that was the object of her desires.

Just as I arrived at the swanky bar, I received a text from Drew about Henry’s whereabouts. I chuckled. “Bloody hell. It’s my lucky fucking day.” I shook my head in disbelief, realizing he was inside.

“And why is that?” Hard and Tight stepped out of the shadows.

“Oh…hey, Vanessa.” And there was the blood rush. John Thomas was also checking out the merchandise. And, Christ, it was some seriously exquisite merchandise.

“Hey, hot stuff.” Her voice was raspy and it tickled that achy spot deep in my spine.

I looked her up and down. “You look…so fit.” She had on a tight black dress that, I was quite sure, no one but her could breathe in. I couldn’t wait to get her back to my suite and fuck that posh frock right off of her body. I would’ve taken her right then if I didn’t need to get her pissed up.

“You’re not so bad yourself.”

I smirked. I was loving the trip to New York. Even though I was working, I felt like it was the greatest holiday of my life. Well, actually, it was because it was my first holiday ever. Quite sad, but whatever.

When I opened the door and the host greeted us. He sat us down at a couch in the middle of the bar. I scanned the small elite-looking crowd. It was dark, tasteful, and almost dangerous. A bit like I was. Then my Captain Cock-up radar went off. I looked around a little more, and…

Ding, ding, motherfucking ding.

He was cozied up with that black-haired fox two couches over. They kissed a few times. The waiter interrupted my wanton stare and took mine and Vanessa’s drink order—double scotch on the rocks, and a vodka and cranberry. Her voice drew me back to her.

“Ick. I can’t believe he’s even
with
that thing.” I looked over at my date for the evening. She seemed disgusted by the black-haired fox. Luckily, I knew how to put two-and-two together. I was a mathematical genius.

“You have the jollies for him, yeah?” I asked with a smirk.

“Uh, no. I just…” She looked down and pulled at the bottom of her tighter than tight dress.

“It’s fine, really. I won’t be offended. I know what’s going on here.” I waved my hand between us.

She sighed and looked back up at me. “I used to. He dated one of my friends once. Dropped her like a hot potato. She said he told her she asked too many questions. Whatever that means. I tried to get with him, but he declined me…
several
times. And now he is with
that
.” She looked with revulsion at the black-haired fox.

I let out a little laugh. “Well, he seems to be a tosser.” Pulling her chin up with my finger, I looked deep into her rich brown eyes. “You are foxier than her.” I brushed my thumb across her rosy cheek, which wasn’t from her make-up.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

I decided to go for it. “Can I kiss you?” My voice vibrated out of my chest and into her body.

She squirmed and her lush lips parted before she spoke. “Yeah. Why the hell not?” I leaned in and brushed my lips across hers, making her shiver. I tilted my head and drew her bottom lip into my mouth, nipping at it. She smirked in the middle. “You play like that?” Her voice purred out of her pretty little mouth.

“Always,” I murmured as I dragged my teeth down her neck, feeling her pulse on my lips. Such a dangerous, dangerous game I was playing.

“Thank god. I am dying for some good, old-fashioned, hard fucking and naughtiness. It’s so difficult to find a guy that will give it to me exactly the way I want it.” I half-smirked, feeling like it was going to be a great night for some wild fucking.

“Let’s just say you have found the right guy for that.” As I murmured into her ear, the waiter set down our drinks. I looked back over at Cock-up, waiting for him to get that creepy-crawly “someone is staring at me” feeling. Then I would wave and smile. It would be brill.

I glanced back at Vanessa when she tugged at my arm. “Pay attention to me,” she whined playfully.

“Sorry. I have a lot on my mind.” I twisted around and faced her. “Work shit.”

“Maybe I can make all your bad thoughts go away.” Again with the purring. Her eyes were half-lidded and she tapped my lips with her forefinger. I had half a mind to find a private space right there in the bar.

“God, I hope so.” I snuck in another quick kiss.

We began talking about nothing in particular, and drinking. Then more talking about nothing in particular, accompanied by…more drinking. By the time I was ready to leave, Vanessa was really pissed up.

“Are you going to take me back to your suite, hot stuff?” She twisted around, almost sliding off the couch. I grabbed her arm before she embarrassed herself by face-planting on the floor of the bar. I smirked at her efforts to try and act sober.

“Only if you want to…”

She laughed. “You are one funny man, Gunther. Of course I want to. Wasn’t that already on the agenda for tonight?” She leaned into me and whispered in my ear, “I have been waiting all evening for you to whisk me away and give me some of that hard fucking you were talking about.”

“I do believe it was. Just being cautious. I don’t want you to think that I’m trying to take advantage of you in your intoxicated state.” I looked over one last time, and Cock-up was leaning forward, elbows on his knees. His head turned in my direction and we locked eyes. He shook his head when I waved and smiled.

Mission accomplished. I could leave and feel like that gave me the advantage. I helped a pissed up Vanessa off the couch and we left the bar.

“You have
got
to be shitting me,” Henry grumbled as he shook his head.

“What’s wrong…my sexy…lover?” Elaina hiccupped. She was drunk as a skunk. Then she grabbed his arm and curled around it.

“That asshole from the gym. He was over there with Vanessa.”

“Meh…don’t worry about him.” She exaggeratedly swooshed her hand through the air.

“He just gives me a bad feeling,” Henry mumbled.

Then what he just said registered with Elaina. “He was with…Vanessa?” She hiccupped again.

“Yeah.”

“She…is such a…slutty slut slut.”

Henry laughed. “Oh love, you are so drunk. I should get you home. And then take advantage of you, of course.” He smiled at her.

“Well then, let’s go home…so you can take advantage of me.” She gave him a quick kiss. He was happy to oblige.