Ultimate Prize (4 page)

your studies.”

“Duly noted,” Zel said. “I’ve been thinking about going home for an extended visit.”

“Where is home?”

“Croatia.”

“Really?” Yoli sat forward. “I visited Dubrovnik last summer. Gorgeous city.” She considered Zel for a

moment and tried to gauge his age. “I guess that means you were in Croatia during the war.”

Zel’s jaw hardened. “I was a teenager.”

Yoli sensed that was all he was going to say and left it at that. “When did you come to the States?”

“Sixteen years ago. I was twenty and came here as part of a refugee program.”

“Wow… That must have been something of a culture shock.”

A quirky smile appeared on his face. “You have no idea. Thankfully my English was fairly good at the

time. I managed to find a job at a gym, got a GED and eventually my citizenship. I fell into prize fighting as

a way to make ends meet and, well, one thing led to another and here I am.”

“Here you are,” she murmured, her toes kneading his calf. His hand drifted down and picked up her

foot. As he massaged her instep, the air between them grew heavy with sexual tension. “Would you like to

stay?”

There was no hesitation. “Yes.”

As he crawled toward her like a cat on the prowl, Yoli wondered what the hell she was getting herself

into now. When their lips met, she shoved aside all those niggling thoughts and focused only on the

excitement fluttering in her belly.
Tomorrow. I’ll deal with the reality tomorrow.

The high-pitched whir of a jump rope whined in Zel’s ears. His feet moved quickly on the mat while his

wrists flicked the rope, sometimes switching up the rhythm. Zel should have been concentrating on his rope

work but he couldn’t shake Yoli from his mind. Her delicious taste, her tantalizing smell—she’d invaded

his senses and taken hold. Zel wondered if he’d ever escape the infatuation.

Do I even want to escape it?

Normally he’d have been jumping at an ever-faster pace but he was dragging ass this afternoon. He was

grateful it was an easy workout day in preparation for his fight tomorrow night. Any other day and Zel

would have collapsed by now. Yoli had practically drained the life out of him last night. He’d never met a

woman so incredibly sexy or quite as insatiable. The things she did to him!

His stomach rolled with heat at the memory of those thick thighs wrapped around his head. Zel could

almost taste her sweet pussy. Her shrieks of pleasure echoed in his ears. He remembered the debauched

expression on her face as he’d kissed his way up her tummy afterward and—

Zel tripped on the rope and tumbled forward. “Shit!”

“Tesla!” Jack, his trainer, shouted angrily as he surged across the gym floor. With his high-and-tight

haircut, Jack looked like a drill sergeant. Even his booming voice fit the part. “Get your mind off that pussy

and on your foot work!”

Cringing at the public scolding, Zel unwound the rope from his ankle and stood. He’d thought he’d

been slick in sneaking out to Yoli’s penthouse, but obviously Jack had eyes and ears all over the hotel.

Abashed, he offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Jack.”

“I don’t want to hear sorry. I want to see work!”

Nodding contritely, Zel cleared his mind and focused on his routine. If Yoli could affect him this badly

after one night, he probably needed to steer clear until after his fight. He couldn’t risk any distractions, not

with so much riding on the line. He’d already stowed away enough cash over the last few years to support

him for a while, but Zel desperately needed the prize money to satisfy his obligations back home. He

refused to fail…

And there was, of course, the tiny little issue with his opponent’s fight history. Last year, Mace had

killed a man in the ring with a vicious yet legal blow to the head. Zel tried not to dwell on it but the reality

of the danger of stepping into the ring with Mace was very genuine. One misstep, one diversion—and he

could be paralyzed or dead.

No. There was absolutely no room for error or distraction. Or Yoli.

That thought made him uncomfortable as he headed into the showers. Even now Zel craved her.
Can I

really avoid her for thirty-some-odd hours?
His willpower and determination had brought him this far in

his life, but saying no to Yoli? He wasn’t so sure. After they’d separated earlier that morning, Yoli had

made it clear she’d like to see him again. What if his self-imposed celibacy meant losing out on a last

chance to be with her before she skipped town for her next gig? His chest clenched at the thought.

During the ride back to the hotel, Zel tried to listen to Jack as he droned on and on about watching the

fight tapes and making last-minute adjustments. They made plans to meet for dinner in Jack’s room to

watch them. Zel understood this was Jack’s way of ensuring he was in bed at a decent hour. Zel couldn’t

help but wonder if Jack would go so far as to camp outside his door tonight to protect him from himself.

When they hit the lobby, Jack spotted an old friend and went over to chat. Tired and considering a late-

afternoon nap, Zel headed toward the elevator bank at the back of the opulent lobby. The center elevator

reached the bottom floor and, as the shiny brass doors slid open, Yoli came into view. A long, fluttery

orange dress hugged her curves, accentuating the fullness of her breasts and that luscious ass he’d

worshipped last night.

Surrounded by her entourage, she exited the elevator. Their eyes met across the crowded lobby and

instantly the sparks of desire ignited his lust. A gaggle of fans stepped into the way, obstructing his view

momentarily. Zel slowed his pace as he crossed the distance between them. She’d just finished signing the

last autograph when he neared her.

As they passed, Zel was so close he caught the bright citrus scent of her perfume. Briefly, Yoli’s fingers

touched his. Paper crinkled against his skin. Without looking down, Zel accepted her note, the giddy

nervousness of his schoolboy days suddenly fresh in his mind. He didn’t dare glance at his hand, afraid to

alert anyone to the note she’d just passed.

Fist clenched, he waited for a free elevator. Zel tried not to look but he couldn’t help himself. He

glanced over his shoulder and caught her sneaking a peek at him. Wickedly sexy, Yoli flashed a playful

smile and wink. His groin tightened.
She’s going to be the death of me.

Safe inside the confines of the elevator, Zel uncurled his fingers and read the note in his hand.

My room. Two hours.

Zel glanced at his watch. If he played it just right, he’d have enough time to give Yoli all the attention

she deserved before Jack expected him. The professional fighter within him urged common sense and

reminded him he needed a clear head and rest for tomorrow night. But the man within him, the primal side

that drove him, said go for it.

“Fuck it,” Zel whispered, ignoring the memory of Jack’s raging voice. Mind made up, he vowed to

make their last time together count.

* * * * *

Tummy fluttering, Yoli paced the entryway of her suite. Her bare feet slapped against the shiny marble.

The TV in the sitting room, tuned to the hotel’s informational channel, spouted off with loud commercial

spots highlighting upcoming shows. Yoli hated the irritating, grating silence that seemed only to enhance

her anxiety so the TV provided just the right amount of background noise. Jittery with nerves, she teethed

her lower lip and glanced at her watch for the thousandth time.
Where is he?

Yoli wanted Zel. Like right now. Tomorrow night she’d be dancing another private show. He’d be

pounding the crap out of some other fighter. They were running out of chances for a rendezvous. Deep

down inside, Yoli knew this had to be the last time. Zel was just the sort of guy she’d always imagined

falling in love with. Smart, funny, handsome as hell and driven for success…

Getting involved with Zel would be only too easy but it would just never work. Zel was obviously at a

point in his life where he wanted stability, and Yoli couldn’t provide that, not now. Currently at its peak,

her career required lots of traveling, incredibly late nights and hours of rehearsal. She didn’t even have a

physical address at the moment, just a messy room in her parents’ home in Rancho Cucamonga and a

mailbox at her agency for all correspondence. Adding a relationship to the mix just wasn’t a possibility at

the moment.

Recognizing that fact said something of her self-awareness, she supposed, but it didn’t make it any

easier. There was just something about Zel, something about their connection, that made her wonder if

maybe, just maybe…

But it wouldn’t do to dwell on the impossible. For the most part, Yoli kept her feet firmly planted in

reality, and in this reality, she simply couldn’t be there for anyone right now. And Zel deserved better than

some half-assed attempt at a relationship.

The knock at the door sent her mind reeling. Lust blossomed in her core. Heat flooded her clenching

pussy and throbbing clit. Nearly breathless with desire, Yoli raced to the door and wrenched it wide open.

Zel strode inside and kicked the door shut. At the sight of his predatory grace, Yoli felt a thrill of

excitement. His rough hands cupped her face as his mouth lowered to claim hers. She melted into him,

whimpering softly against his searching tongue.

But when he swept her off her feet and into his arms, Yoli squealed in shock. “Ohmigod! Put me down

before you break your back!”

Zel threw back his head and barked with laughter. “You’re not that heavy.”

Her eyes widened at his casual dismissal. She was, actually, quite heavy, but Zel wasn’t the type for

empty flattery. The way he effortlessly carted her through the suite convinced her he wasn’t just acting

macho. She really wasn’t that heavy—to him, at least.

When they reached the dining area, he knocked aside a chair and placed her on the table. Eyes wild with

lust, Zel dropped to his knees and grasped the hem of her dress. He shoved it up around her waist and

yanked on her thong, jerking it down her thighs and calves and over her ankle. As he pushed her thighs

wide open, Yoli shuddered. The brush of air against her naked sex felt cool where her cream slicked her

skin. She arched off the table as Zel’s pointed tongue swiped her slit and flicked her clit. The delicious

sensation of his lapping tongue drove her insane.

Clutching at the table, Yoli bucked against his mouth. His stiffened tongue dipped inside her dripping

hole, his nose rubbed her swollen clit. Overwhelmed, she shrieked and clasped his head, keeping him
right

there. It just felt so fucking good. She was going to burst any second. Zel overpowered her clasp and

worked his tongue back up to her clit. He sucked the bud between his lips, heightening the sensation.

Thighs clenching, stomach tightening, Yoli breathed erratically as her orgasm built. Stunned by the

power of the explosion, she gasped and undulated wildly atop the table. Toes curling, she slapped the

tabletop. Her mouth hung open, only unintelligible
ahs
and moans escaping. Zel kept torturing her until she

put her foot against his shoulder and gently shoved him away. “Enough,” she panted. “Enough.”

Zel nuzzled her inner thigh and teasingly bit the plump flesh there. She giggled at the ticklish sensation.

Slowly, Zel rose to his feet and peeled off his blue t-shirt. He dropped it to the floor and reached into the

pocket of his black workout pants. Yoli zeroed in on the condom he produced. She ached to be stretched

and filled by him again.

Pants lowered, Zel moved between her legs, his condom-covered cock standing fully erect. It twitched

as he took it in his big hand. He traced her silky folds with the head of his cock, rubbing it in circles around

her still-sensitive clit. The sharp sensation made her jump a bit. Lined up with her body, Zel plunged into

her wet depths. He leaned over and caught her mouth in a searing kiss.

As he took her with long, deep strokes, Yoli ran her hands down his back, loving every inch of the

muscles rippling beneath her fingers. With that incredible physique, Zel exemplified masculinity at its finest.

The flexing sinews made her feel like some fragile flower in need of protection and the most delicate of

touches. No other lover had ever affected her in this way, and Yoli found it most intoxicating.

Zel shifted into a standing position. The new angle of his cock took her breath away. He grabbed her

hand and sucked her fingers between his lips. Her belly quivered as his velvety tongue suckled her

fingertips. When Zel placed her fingers against her clit, she understood his silent message. Yoli rubbed her