The Fighter's Block Page 2

  “Yeah, I guess it hurts a little,” Dani finally said. “I’ve just had my mind on other things and haven’t noticed.” When he placed the icepack against her cheek she winced.

  “Fuck, I’m sorry,” he said, knowing he shouldn’t have even tried. He wasn’t used to handling delicate porcelain dolls.

  “No, it’s okay,” she tried to assure him. She took over the icepack at his insistence.

  “What’s on your mind?” he asked. “Everything that happened tonight?”

  She shrugged. “Yeah, and how I’m going to get all of my stuff out of his apartment,” she smiled uneasily.

  “Oh. Well just give me an address and I’ll take care of it.”

  Dani scoffed, but with another smile she said, “No way. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  Van casually shrugged. “Well, you tell me how you’d like it taken care of and I’ll do it.”

  “That’s very sweet of you, but you’ve already done so much. I couldn’t ask you to do anything else.”

  “You didn’t ask.”

  After another moment of silence, Van turned away to… Hell, he didn’t know where he was heading. Dani was a little too captivating for him to handle and he was having a hard time keeping his attraction to her in check. He liked how she seemed confident enough to make eye contact with him, even though he knew she was uncomfortable. He liked how soft her skin looked, and the way her lips moved when she spoke. He liked how she held onto a piece of her long hair, like a security blanket, when he looked at her too long. She was beautiful, model material, and not the classy type he would typically find himself around very often.

  At the same time, Dani watched Van walk away. He was hard to read, but she kind of thought that he liked her. She liked him too, that was for sure. He had on a long-sleeved shirt, but she could tell he was nicely built. She liked his laid-back demeanor, the fact that he seemed sincere when he spoke so softly, and his ruggedly handsome face that drew her in with a partial smile. She could tell he was a Jersey boy, or at least lived there a while, and there was something about him that compelled her to search deeper. Between that and the power of his chocolate brown eyes…

  Yes, she was very attracted to him.

  Van walked into his bedroom to tidy up, tossing a few things from the bed onto a chair, and then he turned toward the door. He could see Dani near the couch, staring at him. He didn’t know what to do besides just stand there for a second, but she came across the room and stopped in his doorway. They both just looked at each other for a few seconds, each feeling the same desire.

  But Dani was the one that made the first move, and she stepped in front of Van, looking into his eyes. “Thank you for everything you did tonight,” she said softly. She could feel the heat building inside of her and her heart thudded heavier. What the hell was it about this guy…?

  He slowly reached for her face, and gently touched the bruise on her cheek with his thumb. Yes, her eyes were blue, dark sapphire, and they were beautiful. He hoped he was reading them loud and clear when he leaned closer to her. His lips went to her cheek first, and he lightly brushed them over her battle wound. Just that barely-there feel of his mouth made her legs weak and Van felt her breath release past his neck.

  He faced her again, just to look into her eyes. He was aware of the very second she placed her hands on his waist and his heart began to punch his ribs. They were still looking at one another when her hands traveled under his shirt to feel the skin above his waistband. He finally kissed her lips—slowly, softly, but with deliberate seduction. He grazed his tongue against hers, careful not to move too quickly. But her tongue met him eagerly, and their kiss sizzled into something much deeper.

  Van heard a sound come out of her, a soft agreement, and it turned him on even more. As the kiss deepened, he became harder, and she was well aware of that when she pressed up against his body.

  Chapter Two

  Dani didn’t know how long they’d been kissing, and neither did Van. But what they both agreed on without words was that it was too good to stop.

  He waited for her to slide her hands up his chest before he put his on her hips, holding her tighter against him. She began unbuttoning his shirt, starting from the bottom up. He watched her as she glanced at him under thick lashes, in between each button she released. She didn’t unbutton the last one, the fourth one from the top, but she opened up his shirt to look over her fortune. She’d felt it with her fingers, but the washboard proof was right there being absorbed with her eyes.

  Finally she undid the last button, smoothing her hands over his well-defined chest. She took her time with her studies until her eyes drifted to his lips. Her hands slid to his shoulders, ridding them of his shirt. As she softly guided the fabric off his arms, her fingers traveled over the hard muscles that defined his upper limbs, and then she looked him in the eye.

  She moved her hands to his face, her eyes searching his while lightly touching the day’s growth along his jaw, and barely ran a finger along a tiny scar on his left cheekbone. She kissed it, and then kissed another one below his lip. Then she kissed the rest of his lips, pulling him into her once again as the fire re-ignited between them.

  Van was reeling inside. This was almost too much for him to handle. She hadn’t even done anything sexual and he was ready to explode in his pants. His desire to touch her overwhelmed him so he decided it was his turn when he softly ran his fingers through her hair and down her back.

  Dani pulled back slightly, still touching his lips with hers as she spoke. “What do want, Van?”

  That, in his mind, was the go ahead. He turned her around, holding her back against his body as her head leaned into him.

  “Is that a real question?” he whispered gruffly.

  The one hand he’d placed against her stomach remained, but he slowly rubbed against her body with his fingers until they inched away fabric and were against skin at her waistline. His lips found her shoulder and he kissed it around the thin strap of her top, taking his time to make a trail up to her neck.

  Another sound escaped her and he smiled.

  He continued to kiss her neck and behind her ear, and gently sucked on her earlobe. Dani felt hot between her legs as his fingers stole entry through the waist of her slim fitting skirt. As he smoothly trekked south, his other hand cupped her breast. She slid her hands behind his neck for support as his fingers guided themselves into her panties. She gripped him even tighter when his fingers smoothed over the warm home they wanted to dwell in.

  Dani responded instantly, feeling extremely sensitive to his touch. There was a current that ran through her anytime he made contact. It was wonderful and new, and she had no regrets at the moment. Whatever this was between them was too good to stop.

  Every sensory in Van was about to overdose, and he wondered if it had just been too long, or she had some sort of power over him. He lightly squeezed her nipple between his fingers as he continued to pleasure her down below. She was softly moaning, over and over, and she said his name twice. Things became really intense when she turned her mouth to him so he could kiss her at the same time.

  When she turned around entirely and started to undo his pants, Van was relieved. He didn’t want to rush the ending, he wished he could experience this all night, but progress was due when she made his pants drop to the floor, and as he kicked them off, he lifted her top over her head.

  “You are so beautiful,” he whispered, sliding her skirt off so that she was standing there in her bra and panties and pair of sexy heels.

  They kissed again as she pressed against him, smothering the erected tent between them. She slid her hands around his back and into his boxers, scraping her nails against his skin. She continued to kiss him, rub against him, while she used one hand to remove her shoe and then switched hands to remove the other. Her height dropped three inches but he grabbed her ass, picked her up, and took her to the bed.

  They continued to explore for another few minutes until Van gently removed he
r panties. He kissed her collarbone, her chest, and lightly brushed his lips along the top of her bra. He pushed it down a little to reveal a nipple, and he wrapped his lips around it. His hand returned to her lower half at the same time. He was dying to be inside her, but he was dying just as much to give his mouth and tongue a workout she wouldn’t forget. He kissed his way down her body, opening her legs as he returned to paradise. Just seeing her laid out like that, breathing heavily and completely vulnerable, sent a raging power into his groin.

  But he took his time.

  Dani was beyond shocked. Brian would have had her on the bed, stripped, and plunging inside of her within twenty seconds of entering the bedroom. This… This was an experience. This was something she’d never had before.

  This...was amazing.

  When it felt natural, Van removed his mouth and brought his body over hers, supporting himself on his palms. Dani’s heart surged with anticipation. She’d been close to the edge with what his mouth and hands could do, but he stopped seconds before. Now all she wanted to do was receive him entirely, body and soul, and she moved against him when his cock pressed against her entry. He paused to keep her on the edge, but then he completely pulled back.

  “What’s the matter,” she panted, trying to pull him to her again.

  “Condom,” he stated, reaching across her for the drawer in the nightstand.

  He unwrapped it and slipped it on, returning to her body as quickly as he could. Thankfully it didn’t kill the mood because she took him without pause and he slid inside of her with instant pleasure. He pulled back and pushed in a couple of times as she encouraged it, moaning with each movement. Sound came from his chest too, each time she clenched around him, begging for more. He hadn’t gotten to her bra yet, but he was ready for a total unveiling. It was her turn to read him when his hand moved for it, and in one brief movement, she was on top, sliding up and down him.

  She leaned down and worked her mouth and tongue against his, sending him into another fit of sexual energy. He wasn’t sure how long he could last, but she seemed to know to stop at that moment. With a smile she cupped her own breasts, teasing him as she massaged and handled them through the lingerie. Her teeth bit her lower lip with a seductive smile as her fingers toyed with the clasp at the front of her bra.

  “Shall I, or do you want to do the honors?” she asked coyly.

  God, he thought she was beautiful. What in the hell was he doing? Where was this night even heading? He shook the thought and took a deep breath. Her question made for a difficult decision and he almost wished she hadn’t asked. He truly was expecting her to just open it up with the surprise, but now that he thought about it, he wanted the moment to be his.

  Van didn’t answer with words but gently took her hands in his, pulling her forward. She leaned into him when he brought her palms to his lips, kissing each one in turn. He lightly cupped her breasts and then slid his hands to her back. When he found the clasp and undid it, a surge of sexual heat traveled through him as his eyes took in the beauty of her entirely naked in front of him.

  She smiled and placed her hands on his pecs. She lightly massaged them, encouraging him to do the same with hers. He did, but then her mouth leaned down to kiss him, to explore with her tongue and manipulate his body to be under her spell.

  No manipulation needed. He was hers however she wanted him, and right now, he was ready to take her how he wanted to.

  “Dani, I’m not sure I can handle this any longer,” he finally said. “I’m about to lose every ounce of control.”

  She smiled and said, “I was wondering how you could still be in control.” It was a tease and she added, “I thought maybe I wasn’t doing to you what you do to me…”

  He grabbed her with both hands and turned her to her back, a move that he’d never enjoyed so much as he did that time. Without words he took over as the lover in control, driving into her again, gently but powerfully, his lips kissing her passionately. He hadn’t realized exactly how close she was until it all came in an instant, the tightening of her body and the look of pleasure on her face, the sounds that traveled through her chest and out her lips.

  His release was only seconds behind and she gripped his body tightly as he finished with slowing, purposeful thrusts.

  ***

  Dani woke the next morning wrapped unusually amidst the sheets on Van’s bed. She worked to get her legs free and then propped herself up onto her elbows to look around. He was no longer next to her, and she wasn’t even sure he was still in the apartment. Did he go to work? What’d he even do for a living?

  She rolled her eyes and dropped her face into the pillow. She didn’t even know anything about him and here she was, waking up in his bed. She knew he could throttle a guy in a matter of seconds, even breaking a hand with his own. But although she’d witnessed that side of him, she also knew how gentle he was, even giving herself to him entirely the night before without a single worry.

  Dani heard a noise from the hall and sat up just as Van entered the room. He smiled at her, thinking she looked pretty cute all wrapped up in a sheet with messy hair.

  “Good morning,” he greeted. “Maybe?” he added, just to make sure. She looked a bit perplexed.

  She returned the smile, especially pleased that he was just wearing a pair of baggy shorts. She liked looking over his body and she could tell that he took care of himself. Holy shit, did he take care of himself! “Well, I’m not really a morning person, but I like the view,” she said softly.

  He paused where he was and smiled again. “Well that’s nice to know. I enjoyed the view for a while before you woke up.”

  Dani understood right away and felt her face get warm, but she just smiled.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked. “I was just about to take a shower, but since you’re up, I’ll make you something. Eggs? Toast? Um, you eat bacon and stuff like that?”

  “Mm, I’m not really hungry yet. Go ahead and shower.”

  He nodded and entered the bathroom in the hall. When he shut the door behind him, he couldn’t help smiling about the night before. It. Was. Incredible.

  He sighed. It was pathetic, but he was already hooked on this girl. As he turned on the shower, he wondered how the night ended up like it did. Sleeping with a girl the first night he met her wasn’t exactly his style. He could tell it wasn’t hers either, so how did they end up in bed together?

  For some reason, he decided to take his shower quickly. He worried that his time with Dani was too good to be true, and he was afraid that she’d slip out the door without saying a word.

  But the shower curtain parted slightly, and there she was in just a smile.

  “Is there room for one more?” she asked.

  ***

  Van had to leave an hour later. He had an appointment with his father’s lawyer and he promised he wouldn’t miss it. He didn’t want to leave Dani, but she didn’t even question it when he said he had something to do that morning. He told her she could help herself to whatever she needed until he got back.

  Dani let him leave without question, but she didn’t tell him she wasn’t going to be there when he returned. She grabbed her things and left ten minutes after he did, and then she walked four blocks to a coffee shop.

  “You look…different,” Jaime told her sister as she sat down across from her. Usually Danielle looked a little more…put together. And what was that mark on her face?

  “I had a rough night,” Dani replied.

  “Rough how?” Jaime asked with worry. She had a bad feeling about it, even though Dani seemed pretty damn happy.

  “You won’t believe me if I told you,” Dani said.

  “Try me.”

  Dani smiled and took a sip of her coffee. When she was sure she had her sister’s full attention, she said, “Long story short? Last night I broke it off with Brian and he didn’t take it very well.” She pointed to the mark on her face that she’d covered pretty well with makeup from her purse.

  Jaime’s mou
th dropped open with disdain. How dare that prick lay a hand on her baby sister! She was about to get into it about Brian, but Dani continued.

  “But Brian’s history, especially after some guy—a very handsome, stoic stranger—put Brian in his place, and then…” She bit her lower lip for effect. “I went home with him.”

  Dani smiled and took another sip of her coffee as she watched her sister’s reaction. Jaime was still trying to piece everything together, but that last part…

  “You what? What do you mean you went home with him?”

  “I went home with him,” Dani smiled with implication. “Lots,” she decided to add.

  Jaime opened her mouth with disbelief, and after a few seconds of shock wore off she hissed, “You hussy!”

  “Hey now…”

  “I’m totally kidding but… Jeez, Dani. That is so not like you!”

  “I know,” she smiled sheepishly.

  “So what of it? What does it mean? Are you trying to get back at Brian? Dani, if that little shit laid a hand on you, you are not going back to him—”

  “I know, and I don’t want to. Ever. And no, I wasn’t trying to get back at him. I just… I really liked this guy from the start and… We just sort of clicked.”

  “Yeah, I guess you ‘clicked,’” Jaime chuckled.

  Dani smiled and took another sip. “I didn’t want to bother you last night—you know, wake up the kids or Steve—but I didn’t really have any other options. I didn’t want to charge a motel room, Van was just there and—”

  “Van?”

  “That’s his name. Van.”

  “Who names a kid Van?”

  Dani laughed and said, “His parents, obviously. But it’s short for Donovan.”

  “Oh. Well why couldn’t they just call him Donny?”

  “That’s what they call his dad I guess. But anyways, what’s wrong with the name Van? I like it. And I like him.”

  “And? So what does all this mean?”