Chapter 1
Two and a half years ago…
I step into the house and find Levi lying on the couch with his leg thrown over the back, his arm hanging off the side and his phone to his ear. He moves his head, pinning me with a glance of adoration, and grins before switching his view back to the ceiling.
“I’m not traveling. He’ll have to come to me,” he tells the person on the other end.
I drop my purse on the kitchen island and head for something to drink.
“Fuck no. I’ve rooted my ass here and I plan to stay that way. No amount of money will change my mind,” he says and then barks an annoyed laugh. “You just talked your ass in a circle. I don’t have to travel, but you want me to go to him?”
He’s definitely rooted his ass right here. Shortly after winning the championship fight against Ryker, he moved in. He couldn’t stand the thought of me living alone since Blain was moving in with Lacy. Oh, and “we’ll have all the mind-blowing sex we want.” I couldn’t think of much of an argument after that. It wasn’t very gradual either. One afternoon he showed up with his things, which all fit in the back of his BMW SUV, and about an hour later a furniture company showed up and delivered a king-size bed and a large dresser.
Well, then…
The next day he went out scouting for a place to work out while I pulled double shifts. Two days later, after enduring the frustration of none of the gyms having everything he needs in one spot, he bought a small building. Within days, he supplied it with everything he needs—heavy bags, bench press, elliptical, humongous ropes, and everything in between.
He hasn’t sold his house in Tennessee either. He said we’d use it as a vacation home to go skiing in the winter, to watch the leaves change in the fall, and whenever else we want to just get away.
So far, it’s been good, like really good. We both screwed up, but we put the past behind us. No damn good reason to keep looking back. Not when you’ve got open road in front of you. I figured once he moved in we’d bump heads a lot. I mean, we all know how Levi can be—his way, his way, his way. But truthfully, we don’t argue like we did when we didn’t live together. It’s the complete opposite of what I thought we’d be. The majority of our days are filled with fun banter. We spend more time smiling than scowling, laughing than fussing.
And watching him do household chores has proven more of a turn-on than his naked body in the shower. You should see him push mowing—often times shirtless, his skin wet with sweat, sexy big arms doing other manly things than punching shit… Domesticated has never looked hotter. I reward him for being such an alluring man often. No way I can keep my hands to myself with that view.
Not long after moving in, he convinced me to quit Tonic after Jim showed his ass. I have never felt so disrespected by and scared for the same man in my life. One evening I stopped in to tell Jim I would need off in two weekends. He reacted by being a rude ass. Problem was, Levi was with me and did not appreciate the way Jim talked to me. He showed his temper and gave Jim a hell of a scare. I quit right there on the spot.
Levi stands and stretches as he ends the call and tosses his phone behind him onto the couch. His royal blues, heavy with frustration, shift to me. “You up for a trip to Cali?”
I cock my head to the side and draw my brows together. “For what?” He doesn’t have a fight for another few months.
“I’ve got another fighter to train and Cory wants me to meet him,” he says impassively.
“But you’re in the pros now. Won’t this take away from you?”
He grins, showing off his panty-melting dimple and drags the back of his knuckles down my cheek. “I love you being my cheerleader. My training will always be first. Next to you, of course. But this Nick character isn’t fresh. He’s been on the scene for a year or so.”
“Then that means he has a coach. Right? Why does he need you?”
He spreads his large tattooed arms to his side. “Who doesn’t need me?”
I roll my eyes and purse my lips.
He chuckles and then sobers up. “His coach bailed after knocking up some random chick. Apparently the coach’s wife was surprised and didn’t approve of his extracurricular activities. She divorced him and took everything the dumbass had.”
“Ouch.” I scrunch my face and then massage the skin between my thumb and forefinger.
He hasn’t coached since Katie and that was a colossal failure, almost ruining his career and us.
He runs his hands down my arms. “I’m not going to be traveling, Sunshine. My foot is down. If Nick needs me, he’ll have to come to me.”
“So why do we need to go to California?” I ask, feeling a bit confused.
“Initial meet. See how we pair.” He shrugs.
“Have you ever heard of him?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No. From what Cory said, he’s been in the MMAT climbing the ranks for just a little over a year.”
“When do we leave? I need to let the restaurant know.”
He exhales. “Just quit there, Paige. I’ve got you. Us.”
I blink up to him. “I’m not ready to give up that piece of me yet. I really enjoy it and Holly. It breaks up my monotony.”
He’s not happy but smiles anyway. “I’ll book the flight for Thursday. The meeting is Friday.”
My eyes bulge. “Wow. What a heads up.”
“You found out when I did.”
“Technically, I don’t need to go. I mean, I’ll just be an arm weight, right?”
He smirks, possessiveness glazing over his gaze. “Technically,” he mocks me, using a high-pitched voice that sounds absolutely nothing like me, “you’ll be the sexiest arm weight there. I want you beside me.” He drops a kiss on my cheek and then arches his brow. “Besides, I want to hear you moan in California. You’re coming…all pun intended.”
And just like that, Levi talks me into it.