He could smell her perfume on his pillow and he rolled over, reaching for her. Except everything hurt. There was pain in his hand, his arm. And his head. Fuck, his head was killing him. Must’ve had too much to drink.

“Rosa?” He tried, and heard his voice, a hoarse croak. What the hell? He tried to sit up but everything in his head went swirling and black and he sank back to the bed. Darkness pulled him under once more.

Much later, Aedan opened his eyes. Or tried to. One was swollen painfully shut. He managed to peer out of the other, trying to see where he was. Pain shot through his head as he tried to move it on the pillow so he lay still, looking at what was in front of him.

This was a hospital room, not his apartment. That made sense, probably explained why everything hurt. It was daylight. Probably the day after the match.

Blurry images swam to the surface, but had a hard time pinning any of them down.

Think, damn it. What the hell happened?

The fight... He’d been distracted. Rosa wasn’t there, the chair Frank had reserved for her mocking him, as it remained empty. Bitter tears welled under his eyelids, trickling down over his cheek, stinging as they ran into the cut below his left eye.

He remembered throwing some good punches, driving Stone back. Reflexively he clenched his fist, gasping at the sudden pain and immobility. Bringing his right hand up he saw it was splinted. Broken.

I remember throwing that punch.

Now end of the match came back: up against the cage, the hard feel of it against his back. Panic, no control, all of it slipping away. Stone throwing a knee, catching him in the ribs, the breath knocked out of him in a whooping exhalation.

Aedan took a tentative breath, felt the stabbing pain in his side, the tight constriction of the bandages that must be wrapped around his chest. Broken. Knew that when he hit me. Heard the snap.

Then covering up as blows rained down on his body, his face. And then...not much else. One of Stone’s blows must’ve done its job, taken him out completely.

He touched his face, his head, with his left hand. There was a lump at his temple, and if he had a mirror, he was certain he’d find a purpling bruise.

There were only vague flashes after that: the mat against his face, Frank’s voice in his ear. The scent of Rosa’s perfume... No, wait. That was now. But she wasn’t there.

Aedan shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. The pain behind his eyes was fading, still there but dimmed, hovering in the background.

He lay back, looking up at the ceiling tiles. She didn’t show up; she wasn’t there. She’d said she be there for him, that loving him meant loving all the things that went along with whatever the hell he was trying to do here. She said she didn’t understand but that it didn’t matter.

And she’d promised.

Well, fuck her. Apparently it did matter, in the end. He could do this without her, without anyone. He’d learned more than how to survive a match. He’d learned that he’d been right all along; never trust anyone. All it did was fuck everything up, every single time.

He rolled toward the window, jerking the plastic tubing that ran into his arm. Something beeped but he didn’t bother to find out what it was. He tugged the single thin pillow from under his head, trying to hug it to his chest. There was a noise behind him, someone coming in his room. If it’s a nurse, maybe I can get another pillow.

“Aedan?”

His body stiffened, every sense suddenly alive. Abruptly the pain was gone and all he could hear was her voice. The scent of her perfume filled his nostrils.

“Aedan?” Louder this time. He heard footsteps, closed his eyes tight.

It’s too late to make it up. Just go away.

“Aedan, wake up. Talk to me.” Her voice was right in front of him, her hand on his shoulder. The touch was warm even through the blanket. He opened his eyes.

She was sitting next to the bed, her face inches from his. For a brief moment his heart swelled; he wanted to reach out and touch her face. But he pushed that away. She’d given up on him. Why should he care about her?

“Hey. Welcome back.” There was relief in her voice, a smile on her lips as she brushed her hand across his forehead. But they didn’t matter.

“Go away.” His voice was louder than he anticipated. He closed his eyes.

“Does something hurt? I’ll go get a nurse.” She touched his hand. He jerked it away.

“Why’re you here?” He opened his eyes again. The shocked look on her face gave him a perverse thrill, like he’d won something.

“Where else would I be, Aedan? I’ve been worried. We all have.”

“If it means so much, where were you at the fight?” His head throbbed. “You never showed.”

She looked down at her hands. “I’ve been here since they brought you in. The day before yesterday.” Her eyes lifted. “But I was there at the fight too. Late. I tried to arrive sooner.”

“Late?”

“I got there just in time to see you go down.” The words trembled. “And it almost killed me, Aedan. It could have killed you.”

There was something that sounded like anger in her voice, which surprised him. What the hell does she have to be angry about?

“Aedan. I was so scared...” Rosa’s voice caught, tears running down her face.

“Hey! You’re awake.” Frank’s gruff voice broke into the space between them.

Rosa looked up as he entered the room. Aedan took the moment to try and roll away from her, grimacing with the effort.

“Easy, Aedan,” Frank chided. “You’ve got some cracked ribs there. Just relax. I’ll come around to the other side of the bed.” He pulled a chair up next to Rosa. “So, did Rosa tell you the news?”

Frank was beaming at Aedan, beaming at both of them.

“I haven’t had a chance yet, Frank. He’s only been awake for a few minutes.” Rosa wiped her cheeks with the cuffs of her sweater. Aedan noticed her face was pale, dark circles under her eyes. And no make-up.

“Oh. Well.” Frank was looking back and forth between Aedan and Rosa. He frowned.

“I guess a scout was here,” Rosa said. “From the pros.”

“He was impressed with what he saw,” Frank added.

Aedan made a snorting sound. “Impressed with me getting knocked out? Pretty lame scout.”

“Hey! Before you went down, you put up a pretty good fight, broken hand and all. He said you had heart. It was short, but there was enough there for him to see your potential. If you hadn’t had your head up your damn ass—sorry, Rosa—you would’ve done a hell of a lot better. You’d have beat Stone.”

Aedan stared at Frank. “So what did he say, exactly?”

“He gave me his card. I’ve got it here somewhere. It’s been a pretty fucked up couple days.” Frank grimaced, nodding in Rosa’s direction. “Sorry again.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, stop apologizing to her. I’m sure she’s heard swearing before.”

It wasn’t really anything Rosa hadn’t said herself, but Frank’s frown deepened. “Aedan, are you okay? Do you need something for the pain?”

“Why the hell does everyone keep asking me that? I’m fine. Just great.” He struggled to sit up, wincing as he levered himself into place. “Everyone needs to just back off. Frank, we can talk later. Rosa, nice of you to stop by but I don’t need your pity.”

Rosa kept her head down. She stood to leave, but Frank placed a hand on her arm, glaring at Aedan.

“Aedan! I don’t know if this is from pain or whatever the hell they’ve got you on. Or if it’s the knock on the head, or if you’re just in a pissy mood because you can be, but you’ve no right to talk to Rosa like that. She’s the one who’s been here since they brought you in. We had to force her to go home to sleep and eat. She’s been camping out down the hall in the lounge, or here, in your room.”

Aedan stared at Frank. “She’s been here.” It was almost a question.

“The whole time. She was at the fight, but you were too busy getting knocked out to notice.”

Aedan turned to Rosa in disbelief. “You were there? Where?”

“I was late, in the crowd. I tried to call. You had your cell turned off. By the time I got there, the match had started. And then you were down, and he was hitting you. And there was blood everywhere.” Rosa bit her lip. “I’m so sorry I was late.”

Frank awkwardly wrapped one massive arm around her shoulder, jostling her against him.

She smiled but stepped out of his hold. She moved closer to Aedan. “I came to see you, to stand by you. Because I love you. And when you love someone, your life changes. Your priorities change. It took me a long time, probably too long, to realize that. But I made you a promise and I kept it.” When she reached for his hand this time, he let her take it.

Frank cleared his throat suddenly. “I should tell the doc you’re awake.” He quickly left the room.

He blinked, he had one hell of a headache building. “You came?” he whispered.

“It wasn’t about me anymore, Aedan. It was about us. What you wanted. Needed. What you’ve been fighting for. But now...” Rosa took a deep breath, her voice gaining strength. “You've fought just to survive your entire life. I get that. I finally get it. But I'm not going anywhere, whether you like it or not. It's time that someone stands with you, through all of it. The good, the bad. Everything. It’s time someone fights for you.”

Aedan felt tears gathering in his eyes. As much as he wanted to hold them back, they fell unchecked down his cheeks. He squeezed her hand and she squeezed back, hard. “Don’t fuck with me Rosa. I got a freakin’ huge headache and this... this is gonna kill me if it’s only a dream.” He swallowed, his mouth dry. “You’re really here then? In my corner?”

“I always will be. From now on.” She kissed his fingers, then stood, leaning over, kissing his lips. She ran her fingers over his cheek, brushing away the tears. “I love you, Aedan.”

“I love you too, Rosa.” He watched her as she sat down again. As she brought his hand to her lips and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. The sunlight spilling in through the window haloed her hair in gold. He thought she’d never looked so beautiful. “What do we do from here?”

“We get you better. And then we find that card for the agent scout and call him.” She laid his hand back down against the blanket, hers still curled around it. “Then, just like you do with training, we take it day by day, match by match.” She gave him a brilliant smile, her dimples flashing. “And if you think Frank is tough, just wait. Frank’s got nothing on me.”

Aedan scoffed, despite the ache in his ribs. “Come here, then.” He shifted on the bed, grimacing, making room for her. She gingerly climbed up on the mattress, to curl next to Aedan, her head resting lightly on his shoulder.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she whispered. “I was so scared I lost you.”

He reached up with his good hand, searching for hers again. She wrapped her fingers through his, holding them tightly. The warmth of her body beside his was familiar and welcome. Exactly what he wanted. Aedan drifted, and thought of the future. Rosa at his side. The call to the scout. Maybe things would turn out all right after all.

When Frank returned, that’s how he found them, asleep, Aedan’s hand holding on to Rosa’s. He smiled when Aedan lifted his head. I’ll come back later, he mouthed as he pulled the door shut, leaving them to their rest.

THE END

FIGHT

Coming Soon!

MORE BY LEXY TIMMS:

FROM BEST SELLING AUTHOR, Lexy Timms, comes a billionaire romance that'll make you swoon and fall in love all over again.

Jamie Connors has given up on men. Despite being smart, pretty, and just slightly overweight, she's a magnet for the kind of guys that don't stay around.

Her sister's wedding is at the foreground of the family's attention. Jamie would be fine with it if her sister wasn't pressuring her to lose weight so she'll fit in the maid of honor dress, her mother would get off her case and her ex-boyfriend wasn't about to become her brother-in-law.

Determined to step out on her own, she accepts a PA position from billionaire Alex Reid. The job includes an apartment on his property and gets her out of living in her parent's basement.

––––––––

JAMIE HAS TO BALANCE her life and somehow figure out how to manage her billionaire boss, without falling in love with him.

** The Boss is book 1 in the Managing the Bosses series. All your questions won't be answered in the first book. It may end on a cliff hanger.

For mature audiences only. There are adult situations, but this is a love story, NOT erotica.

Capturing Her Beauty

KAYLA REID HAS ALWAYS been into fashion and everything to do with it. Growing up wasn’t easy for her. A bigger girl trying to squeeze into the fashion world is like trying to suck an entire gelatin mold through a straw; possible, but difficult.

She found herself an open door as a designer and jumped right in. Her designs always made the models smile. The colors, the fabrics, the styles. Never once did she dream of being on the other side of the lens. She got to watch her clothing strut around on others and that was good enough.

But who says you can’t have a little fun when you’re off the clock?

Sometimes trying on the latest fashions is just as good as making them. Kayla’s hours in front of the mirror were a guilty pleasure.

A chance meeting with one of the company photographers may turn into more than just an impromptu photo shoot.

Hot n' Handsome, Rich & Single... how far are you willing to go?

MEET ALEX REID, CEO of Reid Enterprise. Billionaire extra ordinaire, chiseled to perfection, panty-melter and currently single.

Learn about Alex Reid before he began Managing the Bosses. Alex Reid sits down for an interview with R&S.

His lifestyle is like his handsome looks: hard, fast, breath-taking and out to play ball. He's risky, charming and determined.

How close to the edge is Alex willing to go? Will he stop at nothing to get what he wants?

Alex Reid is book 1 in the R&S Rich and Single Series. Fall in love with these hot and steamy men; all single, successful, and searching for love.

Book One is FREE!

Amazon US:

Amazon UK:

Sometimes the heart needs a different kind of saving... find out if Charity Thompson will find a way of saving forever in this hospital setting Best-Selling Romance by Lexy Timms

Charity Thompson wants to save the world, one hospital at a time. Instead of finishing med school to become a doctor, she chooses a different path and raises money for hospitals – new wings, equipment, whatever they need. Except there is one hospital she would be happy to never set foot in again—her fathers. So of course he hires her to create a gala for his sixty-fifth birthday. Charity can’t say no. Now she is working in the one place she doesn’t want to be. Except she’s attracted to Dr. Elijah Bennet, the handsome playboy chief.

Will she ever prove to her father that’s she’s more than a med school dropout? Or will her attraction to Elijah keep her from repairing the one thing she desperately wants to fix?

––––––––

Heart of the Battle Series

US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VVK8S5W

In a world plagued with darkness, she would be his salvation.

No one gave Erik a choice as to whether he would fight or not. Duty to the crown belonged to him, his father's legacy remaining beyond the grave.

Taken by the beauty of the countryside surrounding her, Linzi would do anything to protect her father's land. Britain is under attack and Scotland is next. At a time she should be focused on suitors, the men of her country have gone to war and she's left to stand alone.

Love will become available, but will passion at the touch of the enemy unravel her strong hold first?

THE RECRUITING TRIP

Aspiring college athlete Aileen Nessa is finding the recruiting process beyond daunting. Being ranked #10 in the world for the 100m hurdles at the age of eighteen is not a fluke, even though she believes that one race, where everything clinked magically together, might be. American universities don’t seem to think so. Letters are pouring in from all over the country.

As she faces the challenge of differentiating between a college’s genuine commitment to her or just empty promises from talent-seeking coaches, Aileen heads to the University of Gatica, a Division One school, on a recruiting trip. Her best friend dares her to go just to see the cute guys on the school’s brochure.

The university’s athletic program boasts one of the top hurdlers in the country. Tyler Jensen is the school’s NCAA champion in the hurdles and Jim Thorpe recipient for top defensive back in football. His incredible blue-green eyes, confident smile and rock hard six pack abs mess with Aileen’s concentration.

His offer to take her under his wing, should she choose to come to Gatica, is a tempting proposition that has her wondering if she might be with an angel or making a deal with the devil himself.

THE ONE YOU CAN’T FORGET

Emily Rose Dougherty is a good Catholic girl from mythical Walkerville, CT. She had somehow managed to get herself into a heap trouble with the law, all because an ex-boyfriend has decided to make things difficult.

Luke “Spade” Wade owns a Motorcycle repair shop and is the Road Captain for Hades' Spawn MC. He’s shocked when he reads in the paper that his old high school flame has been arrested. She’s always been the one he couldn’t forget.

Will destiny let them find each other again? Or is what happens in the past, best left for the history books?

** This is book 1 of the Hades' Spawn MC Series. All your questions may not be answered in the first book.