Free On the Ropes 2: Insidious Obsession by Michelle Cary Page A

energy poured over her as she walked from the ring. This was what she’d worked for all those years. This was everything she’d ever wanted. Finally she was living her dream, and it felt amazing.
    They reached the main walkway, crossed through to the employee entrance, then made their way down to the interior of the building. It only took a few minutes to reach their temporary locker room. Lexi stood in the open doorway, a smile on her face. Apparently Logan hadn’t duct-taped her to a chair after all. “That was awesome.”
    “Thank you.” Amber gave her a hug; then they moved into the locker room. The men followed.
    “Welcome to The Tribunal,” Logan said.
    “Yeah. It’s going to be great to have you as part of our crew. Not that you weren’t already,” Jason said and kissed her on the cheek.
    “Thank you.” Amber glowed. She turned her attention to Cole, who slowly walked toward her, a predatory look on his face. Immediately heat pooled low in her belly. She’d seen that look before, and God help her, but she loved it when he looked at her like that. It was as if she were the only thing in the world that mattered to him. That knowledge warmed her to her core.
    He closed the distance between them and cupped her face in his palms, then brushed a soft kiss across her lips.
    Her heart, still pounding hard from her match, skipped a beat, then sped up. She brought her hands to his arms, curling her fingers around his wrists. He nibbled on her bottom lip, then tugged on it before covering her mouth with his, deepening the kiss. A whimper tumbled from her as she yielded to him.
    Before she realized it, he’d pinned her between his big body and the wall. Her arousal skyrocketed, and her body heated in response. His touch was so gentle, so full of love, and so different than anything she’d previously experienced.
    Soft chuckles filled the silence; then she heard the door close. It was just as well that the others had left, because she had no intention of asking him to stop. His hands slid down her body, and his fingers curled around her waist. Her skin instantly became hot beneath his touch, fueling her desire. She wanted him to touch her, to take her, to make her his. She wanted to feel all the wonderful things about sex and love she’d missed because of the demons of her past.
    “This outfit is so damn sexy,” he growled as his thumbs teased the waistband of her shorts as his lips traveled along the nape of her neck. “God, Amber. I want you so damn much.”
    Intent on granting him the permission he sought, she opened her mouth to reply, but before she could say anything, a loud knock infiltrated their moment. “Amber? Cole? Are you in here?” The door opened slowly, and Cole groaned against her ear before pulling back.
    Disappointment washed through her as Emma’s assistant, Jill, appeared. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but Mark sent me. He wants to see you guys right away.”
    “Thank you, Jill,” Amber replied. “We’ll be right there.”
    She waited for the door to close, then turned her attention back to Cole. He looked like a child who’d just lost his favorite toy. She shared that sentiment, but they couldn’t keep Mark waiting. “There will be a time and place,” she said and gave Cole a soft kiss. “When that happens, I promise, I’m yours.”
    * * * *
    With a protective arm wrapped around Amber’s waist, Cole walked the hall toward Mark’s office. This was twice in a week he’d needed to quash his arousal. If this trend continued, he’d have a perpetual case of blue balls. Of course with her now rooming with Brooklyn, finding private time to be together was more difficult than ever.
    They walked into Mark’s office where Logan, Lexi, Jason, and Brooklyn already waited. Cole slipped into the empty seat and pulled Amber down onto his lap and covered her hand with his.
    “I’m sorry to call you here on such short notice,” Mark began. “But I just received a phone call from the