Free Fighting Hard by Marysol James Page A

convinced.
    Nick glared at him, but the truth was, he knew he wasn’t being very convincing. The other truth was, this whole thing with Mia had caught him completely by surprise.
    He had meant it when he told her that she’d slipped under his skin, and for the life of him, he had no idea how that had happened. Sure, she was pretty and smart and kind, but she was something more, too. She was brave and sexy and hot and he was addicted to her… no matter how many times he made love to her, it just wasn’t enough.
    For a guy who had spent a decade fucking ‘em and leaving ‘em, this was a shock. He kept thinking that the spell she had over him would break and he’d be able to cut her loose to get on with her life with a guy she deserved, but it just wasn’t happening. In fact, the more he was around her, the more he wanted her. And it wasn’t just the hot sex – it was her . Mia. He wanted to be with Mia.
    There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her now. He wanted to protect her and keep her safe; he also wanted her out there in the world, doing her work and shining her light on people in the darkness. She was the brightest thing he’d ever seen and he knew he couldn’t keep her all for himself. But he wanted to.
    It was all a huge mistake, he knew. He kept waiting for her to come to her senses and move on and the thought of it tore him up inside. Nick was sure that day was coming, and he dreaded it. But until then, he’d be there… as long as she wanted him.
    **
    “So, how did a New England girl end up in Colorado?”
    Mia lifted her head off Nick’s chest and stared at him. “How did you know I was from New England?”
    “You told the doctor.”
    “That night at the E.R.?”
    “Yeah. You don’t remember?”
    She shook her head.
    He smiled. “It’s OK, babe. Nothing much about that night was worth remembering, really.”
    “I know.” She still hated to think about what might have happened to her if Nick hadn’t stepped in.
    He saw her face and pulled her in for a kiss. “OK?”
    “OK.”
    “So – New England?”
    “Oh. Well, I moved out here after my parents died.”
    “They – what?”
    “A car accident six years ago.”
    He stared down at her and thought about the smiling photos in her living room. “My God, Mia. Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
    She ran her finger over his strong collarbone. ‘I don’t talk about them much.”
    “Do you want to?”
    She took a deep breath. “I find it hard… I mean, I just miss them. Every time something good happens, I want to tell them and I can’t. It breaks my heart a bit, I think.”
    “I’m so sorry, Mia.”
    She gave him a small smile. “Anyway, I love the ocean… but I needed a change of scenery after they died, and I decided on the mountains. It came down to Arizona or Colorado, and I realized that I’d miss the snow. So here I am.”
    “You have any brothers or sisters?”
    “No. But I have a whole gaggle of aunts and uncles and cousins back there. I see them maybe once a year, usually over the summer.”
    “Christmas?”
    “I spend it with one of my friends. Usually Katie, since she isn’t in touch with her mother and stepfather and can’t always get to her brother’s place in Miami. ”
    He gently raised her chin with a finger. “And this year?”
    “I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it yet.”
    “Maybe with me?”
    “With you?”
    “Yeah. With me.”
    She gazed up at him and felt tears start. “I’d love to spend Christmas with you.”
    Nick kissed her and his desire flared at the first touch of her mouth. She felt it and moaned in response. He rolled her over and settled between her legs. She arched against him, felt herself opening wide to take him.
    “Didn’t we just do this?” she asked.
    “Yeah. How about we do it again?”
    “Sounds good to me.” She smiled, her body humming under his. “Sounds very good.”
    **
    Mia came out of her bedroom after a long shower and found Nick standing and surveying her