Free Worth the Fight by Vi Keeland Page A

thinks for a long moment, before he responds.  “Because it’s who I am.”  Nico looks at me and touches the side of my face gently with his thumb.  “You’re a beautiful, smart, strong woman who is used to being treated like a lady.”
    I’m confused at his words and Nico sees it on my face.  He pulls me to him and buries his face in my neck.  His breath is so close to my ear when he speaks, I feel the words throughout my body as he speaks them. “But when I finally get you underneath me, I’m definitely not going to treat you like a lady.”

Chapter 15
    Elle
    Regina buzzes in to tell me William is on the phone.  It’s the first time I’ve heard from him since I told him I couldn’t see him anymore.   When I told him I wanted to remain friends, it wasn’t just a line.  Our friendship i s important to me, and I’m glad he called, although I hadn’t expected to hear from him so soon.
    “Hi.”
    “Hey.”  A second too long goes by that makes me feel like this might be an awkward conversation.
    “I wanted to let you know that your letter was a success.”  William’s tone is more business than friendship.
    Momentarily, I’m not following the conversation.  Then I realize what he must be referring to.  “They’re going to let Nico out of the contract?”
    “Yes, they seem to agree with you that it’s in their best interest to walk away rather than entertain a public lawsuit regarding their ethics.”   My letter was a bit more underhanded than I normally would like.  A thinly disguised, veiled threat to remind them we didn’t even have to be successful in a lawsuit over their ethics.  The damage to their reputation would come through public persona, just from trying the case in a public forum.
    “That’s great news.  Have you told Nico yet?”  My voice c omes out a little more excited than I had intended it to.
    “No.  I called you first.  If you want to call him and give him the good news, that’s okay with me.” 
    Briefly, I feel badly about wanting to be the one who tells Nico the good news.  But another part of me wants to be the one that pleases him.  William tells me he will fax over the termination paperwork for my review and I agree to look at it as soon as it comes over since they want a response quickly.
    After we hang up, I realize just how clinical our conversation was and I feel badly that our friendship may not make it.

Chapter 16
    Nico
    I easily knock the first two guys Preach puts in the ring with me on their asses.  He’s trying to build my confidence, but I’m losing patience.  “Give me a real partner or I’m done for the day.”
    Preach laughs at me.  “They are real partners, you just got a bug up your ass today.  But let’s keep it there for the next three weeks.”
    It takes less than three minutes to blow through the third sparring partner, and I feel more frustrated than when I started.  Preach is blowing smoke up my ass about how good I look, but I think he’s just giving me weak partners.
    I s pend the next fifteen minutes taking what the jerkoffs in the ring couldn’t handle out on the speed bag.  My knuckles are swollen and bloodied by the time I’ve let off enough steam to take a calm breath. 
    Preach looks at my knuckles and shakes his head.  We’ve been together too long for him not to recognize when something is bothering me.  Sometimes he knows what it is before I do. 
    “What’s eating you son? ” 
    “ Nothing.” 
    “Alright.  How’s things going with Elle?” 
    “ Great.”  I pick up the jump rope and begin to swing it at warp speed.  The rope slips under my feet twice with each hop. 
    “Preach.”  I lower my voice so none of the gym rats can hear me.  “ How long do normal people date before they sleep together?”
    Preach laughs.  He thinks I’m kidding.
    “ No really, how long?”
    “Is that what this is about?  You’re hard up?”  Preach laughs and I get the urge to whip his ass with the