Free Sneak Attack by Cari Quinn

voice.
    “I’ll handle it. Thank you for offering.” I leaned up and cupped his chin, holding his gaze as our mouths met. “Go sweat with Evie. And think of me sucking your cock. And you know, maybe actually getting to finish.”
    He laughed and gave me a light push. “Later.”
    Even after he’d gone, the room echoed with his laughter. I wrapped myself in that sound, in the scent of his sweat and his aftershave clinging to my skin.
    Then I dug out my phone and tapped out a reply to the message I’d received yesterday. I wasn’t sure the step I was about to take was the right one, but I was sick and tired of stasis.
    Tray was right. It was time to see what would happen next.
    I see you too.

6
    Tray
    A quick shower later , I found Evie on the weight bench, doing repetitions with methodical precision. She didn’t sit up when I sprawled on the floor at her side. Didn’t so much as look my way until she’d finished ten more steady reps.
    “Nice,” I said when she finally let the bar clatter down.
    “Not good enough.” She huffed out a breath and readjusted her ponytail, throwing her leg over the bench to face me. “I used to do three times that without stopping.”
    I narrowed my eyes at the faded wound curving along the side of her face. Curiosity was riding me hard. I had some experience with scars myself. “That must’ve been some injury.”
    Instead of trying to hide it, she lifted her chin. “It could’ve been worse.”
    Instant empathy flowed through me, as well as an abiding respect. Jaw fractures or breaks were pretty fucking bad. “I have one too.” I tapped the faint surgical lines next to my right eye. “Eye socket fracture. Hurt like a mother. Still better than what you had.”
    “Seeing’s important, don’t you think?”
    “So’s eating. And talking.” I thought of Mia and couldn’t help the smile. Damn that woman. “And kissing.”
    And other things I wouldn’t mention but craved from merely the thought.
    “Speaking of kissing, you’re a wee bit more cheerful than you were when you walked out. I can’t imagine how that occurred, since you walked out with a snarling—”
    “Hey, watch it. She’s my snarler.”
    “My condolences.” Evie dangled her arms between her knees. “So should you thank me for getting lucky?”
    “Nah. You’d be surprised, we managed to have sex before you ever showed up. Speaking of showing up,” I said, making her laugh at my usage of her conversational segue, “tell me more about that scar and why you’re in my gym. In America, even.”
    “Blimey, you ask a lot of questions.”
    I looped my arms around one of my knees. “We’re a comprehensive gym.”
    “Guess so.”
    “I can’t help you without your history.”
    “Help me? I don’t need help. I need a good trainer, someone who can take me back to the level I was at when I got hurt and then past it. I want to get back on top.”
    On top of what? Underground fighting? Professional? She didn’t seem too forthcoming but my Google Fu would kick the ass of her reluctance. Assuming there was any information on her to be found. “Okay. We can do that. First I need some background, then we’ll—”
    “Pardon me for saying so, but from what I read here while you were emptying your stones,” she waved her phone, “I’m not sure a guy who lost his last fight to some wet behind the ears fighter then quit at twenty-three is exactly what I’m looking for, skill-wise.”
    Laughter rumbled through my chest. “Oh yeah, you and Mia are either going to be best friends or kill each other.”
    “Best friends? Hardly.” She sniffed. “I already have a best friend and she’d chew up and spit out your girl.”
    Amused by her, I itched my side. Even through my shirt, I felt the claw marks from Mia’s ride last night. “You can have more than one.”
    “Nah. In general, girls are bitches.”
    “So are men.”
    “True enough. But men know where to draw the line. Bros before hoes.” She shrugged.