Free Unsurpassed by Charity Parkerson Page B

heart ached over the loss of his warmth.
One day, she swore she’d stop longing for things she couldn’t have. Tears
sprang to Aubree’s eyes adding to her annoyance with herself. Funnily enough,
she’d never realized she was weak until recently. The discovery wasn’t a
pleasant one. With a groan, Aubree slapped her forehead. She was a pathetic
chick with no way to work since her car was still at the hospital.
    “Idiot,” she grumbled, throwing the covers back. Swinging
her legs over the side of the bed, she caught sight of a note leaning against
the lamp on her bedside table. She pressed her lips together in a vain attempt
to suppress a smile. Weak , she reminded herself harshly as she reached
for the paper. Drew’s handwriting was as bold as the rest of him, Aubree
realized as she read the words in front of her.
    Your car is out front. I’ll see you tonight—D.
    Jumping from the bed, Aubree rushed to the window and peeked
out. Sure enough, her car was sitting at the curb. She didn’t know how Drew had
pulled it off, but somehow he always managed perfection. Brushing her
fingertips over her lips, she pictured his kiss. She’d been half-awake, but she
knew it hadn’t been a dream. A nervous flutter began in the pit of her stomach.
The soft, undemanding way his mouth had settled over hers ran through her mind
once more. It was official. She was fucked. Whereas Ryan and Max had stung her
pride with their betrayal, Drew was going to burn her life to the ground if he didn’t
return, except he did.
    Every night after the first one he spent sleeping at her
side, Drew continued turning up at her door. Sometimes she would find him
waiting on her porch. He always carefully avoided her questions on how long
he’d been there. Finally, she worried over it so much she gave him a key. His
triumphant smile told her how easily she’d been maneuvered. Secretly she
wondered who’d lured whom into the other’s constant company. Aubree couldn’t
get enough of his scandalous sense of humor and hot glances, but the bite of
reality kept her from acting on her desires. She’d proven how stupid she could
truly be already.

Chapter Five
     
    The fight Drew trained endlessly for rolled in like a
freight train. Aubree wasn’t prepared. It was facing two fears at once for her.
She had to choke down the memories of the times she spent going to these events
with her father, accepting he was gone, while witnessing Drew under attack.
Pushing those things aside, Aubree concentrated on Drew and refused to show him
how she was really feeling. His room in the back was a private one, but the
sound of the crowd still filled the tiny space reverberating from the walls.
Gigi hovered in the doorway waiting for Aubree to say her goodbyes.
    “Mom knows where your seat is located. She won’t let you get
lost in the mayhem.”
    “Don’t worry over me,” she fussed. Drew leaned in, touching
his forehead to hers. She stared into eyes, determined to be the best damn
cheer section he’d ever had.
    An official poked his head in over Gigi’s shoulder. “It’s
time to get your tape signed off on.”
    “You’re going to win,” Aubree reassured him.
    Drew flashed a confident smile. “I know.” With a crook of
his finger, he called her closer and spoke against her ear. “I feel it’s only
fair to warn you, before the end of this night, I’m going to be inside you and
you’ll never be able have another orgasm without thinking of me.”
    Heat exploded across Aubree’s face and Drew threw his head
back laughing. Punctuating his promise, he touched his lips to hers quickly.
“Now go with Mom. I want to know where you are.”
    Pulling away, Aubree did as he bade and followed Gigi
through the packed aisles until they made their way to the edge of the steel
cage. Finding their seats, Aubree sucked in a deep breath as she sat down,
doing her best not to think about anything. It was hard work making her mind a
blank slate.
    Gigi patted her knee.