Free Dirty Love (Fighting Dirty Series Book 1) by Glenna Mayanrd Page A

now, and to add to my humiliation Brad is standing at the top of the stairs in his boxers.
    He turns the light on that is centered over the middle of the stairway. “Brandi is that you?”
    “Yeah,” I croak hobbling to the couch in the living room.
    Royce comes running down the stairs wiping sleep from his eyes. It comforts me to no end to know that the moan I was hearing wasn’t coming from his room. I am a perfect example of what happens when you assume things. “Babe, not that I’m not glad to see you, but what are you doing?”
    “I changed my mind. I was going to surprise you and I heard a woman, and I…”
    “You thought I had someone over?”  Royce is kneeling in front of me and he takes my hands. “I told you I want us to work. I need you to trust me. Brad’s girlfriend Kelsey is staying over.”
    “I know. I’m sorry it was wrong of me to assume.” I twist my ankle. It’s feeling stiff, and the laces of my shoe is feeling tight, it’s pinching my skin. A hiss of discomfort leaves my lips as Royce turns his attention to my swelling ankle.
    He turns on the side table lamp and inspects my aching foot. “I think you just twisted it, but if you want me to take you to the emergency room I will.”
    “I just want to lie next to you. Can we just go to bed?”
    “Yeah but you better let me get some ice on that ankle.”
    I still want to say something about what Parker told me, but Royce talked me into taking a prescription painkiller and it is knocking me off my ass.
    **
    “I really like waking up with you in my bed. I may not let you out of it.” Royce has his head lying on my breasts. It does feel right being here with him. Nothing happened last night other than him giving me a rough time for suspecting the worst of him.
    “Well, I do have the next three days off.”
    “Don’t tempt me to hold you here. Trust me I want to but I have training all week.  You could stay here though, if Kline is still throwing a rager. Or you could stay because you want to. It would be really nice to come home to you waiting for me.”
    My ankle feels so stiff; it hurts to stretch. I let out a low whimper. “That’s it. I’m taking today off so I can take care of you.”
    “I’ll be fine really. But I appreciate the offer. It is tempting, but I don’t want you missing out on your workouts because I am a big baby.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “I’m sure.” He rolls over on top of me supporting his weight with his knees planted on each side of me.
    “At least let me treat you to breakfast and a shower.” He kisses up my throat to the corner of my mouth rubbing his stubble against my jaw.
    “Deal.”
    Nothing has really changed between us. There is still so much we need to talk about, but being here with him feels so right.
    **
    Royce is standing behind me in the shower. I can tell he is trying so hard to restrain himself by being on his best behavior. I agreed to allow him to help me shower only if we stay in our underwear. The heat from the shower isn’t the only thing making it hot in here, the heat radiating off his body is making it hard for me not to turn around and delve my tongue in his mouth. The temptation to run my fingers through his hair and let him do all the things he used to is hard to resist.
    Royce closes the gap between us and the touch of his flesh to mine sets me ablaze with want. The flame is flickering between my thighs as he kisses the back of my neck so lightly it is barely a whisper. His hands skillfully wash my arms in such a way I am about to crack and let him have me. The water runs over me, each drop is like needles, my skin is so sensitive. My breasts have grown heavy and his muscles are hard —tense. Yet he remains calm and restraining from what he wants.
    “How’s your foot,” I nearly jump at his deep husky voice laced with desire. My head is swimming with images of him pressing me against the cool tile of the shower wall, his smell envelopes me in a blanket. The steam is