Free Hooked (The Submission Fighter Book 1) by Sophia Hampton Page A

her feet. She dangled in the air, not letting go of him or his lips.
     
    The phone buzzed again. Both stopped, looking at each other with knowing eyes, as he placed her down on the ground. She finished slipping on her borrowed heels, and the two exited the gym from the back.
     
    In the parking lot, Micah’s black car was the only one parked there. He rushed to her side to open the door, a grand gesture she couldn’t help but blush over. She navigated, giving him directions to her place and pointing out the diner where she worked as they passed it by.
     
    “Maybe I’ll stop in. I could use some coffee.” He turned and faced her, winking a bit mischievously.
     
    “Don’t waste your time,” she laughed. “Worst coffee in the county by far. Plus, if you’re aiming to scare off Pete, I doubt he’ll be there. He usually doesn’t come in till mid-afternoon, which is when I normally start my shift.” She was right. There was no reason for him to visit her today. Plus, looking at his car and the expensive leather trim, the large stereo hookups, and the newest tech features, she could safely assume that her neighborhood and workplace were not exactly up to par with his own lifestyle.
     
    As they pulled up to the run-down brick apartment building, Alice was suddenly at a loss for words. Micah interjected first. “I’m coming up.”
     
    “What?” She was astounded, as he unbuckled his seatbelt, turned off the car, and walked around to her side to open the door. She sat there frozen, looking up at the man in the early morning dark.
     
    He gestured for her, but she wasn’t sure what she exactly wanted from him, “Micah, you really do not have to go in. Everything’s going to be fine. Caroline is just overreacting. She’s probably in bed with Jace, sending out fake panicked messages and hoping I’d answer.”
     
    “Then, it will be no big deal if I come in then, would it?” He was right, or, at least Alice had hoped he was right. She led him to the building, unlocking the main door and then guiding him up the three flights of stairs to her apartment. With as much effort to keep the noise of the lock from disturbing anyone inside, she slipped in the door with Micah following after.
     
    She took five steps in when she stepped back frightened. On the couch, a strange, unknown body of a man was barely visible, masked by the dark of the room. His snores and murmurs were disturbingly peaceful. Alice crept towards him from behind, wary to step on the creaking floorboards.
     
    A curl of red hair ran down the side of the couch, and the man rolled over. His eyes peeled open slowly and then blinked wildly as they took in the sight of six foot five Micah standing on the opposite side of him. Alice moved backwards, as Pete sprang to his feet.
     
    “What the fuck! What the fuck, Alice!” He screamed loudly as the room next to her also woke up with movement and voices. Alice could hear Jace and Caroline argue over turning on the lamp light. The two stormed out of the room, Caroline only in her bra and panties, and Jace in a pair of boxer briefs.
     
    The five of them looked at one another with Alice being the dead center of attention. Micah broke the tension. “Alice, go to your room so that you can get ready for work.” His command was harsh and authoritative, but she frankly found some form of comfort in someone telling her what needed to be done. She nodded, as tears formed in the corner of her eyes.
     
    She walked towards her room with Micah and Caroline following. The other two men watched them walk away with stunned and bitter faces. From his place on the couch, Pete practically seethed with anger once more.
     
    As the door slammed, Caroline walked quickly towards Alice, her arms crossed over her chest and a concerned look on her face. “Alice!” she exclaimed. “Where the hell have you been?” She stopped short when she saw Micah standing next to her roommate. “Oh Christ , Allie, what is he doing