Free BEAST (MMA Bad Boys Book 1) by L. Grubb

sight and no smudges or smears are atop the counters. Jase takes care of his home and is proud of his bachelor pad, as he calls it. It’s the complete opposite of my apartment but this place is welcoming in its own way, even with all the dark colours on the walls and floors.
    “Is there something you wanted or are you going to stare around my house a little longer like you’ve never been here before?” Jase chuckles as he walks by, sweeping the remote control of the handmade bass drum coffee table and turning the TV off.
    “Carlotta.” My jaw flexes as I say her name, loving the way it sounds coming from my mouth.
    “What about her?” Jase eyes me speculatively from across the room, folding his arms across his chest. “What have you done, Beast?”
    “I kissed her!” I throw my hands in the air before scrubbing them down my face. “I don’t know what the fuck came over me. You know as well as I do that I can’t bring her into my mess of a life. Carlos would eat her alive and spit her out for his dogs.” The thought of Carlos getting a sniff of this has my chest constricting with panic.
    “Beast.” Jase shakes his head from side to side, muttering curses. “You’re a fucking bellend. A complete and utter tosser.”
    “Don’t you think I already know that?” It’s funny when Jase calls names because he’s not originally British, he’s from America. Yet, even though he’s been here since when we started secondary school together, he still has a strong Yankee accent. He loves the British lingo though and uses it wherever he can and it’s fucking hilarious to hear.
    “How, dude? Seriously, you only saw her last night and she fucking hated you.” That makes him giggle, because let’s face it, no woman hates me.
    “She left her phone in my Ma’s restaurant, I got her address from the system at the warehouse and went to give it to her. I didn’t expect her to have just showered and in nothing but a robe. Those legs….” I trail off when he holds his hands up and a pained expression on his face.
    “Please…I don’t need a visual. I love the girl to pieces, a good friend. I guess you really have no control over your dick.”
    “If that were the case, Jase, I wouldn’t have stopped at just a kiss.” Come to think of it, I wasn’t the one that wanted that to end. Or was it me? I can’t remember now. “Okay, you have a point. But come on, she’s fucking hot, mate.”
    “Maybe, but you still can’t.” Jase says looking apologetically at me. “I know it pains you not to have what you want but think with the head on top of your shoulders for once.” Jase and Roofie are the only people in the world that know the predicament I’m in. The clusterfuck I’m in would be more accurate. They know I need to get out of MMA for my sanity. But they know it’s impossible. Need and want are different things. I want to stay in it for the money and until I reach the fucking top, make shit more legalised, but until then I have to grit my teeth and bare the fucking bullshit that Carlos reigns down on me. He knows I’m going to take his place one day and that idea fucks with his head. It will fucking happen though, I’m the best there is and he knows it.
    “I know, buddy, I know. I just need to avoid her like the plague.” I don’t want to but I have to. Her safety is paramount after all.
    “You can have any ring girl or bar fly you want, Beast. Don’t go for the good ones.” Jase turns and heads to the fridge. “Beer?”
    “Yeah. I sure as fuck need one.” I mutter the last bit and he doesn’t show any indication of hearing me. Not that I give a shit to be honest.
    “Pub tonight?” Jase hands me the beer with the cap already tossed away and I swig back half of it and sigh as the cold liquid sinks to my stomach.
    “Stupid question.” We spend an hour going over our fight schedules for the next two weeks before I leave to get a shower at home.

    The thought of the kiss with Beast from earlier