1 Last Shot (The Fight Game, #4)

by Nikki Castle

"Didn't realize you were checking me out then or now, princess." "It's pretty impossible not to," she whispers, her cheeks heating.

"This one time, Allie Mendoza invited me to her eighth birthday party at a nail salon," Isabella chirps, oblivious to my mounting rage. "But my mom said I was too young to have painted nails, so she didn't let me get mine done. So, I'm pretty sure my trauma is worse than yours."

"That's definitely worse than mine, princess," I say with a chuckle. "I'm surprised you survived that. You must've been the strongest girl in first grade."

And when she leans her head on my shoulder, it doesn't even occur to me to put space back between us.

"You play the part, but it's just an act, isn't it? Underneath all that lace and sweetness, you're actually a tigress. You're strong, and passionate, and you’re so fucking sexy."

"How many people have seen that deep, Isabella? How many people know the real you?"

"N-not many," she stammers. "People always just see the ballet dancer." "A travesty," I murmur. "They're missing the best parts of you." "But you've never seen me dance," she blurts out, a confused look on her face. I shrug. "Doesn't matter. You could be the greatest dancer that ever lived, and I'd still think the rest of you was more valuable."

"You're getting way too comfortable making fun of me, princess," I growl, then spank her again.

I want Isabella so fucking badly, but even the thought of her doing something regrettable makes me want to puke.

That dark little voice is telling me again that I don’t deserve someone as pure as Isabella, that she’d never want someone like me, especially after everything I told her– Those thoughts disappear in a wisp of smoke the second Isabella’s lips land on mine.

“Isabella, I—” I choke on my words again when she wraps a hand around the base and squeezes. “Fuck, princess, I'm the one that's supposed to be on my knees.”

"I control when you come, and how hard. And right now, I want you to take my fingers like a good fucking girl and come all over my hand. Understood?"

Sex has always ever been a physical release. That’s it. This wasn’t that.

"Hi, princess," he rumbles in that gravelly voice. I'm far too well-kissed to respond to that.

I couldn't stop myself from running my hands over his abs even if I wanted to. "Isabella," he growls, his body stiffening. "Go any lower and we might not even make it back to the apartment."

"Have you ever let anyone drive your bike?" He cocks his head in thought. "No one's ever asked." "Who would have the balls to ask?" I ask with a chuckle. "Your balls are plenty big, princess." A proud smile stretches across my face. “Do you want to learn?” he asks after a slight pause. “I can teach you.” “Really?” I squeal, the idea of spending more time with Kane immediately shaking away any lingering fears of his motorcycle. "Oh my God, I would love that. Yes! Please!"

Kane's laugh rolls through me. God, I love the feel of him laughing.

And as I do a lap, and then another, around the parking lot, wind in my face and Kane's warmth pressed against my back, I know this is truly my paradise. This is what peace feels like.

“Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to make you come on my fingers, and then on my cock. Then I’m going to take you out to get food before I have to go to work. Because I don’t just want to fuck you, Isabella. I know exactly what you were thinking last night, and I’m telling you right now, you’re not just a convenient piece of ass to me. Understood?”

“Tell me so I can fuck you without worrying about seeing that look on your face again.” “Okay, okay,” I gasp. My hips bump into his fingers, silently asking for more. “I understand. Please, just… please.” I can feel his lips curve into a smile against my ear. “You beg so prettily, princess.”

"Lift up for me, princess," he orders. "Feet on the pedals, hands on the handlebars. Hold yourself up for me so I can settle that sweet pussy in my lap."

"Give me one more, princess,” Kane growls into my skin. “Come all over my bike for me. I want it to be the only thing I can think of every time I ride it from now on."

"You make me sound like a dog. I don't need you to feed me." He smirks and leans forward to nip my lip before soothing it with a kiss. "But I like feeding you." When he pulls away with an odd look in his eyes, I almost wonder if that translates to I like taking care of you.

He opens his mouth to say something, to express his fury verbally before showing it physically— But then he meets my eyes. And he stops.

"Such a pretty little tease,"

So, I stand and press a chaste kiss to Kane’s cheek before saying, "Thank you for dinner." His expression softens at that. “So polite,” he murmurs. And when he takes my mouth in a kiss, there’s none of the chasteness that mine had.

We have complete opposite schedules, and it's making me pissy as fuck.

My knock on her front door sounds loud and desperate to my ears, but I'm beyond caring. It's been five days since I've seen her.

"I was thinking maybe I could see you in the mornings before you go to work," I suggest tentatively. "I could make you breakfast, even."

If he wanted to he would 👏🏻

If this is all the time I get with her, I want all of it.

"You wouldn't pay to watch me strip?" I tease with a pretend pout. I'm met with a hard look. "Princess, I'd give my left arm to watch you strip. But I'd pay ten times that to make sure no one else ever gets to."

"There's a yoga thing I want to try," I finally say. "It's on Sunday morning." Kane shrugs. "Okay. Let's do it." I bite into my lip again. "It's goat yoga." "Absolutely not." I shift closer and wrap my arms around his neck. "But it'll be so much fun, it's just yoga with baby goats. They're like puppies! And you love puppies." He gives me a hard stare. "I love Oscar. There's a difference." I pout. And laugh internally when Kane visibly softens at the sight. I press a kiss to his jaw, my hips involuntarily shifting closer. "Please? I've always wanted to try it." His grip tightens on my waist as he pulls me closer. "You're playing dirty, princess."

I open my mouth to say yes, of course I want you to get this thing off me, when suddenly I feel a new weight on my shoulders. Turning my head, I spot a second goat standing behind me with his tiny hooves on my shoulders. "You have got to be kidding me."

Isabella still has a huge smile on her face when we exit the fenced in area. It's been there since I knocked on her door at 8 a.m. this morning. Somewhere along the way, it became my favorite sight in the world.

And yet, when I look over at Isabella, I feel… peace. I feel peace in a way that I've never experienced before.

He starts to rub my ankle, leaving me to stare thoughtfully at the side of his face. I wonder if he even notices he always massages my left ankle—the hurt ankle.

"What on earth does unhappy Kane look like?" I wonder sarcastically as I lean down to pull the pan out and set it on the stovetop. I'm so mesmerized by the sight of our cheesy, perfect meal, I don't realize Kane has stepped up behind me until his arms go around my waist. He tightens his grip and nuzzles into my neck, and his voice is quiet when he says, "It's getting harder and harder to remember."

“And anyway, I wouldn’t let anything happen to her,”

“Good man. A father wants to hear that someone like you is protecting his daughter.”

“You never noticed that he only likes the people you like?”

“You think I like you, princess?” All the air goes out of my lungs at the way he looks at me. “Maybe a little,” I breathe.

She's incredible, not just her dancing. She's kind, and hard-working, and so goddamn strong for creating a whole new life for herself in this city.

I've been stuck for so long in the now, focused so much on just surviving today, that it never occurred to me to look at tomorrow. Didn't think I even could.

I make her happy.

She's smiling again, and it hits me that I'm going to be a fucking pushover when it comes to what I'm willing to do for that smile.

"You never get dances from the girls?" she murmurs, her hands landing on my shoulders. I can't even remember the name of another girl. "Never." She hums thoughtfully, her hips starting to roll in a circle. My dick hardens instantly. I think I like jealous Isabella.

“You want to know if this is casual, Isabella? Let me answer that very clearly for you.”

"Oh my God," I hiccup. "Why does that feel good?" Kane's tongue leaves me only long enough to answer. "Because I was made to bring you pleasure."

And when I read the word he marked me with, my body instantly lights with another type of fire. Mine.

“You’re staring, princess.” “God, you’re hot,”