Training the SECRET (Corrigan & Co #6) Page 13

  “I may have felt like you were behaving like those women had towards me, but I realized after talking to Aiden, that you were different.”

  “Aiden had to tell you that?”

  Fuck. “I was in a bad place and needed some sense knocked into me. I would’ve come to my senses eventually.”

  “Or maybe you wouldn’t have, and you would’ve thought I was just some stupid bitch who just cared about the size of your package.”

  “No. You didn’t chase me for two years just for my cock. I know that. I just had a rough time believing you could really want a fucked-up soldier who had women paying to suck him off twice a night.”

  “I would’ve probably been intimidated had I known, but I would’ve still wanted you. I can’t imagine not wanting you.”

  Aw hell, I hadn’t even thought about that angle on things. “You have nothing to be intimidated by. From those women, or the ones who came after. You know what you do to me. No one else has even come close to making me feel the way you do. In or out of bed.”

  “It’s nice to hear it.”

  “I’ll say it as often as you want.”

  “Does that mean you forgive me?”

  “Was there ever any doubt that I would?”

  “Yes.”

  It’s time for me to use Aiden’s advice, because that cocky bastard is right. “I hate that you know. I’ll readily admit that. I should’ve told you so you didn’t have to dig. I would still appreciate it if you stopped now, and wait for me to be ready to tell you anything else.”

  “I’ll try my best, Soldier, as long as you promise that I’ll one day know everything.”

  “I promise.”

  “Good. Now we can talk about other things.”

  “Such as?”

  “You can really fight now.”

  “Not what I was hoping for, but I see you’ve figured out even more than Aiden let on.”

  “Yes. I realized it when she said what happened if you lost.”

  “I only lost two matches. It was two too many, but that was it.”

  “If she wasn’t already dead, I’d kill her.”

  “I know.”

  “We got Alberto his own apartment, and Reina’s taking care of everyone else, too.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Thank Reina.”

  “But you asked her to do it. So again, thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I’d like to hold you tonight if that’s okay.”

  “Are you asking me to cuddle with you, Nate Anderson?”

  “Why yes I am, Jade Garrett.”

  “Do we need to put on a chick flick?”

  “Action movie. Superheroes blowing up shit. That’s what we’re putting on.”

  “Fine.”

  “Don’t act like you don’t love them, too.”

  “I love you.”

  “And superhero movies. Come on, you can say it.”

  “Fine. I love seeing Chris Evans in his Captain America costume. Oh, and Chris Hemsworth as Thor. Don’t you just love his hammer?”

  “I have a better hammer.”

  “Sure.”

  “You are so mean.”

  “You’re the one who wanted to watch a superhero movie.”

  “And you’re the one who I’m about to put over my knee.”

  “That is so not gonna happen. Other things could, though.”

  “You can’t say things like that to me when I was only planning on cuddling with you tonight.”

  “We can cuddle…afterthe movie.”

  I pick her up and throw her over my shoulder as I smack her ass. I carry her downstairs and toss her onto her couch as she squeals. Once the movie is on, I pull her into my arms, and hold her tight until we both fall asleep. It’s one of the best nights of my life, because despite my anger, a weight has been lifted off of me from seeing her treating me the same as she always has. And I didn’t think that would ever be possible if she knew.

  Chapter 15

  Jade

  Almost everyone we know has flown in for Nate’s fight. Reina and Matt had some Corrigan business that had to be taken care of, but they’re going to watch from home and then come out on the weekend for the party. Since Al is a friend of his, Nate said we should throw a party regardless of who wins.

  My dad and Heath are flying out with them, too. They wanted to be at the fight, but the doctors said that they’d prefer it if he didn’t. Since he’s being a good patient and listening to them, he compromised and got permission to attend the party.

  The extra security we hired is coming in handy. Especially when Zack, Kace, Wayne, and Brett arrive. One football player and a boy band can apparently cause a frenzy anywhere. Even Miles gets a few cheers, and he only played in a few MLB games. It’s just insane when you think about it, which is why I try not to.

  Aiden’s in with Nate, getting him ready. Brent wanted to be in there as well, but he was told no. Things are still pretty frosty between the guys, and if I’m being honest, I feel the same way. I’ve been trying to put that aside because I need the gym to flourish, but the anger I feel towards him is still there.

  I’ve managed to ignore him for the last week and a half by working on all the repairs and painting that I wanted to finish. With Ellie and Aiden’s help, I got everything done while Nate trained. He really didn’t need me; although, I did run over every once in a while and yell at him to work his ass harder. That usually resulted in him working me harder at night when we got home. Which was perfectly fine by me.

  He still hasn’t talked to me about everything I know, but I won’t push him for that. I thought being kidnapped was bad, but I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to have lived through what he did. I wish he could see how strong and brave he is, but I understand a little better why he doesn’t.

  Because I’m trying to respect his privacy, I told Reina that I don’t want to know anything about what she learns from the boys and men who were liberated. I’ve worked on enough missions with girls in similar situations to be able to guess at some things, but that’s it. I’ll admit that I was never expecting to find out that there was something like this involving guys. This has served to show me and my friends that we need to keep our minds open even wider than they already are. It’s not only women who are victimized in the sex trade, it’s men, too. A smaller percentage, but no less of an important one.

  “Jade? Nate would like to see you now,” Aiden tells me, poking his head out of the door.

  I walk down the hall, and am surprised when he walks out while I walk in. He winks at me, and then closes the door. It’s fifteen minutes to the fight, and he should be with Nate.

  “Hi Angel, will you do me a favor?”

  “What do you need that Aiden can’t do?”

  “I need you to oil me up.”

  “You don’t have to go out there like that.”

  “I’m not going to. I’ll have you wipe it off once you’re done, but I-I need you to do it.”

  My heart hurts when I realize what he’s asking. He wants me to erase his bad memories before he goes out there. I walk over and take his face in my hands before kissing him softly. Then he stands as I pick up the bottle of baby oil, and start to swirl it over his body as I speak to him.

  “I love you,” I say as I run my hands over his arms. “I love you.”

  I say those three words over and over again as I cover every inch of him. His eyes are closed while I do it, and I can feel him relax with every word. Once I’m done, he holds my hands for a moment, and then nods before releasing them. I grab the towel next to him and wipe it off. I say the words again as I do this, until I feel his muscles completely go lax.

  He grabs me then, and practically throws me on the table. Moving to stand between my knees at the end. “I need to fuck you, Jade. Hard and rough.”

  “Yes.”

  The table is a little too low, but he has a plan for that. “Get on your hands and knees.”

  I do as h
e asks, and then he pushes my dress up past my hips. I was planning on a t-shirt and jeans, but Stella had other ideas. I’m in a black tank dress that has vertical lines of sparkly stuff that look like radio waves, and a little fringe on the bottom. Nate growled when he saw me in it earlier. Now he’s rubbing his hands over my ass as I arch my back.

  “I want to tear this thong off of you, but I’ll never be able to concentrate if I know you’re out there, surrounded by men, and wearing no panties.”

  “Push it aside.”

  He does, and rubs me with his fingers for a moment as I hold back a moan. “You’re already wet and ready for me. Did having your hands on me do that?”

  “No.”

  He slides into me as he’s talking, holding my hips tight, and nibbling on my ear. “What did it then? What turned you on so much that I’m practically sliding out of you as you soak my cock?”

  “Seeing you walk down the stairs earlier with your hair wet, and your shirt molded to your damn abs. And knowing it was for me. You were doing this for me.”

  “Always, Angel. Always for you.”

  He slides a hand into the top of my dress so he can play with my tits, and as he’s pinching my nipple, I can feel myself building. “Nate.”

  “I can feel it. You’re close. Come for me. Come hard and let me feel it.”

  I do, and he starts to thrust harder into me. Seconds after I fall limp, he spills himself in me with a violent shudder. He wraps his arms around me as he lays me down, his head resting on my spine and whispering his love for me over and over again. I want to hold him back, but I can’t while I’m facing away from him. I’ll need to use my words.

  “Are you okay, Soldier?”

  “Better than okay.”

  “You’re sure?”

  He turns me over then so he can look me in the eye. “Yes. I’m sure. Thank you.”

  I know that he’s thanking me for erasing more memories, and I kiss him again. “I would’ve gotten on my knees. I still can.”

  “No. You’re better than that.”

  “I do it all the time, Nate. We both know that.”

  “When we’re alone at home, yes, but not here. Never here.”

  “Never?”

  “Never.”

  “We should both clean up.”

  “You’re better than what I just did to you. I’m sorry,” he says as we use the towel I wiped him off with.

  “Don’t. You have a fight to win. And I wasn’t complaining at all. I’m still not. I loved it. I always love it with you. The place doesn’t matter to me, but it mattered to you tonight. I’m glad I could help you.”

  “You always help me.”

  “Even when we’re fighting.”

  “Yeah. Even then.”

  “You say the best things sometimes.”

  “It’s a gift.”

  We both burst out laughing as he holds me tight. There’s a short knock at the door, and then Aiden comes in. “It’s almost time.”

  “I should go out to my seat.”

  “After you walk out with me, you can sit down.”

  “You want me to walk out with you?”

  “If that’s okay.”

  “It’s more than okay.”

  Aiden shakes his head. “You two are so cute when you’re like this. And scary when you’re fighting.”

  “Get used to it. Ellie’s just as strong willed as I am.”

  “Oh, I know. The make-up sex is great, though.”

  “I could tell her that, and then you’d get none.”

  “You wouldn’t do that to me.”

  “Probably not.”

  “Aww come on, J. I just gave you time alone with Nate when everyone wanted in.”

  “Fine. We’re even then.”

  “Deal.”

  “I’m really glad you two have come to an agreement, but can we get out in the tunnel because I’m pretty sure my music’s about to start?”

  “So demanding, Soldier,” I say as we walk out of the room hand in hand.

  “And you love it.”

  I just smile at him, and then I hear the cheers and screams. Turning, I see the women who have gotten through security and are glaring at me because Nate’s got a firm grip on my hand. I also see the ones who don’t care that we’re holding hands and are trying to reach for him. He dodges them all, until one particularly aggressive woman jumps into his path.

  “How much for a suck, Nate?”

  “I will hurt you if you don’t back the fuck off,” I tell her before he can say anything.

  She can tell that I’m not kidding, and backs away. I can see that’s it’s affected him, though. His walk isn’t as cocky, and his hand is squeezing mine even harder. I can’t do anything about it in here, because there are too many people, but I need to talk to him before he gets into that cage.

  We make it to the edge of the tunnel just as his music starts to play. I have to almost run to keep up with him as he rushes forward. I’m afraid I’ll lose his hand, but he tugs me forward and puts his arm around my waist, slowing slightly to make it more comfortable for me. He lets me go at the cage so he can spin around with his hands in the air. I take that time to make sure his station is all prepped and ready. I left specific instructions, and Ellie promised to check on it, but I’m a little OCD when it comes to Nate’s well-being.

  “Everything good, Angel?” he asks from behind me.

  “No,” I say, turning and pulling him down to me. “Think about now, Soldier. No one who matters cares about the past.”

  He kisses me passionately, possessing and claiming me in front of the roaring crowd. “Thank you.”

  I see the fire and swagger come back to him, and I know this fight is his. I’ve only seen Al fight on tape, but I can’t imagine that he—or anyone else—could beat Nate when he’s in his zone. It’s crazy hot when he’s directing that energy to me in a sexual way, but in fighting mode, he’s fucking scary. The door opens, and he shoots me one last smile before walking through it.

  * * *

  Nate

  The fight is going a little too well. After what happened with the woman in the tunnel, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to fight at all. Jade took care of that—and me—like she always does. I know I’m in the best shape of my life, and I know so much more than I did as a teenager. But I should still not be doing so well against Al. He came up with me, and knows how I fight, so he should be anticipating everything I do instead of letting me hit him.

  I pull him close, making it look like we’re still fighting. “Stop letting me win, asshole.”

  “Your friends…what they did for me.”

  “Has nothing to do with what’s going on in this cage.”

  “I owe you.”

  “Nothing. You owe me nothing. I’m the one who got out and left you behind.”

  He was a year younger and couldn’t join the military with me. I know Cecile pulled her leash tighter around him, and he couldn’t do what I did, even when he was old enough. She broke him too badly.

  “She would’ve destroyed you, Nate. You were already turning into a shell of who you’d been, and she was going to try and take even more from you. If you hadn’t gotten out before she started letting the men have you, you’d be dead—from your own hand—already. We both know it. She was never going to stop using her ‘star’ for more and more.”

  The ref breaks us up, and we each throw some more punches and kicks. Neither one of us is fully in it now, as I’m focused on wanting to talk to him some more. I can’t pull him in again too soon, or everyone will start getting suspicious. I get in some good shots, as does he, before he pulls me close enough so we can talk again.

  “Watch out for Brent Sutter. He’s bad news man, real bad news. Word on the street is that he fucked your woman, and when she went back to you, he re-instated the bounty on her head.”

  “Fucking bastard. He kissed Jade, and she told him no, but let him keep his job.”

  “He doesn’t need that job, and that’s all
I can tell you.”

  “Thanks. Now fight me.”

  We break apart, and then it’s finally on. He’s gotten better because he had to in order to survive, so we’re pretty evenly matched like we were all those years ago. I know I’m going to win now, because I need one win that’s just for me. Yeah, I’m helping Jade, but she’ll jump into my arms afterward no matter what happens. I know he needs a win, too, but this will not be his last fight.

  He can sense my mood, or maybe he backs off a little again. I don’t take time to analyze it as he falls to the ground, and I follow him down. I get him into a hold, and apply enough pressure to make it almost impossible for him to keep fighting. He lasts longer than most men, but he does eventually tap the mat.

  The cage opens, and there’s my girl, launching herself at me in her fancy dress and all. She does make the one concession to not wrap her legs around me, and give everyone a show, but we’re locked together. The ref tries to pull us apart, but I only let him have my arm to raise while I keep the rest of my body—and my mouth—plastered to Jade. She finally pulls away, and smiles shyly at me.

  “Your public wants you too.”

  “So?”

  “Go on. I’ll be right here waiting.”

  “You better be.”

  I kiss her once more, and then walk around the ring. Al and I do a man hug, and then I grab Jade’s hand and go out into the arena. I use my other hand to hold my fist in the air as I circle the outside of the cage. I also high five and shake hands with people until it gets to be a little too much. Security pulls Jade away first, and I freak out when her hand isn’t in mine. I know she can take care of herself, but I want her next to me. I get away as quickly as possible and run to the tunnel. She’s waiting inside for me, and I sigh in relief.

  “I knew you’d be worried,” she says as she takes my hand again.

  “I was. I know you could kick some ass, but the crowd is big, and a little crazy right now.”

  “Is it always like this?” she asks as we walk towards the room.

  “Pretty much.”

  “You really are a god to them.”

  I shrug. “I guess, but all I want is to be your boyfriend.”