Training the SECRET (Corrigan & Co #6) Read online

  “Yes, she does.”

  “You ready to fight, Nate? Because those guys in there are going to make a play.”

  “He doesn’t need to fight. I’m going home with him tonight, and every night. So the boys can play all they want, but they won’t win.”

  “Let the fun begin,” Heath says with a chuckle. “I wasn’t expecting a show tonight, but I’m not complaining.”

  He holds the door open, and Jade walks in. All conversation comes to a stop as everyone sees her like they never have before. I place my hand on her waist as I glare at all the wolfish looks coming her way. She leans into me and places her hand over mine. Until she sees my surprise that is.

  “El? Oh my God!” she says, running to her best friend and hugging her tight.

  “Hi, J. I missed you so much.”

  “How are you here?”

  “Nate called and told me there was a party I couldn’t miss tonight.”

  “Did he now?” she asks, turning to blow me a kiss. I catch it and blow one back to her. “How long can you stay?”

  “As long as you need me to. Reina said I’m cleared for you.”

  “I thought she’d be pissed.”

  “We’ll talk more about that later. Show me around.”

  They walk off, arm in arm, as every eye in the place follows them. Ellie’s not stacked like Jade, but she rocks what she’s got, and looks damn fine doing it. The two of them are a force to be reckoned with—in more ways than one.

  “It was good of you to get Ellie here. I can see Jade looking happier already,” Hunt says, coming up beside me.

  “If you want her to be happy, you’ll go along with the plan she wants to talk to you about.”

  “I have a feeling I’m not going to like her plan.”

  “I doubt you will, but it’s what she needs. So you’ll do it.”

  “Yeah, I’d do pretty much anything she asked me to.”

  “So would I.”

  “I believe that, Nate. I probably shouldn’t, but I do.”

  “I’m going to do everything I can to earn the faith that you’ve placed in me. I promise you that.”

  “What’s going on over here? The two of you look way too serious for a party,” Jade says, coming up and grabbing both of our hands.

  “We were just talking about how much we love you.”

  “I love you too, Daddy.”

  “I also told your dad that you have a plan you want to talk to him about tomorrow.”

  “You told him? How could you tell him?” she asks, hitting me on the arm.

  “I didn’t tell him the plan. Just that you had one.”

  “Oh. Sorry.”

  “I never taught you to hit first, and ask second. Even if you did grow up in this gym.”

  “He brings it out in me.”

  “I like her feisty, Hunt. She can hit me whenever she wants,” I tell him with a laugh as she sticks her tongue out at me.

  “TMI,” Ellie says with a laugh, making Jade blush all over again.

  I pull her to me and shake with laughter as she buries her head in my chest. “I think I’ll just die of embarrassment now,” she whispers in my ear.

  “Don’t do that. I have plans for when we get home. Hot, sexy plans.”

  “My dad is right next to us.”

  “That’s why I’m whispering these things to you.”

  “Such a gentleman.”

  “Why yes I am.”

  “You really are,” she says as she snuggles into me.

  “You two are really adorable. I never thought I’d use that word about you, but you really are,” Ellie informs us.

  “We could be adorable, too,” one of the young fighters says to her as he walks up with some swagger in his step.

  “No thank you.”

  “What? You got a better offer?”

  “Yes. She does,” Aiden says, appearing out of nowhere and putting his arm around her.

  “Aid,” she gasps.

  That’s all she gets out as he pulls her into a kiss that’s meant to be a show. He’s effectively claiming her in front of this room. Now, he just needs to claim her for real. I’ve missed too much time with Jade, and Aiden’s been doing the same with Ellie. We know each other’s secrets, so I get it. But if I’ve learned anything, nothing is bad enough to keep you from the woman you love. Nothing.

  “You’re still here?” Jade asks him once they come up for air.

  “Did you really think I’d put in a crazy security system for you and then just leave you here alone?”

  “Yes.”

  He nods. “I guess I deserve that. But now you know I wouldn’t.”

  “Admit it, bro,” I tell him.

  He glares at me for a second, but gives in. “I also stayed around because I knew El would find you, and I had to make sure she’d be safe, too.”

  “I thought you couldn’t be with me.”

  “I can’t, but I told you I love you. No matter how bad my behavior is, that’s true. I won’t sit by while you walk into a dangerous situation.”

  “I always walk into dangerous situations. It’s my job.”

  He looks at me, and I give a slight nod. He needs to tell her. “I’ve been there for every one since we met. I’ve stayed in the background because you didn’t need me, but if anything had gone wrong, I was there.”

  “Oh my God. You did that for me?”

  “Yes. But I can’t stay and have a nice, sweet relationship with you like these two are doing. I just can’t.”

  “But you’re here now.”

  “I am.”

  “Can you just come around every once in a while at least, if you can’t stay in Vegas with me? I mean, I want it all. I won’t lie about that. I can wait for you to be ready if you can just give me something.”

  “I may never be ready.”

  “Well, I’d rather have at least a part of you than none of you.”

  “You have me, babe. I’m yours and that’s not going to change. Even if I can’t be with you.”

  “I have you when you’re with other women?”

  “I haven’t been with anyone else since that night when we were together. Swear.”

  It’s Ellie who grabs him now, kissing him like her life depends on it. He fists her long hair in his hands, and I’m honestly thinking that they’re going to get down to it right here and now. Hunt apparently feels the same way, since he clears his throat loudly. When that doesn’t work, he walks over and pushes them apart.

  “There are children here, and some of them are way too young for sex ed.”

  “We didn’t even pass first base, sir,” Aiden tells him.

  Hunt snorts. “You two nearly burned my gym down from all the heat you’re generating.”

  “Sorry Hunt,” Ellie tells him. “We’ll behave.”

  “So will we,” I tell him.

  “Yeah you will.”

  He walks away and then we all smile at each other. The next couple of hours are spent meeting everyone, signing autographs, and eating some good food. A few women try and approach me during the rare times I’m apart from Jade, but I shut that shit down immediately. She has enough to deal with already, without having to doubt me. Especially when there’s no reason to.

  We stay as long as we need to in order to be polite, but Hunt comes over and tells us to go and enjoy the rest of the night. Jade gets embarrassed again, which is really fucking cute, but Ellie and Aiden just thank him for a great party. We’re all laughing as we get into our cars, planning to spend a little time together before splitting off to be alone.

  Chapter 6

  Jade

  The boys are in the pool house, making sure it has everything Aiden and Ellie will need, while us girls are hanging out in my living room. We all decided that it would be best for us to be in separate buildings. There’s too much sexual frustration going on, and while I love my bestie, hearing her scream and moan is not on my bucket list.

  “How big is it?” Ellie asks, causing me to spit o
ut the mouthful of water I’d just taken a drink of.

  “No.”

  “We always talk about size. I told you how well Aiden’s hung.”

  “I didn’t ask you to.”

  “Seriously? You’re going to hold out on me?”

  “Fine. It’s just as big as the rest of him.”

  “I knew it. You’ve been smiling all night.”

  “I was smiling because he told everyone I’m his girlfriend.”

  “And because he fucked you good.”

  “Says the girl who told me and Isa how sweet Aiden was.”

  “I also admitted I got well fucked, so don’t try and make me seem soft.”

  “We’re both softer than we like to admit.”

  “Yeah, we are,” she admits. “Which brings me to my next line of questioning.”

  “Could it get any worse?”

  “They said you were kidnapped, J.”

  Oh yeah, it could get worse. “Yes. They only had me for a day before Reina came for me, though.”

  “How come I’m only hearing about this now?”

  I shrug. “It’s embarrassing. I had to be rescued.”

  “By the baddest of the badasses. Seriously. Reina is the ultimate.”

  “I was blindfolded when she came for me, but from what I heard, it was pretty epic.”

  “Did they…I mean…you don’t have to tell me.”

  “I wasn’t raped, El. There was one guy who told me I was beautiful at least once an hour, but I was worth a lot back then. No one wanted to mess with me unless they knew it wouldn’t bring my bounty down. If I had been kept longer, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”

  “From what I hear, you might still be worth a lot.”

  “A couple of kids have tried to go for me, but nothing professional.”

  “Yet.”

  “Maybe.”

  “I’m here until there’s no ‘maybe’ and I’m pretty sure Aid is, too.”

  “How pissed is everyone?”

  “If by ‘everyone’ you mean Reina and the mentors, they’re more worried than mad. They would like you to reactivate, though. Ainsley sent a device with me that’s supposed to fix whatever you did. You should probably call Rei and Helen, too. Oh, and Isa. She wanted to come, too, but Jake convinced her she’d be more help working behind the scenes from the office.”

  “I will seriously be surprised if he doesn’t fight every mission she’s up for.”

  “But she’ll go. She’s tougher than that—she won’t sit back and let everyone else do it.”

  “Yeah. I’m glad we got her to open up a little.”

  “Me too. Now give me your arm so I can get you back online.”

  “You make me sound like a fucking robot. You have the same device inside your arm.”

  “True. We’re all updated bionic women.”

  “Without the dog or special hearing.”

  “Yeah, but we have guys whose bodies would go for way more than six million dollars.”

  “True,” I tell her with a laugh, just as the guys walk back in.

  “What’s so funny?” Aiden asks.

  “We were talking about how we’re bionic women,” Ellie tells him, waving the wand like thing Ainsley gave her. “And how you two have bodies worth way more than six million dollars.”

  Instead of laughing like she—and I—thought he would, Aiden gets a little serious. “We’re more than our bodies, El.”

  “I know that. You don’t think I know that?”

  “I do. I just wanted to remind you that it’s not just girls who get creeped out by being checked out like a piece of meat.”

  “We don’t think of you guys like that. Sure, we appreciate you bodies, but that’s not why we fell in love with you,” I tell him, puzzled by his behavior.

  He’s usually so cocky. Just like Nate. When I look at Nate, though, he’s gripping the counter so hard that his knuckles are white. Did we really offend both of them so much?

  “I’m heading up to take a shower. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

  Well that stung, because I’m pretty sure I just got lumped into that group he’s seeing tomorrow. And not fucking tonight. I know he has some crazy insecurities about his body, but no one was even looking at him. I mean, what the hell?

  “Just walk away,” I yell after him, not even bothering to keep the anger out of my voice.

  “That’s our cue,” I hear Ellie say behind me as I storm down the hall.

  “Fucking coward. Big, bad Nate Anderson is a fucking coward.”

  “What’d you talk about with your friend, huh?” he asks, wheeling on me at the bottom of the stairs. “The size of my cock?”

  I’m not going to lie. “In general terms, yes.”

  “How general, Jade?”

  “I said you were big. That’s it. What’s the problem with that? Most guys would want to know the girl they’re sleeping with likes their equipment.”

  “I’m not most guys.”

  “I hadn’t noticed,” I say with all the sarcasm in me. Which is a lot.

  “So you’d be okay if I told Aiden all about how sweet and tight your pussy is? Or how full your tits are?”

  “Honestly, yes. I like that you want me.”

  “This isn’t about wanting. It’s about respect.”

  “I respect you.”

  “Do you?”

  “I can’t believe you just asked me that.”

  “I want an answer.”

  “And I want you to pick a guest room to sleep in. Now.”

  “I was already planning on doing that.”

  “Well at least we agree on something tonight.”

  I push past him and run up the stairs. After slamming the door to my room, I sink to the floor. I’m starting to think there’s a reason why we never got together. I can’t joke around and be flirty. And apparently when I’m being serious, I’m also insulting him somehow.

  My phone buzzes and I pull it out of my pocket. It’s Ellie, just like I knew it would be.

  “You OK?”

  “No. He’s pissed that we talked about his package.”

  “WTF?”

  “IKR? He even went so far as to question whether I really respect him or not.”

  “You don’t deserve to put up with all this shit.”

  “Just like you don’t deserve to be Aiden’s part-time lover.”

  “Yet here we both are.”

  “Right where we want to be, taking whatever we can get because we love them. Is it really enough?”

  “IDK, but I have to try.”

  “I thought I did too.”

  “XOXOXO.”

  “Back atcha. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Yes you will!”

  Since my night is already going so well, I figure I should just keep it going. I tap on Reina’s name and call my boss, who just also happens to be the woman who rescued me years ago. And my friend.

  “Jade, thank God. I’ve been freaking out.”

  “Ellie didn’t check in?”

  “She did, but she’s your best friend. She’d never sell you out.”

  “No she wouldn’t. I’m sorry to have worried everyone.”

  “Why did you leave like you did? I would’ve helped you. We all would’ve.”

  “You’ve helped me so much already. I thought I had to do this alone.”

  “There’s no end date or threshold on my help—or friendship. I’m sorry if I’ve led you to believe differently.”

  “You haven’t, Rei. Not at all. It’s just…you’ve been busy getting married…and taking over. I didn’t want to add to it all.”

  “And you thought you could run away, and not have me stressed and worried?”

  “When you put it like that, no. At the time it seemed like a good idea.”

  “We’ve all been there. Just promise to keep your tracker activated, and don’t be afraid to ask for anything you need. Ellie’s staying as long as you need her, and it seems that Aiden and Nate a
re, too.”

  “Aiden is, but Nate…well, we’ve been fighting.”

  “What else is new?”

  “We had a marathon of sex and he called me his girlfriend.”

  “Whoa. Yeah, that’s different. What are you fighting about?”

  “His body.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “He thinks I’m objectifying him, and that I don’t respect him.”

  She’s silent for almost a minute, and I think she might have hung up. “Give him time, Jade. I can’t go into details, but I can tell you that for most of his life, his body is what everyone wanted. You can say all the words you want, but he needs you to show him that he’s more.”

  “He is more to me.”

  “I know. You’ll get through. Just try and be patient.”

  “You really can’t tell me?”

  “No. I wish I could, but they’re not my secrets.”

  “Are they bad?”

  “Yes. And if he wants a future with you, he’s going to have to tell you everything. Promise me you’ll listen to everything, and not judge him until he can explain.”

  She’s really scaring me. “I promise.”

  “Good. Now I need to get back to my own complicated man. Call me anytime. For anything.”

  “I will. Thanks, Rei.”

  “You’re welcome. Just don’t go silent again, or there will be consequences.”

  “Yes, boss.”

  She hangs up, and I’m honestly more confused than ever. I understand that Reina has to keep all of our secrets, but I have a bad feeling about what Nate’s are. Obviously something to do with his body, but there’s something else. I just hope he tells me sooner rather than later.

  * * *

  Nate

  I’m sitting by the pool, drinking beer number…who the fuck knows…when I hear Aiden walking over to me. I know it’s him, because the sound of the door opening came from the pool house. And if it was Ellie, she’d be yelling at me.

  “You probably shouldn’t be drowning your sorrows next to the pool. I mean, you don’t want to get too shit-faced and actually drown, do you?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “She’s just like the rest of them.”

  “No she isn’t. Yeah, they talked about our dicks, and said we have amazing bodies, but they didn’t mean anything malicious when they did it. They weren’t being pervy or mean. They’re just women who appreciate what we’ve got. Since we’re with them, we should be taking everything they say as a compliment.”