Hard Knocks: An Ultimate Novella Read Online Free PDF

down at her, Gage slowly nodded. “Sure thing.” Taking Harper with him, he went to the front desk and retrieved the barrel key for the locking switches.
    The big TV, along with a security lamp in the hallway, would provide all the light they needed. When Gage inserted the key and turned it, the overhead florescent lights clicked off. Given that they stood well away from the others, heavy shadows enveloped them.
    Rather than head over to the crowd, Gage aligned her body with his in a tantalizing way. His hand returned to her bottom, ensuring she stayed pressed to him. “Maybe,” he whispered, “I can be more memorable.”
    As he moved his hand lower on her behind—his long fingers seeking inward—she went on tiptoe and squeaked, “Definitely.”
    Smiling, he took her mouth in a consuming kiss. Combined with the way those talented fingers did such incredible things to her, rational thought proved impossible.
    Finally, easing up with smaller kisses and teasing nibbles, he whispered, “We can’t do this here.”
    Her fingers curled in against him, barely making a dent in his rock-solid muscles. “I know,” she groaned.
    He stroked restless hands up and down her back. “Want to grab a seat with me?”
    He asked the question almost as if a big or hung at the end. Like... Or should we just leave? Or should we find an empty room?
    Or would you prefer to go anywhere private so we can both get naked and finish what we started?
    She waited, hopeful, but when he said nothing more, she blew out a disappointed breath. “Sure.”
    And of course she felt like a jerk.
    He and Cannon were close friends. Everyone knew he wanted to watch the fights. Despite his own disappointment over medical ineligibility, he was excited for Cannon’s competition.
    Her eyes were adjusting and she could see Gage better now, the way he searched her face, how he...waited.
    For her to understand? Was Armie right? Maybe more than anything she needed to show him that she not only loved him, but she loved his sport, that she supported him and was as excited by his success as he was.
    “Yes, let’s sit.” She took his hand. “Toward the back, though, so we can sneak away later if we decide to.” Eyes flaring at that naughty promise, he didn’t budge.
    “Sneak away to where?”
    “The way I feel right now, any empty room might do.” Hiding her smile, Harper stretched up to give him a very simple kiss. “That is, between fights. We don’t want to miss anything.”
    His hand tightened on hers, and she couldn’t help thinking that maybe Armie’s suggestion had merit after all.
    * * *
    G AGE GOT SO caught up in the pre-fights that he almost— almost— forgot about Harper’s endless foreplay. Damn, she had him primed. Her closeness, the warmth of her body, the sweet scent of her hair and the warmer scent of her skin, were enough to make him edgy with need. But every so often her hand drifted to his thigh, lingered, stroked. Each time he held his breath, unsure how far she’d go.
    How far he wanted her to go.
    So far, all he knew was that it wasn’t far enough.
    Once, she’d run her hand up his back, just sort of feeling him, her fingers spread as she traced muscles, his shoulder blades, down his spine...
    If he gave his dick permission, it would stand at attention right now. But he concentrated on keeping control of things—himself and, when possible, Harper, too.
    It wasn’t easy. Though she appeared to be as into the fights as everyone else, she still had very busy hands.
    It wasn’t just the sexual teasing that got to him. It was emotional, too. He hated that he wasn’t in Japan with Cannon, walking to the cage for his own big battle. He’d had prelim fights; he’d built his name and recognition.
    He’d finally gotten that main event—and it pissed him off more than he wanted to admit that he was left sitting behind.
    But sitting behind with Harper sure made it easier. Especially when he seemed so attuned to her.
    If her mood