“Wellington, are you challenging me? Seriously?” Dad asks, sounding surprised.

At this point, I’m doubling over. When I look up, wiping my eyes, Knox is glaring at me.

“Excuse me, sir, but your daughter told me this morning that you wanted to spar with me, not her.”

Dad looks over at me, dazed for a moment before he starts cracking up right along with me.

“Knox, I’m flattered that you think I can hold my own with you young guys, but I think my daughter was pulling your leg. I have no desire to get in that ring with you.”

Knox lets out a deep breath and then turns to look at me. He looks equal parts relieved and pissed, and the grin immediately falls from my face. I have the urge to hightail it and run, but I got myself into this, so I might as well suffer the consequences. Pressing my heels into the floor, I stand my ground as he exits the ring and crosses to me, stopping only inches away.

His thumb lifts my chin, forcing me to look up at him. I can’t read his expression, but the fiery look in his eyes sends a pool of heat between my legs. Even though Dad’s right here, I want Knox to throw me over his shoulder, take me home, and punish me Christian Grey style. It’s only been a couple of days, but I could see Knox as the spanking type in the bedroom, and I make a mental note to try and work it into a conversation later.

“Charlotte, were you fucking with me?” he asks in a soft yet gruff tone. Oh shit. The only time he’s ever called me Charlotte is when he’s been irritated with me or pissed.

Swallowing hard, I’m kicking myself for thinking this would be a good idea. I’ve seen the sensitivity underneath his hardened shell. I should’ve known not to mess with him like this, especially when it comes to wanting Dad’s approval.

I nod, and his nostrils slightly flare as his jaw tightens. And it’s honestly hot as sin. “I was just kidding, and I was going to tell you, but then I found it completely cute the way you were so worried about how to deal with Dad. I’m sorry for making you freak out. But I swear, I didn’t mean to upset you. I was about to tell you in the car but then Kale showed up.”

Dropping my chin, he steps back from me, not quite looking at me. I want him to lean in and give me a kiss on the forehead, tell me it’s fine, and smack my ass as he give me tips to take down Dad, but he doesn’t. Instead, he looks over my head and starts to walk away.

“Jace just came in, so I’m going to go find someone who’s actually going to spar with me today. I’ll see you later,” he says in passing, leaving me to stand there and watch as he walks away.

We’ve been dating for two days and I’ve already pissed off my boyfriend. Boyfriend. I smile at that word and decide to swallow my pride and follow after him. Catching up to him right before he’s about to enter the locker room, I grab his arm and try to pull him off to the side. Instead, he leads me out the side door into an alleyway. Pressing me up against the wall, I can feel the brick biting into my back as he places his left arm by the side of my head. Looking up at him, I whisper one more time, “I’m sorry, Knox.”

“What the hell am I gonna do with you, Charlie?” he asks, and it’s a small victory that he’s dropped the Charlotte.

I give him my sexiest grin. “I can think of a few things. Spanking might be high on that list.” I tease, but he doesn’t look amused.

His eyes are expressionless, his mouth set in a grim line. Shaking his head, he pushes away from me, turning his back as his hands come up and to rest behind his head.

Stepping towards him, I reach out to grab his arm, but he pulls away. He’s never resisted my touch, so I’m desperately racking my brain, trying to figure out how to make this okay.

“Knox, come on. It’s not that big of a deal. Dad didn’t care, and I wasn’t thinking it’d get this far. For what it’s worth, I really like that you care what Dad thinks about you. And trust me, he likes you. So please, let’s just go back inside and forget this happened.” I’m practically begging. I hate the way it sounds, but he’s still turned away from me, and I can’t stand not knowing what he’s thinking.

Another minute or so passes by, and there’s nothing except highway traffic to fill the air. Finally, he slowly turns around to face me and he’s…freaking grinning. Pushing me back against the wall once again, he leans downs for a kiss, ravaging my mouth as if he hasn’t kissed me in weeks. I’m breathless when he finally pulls away. Relief washes over me when I realize he isn’t actually upset with me, and I find myself enjoying this playful side of him. Even though I could smack him for making me think he was mad, I love that we can go toe-to-toe. Dad was definitely right when he said I’d met my match and I’m so glad it’s Knox.

Placing his forehead on mine, I’m still trying to catch my breath when he plants a soft kiss against my lips before he leaves a trail of them across my jawline, making his way to my ear.

“Just messin’, babe. I’m not mad.” Shoving him back, I can’t help the smile that crosses my face.

“So let me get this straight… This whole time, you weren’t mad?” I ask, seeking one hundred percent clarification, because in the beginning, I swear he looked pissed.

“Not one single bit. Hey, I may be a hothead, but I know you tried to tell me. Just giving you a little taste of your own medicine.” He leans down and kisses me on the forehead before leading me inside. “Come on. You’ve got a dad to fight.”


Knox


OKAY, SO maybe I was a little irritated that I’d been spending the last few hours trying to figure out how to approach her dad in the ring, but when Charlie looked up at me with those sad brown eyes, like she was disappointed in herself, I couldn’t stay mad. Letting her know I was just messing around with her was worth the look of relief that washed over her face, followed by that brief make-out session against the wall.

I’m still a little worked up over it, and I decide to take out my pent-up energy on Jace in the ring while Charlie has her match with Wade. Even though I won’t let her know it, part of me was a little pissed that she messed with me, but I’ll get over it. Instead of dwelling on it, channeling the irritation into my boxing has helped me go toe-to-toe with Jace, and we’re both currently tied 1-1. I haven’t felt this good about my fitness level since before the explosion. Everything in my life is finally looking up, and I couldn’t be happier.

Jace gets in a quick jab to the side of my face while I’m deep in thought. Backing up, I regroup, and he smiles at me.

“Come on, Knox. If you’re going to be distracted, I’ll just find someone else to spar with,” he says, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Shaking my head at him, I catch his next jab attempt between my gloves and get in a front kick to his stomach as soon I release his hand.

“I couldn’t help but overhear Kale earlier. So you and Charlie, huh?” he asks, trying to move and land a left hook. I bring up my right arm at the precise moment to block him and use my left to nail him under the chin with an uppercut. He moves back a few steps, shaking it out.

“Yeah, me and Charlie. What about it?” I ask, waiting for the whole ‘I told you so.’

He just shrugs as he answers me. “Nothing about it. I just think it’s cool. She’s good for you. And vice versa. I like you two together.”

“I’m glad I have your approval. I mean, ever since you gave me that whole ‘balls of steel’ speech, I haven’t been able to get her off my mind,” I joke, even though I now know he’s right. That’s my girl. Strong, independent, and undeniably sexy.

Jace looks beyond me and a huge grin spreads over his face. “Oh yeah, HUGE balls of steel,” he laughs, pointing past me.

Turning around, I see Charlie straddling Kale, his stomach flat on the mat. She has him in a hammerlock, his left arm twisted behind his back. She’s leaning over, whispering something in his ear, and I wonder what the fuck she’s saying. He nods, and she lets him go. Looking around, he shakes his arm out before he exits the ring, making his way over to where Jace and I are.

Fuck. Jace.

The second the thought crosses my mind, I turn around. He’s only inches away, grinning at me, ready for the takedown.

“Come on, dude,” I start to protest, but it’s no use. He pounces, and before I can get my bearings, I’m flat on my back, Jace grinning over me.

“Don’t worry, buddy. I’m sure your balls are still bigger than hers.” Winking down at me, he sticks out a hand and helps me up.

“That was pretty damn cheap, Jace,” I hear Charlie call as she walks up to the ring, sending him a mock glare, which only makes him laugh.

“Hey, I was just taking advantage of him enjoying you taking Kale down. Maybe you shouldn’t be so distracting,” he says as he walks away, still chuckling.

Slipping out of the ropes, I place my arm around her as she leans into me. “Hey, Rugged. What was it you were telling me about situational awareness when you’re in the ring?”

I place a kiss on her forehead while also shaking my head at her. “When it comes to you, I can’t help myself. Especially when you’re across the gym straddling another guy and not fighting your dad.”

Grinning, she smiles up at me. “Dad and I finished early, and I wanted to spar with Kale. Speaking of…” She trails off as Kale finally approaches.

“Dude, your girlfriend’s a ball buster. I’m glad no one from the platoon was here to see that damn takedown. My arm still fucking hurts,” he says, rubbing it for effect.

I’m thinking the opposite, wishing more of the guys had been here to see her being a badass, but I understand where Kale is coming from. No guy wants to be straddled by a chick unless that means she’s lowering herself down onto his cock, and well, my girl is most definitely not doing that with anyone but me.