Breaking Beast (Pounding Hearts 4)

“What the hell is that?!”

Glancing over my shoulder, I say, “Hey, be nice, Muffin has feelings you know.”

“She looks like a hound of hell or something!”

“Nah, she’s a big baby.”

Pushing Muffin down, I step around her and take my bags into the house.

I don’t hear any noise as I make my way in. Turning around, I see Muffin standing there in the doorway, just staring at Christy.

Snickering, I ask, “Aren’t you coming in, Christy?”

Looking at me for a brief second then back to Muffin, she says, “She won’t let me! She’s going to eat me!”

“No way, you’re too scrawny. No meat on them bones. She’s just making sure you know who’s HMIC in this house.”

Growling, Christy says, “I’m not scrawny, big head, and what the hell does HMIC mean?”

“Head-Muffin-In-Charge,” I say, and laugh loudly before heading into the kitchen.

I whistle quietly and Muffin races after me, following me to the treat bag.

Chapter Five

Christy

It’s one thing after another tonight. I just can’t win. All of my plans have gone to shit. No, scratch that. Everything has gone to shit.

What the hell should I do now?

I could keep on fighting this, I could keep demanding Alex to take me back to the Super 10, but I get the feeling I would only be wasting my breath.

I guess all I can do is go with it and roll with the punches.

At least, for now.

Alex seems like a good guy… at least he’s good to his dog.

Gripping my backpack, I watch him lavish Muffin with affection and treats. Muffin looks up at him with adoration and happily wags her tail.

I try to remember what I’ve heard about him around the gym but it isn’t much. I know he’s done a stint overseas and that he’s the current middleweight champion. That’s about it.

In the gym we’ve had very little interaction. He hangs with the other fighters, and I’ve been restricted to the kiddie crowd.

Despite everything that’s happened, I don’t get any creepy vibes off of him. He doesn’t leer at me or try to touch me. He hasn’t said anything pervy, but still, I’m on my guard. I just don’t see what he gets out of this.

What’s in it for him?

If it’s one thing I’ve learned since my mom passed it’s that people are only motivated to do things for others when it benefits them in some way.

Maybe he’s just looking to score points with Chase and Avery.

Fuck, I hope not. I hope he doesn’t go telling them everything that happened. The last thing I need is more people feeling pity for me, or even worse, trying to help.

I can do this. I can make it on my own. I sure as fuck don’t need anyone else. I never want to be reliant or dependent upon another person again.

Other people will only let you down.

“Hungry or thirsty?” Alex asks as he wipes his hands off on his pants and rises to his feet.

I shake my head sharply. My stomach is so tied up in knots I don’t think I could push anything down my throat.

“Alright, then,” he scowls at me and then jerks his chin. “Follow me and I’ll show you to your room.”

“I thought I was sleeping on your couch.”

His shoulders lift in a bit of a shrug and for the first time tonight I notice just how wide they are.

“Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to work.”

“Why not?” I ask, my heart fluttering with a bit of trepidation.

Did I read him wrong? Is he going to try to put me up in his room? Make me earn my keep or something after all?

“If I put you on the couch, Muffin will be up all night drooling all over you. She needs her beauty sleep. I’m going to put you up in one my guest rooms.”

“Oh,” I say with some relief as I follow behind him.

He leads me through his living room and up the stairs. I know he brushed me off earlier but his house really is huge. I think my entire house could fit in his living room.

At the top of the stairs, he pauses in front of the first door then pushes it open. Stepping back, he motions for me to go in ahead of him.

I walk inside the room and wait for him to follow me but he remains in the hallway.

“I’m up at six, and you’re welcome to run with me. If you need anything before then my room is down the hall,” he says as I take in the room in front of me.

There’s a queen-sized bed flanked by two nightstands, a large dresser with a huge flat screen sitting on top of it, and an open door leading to a private bath.

This room is nicer than anything I could afford on my budget. After taking in the room, I turn around to thank him but he’s already gone.