Abel (5th Street 4)

Certainly she’d never felt the passion she felt with Abel from her ex. She wouldn’t dismiss the entire relationship because she’d admit that she had been in love with Rick once upon a time. She’d just never felt that magical thing both Roni and Bianca had described feeling with Noah and Gio. Then sweet little Charlee had spoken of this passion she felt even at her young age—something Nellie had no choice but to admit she’d never experienced . . . until now.

Abel rolled off her but still held her close, facing her. “What are your plans today?”

This was another unspoken rule that he was breaking. They didn’t ask each other what the other did on their own time, but she liked that he was breaking rules. Maybe it meant that she could too. “Nothing really. Work on the mixer a little and then figure out what I’ll be wearing tomorrow to 5th Street.”

His eyes looked at her curiously. “What do you mean what to wear? To work out?”

“No,” she laughed. “The representative from that vineyard that donated so much for the mixer will be in town tomorrow. I offered to give her a tour of the gym that started the foundation we’re doing the mixer for. I uh . . .” She glanced away for a moment as she’d always done when she wanted to be sure she didn’t sound like she was trying hint at anything. “I told Gio and Noah about it last week when you were . . . out of town.”

The curiosity in his eyes was replaced with what almost looked like remorse, but it switched quickly and he squeezed her. She felt him inhale deeply and very satisfied against her ear. “That’s right. Noah did mention that.” He lifted himself onto his elbow suddenly. “What time do you have to be there?”

“She’s been here all weekend and decided she’d stay an extra day.” His silly expression now made her smile curiously. “But she wants it out of the way early, so we’re meeting there around eight.” She tilted her head even more curious. “What’s that look about?”

“I have an early morning radio interview that I’m doing at the station.” His smile was even bigger now. “Come with me. We can ride together to 5th Street because I’ll head back to training right afterward. The interview should be done way before eight, so we might even have time to grab breakfast. And,” he leaned in and kissed her nose, “if you wanna save me some time and having to get up that much earlier to pick you up first, I can just spend the night here again.” He lifted a hopeful eyebrow. “I can meet you back here tonight with all the clothes and stuff that I’ll need for tomorrow.”

She’d begun to hide how excited the thought of him wanting to spend the night again and so soon made her, but he was staring at her, looking just as excited as she felt, so she nodded, smiling big. “That sounds good to me.”

He hugged her, groaning against her ear with what felt like the same utter bliss she was feeling. She couldn’t be imagining all this, could she?

After rolling around in bed a little longer to the point where it felt like they’d be going at it again, Abel shared a better idea. He needed to meet the guys at the gym soon, so he invited her to take a shower with him. Within minutes, they were lathering each other up. As her hand ran over every incredible muscle on his body, he lifted her chin and stared at her for a moment. “You really are beautiful.”

She smiled, gulping back the incredible emotion that he made her feel now. Only this time it wasn’t bad or the dread of falling too hard. This time it was a delightful emotion that danced inside her. “If you say so.” She smiled, kissing him.

“No, I know so,” he said, kissing her as sweetly as he had last night when he came out to find her outside of Noah’s. There was so much unspoken sentiment. “I can’t get enough of you,” he said, lifting her against the shower wall.

She wrapped her legs around him like she had in the ice vending room on the cruise, kissing him a bit more frantically, and then gasped with pleasure when she felt him slip inside her. Okay, she’d be insane to walk away from this now.

~*~

Andy was at it again about the media. He’d called three times since last night when Abel had decided to turn off his phone and give Nellie his undivided attention. So when Abel turned on his phone as he got in his car, he saw the missed calls. He didn’t bother listening to voicemails just hit speed dial as he drove out of Nellie’s driveway.

He was going on about a photo shoot and interview that Fitness Magazine wanted to do with him. “Is this part of the fight contract?”

“No, but hear me out. There will probably never be a better time for you to do this kind of layout. Your body is in its prime, and since the fight is right around the corner, they want you on the cover. This would be huge. It would also be great publicity for 5th Street, and I think I might even have another way to add a positive spin to it that you might like for once.”

Abel rolled his eyes. There was always something Andy wanted to add to the circus that the media was already making of this. “What’s that?”

“We can get a few of the gym’s regulars and up-and-coming hopefuls to be featured, so it’s more about the gym than you. I figured you’d like that. Not only are you giving some of your people from your own gym the opportunity to get noticed but the spotlight and interview isn’t completely about you.”

He had to admit that it wasn’t a bad idea. “That might work, but I wanna see a list of the questions they’ll be asking. I want this interview to be strictly about my training for the fight and the gym. They get nothing personal.”