Worth Forgiving (MMA Fighter 3)

Her eyes go wide. “How did you know?”

“Body language.”

“But I didn’t move. I made sure of it.”

“Ahh…so you were trying to prove me wrong.”

“Of course. Let’s try it again. That was totally beginner’s luck.”

I smirk, already having figured out her tell, it should be a piece of cake. “Go for it,” I say confidently, tilting my glass to her before downing more.

Lily concentrates for a moment, avoiding eye contact, but I don’t take my eyes from her. I like watching her think, catching the slightest uptick from the corner of her mouth as she comes up with something she thinks will fool me.

“My Dad’s nickname for me was Lily Vanilly. I’ve kissed a girl. I had a pet turtle named Speedy.” Confident that she’s got me, I play with her a little. But there’s no mistaking the dilation in her pupil when she lies, even though she tries her hardest to still herself completely as she lists her three facts.

Rubbing my chin as though I’m pondering, I pretend I’m having a hard time deciding the fake fact. “You know, I’ve kissed a girl, maybe you should really try it sometime, it works for me.”

Lily slaps me playfully. “How do you do that?”

“Talent. I told you.”

“Let me try. Tell me three facts.”

“Okay.” I think for a second, locking our eyes, I speak directly to hers, never even blinking to disrupt our gaze. “Boats make me seasick. I’ve been to forty-nine states. I have a crush on a friend of mine.”

Her face pinks a bit and her eyes squint as she tries to read me. “Boats don’t make you seasick,” she says without too much confidence.

“Yep. They do. But I’ve only been to forty-eight states.”

The buzzer sounds on the stove, interrupting our game playing. Lily helps me bring everything to the table and together we sit.

“Which two?”

Confused, I furrow my brow.

“States. Which two haven’t been graced with your presence?” she chides sarcastically at one of my facts.

I’m just about to respond, when Lily’s phone starts to buzz. We both look down, finding the name Caden flashing on the screen. Her face changes, a sadness taking over her carefree happiness. Before either of us can comment, my phone joins in on the buzzing. ‘Dad’ appears on the screen. Ignoring the vibration on the table I smile, reaching over to pluck a leaf from her stuffed artichoke, and bringing it to my mouth to scrape the edible meat between my teeth.

Lily looks torn. Glancing at the buzzing phones lying at our sides on the table and back to me twice, eventually she smiles as she makes her decision without words. Reaching over to my plate, she plucks a leaf from my artichoke and brings it to her mouth smiling. Both of us pretend not to notice the phones jumping around the table.

My father and Caden call twice more each during dinner. We never discuss the calls, but we smile, ignore the sound, and keep on eating.

We clean up together in the little kitchen. I intentionally brush past her lightly as I reach over her head to put dishes on the top shelf. When she’s in the fridge putting the leftovers away, I snake my arm through hers to put a jar on the door. I could have waited my turn, but I love the way her body reacts at the slightest contact we make. It can’t help it, even though I see her trying to hide it, control it. Mine reacts too…a twitch, a swell, a thickening, an ache, a damn fire in my pants. Yeah, without a doubt, my body likes brushing against hers too.

“You feeling daring enough to do something with me?” I rub my chin, an idea popping into my head.

A blush creeps up Lily’s cheeks. “I, I…” Lily’s voice trails off, making me realize what she must think I’m asking.

A slow smile curls up on my lips. “You have a dirty mind. I was going to ask you if you were up for attempting an escape and ditching the photographers.”

Her sweet, pink cheeks darkening with embarrassment, she attempts to recover, “I wasn’t thinking anything dirty.” We both know she’s lying.

She’s leaning against the kitchen counter, I close the distance between us, standing in her personal space, but our bodies aren’t touching. “Yes. You were.” I lean in a hair more. “Haven’t we already established I can pick off lies easily?”

She swallows, wanting to deny, but instead attempts to change the subject. “What is it you wanted to do?”

Closing the small gap left between us, my body now lightly brushed up against hers, it forces me to look down to her. I say nothing, until she looks up at me. “Well I’m not sure now. What did you have in mind? I think I might like what you want to do better.” I tease, although we’re so near, she can probably feel the hard on through my pants and guess what I’d really like to do with her.

A look of disbelief mixed with embarrassment passes across Lily’s face, “You’re unbelievable.”

I smile, taking her words as a compliment. “Thank you.”

“I didn’t mean it as a compliment.”

Ignoring her retort, I continue with a one-track mind. “Tell me what you thought I meant.”

“You know what I thought you meant.”

“Yes. But I want to hear you say it.”

“Why?” Lily’s eyes bulge at my admission, clearly she can’t believe the words I’m sharing.

“Because I want to hear you talk dirty to me.”

Placing her hands on my chest, she shoves a bit, but not enough to really want me to move. “Use your imagination.”

Gripping the counter she’s leaning against on either side, I cage her in. She looks to the right and left, seeing the position I’ve moved into and there’s no mistaking her breath hitches. She likes it and so do I.

“Oh, I’ve been using my imagination a lot lately.” I smirk, then pause. “Tell me, or I’m not letting you go.”

“I’m not telling you anything, you crazy man.”

“Then we’re going to be here for a while.” I settle in place, my eyes telling her I’m serious about keeping her right where she is. It’s a no lose situation for me. If she doesn’t tell me, I keep her incredible body pressed up against mine. If she does tell me what she was thinking, I get to hear her admit she had dirty thoughts about me. I’m not sure which option appeals to me more right about now.

“You’re going to keep me pinned against the counter?”