Road to Victory (Dogs of Fire Book 5) Read online

  “Don’t worry about it,” she said. “I’ve got the cleaner coming tomorrow.”

  I smiled. “Thanks. I really appreciate you letting me sit here for a bit.”

  “Rats are the worst, although, I’d be surprised if we actually got any here. We’re far too high up.”

  “It might not have been a rat, maybe just a mouse, but it was something creepy, so I asked my boyfriend to look at it.”

  She patted my hand. “Good plan, sweetheart. You can never be too careful.”

  “This is true.”

  I had almost finished my tea when Knight knocked on the door.

  “All clear,” he said. “Thanks Mrs. T.”

  “No problem, dear.”

  I hugged her and followed Knight to my apartment. He closed the door and crossed his arms. “No one’s here.”

  “Okay. Like I said, I was probably overreacting.”

  “No, I want you to go with your gut, sugar. Every time. It’s possible they could have gotten in through the fire escape. Now, as soon as you tell me why you took off without saying goodbye, I’ll have you walk around and see if anything’s out of place.”

  “I’ll look around now,” I countered.

  “Ah, no, you’ll tell me what the hell crawled up your ass now, then you’ll look around.”

  “Um, excuse me?” I snapped. “What crawled up my ass? How about the fact that my boyfriend treated me like total complete and utter shit for the better part of four hours? Shall I go on?”

  “I treat everyone the same during training, Kim, and I’d argue I treated you like shit, I just didn’t give you special treatment.”

  “Oh, you gave me special treatment, alright. You snapped at me for being late, when we were alone, and you know very well you’re the reason I was late! I wanted to go first, but you said not to.”

  “I thought you’d come fifteen, twenty minutes after me, Kim. Not an hour. If I expect the rest of the team to be on time... the team, by the way who have flown in from all over the country... then you can be too. Especially considerin’ you are the one person who has to drive less than fifteen minutes, so I don’t think it’s too much to expect that you fuckin’ well be on time!”

  “I hit traffic!” Sort of. I couldn’t figure out what to wear to meet the rest of the team and had a bit of a wardrobe crisis, then a minor meltdown because I was meeting the American Olympic team, so it was partly that and partly that I hit traffic.

  “Yeah? Forty-five minutes worth of traffic?” he challenged.

  “Well, no,” I admitted. “But I did hit traffic.”

  He slid his hands to my neck and stroked my cheek. “You need to be on time, sugar.”

  “I know,” I conceded. “It’s just that it’s the Olympic team.”

  “The same team you are on.”

  “It’s the Olympic team, Knight.”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, honey, I know. You’re on it.”

  I faceplanted into his chest and wrapped my arms around his waist. “How the hell did I get on the Olympic Equestrian team, Aidan?” I asked. “That’s just not something that happens to normal people.”

  “I didn’t realize you were normal.”

  I smacked his butt. “Don’t be a dick.”

  He laughed. “You good?”

  “Not yet.”

  He squeezed me, kissing the top of my head. “You need to be okay with my training style, because I really need to fuck you right now, and I have a feeling that’s gonna happen a lot.”

  “Why is that gonna happen a lot?”

  “Because you were amazing.”

  I looked up and met his eyes. “I was?”

  “Yeah, sugar. Almost perfect.” He smiled. “So was Jack.”

  “He’s incredible, huh?”

  “Yeah. How do you know him?”

  “Our families have vacationed together. Don’t worry, he’s totally gay.”

  Knight chuckled. “Yeah, I picked up on that.”

  “You did?”

  “Yeah, sugar, he’s pretty obvious about it.”

  “Ohmigod, he didn’t make a pass, did he?”

  “Not today, no.”

  “What?” I squeaked. “He’s made a pass before?”

  “A while ago. When he didn’t know who I was. We talked it out. He’s cool.”

  “Wow. I’m not sure how I feel about that,” I admitted. “If he comes near you, I’ll scratch his eyes out.”

  “Good to know.” He kissed my nose. “Now, look around and see if anything’s out of place. After that, I’m gonna fuck you, then I’m gonna call Mack and sort out a better security system.”

  “I don’t need a better system, honey. This one works fine.”

  “Did someone get into your place?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Possibly. But if they did, it’s because I didn’t set the alarm.”

  “What the fuck, Kim?”

  “I never set it... well, I do if I’m going to be gone overnight, but not when I’m out for a few hours.”

  He dragged his hands through his hair. “That changes now, got it?”

  “Yep. I’m going to take a shower,” I said, and headed toward the bathroom. “Are you coming?”

  He caught me around the waist and pulled me against him. “Kimmie, I really need you to not be so fuckin’ flippant about this.”

  I sighed and faced him, sliding my fingers into his hair. “I’m not. I’m freaked out, but I’m less freaked out when you’re here, so can we just forget about it for now? I promise I’ll set the alarm.”

  He kissed me gently. “What am I goin’ to do with you?”

  “Fuck me.”

  He lifted me so I could wrap my legs around his waist and carried me into the bathroom. After peeling off my jodhpurs, panties and all, he took some time to lavish attention on my clit, giving me a sweet, but brief orgasm before removing the rest of our clothes and lifting me into the shower.

  “Hands on the wall, sugar.”

  I did as he instructed, the warm water cascading over my back, while he cupped a breast and pinched the nipple. “Baby,” I whispered.

  His free hand slid to my belly, then down between my legs, his finger moving over my clit and into my wetness. I mewed, pressing my bottom against him, wanting more.

  “Greedy,” he said, kissing my shoulder.

  “How about you take care of that, handsome?”

  I lost his hand on my breast, but only long enough so he could guide his cock inside me from behind, then he doubled his attention on my nipple and my clit as he slowly thrust inside me. I dropped my head back, connecting with his shoulder as I groaned in ecstasy. “Harder, honey.”

  “Hands back on the wall, baby.”

  I did so immediately and was rewarded with his dick slamming into me harder and harder until I came so fast, I let out a scream, but his hand squeezing my breast had another orgasm building as he continued to fuck me. “Yes, honey. Oh, God, baby.”

  “Come, sugar.”

  I let myself fall into the abyss of climax and he held me close for a minute while we caught our breath. “Fuck, baby, it’s better every time.”

  “I know,” I whispered.

  He slid out of me and turned me to face him, pushing my wet hair out of my face. “I love you, Kim. God, you’re fuckin’ perfect, you know that, right?”

  I smiled, leaning forward to kiss his chest. “Then why are you all the time mean to me when I’m riding?”

  He laughed. “I’m not ‘all the time mean to you,’ but when I am, I’ll make it up to you every time, sugar, I promise.”

  I smiled up at him. “Can we have a code word of some form?”

  “Code word? Like a safe word?” he asked, his expression lascivious.

  “Not like that, well, okay, yeah, like that in bed... I’m open to trying anything with you... but for when we’re in public and you’re being a dick.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “I can’t promise things’ll change when we’re training, Kim.”

  �
��But it will make me feel better and if I use it, you’ll know I’m close to throwing something at you.”

  Knight guided me gently under the water. “How about “iguana”?”

  I giggled. “Perfect.”

  “Can you use it in a sentence?”

  “If you don’t stop being a dick, I’m going to chuck this iguana at you.”

  He let out a low laugh. “Original.”

  “Thanks. I should have been an adwoman.”

  “I absolutely see a career change in your future.”

  “Aw, thanks, honey. You’re always so supportive.” I kissed his chest, running my tongue over his nipple.

  His hands tightened in my hair. “Yeah?”

  “Mmm hmm.” I kissed my way down his body until I was kneeling in front of him. “I think I should reciprocate.” I grinned at his hardening cock... always so ready... and kissed the base before wrapping my lips around the tip. Knight hissed as I gave a gentle suck. I took him deeper, cradling him with one hand as I worked the shaft with the other.

  “Fuck, sugar!”

  I grinned. God, I loved how he responded to me blowing him... it was probably why I loved doing it so much. His legs stiffened and he pulled my hair gently, so I knew he was close, I quickened my strokes and then he groaned and thrust against my mouth. I took all of it, milking him until he was dry. When he relaxed, I gave one more suck, kissed the tip of his cock and climbed back up his body, kissing his neck, then his mouth.

  “You’re so fuckin’ good at that,” he said.

  I smiled. “It’s because I love it, honey. But only with you.”

  “Yeah?”

  I nodded. “Never really did it with anyone else. I guess I just didn’t trust them like I trust you.”

  He kissed me again. “Good answer, Kim.”

  “I’m hungry.” I smiled against his lips. “Are you cooking, or am I?”

  “I will,” he offered. “But after I call Mack.”

  “Honey, seriously, my system’s good.”

  “Not really up for discussion.”

  “I’m too in love with you to be mad right now,” I admitted. “You can have your little alpha male moment.”

  “Oh, can I?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “So nice of you.”

  I giggled. “I’m a giver.”

  “That you are, sugar.” He kissed me one more time and then we stepped out of the shower and got dressed.

  Kim

  August

  WE TOUCHED DOWN in Rio ten days before the Opening Ceremonies, after a smooth and uneventful flight. The horses had gone a week before in order to go through quarantine, and I was nervous as we loaded Fozzie onto the plane, since he’d never flown before (and memories of watching International Velvet thousands of times had me worrying throughout the flight) but they were safe and being looked after.

  We stayed in the Athletes’ Village, which reminded me of a behind-the-scenes look at the set for the Walking Dead. It was a fully self-contained village with a dining hall, coffee shop, barber, and salon. There was even a spa complete with massage therapists, and a place for mani-pedis which I fully intended to take advantage of while I was there.

  One of the event volunteers took us on a quick tour, explaining that the buildings which housed the sleeping quarters would eventually be turned into apartments and condos after we left, as part of the gentrification of the area. He gave us each maps and schedules before showing us to our rooms.

  Along with our team, we traveled with Morgan’s mother and our vet, Dr. Walters (we called him “Doc”). Morgan and Marcus were the alternates, however, they’d both ride the cross country portion of the event. We were booked two people per room and since Knight and Doc had private rooms, and Morgan would bunk with her mother, I was sharing with Courtney Lewis, leaving Jack and Marcus together.

  Keeping my relationship with Knight secret was the hardest thing I’d ever done. And as I bonded with the team and grew closer to Courtney and Morgan, I wanted to share more. Lord knows, they shared, but I had to keep my mouth shut on the relationship details.

  Not being able to express my excitement (and nervousness) to Knight in public sucked... particularly while we were flying. I hated to fly. Avoided it as much as possible, and would have loved to have been able to climb in his lap at least five times during turbulence.

  “Doc and I are going to check on the horses,” Knight said once everyone checked in. “Everyone get some rest and we’ll meet up for dinner.”

  “I’d like to come,” I said.

  “Me too,” Jack said.

  “Anyone else?” Knight asked.

  The others shook their heads, so the four of us headed over to the stables. I walked with Jack in an effort to keep my distance from Knight, but it was hard not to skip ahead and catch up with my man.

  As we approached the stables, I saw a familiar face and took off toward him with a squeak. Flea caught me in a hug just as Fozzie poked his nose out of the stall. “What are you doing here?”

  Flea chuckled and gave me a squeeze, setting me down so I could snuggle my horse. “Buzz is here as well. We came with the horses last week. We’re here to act as security.”

  I smiled at Knight, but refrained from showing him any affection. “Thanks for that, Aidan,” I said.

  Knight grinned. “No problem.”

  “You know these men?” Jack asked, his nose slightly in the air.

  “I do,” I said, and smiled. “They’re friends of mine from Portland.”

  Jack frowned, but his etiquette training kicked in and he didn’t make any snide comments. I had a feeling I’d hear about it later, however.

  “They’re highly trained,” Knight said. “And are comfortable with horses, Jack. Trust me.”

  He didn’t look totally convinced, but nodded and headed off to see his horse. Doc stepped into Fozzie’s stall, spent less than five minutes with him, then stepped next door to Courtney’s horse.

  “Let’s have a look at him,” Knight said, and led me into the stall. Before I could respond, however, he pushed me up against the wall and kissed me. “Hi,” he whispered.

  “Hi,” I whispered back. “I miss you. I just want to crawl in bed with you and snuggle right now. I hate the idea of sleeping alone.”

  “I know, sugar.” He kissed me again. “We can’t do this much while we’re here, but I swear I’ll find time.”

  I smiled, rising on my tiptoes to kiss him again. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

  “He looks good, Kim,” he said, raising his voice enough to be heard.

  “I agree,” I said.

  Knight stepped out of the stall and I spent some time with Fozzie before I was forced back to the room to rest. I let myself in as quietly as I could.

  “I’m awake,” Courtney said, and I walked around the corner. Courtney sat on her bed, wearing a robe with her laptop open in front of her. It appeared as though she showered, which is what I planned to do pronto.

  “Hey.”

  “How are the horses?”

  “They’re amazing,” I said. “Kni—ah, Aidan has hired two guys to watch them. They’re nice guys, so I feel good about that.”

  Courtney smiled. “You gonna shower or sleep?”

  “Shower then sleep.”

  She sighed. “I’ll wait for you. If I get woken up, I won’t be able to fall back to sleep.”

  “That’s a bummer. I can sleep pretty much anywhere.”

  “Bitch,” she joked.

  I laughed. “That’s me.”

  She yawned and I sighed. “I’ll be really quick,” I promised.

  “Thanks.”

  I took a quick shower and then we closed all the drapes in the large room and went to bed. We slept until it was time to get up for dinner, and surprisingly, I was wide awake. Dinner in the big hall was a blast. All the athletes’ ate there, so we got to mingle with our competitors, along with a few other folks on the US swimming and dive teams. I was glad that by the time I dragged my
butt to bed, it didn’t take long to crash.

  * * *

  The next morning, I forced myself to get up, even though I felt totally out of it. Courtney and I had slept for close to ten hours, but we both woke barely able to function.

  “Shower first or second?” Courtney asked.

  “You go,” I said. “I’ll shower tonight. But I’ll wait and walk over with you if you like.”

  We had planned to meet the team at the dining hall at nine. It was just past eight, so we had a little time.

  “That would be great.” She grabbed a towel and stepped into the bathroom.

  I dressed quickly, then brushed out my hair before I texted Knight. He texted back that he wanted to walk with us, so he would meet us at our room.

  Knight knocked on the door just as Courtney was slipping on her boots and I was finishing brushing my teeth.

  Courtney pulled open the door. “Hey, Aidan.”

  “Hey. Y’all sleep okay?”

  “Sleeping wasn’t the problem,” Courtney said. “Waking up was.”

  I heard him chuckle as I turned everything off in the bathroom and joined them at the front door. “Hey, ho—” I cleared my throat to cover up my endearment, but didn’t miss Knight’s little smirk.

  “Hey, Kim. You sleep okay?”

  “Yep,” I said.

  Without a morning kiss, but a secret look that was almost as good, we walked over to the food hall and joined the rest of the team for breakfast. The rest of the day was spent acclimating to the weather and hanging with our horses. They’d passed quarantine with flying colors so we lunged them a bit, but the plan was to start working them the next day. By the time we got back to our room, we had time to actually relax before dinner, so I took the time to read...something I hadn’t done in a long while.

  Three hours later, I pulled my hair into a ponytail and pulled on a pair of jeans with my Team USA sweatshirt. Courtney wore basically the same thing, only she’d done her hair and makeup like she was hitting a club. It was time for dinner and I was starving.

  “Holy cow, lady, you look amazing,” I said.

  She grinned. “Thanks. I’m hoping to bag one of the runners. They’re all lean muscle and cut.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Sprinter?”

  She shook her head. “Um, no, I want someone who can go longer than a minute.”