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

  “You could always go for one of the other riders.”

  “I could, but I don’t want competition for my fabulousness.”

  I giggled. “This is probably a good plan. What about swimmers? They’re long and lean, too.”

  “Yeah, but hairless men? Ew. Men who wax their bodies kind of creep me out. Smooth chest... all good, but smooth everywhere? Um, no,” she shared. “What about you?”

  “I like my men, men,” I said. “Strong. Alpha. Pretty.”

  “You like a man you can’t boss around?” she asked.

  “Absolutely.” I raised an eyebrow. “Why? Does that surprise you?”

  She nodded. “A lotta bit. I figured you’d be all about being in charge.”

  I shook my head. “Well, that’s fun too, but I love feeling adored and protected... and a good argument means makeup sex.”

  “There is that,” she agreed. “Maybe you can find a wrestler.”

  “I draw the line at men in leotards.”

  Courtney laughed. “Oh, yeah, I didn’t think about that. They really do look ridiculous.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Ready?”

  Grabbing my room key and phone, I slid them into my pocket and followed her out the door. As we walked to the dining hall, two men joined us. I recognized one of them as Conner something or another, from the US swim team.

  “Ladies,” Conner said. Conner was a freestyle phenomenon, and much shorter than he looked on television. He was probably five-feet-ten, but had a Johnny Depp look about him that kind of overrode his lack of height. He also had the reputation of being a really nice guy.

  Courtney smiled. “Hey.”

  Courtney and I shared a secret grin, but despite how cute Conner and his buddy were, all I could think about was what kind of shaving parties they might have.

  The other man flanked me and smiled. “I’m Matt.”

  “Kim.”

  We shook hands and continued to the dining hall. Matt was about six feet tall, red hair, and had broad shoulders. He said his main event was the butterfly, and he had this innocent look about him that reminded me of Ed Sheeran in a weird way.

  “So, equestrian team, huh?” Matt asked, stepping uncomfortably close to me.

  I nodded. “Yeah.”

  “How long have you been riding?”

  I scooted to the side as we continued on, trying to put distance between us. “Since before I could walk.”

  He chuckled. “How does that work?”

  “Very carefully I’m told.”

  Matt laughed a little too loudly to be authentic as he drifted closer to me again. “You’re funny.”

  “Thanks,” I said, keeping my tone flat and uninviting.

  He didn’t seem like the kind of guy who took a hint, so I moved a little quicker toward the dining hall.

  “So what’s your story?” he asked, quickening his steps to keep up.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Got a boyfriend or husband at home?”

  I smiled. “Yeah.”

  “Do you care?”

  “Um, yeah, I do.” He was starting to piss me off a little.

  “Too bad,” he said, and caught up with Courtney and Conner.

  Well, that was one way of getting rid of him.

  Courtney slowed her pace, letting the guys go ahead, and joined me. “I change my mind. I think I’ll go for a swimmer.”

  “What happened to the lack of body hair creeping you out?”

  “I’ll allow for it to grow back when he’s not training.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Go for it. I hope that other one drowns.”

  “Seriously?”

  I filled her in on Matt’s advances and she groaned. “What a dick.”

  “Total,” I agreed.

  “So you have a guy at home, huh?”

  I grinned. “I do.”

  “Tell me about him.”

  “Not much to tell. Tall, dark, sexy, bad-boy.”

  She laughed. “How bad boy?”

  “Rides a Harley, wears a lot of leather. Drinks beer, swears a lot. That kind of bad boy.”

  “Mmm, sounds yummy.”

  “Yeah, he is.”

  “He also sounds a little like Aidan.”

  “What?” I shook my head, my heart racing, worried I’d given too much away. “No way.”

  “Way.”

  I chuckled. “Besides, Aidan’s a cowboy. He doesn’t seem bad boy in any way.”

  “Cowboys are bad boys, didn’t you know?”

  “I guess I missed that memo,” I said as we arrived at the hall. We grabbed trays and stood in line.

  Courtney grabbed a salad. “He is totally hot, though.”

  “Who?” I asked, choosing ribs and trying to appear nonchalant.

  “Aidan.”

  “You think?”

  “Um, yeah, I totally think.”

  I shrugged. “Not really my type. He’s kind of a dick,” I lied.

  “Well, I’d like his dick—”

  Torn between the thrill of my secret relationship with a guy she thought was hot and wanting to smother Courtney in her sleep if she said one more suggestive thing about him, I held up a hand, cutting off the rest of her sentence. “Okay, way too much information, lady. I have to work with the guy, and I don’t need those sort of mental images going through my mind.” Of course I didn’t have to fantasize about Knight’s body, but I kept that little tidbit to myself.

  She giggled. “Sorry.”

  “No worries.” I grabbed a slice of chocolate cake, figuring I was going to need to eat my feelings at some point during the evening. Killing a teammate this close to the competition would probably be frowned upon, so cake would have to compensate for my murderous thoughts.

  The rest of the team was sitting at a table, only Knight wasn’t with them.

  “Where’s Aidan?” Courtney asked.

  Jack shrugged. “We don’t know.”

  “Did anyone text him?” I asked, sitting at the table.

  “Never mind. There he is,” Marcus said, and the group turned as one to see him walking with purpose towards our table.

  Courtney elbowed me. “See? Sexy as hell.”

  And pissed, I observed. His body was locked, his expression somewhat relaxed, but his eyes seemed to be alit with anger.

  “Hey Aidan,” Courtney said, sounding a little breathless.

  I frowned in Courtney’s direction, and had to keep myself from dumping my cake in her lap. I didn’t want this little bitch fawning all over my man, even if there was no chance in hell she’d ever get him.

  “Hey everyone.” He glared at me briefly, then forced his features into something less angry. I raised an eyebrow, but he ignored me completely and sat with the team.

  “He looks mad,” Courtney whispered. “What did we do?”

  I shrugged. “No idea.”

  “Everything okay?” Jack asked Knight.

  “Peachy,” he said, although I got the impression no one really believed him.

  Dinner passed relatively quickly, without drama... well, much drama. I could feel tension emanating from Knight all night, but I had no idea why, and since we couldn’t spend time alone, I doubted I’d find out anytime soon.

  After we left the dining hall, a few of us decided to head over to the coffee shop across the quad. Before I knew it, it was past nine o’clock p.m. and I could barely keep my eyes open. “I’m going to head back to my room,” I said, and rose to my feet.

  “Already?” Courtney said.

  “Yeah, I’m pretty wrecked.” I grabbed my coffee cup and rose to my feet. “Don’t feel like you need to come with. Seriously, I’ll sleep through you coming in later if you want to stay out.”

  “Thanks. I’ll be as quiet as a church mouse,” she promised. “Even though there’s no way in hell I’m going to church.”

  The table laughed and I dropped my cup on one of the trays with other dirty dishes.

  “I’ll walk you back,” Knight
offered.

  “You don’t have to.”

  “Well, I don’t want you walkin’ back alone, so I’ll walk you back and then head to my room.”

  “It’s like a two-minute walk, Aidan,” I argued.

  He gave me a warning glare and then glanced at Courtney and Morgan. “You two buddy up as well.”

  I rolled my eyes at Courtney’s lascivious look.

  “Fine. Come on,” I said.

  Knight nodded, dropped his cup next to mine, and then led me out of the dining hall.

  “What the hell,” he snapped once we were clear of anyone who could hear us.

  “What do you mean?” I asked, confused.

  “You wait for me to pick you up, Kim. No arguments.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yeah, fuckin’ seriously.”

  “Ohmigod, you’re ridiculous.”

  “Anyone try to get in your panties?” he challenged.

  How the hell did he know Matt made a pass? It was eerie. “What are you talking about?”

  “Just answer the question, Kim.”

  I needed to figure out a way to divert his question. “I’ve barely been out of your presence, so when exactly would anyone have had time to get in my panties?”

  “That’s not what I asked, Kim.”

  I sighed. “One of the swimmers asked if I had a boyfriend or husband at home and when I said yes, he asked if I cared.”

  “Which one?” he said on a growl.

  I shook my head. “I’m not telling you.” I reached to touch him, but immediately stopped myself. “Gah! This is so frustrating.”

  We arrived at my room and I opened the door. Knight pushed me through it and up against the wall. “Which one?”

  I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him, effectively distracting him. “I miss you.”

  His arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me close. “Miss you too, sugar.”

  “Feel like an elicit quickie before Courtney gets back?”

  “Hell yeah.” He smiled. “Just as soon as you tell me which douchebag hit on you.”

  I tugged the buttons open on his jeans, sliding my hand inside and cupping him. “Knight, you can’t kill every man who makes a pass at me.”

  He hissed, his eyes closing as I stroked him. “Lock the door.”

  I grinned and threw the latch, so even Courtney’s key wouldn’t let her in, then I knelt in front him. He apparently wasn’t having any of it as his hands slid under my arms and lifted me onto my feet, then lowered me to the bed. “I want in your panties,” he said.

  I giggled. “I can see that.”

  Unlacing my sneakers, he pulled them from my feet, then tugged down my jeans and panties. He didn’t bother to remove anything else from either of us, just dropped his jeans and slid into me. I gasped at the sensation, drawing my knees up and taking him deeper. “Baby,” I whispered. “Yes!”

  As he anchored my thighs to his body, I positioned my ankles to his shoulders and he shifted going deeper. He slammed into me, pausing for a few torturous seconds before repeating the thrust. Because of my position, I didn’t have full range of movement and by the look on his face; I could tell he liked that. “Knight,” I warned.

  “Yeah, sugar. What do you need?”

  “I need you to fuck me.”

  “Which guy, Kimmie?”

  I arched with a groan. “Knight,” I rasped.

  “Which guy?” he insisted.

  “Matt something.”

  He rewarded my snitch with the orgasm to beat all orgasms, collapsing on top of me and rolling us onto our sides. Once I caught my breath, I gripped his chin. “Don’t you dare do anything to him.”

  Knight grinned, pulling out of me and adjusting his clothing. “You’re going to bed, right?”

  “That’s the plan, why?”

  “Just want you to stay here, sugar. You wanna go out, you text me.”

  I shook my head, sliding off the bed and yanking on my panties. “You’re ridiculous.”

  “Kim.”

  “Yeah, honey?”

  “You gonna behave?”

  “Probably not.” I giggled. “I walked over with Court, we were fine.”

  “Well, in the future, I want you two to walk over with me.”

  “Walk over...?”

  “Anywhere you want to go when you leave the room.”

  “What about across the hall...? Morgan’s room, for instance. Do I need to call you?”

  “Don’t be a pain in the ass, Kimmie.”

  I pulled on a pair of shorts and then wrapped my arms around his waist. “We’re in a tiny, protected community. I don’t understand what you think might happen.”

  “I don’t really care, Kim. You’re in a foreign country knowing no one but the team, and you’re fuckin’ gorgeous. You get some guy dealin’ with ’roid rage and you’re walkin’ alone... I don’t even want to think about it.”

  “Honey—”

  “No. Just fuckin’ humor me, yeah?”

  I sighed. “I can do that.”

  “Thanks, sugar.” He kissed me again and walked to the door.

  “You’re leaving already?”

  He chuckled. “I’m going to check on the horses.”

  “Oh, can I come?”

  “If you want to.”

  I nodded. “I’ll change real quick.”

  After pulling on sweats over my sleep shorts, I yanked on my muck boots and followed him out the door and over to the stall area. Fozzie let out a quiet whinny and stuck his head out as I approached.

  “Hey, boy.” I handed him a peppermint and stepped into his stall. “You look happy, buddy. How are you feeling? Ready to win next week, hmm?” He nuzzled me and I smiled. “I’m glad you’re on my side.”

  “How are you doin’, Kim?” Flea asked, peeking into the stall.

  “I’m good. How are you? Did you eat?”

  He smiled. “Yeah, Buzz and I are takin’ shifts. We’re good, babe.”

  “If you need anything, text me okay?” I said.

  “I will. You just go out there and win.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “No pressure or anything.”

  Flea chuckled. “None at all.”

  “Ready, sugar?” Knight asked, standing beside Flea.

  “Yeah.” After one more snuggle with Fozzie, I let myself out of the stall.”

  “I won’t see you in the morning,” Flea said. “But Buzz’ll be here.”

  “Have a good night,” I said.

  “You too, babe.”

  I joined Knight and slid my hands into the pockets of my sweats. I wanted to wrap my arm around him, hold his hand, anything to touch him... but I couldn’t.

  “I miss not sleepin’ with you,” he said.

  I gave him a sad smile. “Me too, honey.”

  “We gonna change that when we get home?”

  I raised an eyebrow. “You want to move in?”

  “Something like that.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  He smiled. “I want to get married.”

  “You’re saying that here? Now?” I snapped.

  “I’m tellin’ you want I want, Kim, but I’m not proposin’ yet. Just lettin’ you know how I feel.”

  My stomach flipped and I shook my head. The thought of what we were building crashing down like an atom bomb made me sick. Marriage would never work for me and I’d never subject him to my issues. “Marriage is off the table.”

  He sighed. “We’ll see.”

  “But we can talk about moving in together,” I offered.

  “Okay, sugar.”

  “Now that I’ve completely shattered your dreams, don’t be extra dickish tomorrow, okay?”

  He laughed. “No promises.”

  We arrived at my room and I unlocked the door and stepped inside. He followed me and once again, I was up against the wall. “I love you, Kim, and I warned you that you wouldn’t be able to push me away.”

  “I’m not pushing you away, Aidan. I�
��m simply stating that marriage isn’t for me. You’d be miserable.”

  “You’re wrong,” he countered.

  “Seriously,” I insisted. “I’d drive you to hate me. I’m damaged goods.”

  He hissed. “Don’t fuckin’ say that. You’re beautiful just the way you are. You’ve been through shit, sure, but it’s given you a depth you refuse to acknowledge.”

  I dropped my head to his chest. “Can we please not do this now? Let’s shelve this topic until we can get back and have makeup sex after the inevitable fight.”

  “Sugar, I’m not goin’ to fight with you over this. You’ll do what I say and it’ll all be good.”

  I met his eyes again and shook my head. “You’re insane.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said.

  “Bright and early.” I grinned. “You gonna kiss me before you go?”

  “You gonna pull your head out?”

  “Not before we get home, no.”

  He chuckled as he leaned in and kissed me gently. “Love you, sugar.”

  “Love you too.”

  He left me and I closed the door, leaning against it and taking a few deep breaths. God, I loved him. Could I risk marrying him? I highly doubted it, but took a minute to let his love fill me a little more than I had in the past. Once I’d changed into pajamas, I fell into bed. I didn’t wake until the next morning, having never heard Courtney come in.

  Kim

  SATURDAY NIGHT WAS the night to party and let off some steam. Opening Ceremonies had been the night before and once we’d walked through with our teams, we were given a chance to relax since we weren’t riding until the following week. We had a party to go to and I was looking forward to some music and dancing.

  “Did you freak out like I was freaking out?” Courtney asked as she rolled her hair up in hot curlers.

  I was sitting on my bed with a lit mirror in front of me applying makeup. “When?”

  “Last night! Holy shit, there were so many bona-fide athletes walking with us, it wasn’t even funny.”

  I sighed. “Right? I mean, I guess we technically are too, but for me especially, it’s something I’ve been doing my whole life and as long as my horse and I are bonded, it’s not even hard. I don’t remember ever having pulled muscles or torn ligaments or anything.”

  Courtney nodded. “I broke my arm once when my horse refused and sent me flying over his head... so, maybe that counts? Of course, it didn’t stop me from riding, just competing for a couple of months.”