Lori Foster - Holding Strong

Pigheaded men. She could damn well decide if she needed the hospital. Right now, though, all she wanted to do was hide, so she pulled the blankets over her head.

She heard Denver say low, “She’s going to suffocate herself. You better go.”

“You don’t need anything else?”

“Got it covered.”

“All right, then.” Voices dropped more, moved farther away, and Armie said quietly, “You’ll let me know if anything else happens?”

“Yeah. But I’ll keep a close eye out, so don’t sweat it.”

A close eye out for what ? Cherry lowered the sheet enough to see both men standing by the open door.

Armie half stepped out. “Think you’ll be back at the rec center tomorrow?”

“Depends on how she feels in the morning.” When Denver glanced back at her, she quickly closed her eyes, and he said to Armie, “I’ll call in and let you know.”

“I hate for her to go through that long drive home if she’s not up to it.”

If she’d had the strength, Cherry would have set Armie straight. She wasn’t a frail little girl—but at the moment, she sure felt like one.

“I know,” Denver agreed. “If it is the current bug, she should feel a little better tomorrow. Not as feverish anyway.”

“But still wiped out.” Armie hesitated before saying, “You had, what? A kids’ class and then your turn at the self-defense for women?”

“Intermediates at five-thirty, then the women at seven-thirty.”

Oh wow, Cherry thought. He wasn’t getting any sleep, and then he’d have all that way to drive, his own workout to do, then two classes... Guilt made her feel even lower. All the guys pitched in at the rec center. It was sort of a tradeoff for getting to use the place, being able to mix and mingle with the better established fighters that visited Cannon on occasion, but also because they were close friends with Cannon and enjoyed pitching in.

Armie said, “Why don’t I just cover for you?”

“You’re coming off a tourney,” Denver reminded him.

“So?”

“You sure you’re up for it?”

“Now you’re just trying to piss me off.”

Denver laughed. “All right, sure. Thanks.”

More was said, but Cherry couldn’t hear it all, and then the door lock clicked and she knew Denver was returning to her. Curious as to what he’d do, she opened her eyes and watched him.

“Medicine kicking in yet?”

She took stock of her body, realized she wasn’t trembling as badly, and nodded. “I think so.”

He smiled down at her. “You look drowsy.”

She knew how she looked and she didn’t want to talk about it. “Will you come back to bed?”

“Yeah. We both need some sleep.”

Without a single care, he stripped off his clothes, even taking off his boxers.

Watching him, her eyes went wide, then wider still when he turned to fold everything on a chair. Figured he’d sleep naked, which added to her torment since she wasn’t up to taking advantage of that hot bod. His muscled butt was a thing of beauty. And his wide, strong back and shoulders made her sigh.

Apparently he heard her wistful sigh because he glanced back at her. “No coughing. That’s good.”

She just might be too stunned by his nudity to cough.

Turning to face her, Denver said, “You don’t mind?”

Seeing him in the raw? Heck no. She shook her head while letting her gaze track all over him.

“Give me five minutes and I’ll join you.” He picked up his overnight bag and disappeared into the bathroom. She heard running water and the sounds of him brushing his teeth.

That made her feel extra funky, and as soon as he finished she dragged herself out of the bed. Even knowing she walked like an ancient zombie, she couldn’t move any faster.

Denver took her arm and helped her to the small john. He tipped up her chin. “If you need me, let me know.”

“Thanks.” She closed the door on him. It took the last of her reserves but she washed off her destroyed makeup, brushed her teeth, used the john, and knew she had no energy left for dealing with the impossible mess of her hair.

Denver was right there when she opened the door and he scooped her up and carried her to the bed. Once he had her tucked in, he turned out the lights and scooted in behind her, drawing her close. He slid one arm under her head, the other around her, under her T-shirt and over one breast. “Okay?”

His massive fists had knockout power, but right now his open palm and long fingers were so gentle it left her awed. “Yes.”

He kissed her shoulder. “Sleep. I’ll wake you when you need to take more meds.”

Relishing his nearness, she closed her eyes and faded away.

CHAPTER FIVE

DENVER HELD HER as she slept restlessly until bright sunshine shone through the curtains. An hour or so ago, he’d gotten up to cool her down again, to give her meds and get her to drink. He knew she needed time, rest and meds more than anything, and somehow he’d see that she got it.

He hadn’t slept much, but then, she was so sick, and he felt so damn guilty, it was a wonder he could relax at all. Thanks to his colossal ego, and yeah, pent-up lust for her, he’d pushed her hard, making her come again and again. That hadn’t helped her.

It definitely hadn’t helped him any, because now that he knew the feel of her, the sounds she made in her pleasure, how she clenched all around him, he couldn’t stop thinking about doing it all again.

He rubbed a hand over his face, then got himself together.

She was with him, thank God, not alone. When he considered his own stubbornness, how he’d almost let her go back to her room alone, it made him want to kick his own ass. Right now she needed someone.

He wanted that someone to be him.

Luckily he had time to spare, and though he hated to see her feeling so poorly and would have spared her if he could, he’d enjoy caring for her.

First thing was cancelling their checkout.

He slipped from the bed without disturbing her, then just stood there looking down at her.

During the night when her fever had broken, she’d turned to her back, one hand up above her head, the other resting over her middle.

The sheet and blanket were now down to her knees.

Torture.

She had the sweetest, curviest little body he’d ever seen.

And those panties... They were mostly a strip of lace over the front, a thong in the back, and they made him hazy with churning lust.

Making himself turn away, Denver picked up his clothes and slipped into the bathroom to dress and shave. Shaving was a concession for her delicate skin. He rarely bothered anymore, except when meeting with clients through his work as an accountant. But since making the SBC, he’d cut way back on that—and on shaving. Now he only had a few longtime clients he continued to work with.

After brushing his teeth, he finger-combed his long hair and stepped out again.

Cherry hadn’t stirred. Her badly mussed blond curls spilled out over the pillow. Sunlight cut across her face and even sick and without makeup, she looked beautiful, her skin creamy, her lips full and soft.

If he didn’t have a fight rolling up, he wouldn’t mind spending an entire week at the hotel with her.

Just the two of them.

Most of their time spent in bed. Or the shower. Hell, he’d enjoy bending her over the desk so he could appreciate that spectacular ass even more.

But he would never shirk his training, so a week was out.

They’d have most of today, but she wouldn’t be up for any of the things he burned to do to her.

Looking away from temptation, he put his wallet in his pocket and picked up the room key card, then slipped out without making a sound.

At the front desk, he checked out of his own room and extended her stay, explaining that she was sick. There was a good chance that once awake, she’d feel up to the ride home later. But he didn’t want her rushed.