Page 14 of Falcon

“Are you always this exasperating?” I hook my arms around his neck to stay steady as he walks.

“Yes, as a matter-of-fact, I am.”

I huff a bit then lick my dry lips. “Why were you following me?”

“I wasn’t following you.”

I don’t say anything; I just arch my brow like yeah right.

“Okay,” he continues, “I wanted to apologize for last night, but I was trying to work up the courage, I guess.”

“The courage? He who owns many WFC titles needed courage to apologize for being a creeping asshole?”

“Been researching me, have you?”

“That’s what you take from that? Why am I not surprised?”

He flashes a smile at me that makes my stomach tingle and my heart drop down to join the party. “What did you read? Anything fascinating?”

“Did you really punch someone so hard that his nose dented into his face?”

He tosses his head back and laughs. It’s a lovely sound. I instantly want to hear it again.

“Where do they come up with this shit? No, I’ve never forced a nose into someone’s head. I’ve broken a lot of noses, but nothing like that.”

In a moment of courage, I ask my next question, “And the sex tape?”

His eyes move down quickly to meet mine. “Not me. The guy looked a lot like me, but it wasn’t me at all. I’m offended someone would think I’d be a two-pump chump like that.”

My eyes go wide and he laughs. Now, that’s all I can think about. What is he like in bed?

“I guess when you’re famous, people like to make up stories about you,” I say. I want to ask about the assault charges, but it doesn’t seem like the time or place for that. And not to mention, it’s a little fucking weird I did that much research.

“Famous? No, I’m hardly famous. MMA fans know me, but I can walk freely in public, no problem, usually. There’s the occasional person, obviously, but it’s not bad.” He glances down at my face before focusing his attention back ahead.

“That’s a good thing, right? I mean, who would want to be recognized all the time, everywhere they go?” I lick my dry lips.

“It’s a very good thing. I like my privacy.”

He carries me the rest of the way to my house in relative silence. It doesn’t take long, maybe five minutes, but it seems to take an eternity. The silence isn’t awkward at all. It’s comfortable, actually. I can feel every ripple of the muscles in his arms under my thighs, and the hard lines of his stomach against my side. Hell, even his shoulders feel strong under my arms that are wrapped around his neck. He is easily the most attractive man I’ve ever come into contact with.

When we reach the foot of my front steps, I push off him a little.

“I can take it from here.”

“Let me take you inside and get you some ice and clean your hands, please? It’s the least I can do.”

I sigh out heavily. “Marco, I…”

“Falcon,” he corrects me.

“Falcon…with all due respect…”

“Listen, I’ve got nothing but good intentions, okay? You fell; you’re hurt. Let me make sure you’re all right. As soon as I do that, I’ll go.”

I shouldn’t trust him. I have no reason to, but I also don’t have a reason not to.

“Okay.” I nod.

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