Page 43 of Arm Candy Warrior

“Johnny…”

He strokes my chin then trails his fingers down my neck. “I’ll try to move up the process,” he says, fingertips grazing my chest. He pinches my nipples, and my thighs clench.

“What’s the process?”

“It’s best you don’t know.”

I lock eyes with him. “If I’m going to be yours, I can’t be left in the dark.”

He gives me a taunting grin, pinching my other nipple. Johnny must like to torture himself too because he’s rapidly growing thicker between us. “Give it time,” he promises. He lowers his head, pulling my shirt down to nuzzle in my chest, licking the curve of my breast that Brawler had his mouth on earlier. For some reason, that skyrockets my need, and I push my hips up to meet his. He groans. “I hope you understand how much I want you.” He pulls my sports bra down, tongue rolling over my nipple.

“Don’t you just want to fuck the rules?” I ask, voice breathy with want.

“I want to fuck a lot of things. This pussy.” He lowers his hand, finding my clit to rub through my training pants. “This mouth,” he adds, suddenly moving his head up to kiss me, making my head spin. He dives his tongue into my mouth, and I let him, kissing him back with as much ferocity as he’s kissing me. His chest rumbles, and he pulls away. “You’re like the sweetest drug,” he murmurs. He moves backward, keeping my hands in his before pulling me to my feet after him. “Everything happens for a reason, Kyla. You’ll see. I may not like the rule, but I understand it.”

He’s the only one, because I have a hell of a lot of frustration and damp panties that say otherwise.

17

Ihate to admit it, but it was difficult sleeping by myself. I’d gotten used to Johnny wrapping his arms and legs around me as we drifted off. He’s only a floor above me now. Over dinner, he promised he wouldn’t take his father’s offerings of escorts or any other devious way his father would try to get him to stay away from me. I’m not naïve enough to be positive that Johnny will stay true. His past is evidence otherwise even though I think he’s changed, at least somewhat, in our time together.

I don’t see him for breakfast, and when I text him, he doesn’t respond. It’s possible that after I left, he had to go to another meeting with his father. I guess Big Daddy K wants a sharper eye on the strip club and Joe Dunnegan. He doesn’t have any proof he’s doing anything wrong, only a gut feeling. Listening to Johnny talk about it over dinner only reinforced the fact that he is completely and utterly blind to anything bad his father could be doing. I guess that’s not necessarily a shock considering it’s been him and his father for a long time. The gang raised him, and his father has been at the top of that gang for a lot of those years. Of course, he would end up having some weird sort of relationship with him.

A knock comes on my door, and I assume it’s Magnum because it’s about the time he comes for me every morning to take me to school. Opening the door, I find him leaning against the frame, arms crossed. “I take it you probably knew this was happening,” I say.

He looks behind me. The suite is set up a lot like Johnny’s, but it’s a little smaller. The decorating is the same. Everything is pristine with clean lines. The cupboards, medicine cabinets, and refrigerator were already filled with my stuff. All I had to do was plop my ass in bed.

He nods. “I didn’t think you’d mind.”

I shrug because I do…and I don’t. Growing up with my aunt and uncle, I hadn’t realized how much I craved the kind of relationships I have now. Relationship by fire. It’s like throwing people into a shitshow and daring them not to get involved with each other. It’s impossible. Relationships are formed, melded, and set to stone.

“Just so you know, I’m right across the hall, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything.”

I look around his imposing figure. His door is shut, but I’m desperately curious to see what kind of place Magnum has. Is it black? If that’s the case, it would be different from the bright whites and grays of the other rooms I’ve been in in the tower. Black seems to be Mag’s style though.

“You ready for school?”

I roll my eyes. “That makes me sound like I’m a little kid.”

Magnum grins. “Well, you are young.”

“I disagree. Age is just a number. We should be judged by our past, maturity, and wisdom. In that case, I’m probably older than you.”

He wets his lips, and my body reacts.

I drop my stare to his mouth. “You don’t agree?”

“I agree you’re beyond your years, but you’re not older than me.”

“I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree. How old are you, anyway?”

“Twenty-five.”

“All things combined, I’m like thirty, so I got you beat.”

He chuckles. “You should grab yourbook bag, so I can take you tohigh school.” He reaches out to pat my head, and I pull away from the chastising touch. It only makes him smile wider. “I’ll give you a couple of years for your badassery in the ring, how about that?”

“We can keep discussing,” I tell him, pulling my bag up on my shoulder.

---