Fighting Shadows (On the Ropes #2)

“Get in the van,” I ordered, releasing her.

“I can do that,” she responded, licking her lips, but she didn’t move.

“Tonight?” I urged.

Fidgeting with her fingers, she asked, “Front seat or back?”

“Your call. Just do it fast.” I tossed her a wink, and she shyly looked away.

There was absolutely nothing shy about that crazy woman, so I figured the innocent act was for my benefit. I wasn’t complaining, either. I fucking loved it.

When she looked back up, there wasn’t a smile in sight.

There was desire.

Desire I had put there.

Desire I owned.

Desire I was absolutely going to fulfill.





I could have lived the rest of my life under Flint’s dark and heated gaze. His lids were hooded, and I was relatively sure he had every intention of devouring me.

And I had every intention of letting him.

Sure, guys had checked me out over the years, but I was usually hustling them or groping them in order to swipe their wallets. But no one had ever looked at me the way Flint did.

I didn’t have a ton of experience with guys, and by that, I mean I didn’t have any—like none whatsoever. The kiss Flint had just pressed to my lips would actually go down as another “newsie” for the day. I was a chameleon though. I could fake it and make it so freaking believable that Flint would be none the wiser.

I had decided I wanted to be with him after he’d dived out of that van after me days ago. But right then, I wanted more.

I wanted him to look at me like that every day for the rest of my life.

“Come here, beautiful,” he said as he moved himself from his chair to the floorboard of the van.

I went willingly, stopping between his legs. My stomach was at his eye level, and even with as confident as I was, I wasn’t exactly sure what to do next. Thankfully, Flint was.

“You know, Ash, it’s suddenly occurred to me that there are a lot of places I want to taste on you.”

My eyes went wide before I could cover up the effect his words had had on me.

After pushing the edge of my shirt up, he placed a wet kiss on my stomach. His warm tongue snaked out, rolling against my skin the same way it had in my mouth. The combination of the memory and the feel of his touch forced a groan from my throat. Swaying, I became lost in the sensory overload.

Gripping my hips, Flint trailed his tongue along the low waistband of my jeans. I threaded a hand into his dark hair for balance, but as I gently tugged, he let out a loud growl that I swear traveled over every inch of my body.

“Fuck,” he hissed, trailing a hand up to my breast and squeezing hard enough to send the moan flying from my mouth. “Please, tell me you’re good with this?” he asked—even as I pressed my breast against his hand, pleading for more.

Oh, I was good with it.

I might not have respond with words, but I absolutely answered.

After gently guiding his head away, I crossed my arms and gripped the hem of my shirt. In one swift movement, the shirt was gone, and before he had the chance to react, my bra quickly followed.

I brazenly stood before him completely bare, and the way his eyes dilated confirmed that it had been the right move.

“Jesus Christ, woman,” he cursed, looping an arm around my waist before lying down on the floor.

I fell with him, catching myself on my arms by his head.

“People can see you!” he scolded.

Okay, maybe it hadn’t been exactly the right move.

I sheepishly looked away.

Using my chin to force my eyes back to his, he amended, “It’s just that I want these to be mine for tonight.” He gently rolled on my nipple, causing me to gasp. “I’d have to fight off half the city if anyone else saw you.” He leaned up, catching my mouth in another kiss. Once again using my chin, he turned my head to gain access to my neck. After teasing his way up to my ear, he whispered, “And if I’d had to do that, it would have taken time away from doing this.” He raked his teeth over my earlobe, spreading chills over my body.

He pushed up on his elbows, gliding his rough hands up and down my sides.

“What’s that?” he asked, stopping at the tattoo on my left side over my rib cage.

“A dream catcher,” I answered breathlessly as he continued to explore my body.

“You and your dreams,” he murmured.

I wanted him, and as I opened my legs to straddle his waist, I felt exactly how much he wanted me too.

And it scared the confidence right out of me, sending a sea of doubt washing over me.

Sitting up, he sucked my nipple into his mouth, and while it was amazing, I was unsure of the right reaction. What if I got it wrong? What if he thought my moans were annoying? What if he didn’t want to be with me again?

“Um,” I mumbled as he shifted to my other breast.