Takedown (13 page)

“So fuckin’ ready. This is nothing like a dildo.”

Luke’s sincere little laugh always brought a smile to Mitchell’s lips. Mitchell grinned up at him.

Then Luke was sliding inside to join their bodies in ecstasy, and Mitchell arched against him with another moan. The first few moments were always too much too fast. Once the almost unbearable moment subsided, though, pleasure was right there, throbbing hard and deep within him.

“Yes,” Mitchell breathed out, moving his hips in a few shallow, awkward thrusts to encourage Luke.

Luke needed no more than that, throwing his hips into a quick, smooth rhythm that went deeper and deeper with each push of his cock.

Their moans and grunts blurred into one another’s as their bodies surged together, bare skin grinding against skin. Mitchell’s hand on his cock was caught between their bodies and he focused on smaller, tighter strokes around the head of his cock.

Then Luke knocked his hand away to take over stroking his cock, and Mitchell melted into the mattress. That perfect fist jerking his cock in the same time as his cock pushed into him… He was tensing up faster than he wanted.

But Luke still wasn’t pounding him into the mattress like last time.

When Mitchell looked up at Luke, Luke leaned in for a long, slow, sweet kiss. Although Mitchell’s lips almost ached from all Luke’s kisses, he pushed into the kiss again. He parted his lips to let Luke’s tongue tease at the tip of his own.

Luke was so fucking good at this.

Mitchell tangled his hand in Luke’s short hair and rubbed his back with the other hand to enjoy the steady flexing of muscles under his smooth skin. The kiss was sweet, but Luke was starting to thrust harder now. Every thrust rubbed over his prostate and made him tingle even more in a feedback loop of arousal.

When he could, he gasped, “I’m so close.”

“Come for me,” Luke whispered, his voice the lowest, sexiest growl Mitchell had ever heard from him. “I want you to lose your mind.”

Mitchell’s body instinctively clenched for a moment just at the words. “Oh,
yes
.” He was quivering, his stomach tense. The whole world was forgotten except for Luke’s body above and around and inside his own. Luke owned him from inside out.

Mitchell came hard, throwing his head back and crying out without even the chance to form words. He could only moan his pleasure as his body convulsed and twitched its passion. His own warm seed spurted across both their stomachs, but neither of them cared.

Luke pushed in when he could as the clenches of Mitchell’s body milked his cock. He only needed a few more thrusts, each accompanied with a breathy, grunting moan. Then his body arched forward, the line of his throat exposed as he tossed his head back.

Mitchell watched in rapt fascination as Luke squeezed his eyes shut, his nose even crinkling adorably as he gasped for breath. “Yes…!”

“That’s it, babe,” Mitchell moaned, the pet name slipping from his lips before he even thought about it. He blushed, but it didn’t throw Luke out of the moment at all.

Luke thrust a few more times before panting, his body going still as he slipped out of Mitchell and his cock started to soften. “Oh, God, yes.”

“Mmm,” Mitchell moaned his agreement, wrapping both arms around his lover’s shoulders to pull him down onto him.

Luke laughed and let Mitchell yank him flat onto him, though he kept shifting to make sure he didn’t crush Mitchell’s chest. He squirmed enough to pull the condom off and toss it, and then grabbed tissues to dab Mitchell’s stomach off.

“I’m fine!” Mitchell finally laughed at Luke’s avoidance of draping himself over him. “I’m not gonna be a pancake from a little heavy cuddling.”

“Heavy cuddling? Can you even have that without heavy petting?”

“You definitely can.” Mitchell kissed Luke’s lips a few times, and then Luke kissed him back.

The seconds felt like hours as they silently kissed and held still to be kissed, eventually rolling onto their sides. They spooned as Luke grabbed the blanket to pull up over them.

Somehow, the road ahead was dark, but there was light at the end of it. Mitchell was heavy to the very bones with contentment in the knowledge that everything was going to be okay.

“
H
it your fucking points
, Hanson.”

Luke gritted his jaw and went in again, circling Troy like a predator ready to strike. He was still taking it a little easier on Troy than he otherwise would, which was perfect for training. Hugh didn’t want him exhausted for his fight, but he still wanted to see every bit of form Luke would be demonstrating in the actual fight.

Troy got a good jab in, then another hook, and then he spun. He was telegraphing the damn kick for the world to see. Luke almost laughed at how easy it was to dodge—until Troy slammed him in the stomach with his elbow instead.

Hugh was laughing, and even Luke’s cheeks flushed with shame. He’d underestimated Troy and let him get an easy feint.

Then, Luke let it go. He let his hands go, let the embarrassment go, let his judgment of Troy go. It was two bodies in the ring, cautious footsteps, twitching fists.

Troy moved in and out. He was nervous, lighter, faster on his feet.

Luke hit less, but he hit hard. He let Troy land two in exchange for one good one—one solid hit that would knock Troy off-balance.

Then, he had his moment.

In, twice on the ribcage and stomach, and Troy stumbled.

Luke was over him, going for the throat, when Troy tapped out, rolling his head back in disappointment.

The unfulfilled adrenaline had Luke gasping for breath, almost choking on his urge to finish the fight with a K.O. But he pulled away, offered Troy a hand up, let the burn fade in his chest in exchange for cool thinking about his moves again.

It pissed him off a little to think about the Millers watching the fight live. He hated the idea of them being
there
, physically, but he was certain he was gonna be able to use that to his advantage in the moment, too. Take out his aggression toward them on Pascal.

Luke thought his chances against Pascal were still solid. He just had to… not be an idiot. He liked to think he wouldn’t have underestimated Pascal, but it had been a stupid-ass move—and patronizing, to boot—to underestimate Troy. He owed him one.

Luke pulled Troy in for a hug and slapped his back. “Great one. You almost knocked me back.”

It wasn’t
quite
true, but Troy smiled anyway, glowing with pride, and Luke caught Hugh’s slight nod. As they exited the cage, Luke jumped to the gym floor lightly and rolled his shoulder, pulling off his gloves. The exhaustion was sinking in, and as Hugh approached, he could no doubt read it in his face.

“Good comeback. You learn your lesson?”

God, Hugh had been setting that one up for weeks. Luke smiled ruefully and jerked his head in a nod.

Hugh slapped him on the shoulder. “Good man. Hey, you missed a delivery.” He didn’t look around, leaving it to Luke to figure out what he meant.

It only took Luke a moment to notice the new machines.

“Oh, holy shit.”

Luke walked over to the new arm curl machine and shoulder press, his eyebrows shooting up. They were a good brand, and they looked new. “Was this Mitchell?”

“It was.”

Luke laughed under his breath as he eyed the arm curl machine. He’d cursed it out while Mitchell watched once, since the damn weight stack wouldn’t seem to stay aligned no matter what he did, and then the cable almost snapped the other day.

And then he’d mentioned once that they needed a second shoulder press machine, since it was getting more popular.

Mitchell had listened.

“Those were the ones getting harder to maintain,” Hugh commented. “Should cut down on your work a little not to be fixing the damn weights every day.”

“Yeah,” Luke laughed softly. He straightened up again and cleared his throat. “Great.” He glanced around, trying to find Mitchell, but he was nowhere in sight. Luke was starting to get antsy with the desire to burn off his energy, and not just his physical energy.

“Mitchell’s leaving tomorrow, isn’t he?” Hugh asked, but before Luke could engage, he caught sight of a broad-shouldered bald guy entering the gym.

“Isn’t that…”

“That’s the potential buyer,” Hugh answered quietly, raising his eyebrows. “I’m gonna go clean out lockers.” He turned on his heel and walked to the locker room, following Troy in. No doubt he had to give him a Hugh-style pep talk.

Luke cracked his neck, then strode toward the gym door to welcome the buyer. Mitchell didn’t seem to be around, after all, so the responsibility fell to him.

“Hello. I’m Luke. I think I saw you around the other day.”

The guy turned to him, then grinned. “Hey, Luke. I know who you are. I’m Sid—I’m looking at buying this place.”

“Ah, Mitchell’s mentioned the resident troublemaker,” Luke shook his head in mock regret. That was about all the self-deprecation he’d give this guy, and even that was wrapped in a not-so-subtle signal:
I can fuck you up if you fuck him over.

Sid laughed. “He did say there’s a guy who practically runs the place single-handed, along with Hugh… You think Hugh’s getting too old for it, though? You need more staff?”

Luke bristled. “Nah. They’d only get in the way.”

“Right,” Sid hummed. “But he’s a good trainer?”

“Oh, yeah.” Luke tried not to show his irritation with the question. Of course he damn well was.

“Good. How are you feeling about your chances?” Sid pressed, glancing around the gym and back at him. “I mean, he’s got a heavyweight gym on his side. I heard who his trainer is—”

“Don’t matter who’s your trainer,” Luke cut Sid off. “Only matters what you put into it in the cage.”

Sid nodded. “Suppose so. It’s looking like he might not make weight, though. He’s pretty solid.”

“You been stalking him?”

“I want to know your chances.”

Luke squared his chin. “And what do you think they are?”

The way Sid hesitated told Luke all he needed to know, but Luke waited anyway, his blood slowly heating up. “Well,” Sid finally said, “I think you’ll put on a good show.”

“You go to his gym and try to shoot him down too?” Luke demanded, his jaw jutting out. He heard someone drop a weight nearby, a sudden stillness going over the gym.

Sid leaned over the light table standing near the entrance with its brochures and sign-in list. He murmured, “I don’t think you’re gonna make it, kid. I’m just saying, be prepared. You might not be ready.”

Course I’m fucking ready!
Luke leaned over the other side of the table and braced his hands on it. “I’m fucking ready. Why don’t you want me to be?”

Sid hesitated for a fraction of a second before he covered up the guilty surprise, but that was confirmation for Luke.

“Don’t play mind games with a fighter,” Luke hissed. He snapped back and stood bolt upright now. “Don’t even fuckin’ try.”

“Well, if you lose, on your own head be it. When I own this place, I’m only keeping successes around.”

Luke’s jaw dropped as the last piece clicked into place.

“You’re trying to get to me so I’ll lose and Mitch’ll sell the gym to you.”

Sid was too careful there. He eyed him warily before shaking his head. “No, that’s—”

“Get the
fuck
out of my gym!” Luke roared in Sid’s face.

“
Your
gym?” Sid exclaimed with a harsh little laugh. “What, he’s selling it to
you
? What are you buying it with? Blowjobs?”

Luke’s fists came up under the table, flipping it onto its side as papers flew everywhere. He could hear a few of the guys exclaiming, footsteps as they came to try to defuse the situation, but he wasn’t having a moment of it.

The only thing that cut through his rage was the office door opening, Mitchell standing in the doorway with wide eyes. But Mitchell didn’t make a move to stop Luke as he stepped over the table, grabbed Sid’s shoulder, and pushed him toward the door.

Sid tried to say something to Mitchell on the way past, but Luke shoved him harder. “Keep. Going.”

“You can’t—”

“Out. Of. My. Gym.” Luke’s voice was a cold hiss now. He didn’t care about pretending to be polite. This asshole was trying to tear down everything he worked for—
everything
at once!—just so he could own the damn place?

Fuck his stupid bald head.

Luke slammed the steel door open and Sid shook himself free, spitting on the concrete outside the gym door. Sid still didn’t have the balls to say a word, though, as he walked over to his stupid mid-sized SUV and peeled out of the parking lot.

When Luke let the door clang shut again, normal conversation and workout noises resumed beyond the hallway. He turned and met Mitchell’s eyes, but it was impossible to read what Mitchell thought.

“Get into my office. Now.”

Luke glanced down the hall to everyone who was very deliberately
not
paying attention to them, then ducked into the office and shut the door.

Luke drew a deep breath.

He was prepared to defend himself, to explain what that asshole was trying to do. The guys would back him up. Maybe Mitchell didn’t understand how important mindset was in these last few days before a fight, but if not, he could make him see—

Mitchell grabbed Luke’s cheeks between his palms and hauled him in, crushing their lips together in a bruising kiss.

It took all Luke had not to moan in response, very conscious of the gym full of guys on the other side of that door. He grabbed Mitchell’s shoulders and pulled him in, though, grinding against his front on pure instinct.

They kissed hot and hard, their lips and tongues mashing, until Mitchell finally pulled back, taking a good step back to try to separate them.

Luke’s eyes danced as he grinned at the other man. “Yeah? That’s what you think of me throwing your buyer out of the gym?”

Mitchell laughed, and Luke joined in at the sound of that warm, rolling laugh. Mitchell sat hard on the desk, shaking his head as he tried to calm down.

“Yeah, actually,” Mitchell managed after a minute. “I’m glad.”

Luke sighed hard with relief. “Good.”

“I didn’t like him,” Mitchell shook his head. There was something guarded in his expression, like he wasn’t saying something, and Luke didn’t want to guess what it was. “Not from the start. My parents were trying to foist him on me as a…”

“Foist him?” Luke smirked. He and Emily had used to tease Mitchell over his use of unusual words; that one word was enough to bring the memories flooding back.

Mitchell stopped, clearly having the same nostalgic moment, then laughed quietly. “Yeah. Foist.”

“I’m sorry about your parents, by the way,” Luke murmured after a moment, his smile fading. Sure, they bugged him, but he didn’t have to be related to them.

Mitchell shook his head. “It’s okay. What made you flip at him, though?”

There was no point in hiding the truth from him to protect him or keep the peace. Luke kind of wanted Mitchell to be as pissed off as he was. “He wanted me to lose so you’d sell the gym to him and he could kick me out. And then he asked how I’d buy the gym—with blowjobs?”

Mitchell’s jaw dropped enough at the first sentence. By the time Luke reached the second, his eyes had hardened and his lips snapped together in a firm line.

Then Luke winced. Aside from the backlash after Emily, he probably hadn’t run into a lot of this firsthand. It seemed like he
had
been telling the truth about Luke being his first. “It’s not the worst thing he could’ve said.”

“No,” Mitchell agreed. “Still shitty. You can throw tables if he tries to come back in.”

Luke managed a smile, leaning in to kiss Mitchell’s forehead. “Okay. Thanks. I should get back out before Hugh thinks I’m fucking around.”

Mitchell chuckled quietly. “Of course not. No fucking. But you wanna sleep over tonight?”

“Yeah. Of course.” Luke’s chest squeezed. It was their last night together, after all. Mitch flew back tomorrow.

Before he got caught up in thinking about it, Luke jerked his chin in a quick nod, then let himself out of the office.