“Nah, she isn’t mine.” It felt all kinds of wrong saying that.
“No?”
Alex shook his head, and that, as well, felt so fucking unnatural that he felt his brows pull down low in confusion.
The big MMA fighter didn’t say shit, just watched Alex closely. Knowingly. He was a scary bastard, and a fighter no one fucked with, but something had snapped inside of Alex when he was locked in the ring with him; and what started off as friendly sparring and grappling had ended up in him taking it too far.
This was the guy he’d considered a close friend for years, but all it had taken was Vince saying something about a girl that he’d only known for a few fucking days for him to go into beast-mode.
“I’ve never seen Dylan that pissed.” Alex finally said, not sure how else to respond.
“Nah,” Vince said, and the stoic expression faded. “He gets wigged out on occasion, but it’s not anything getting in the ring can’t handle.”
“Listen, man, I’m sorry about snapping out there.” Alex pulled the pack away and rested it on his thigh. His face throbbed something fierce, but looking at the other guy’s face showed Alex had gotten his share of hits in, too. “Just don’t say anything like that about Mary again, yeah?”
Vince didn’t speak for several seconds, but then he gave a tight nod. “Yeah, man. I meant no offense and didn’t know you were that tight with her. Last I heard you were still dropping panties.”
Alex winced, actually fucking winced at Vince’s words. He fucking hated how people saw him, loathed the rumors people spouted out. And he didn’t bother correcting them. He just acted like he didn’t care. But he did. Fuck, he cared and didn’t want to be known as some manwhore.
“Shit, Alex, you look like you’re about ready to puke. You sure you’re okay?”
Dammit, was he okay? He was letting some girl affect him to the point he was throwing punches at his friends. “Fuck. Yes. No. Hell, I don’t know.” He glanced over at Vince, and the asshole was grinning at him. “What?”
“So you aren’t with that chick?” Alex gritted his teeth, about to go another round just for the hell of it. Vince raised his hands in surrender. “I’m not asking so I can have a go at her.” He waited for him to continue but it appeared Vince was waiting on his response.
“Nah. She’s just tutoring me.” He tightened his hand around the pack and the gel inside started to become pliant in his hand. But what he didn’t say was he wanted her fucking bad, that she was his and no one else’s.
“But you want her.” He didn’t phrase it like a question.
Alex stood and put the gel-pack back in the fridge.
Nothing was said for several long moments as Vince stretched his back and lifted his arms above his head, pulling out the muscles. He tossed the gel-pack into the sink from across the room and said, “Well, if you’re not with her, then you can hit up Tainted with me Friday.” Vince looked expectant.
Alex should have said no to going to the newest club in the city, but the truth was just trying to put Mary out of his mind with a few too many drinks sounded like a solution he’d been looking for.
But there wouldn’t be any random hookups, not when the very thought of being with anyone but Mary all but had his cock shriveling up in his pants. “I’m fucked in the head.” The words were meant to stay in his head, but when Vince slapped him on the back, he realized he’d said it out loud.
“We’re all fucked in the head, pretty boy. But it isn’t anything a little alcohol and wet pussy can’t handle. So, you in, brother?” Vince moved toward the door, but stopped right before he went back into the gym. He looked over his shoulder and cocked a dark eyebrow.
“I’m in,” Alex finally said.
Vince grinned and opened the door, the sound of fighting and grunts filtering into the medical room. “That’s what I’m fucking talking about.” And then he was gone, and Alex was left in the medical room wondering if he was about to really fuck things up.
10
Well, Mary was equal parts nervous as hell and excited about tonight. Not only was she going to go out with Darcy and try to let loose—which was where the excitement came from—but tonight was also the first tutoring session with Alex.
She pulled into Alex’s tiny driveway and cut the engine, not moving, just staring at his front door and feeling like she might puke. Be professional, for God’s sake. You’re acting like this is a date.
She closed her eyes and rested her head back on the seat, knowing—just knowing—she was going to do something that would embarrass herself. Like, oh, she didn’t know, blurt out he was drop-dead gorgeous and she was all for seeing if the rumors were true that he sported a ten-inch cock. Her face heated unbearably as those thoughts and images slammed into her head.