Page 37

HALLIE

“ W ell, what do you think?” Lily asks.

I tap her hip and laugh.

“I’d tell you if I could actually see in the mirror.”

“Oh. My bad.” She jumps out of the way and steps behind me.

“I look…”

The shimmer of the gold eyeshadow brings out the browns in my eyes. The bouncy curls shape my face. And my skin, it’s glowing.

“Beautiful,” she finishes my sentence for me.

“Yeah. I kinda do, don’t I?”

She places her hands on my shoulders.

“Whoever made you doubt how fucking stunning you are, I want to hunt down and beat the shit out of.”

“Scary Lily.”

Her eyes darken.

I often forget her Russian mobster heritage. Her and her mom moved over to the US when Lily was only young. But she keeps in contact with her father, I even met him once. Scary as fuck. But Lily, she hides her accent so well, you’d think she’s never left the States.

“I can be. Or I know people that can be.”

I shiver; I know she isn’t lying.

“Good to know, but I think Conan has taken on that role.”

My cheeks flush just talking about him. As I look at myself in the mirror, I actually look happy.

“I assume he didn’t ruin you?” she asks playfully.

“Well, no. But it’s an adjustment. He took care of me after too.”

She chews on her gum and has a confused expression.

“Yeah? Hallie, you know every guy should do that after? Right? That’s just standard?”

I swallow and shake my head.

“I did not.”

“You have a lot to learn, my little berry.”

“I know. I’m trying.”

She offers me a sincere smile.

“I’m proud of you. I’ve not seen you this giddy in a long time.”

A warm fuzz envelops me as I stand up and turn to face her.

“You won the bet,” I whisper.

“I’ll take my payment on our next night out. Now go get that killer black dress on, you’re getting picked up in twenty minutes!”

She ushers me towards the wardrobe before she heads out of the bedroom.

“And go for the deep red lipstick, that’ll make him wild for you.”

As the door closes, my phone pings. I run over so quickly I almost fall on the bed.

Beastie

I can’t wait to see you. My brothers are on their way.

Me

You better win for me, Conan. I want to celebrate with you.

I snap a quick picture, pushing up my bust to make them almost fall out of my robe.

Beastie

… I’m malfunctioning. I need another one with everything off… so I can think of it while I fight.

Biting on my lip, I push the silk over my shoulders and let it drop to the floor. Positioning myself in front of the full-length mirror, I cross my legs and cover most of my boobs with my forearm, but leave enough showing to give him an idea.

Once I’m happy, I hit send.

Beastie

Brb, now I have to jerk off to this.

Another text pops up immediately.

Beastie

Sorry, what I meant was, you’re so fucking hot. I can’t wait to get my hands on you.

I let out a giggle.

Me

I’m already wet just thinking about what you’ll do to me.

Beastie

Drop to my knees and eat you out. Come all over your tits. Fuck your face. Eat you out again. Fill you up. Tie you up. And that’s just the first round.

Holy shit.

Me

Can I touch myself?

His name flashes up on the screen and I accept his call.

“You’re in my earphones, I’m in the changing room. You can, baby. But I want to listen while I warm up.”

“Holy shit, this is hot,” I whisper, suddenly aware that Lily is downstairs.

“Yeah, I know. And it’s too busy here for me to do anything about it.” The frustration in his voice is clear.

“This won’t distract you?”

I quietly lock my door and lay down on the bed, spreading my legs.

“No. Please, trouble, I gotta hear it. Those little whimpers.”

Circling my clit, I melt into the feeling.

“I wish it was you doing this.”

He grunts down the line.

“You got any toys?”

I scramble for my bedside drawer and pick my favorite red one out.

“I’ve got the best one, she makes me finish in record time.”

“Quicker than me?”

“God, no. But quick enough for you to get back to training.”

“Good girl. You lying down?” he asks quietly.

“Yes. I’m imagining it’s your tongue.”

I put him on speaker and rest the phone on the pillow next to my head.

“Let me hear you whimper for me, Hallie. And I’ll let you know when you can come.”

I let out a gasp as I slide the cool toy inside of me.

“Ah. There it is. That sweet, sweet noise.”

I push it in as far as I can and turn it on, letting the vibrations take over.

“Fuck, Conan.”

“How close?” he asks.

“Very.”

My toes start to curl.

“Take it out,” he commands, and my blood runs cold.

“W-what? No.”

“Hallie. Take. It. Out.”

Reluctantly, I do as he says.

“You’re going to pay for this, beastie,” I fire back.

“I’m counting on it, baby,” he chuckles.

“I’ll see you soon.”

He blows a kiss and cuts the line. I stare at the toy on my bed.

I could just ignore his order.

I shake my head. Nope. This is way hotter.

As the Mercedes pulls up outside my house, nerves take over.

“Here.” Lily hands me my leather jacket. “She’s a stunner.”

“Thank you.”

I give Bertie one last head pat.

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”

Lily grins.

“Don’t rush home tomorrow. Me and Bertie will be having loads of fun. Enjoy your time with Conan.”

“You’re the best,” I tell her.

“I know I am. Now go.” She points to the door. I rush out in my heels down the steps, and Dr. Quinn gets out to greet me.

“Hallie.”

“Dr. Quinn.”

He shakes his head.

“Outside of office hours, I’m Finn.” He opens up the door for me.

“In there is Declan and Charlotte.”

As I go to get in, Finn clears his throat, which makes me pause.

“This isn’t weird. Right? I know we work together, but your brother makes me happy.”

Finn chews on his lip with a frown.

“Hallie, what or who you do in your spare time has nothing to do with me. I just don’t want this to impact our working relationship if it goes wrong.”

“Oh.” I drop my gaze.

“Not that it will. But Conan is Conan.”

“Finn. Shut the fuck up,” a deep Irish voice shouts from inside the car.

“It won’t,” I assure him. “We’re just friends.”

I don’t even know why I bothered with that lie.

He raises his eyebrows.

“Fucking hell, you’re both shit liars,” he mutters as I get in the car, sliding in next to Charlotte.

And my god, she is beautiful.

Stunning blue eyes and dark purple hair. Tattoos that span her entire arm.

“Hey. I’m Hallie.” I hold my hand out to her.

“I’m Charlotte. I’ve heard a lot about you.” She pauses. “Actually from my daughter. Conan talks about you a lot to her.”

“Aww. That’s sweet.”

She smiles and I relax.

“Yeah. It is very.”

Declan turns in his seat to face me. His eyes are an even more striking blue.

He has similarities to Conan, like the nose and face shape.

But he doesn’t have Conan’s cheeky look.

“Declan?” I ask.

“Yep. Nice to meet you. Whatever Conan had said about us, it’s all bollocks.”

“He’s only ever said good things.”

“Oh. Well then.” He shuts up.

I laugh, and so does the rest of the group.

I turn to Charlotte as she eyes her husband, and Finn starts to weave in and out of traffic.

“Even Charlotte?” Declan quizzes.

“Hey!” She leans forward and smacks his arm.

“What? He has you saved as Crazy Bitch on his phone.”

I hold in my laughter. He never did answer my question about that.

Charlotte pouts.

“I didn’t shoot him though.”

My heart hammers and my eyes lock with Finn’s in the rearview mirror.

“Shoot him?” I question.

Declan and Charlotte make a silent exchange.

“Yeah. We had a little disagreement, so I stole his gun and shot him. No ammo in it though, he was fine. As you know, he’s still alive.”

My mouth drops open. This only makes my mind race thinking about Pete’s warning.

“Okay,” I say quietly.

“Don’t worry. You’re safe with us.” Charlotte smiles sincerely, and it puts my racing mind at ease.

Conan has never not made me feel safe. I know there’s more to him, and he’s actively inviting me to be part of it.

To see this, maybe, darker side to his life that he’s alluded to.

“I know,” I tell her.

Charlotte leans in.

“The world is full of monsters, Hallie. But these guys? They’re the good ones disguised as the bad. Just remember that.”

I frown as she pulls away. I just want Conan as he is. I don’t care about anything else.

“Are you excited to see Conan fight? He’s an absolute animal in the cage.” She switches conversation so easily.

“Yeah. I’ve never been to one of these either.”

I leave out the part about how excited I am to see my sexy man doing something he loves.

I twirl my thumbs on my lap.

“Just remember, he knows what he’s doing, okay?” Declan chimes in.

“Hallie is a nurse, Dec. She can cope with a few cuts and some blood,” Finn counters.

I don’t want Conan to get hurt.

As we pull up outside the stadium, Finn helps me out of the car and I walk in beside him.

The place is buzzing, mainly with men. Crowds of people chanting and cheering. I look over to the big metal cage in the center.

The two guys in there are beating the shit out of each other. Blood sprays from the smaller one’s nose. I stand still, transfixed on the violence.

“Come on, we gotta get up front.” Finn ushers me along.

A bottle flies past my head and the group surrounds me. They’re like my own bodyguards; even Charlotte has a scary look in her eyes, like she could take down any one of these men.

Declan and Finn push their way through so we’re at the front, past the barrier, and finally I can breathe.

“This is crazy,” I mutter.

“Crazy for a first date, yeah,” Declan says under his breath, and Finn jabs his elbow in his ribs.

“What?”

“Oh, just to warn you, all three of them argue constantly. Out of love, apparently,” Charlotte whispers.

“It’s kinda cute.”

Both the men glare at me and Charlotte giggles.

“I’m going to go check on Con. I’ll be back,” Finn announces as he strides away.

Charlotte and Declan stay on either side of me, again, like they’re protecting me.

Conan’s face flashes up on the huge screen. Videos of him training, clips from his previous fights.

My jaw is on the floor.

Fuck. He’s hot. But he looks so angry. I almost don’t recognize him.

Nerves wash over me. I can hear what feels like every person talking in the room, and the flashing lights are making me dizzy.