“Give me the night; we can talk about the rest tomorrow. Can you do that for me?”

I look into his eyes and then nod, because of course I can do that for him. I love him.

“I got you something,” he says, turning and taking a box from the pile of things he brought in.

He hands it to me and I take it with trembling hands. I open the paper slowly, tearing it apart bit by bit. When I reach the box, it’s simple and black. I gently lift the lid and gasp at the beautiful little bracelet lying in a bed of satin. I take it out and see it’s a name bracelet. The gold chain connects with a plaque-like creation that has an inscription on it. I read the top. “Rainer & Emy.” My heart aches and more tears slide down my cheeks.

“It’s beautiful, Rainer,” I croak.

“Turn it over.”

I flip it over and smile through my tears at the words on the back: “Highway to the Danger Zone”. I can’t help but laugh hoarsely. It’s our favorite song. He reaches over and takes it from my hand, gently fastening it around my wrist. “Those words are us right now. We’re on that highway and soon we’re going to reach the danger zone, but there’s light on the other side. Can you believe that, Emy?”

I look up into his eyes and nod.

He smiles.

“Good. Now dance with me, because I need you in my arms.”

As if on cue, a soft song starts to play. I look inside to see Kenny giving me the thumbs up, and I laugh. Rainer wraps his arms around my body, and I put mine up around his neck. Then we stand there, swaying to the music, creating a memory that isn’t tarnished by the horror of our lives right now. It’s a memory I’ll hold onto for the rest of my life.

Because it’s the last good one I’ll have.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

NOW – MALI

“Wait, let me get this straight. You’re Emy?” Belle gasps.

I place a coffee down in front of her, and nod. Then my eyes flick towards Pippa, who is staring at her hands.

“I’m sorry, Pippa,” I say. “I know I should have said something, but I was afraid.”

She looks up at me, and she looks tired. I heard her and Tyke made up, but she still appears exhausted. I can understand that. It’s been a crazy night.

“No, I’m sorry. It must have hurt so much seeing us together and hearing what I said . . .”

I shrug. “It was the truth.”

It still is.

Our eyes meet, and I know she knows it. She knows Rainer is in love with her, and I can see by the sympathetic look she’s giving me that she knows it too.

“What are you going to do from here?”

I glance away. “I honestly don’t know. Rainer wants to be in my life, but there’s a lot to overcome before we can get any further together.”

“Yeah,” Pippa agrees. “It’ll be a tough one, but I’m glad he’s got you back.”

“It’s kind of romantic,” Belle says, smiling at me. “And it totally makes sense now why you looked so hurt the night I met you.”

“He didn’t recognize me,” I tell her. “It wasn’t pleasant.”

“I’m sorry,” Pippa says again. “That would have hurt.”

I shrug. “Never mind. What’s done is done.”

“Are you coming to his fight tonight?” Belle asks, sipping her coffee and groaning with delight.

“Yeah.” I nod. “I am. He invited me.”

“You could be good for him, Emalie,” Pippa says. “I hope he realizes that. Rainer deserves someone who loves him so much.”

“And love him I do.” I sigh. “No matter how hard it’s been. Anyway, I better get back to it. I’ll see you both tonight.”

“See you!” they both call.

I turn and get back to work. Pippa and Belle leave about an hour later, and I go on my break. I’m working all day, then I’ve got Rainer’s fight tonight. I haven’t heard from him since last night, but I’m sure that he’ll contact me. I don’t know where our relationship will go from here, but I know Rainer wants me in his life.

I just don’t know if I can be in it as only a friend.

~*~*~*~

Blow after blow is delivered to Rainer’s opponent’s face. He’s on fire tonight, looking like a god in the fighting ring. His entire body is wound up, sweating, and he’s like a panther stalking his prey. He moves around the ring with an ease so many fighters lack. He’s smooth and careful, every move precise. His opponent is smaller than him, but a lot quicker. That doesn’t stop Rainer, though. He fights as if he was born to do it.

Maybe he was.

My entire body is heating quicker and quicker the more I stand here watching him. I want to take him out back and fuck him so hard we both scream. He’s only on round two, and they have a few more left to go. It feels like it’s going to take forever, and I want him right now. I squirm in my spot amongst the screaming crowd, and I know my panties are wet.

They’re soaking for him.

For what seems like hours they fight, and then finally Rainer knocks him out cold. The crowd erupts in a cheer, and I keep my eyes on Rainer as he turns and puts a hand up. Then his eyes scan the crowd. I expect them to move straight past me, as they did last time, but instead they stop on me and the lust burning in their depths has me moving towards the locker room with speed.

I reach it and fling it open just in time to see Rainer charging in. Our eyes meet, his chest is rising and falling with pants, and I don’t wait. I run towards him, heels clicking, and hair flying. He catches me when I throw myself at him and our mouths smash together. He grunts and slams my back against the wall. His body is wound up, his muscles big and bulging, a fine sheen of sweat covering them, and I can’t get enough.

I kiss his sweaty mouth, and I don’t care. I love how he tastes. So masculine—so manly. He grips my ass and grinds my wet pussy against his belly. God, I’m so ready for him, so ready for his cock inside me. “Rainer,” I gasp, leaning down and biting his shoulder. He growls, low and deep, and jerks my dress aside so he can reach between us and put his finger inside my panties.

“You’re soaked,” he hisses against my lips.

“Seeing you up there, God, it made me so horny.”

“Fuck. Yes.”

He takes my hips and pulls my panties aside, then he starts rotating my pussy against his stomach. His muscles bunch and pull, and I can feel his warmth against my bare flesh. He feels incredible. I can see my arousal sliding across his belly, and I watch in sexual fascination as he takes it in. “You have the sweetest cunt,” he growls. “Look how wet you are.”

I want to taste him so badly, to put my mouth against his skin. I release my legs, letting them fall down beside me and he lets me go. When I’m on my feet, I take his shorts and jerk them down before lowering myself to my knees. He makes a low, rumbling sound in his chest as I remove his cock, stroking it in one of my hands. God, I want this rougher. I need it rougher.

I lean forward and bite the area just under his belly button. He grunts in pain and his hands find my hair, tangling in it and tugging forcefully. I keep biting, loving how his muscles feel bunching beneath my mouth. His grunts turn to growls of pleasure, and instead of pulling back he presses my face against his stomach, clenching my hair with desperation.