Last Chance To Fight by Ava Ashley Read Free Book Online Page A

was almost too much to handle.
    “God, Anna,” I whispered. “It’s so good to have you back.”
    “I’m glad to be back too, Hunter,” she said. “But I think you’d better cool off before we get arrested.”
    With that, she broke away from me and dove head first into the frigid water. Laughing, she poked her head up above the waves.
    “Come on in!” she yelled. “The water’s fine!”
    I didn’t waste any more time standing there alone like an idiot. I gave a triumphant yell and ran after her, enjoying the pure shock of the cold water on my system. Anna was right. I definitely needed to cool off. If I didn’t get her in bed soon though, no amount of icy water was going to cool my jets.
    I caught up with Anna underwater and wrapped my arms around her legs. I didn’t have to hear her to know that she squealed in surprise, then started laughing. Anna was always such a good sport. I came up to the surface and there she was, still laughing.
    I tried to simply enjoy the time I got to spend with her. I tried not to worry about what I had to tell her, and how it might ruin everything between us. The thought of losing Anna again for a second time was almost too much to bear. So I splashed her instead. And picked her up and threw her, screaming and giggling, into the water.
    Soon we went back to the beach blanket with Ted and Betsy, and of course little Avery. She really was such a cute kid. Anna and I took a turn watching her while Ted and Betsy went for a swim, and I thought maybe that would be a good time to tell Anna about my past. It felt wrong, sitting there with her and Avery, feeling practically like a family already. With Anna, I always felt right at home. At the same time, although it felt wrong to keep something so important from her, I didn’t want to ruin the moment. I just wanted to pretend everything was perfect, for a little while. I knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t help it. I just wanted to keep feeling good.
    “So, Anna, I’m having a great time. But I have to go. I have to go back to San Diego tonight. I need to train in the morning, and then I’ve got that tournament semi-final in the evening.”
    “Oh,” Anna said. “OK.”
    “Oh, are you disappointed?” I asked, nudging her.
    “Well, I thought maybe you’d want to come over to my place later,” she admitted, somewhat shyly.
    “Is that right?” I said, leaning closer. “Well, not tonight, honey. You’re going to have to wait. I’m going to make you beg for it.”
    Anna’s jaw dropped open, as she sat there speechlessly looking at me, trying to figure out if I was serious.
    “Soon enough, darling,” I said. “Anyway, I really do have to go. But do you want to come to the semi-final? It’s a big match. If I win this one, I get to go to the final. And if I win the tournament, I get to take on the champion for the title. And then there will be nothing left for me to do except rule the world.”
    “Wow,” she said, sitting up. “That’s exciting. You really want me to go?”
    “Yeah, of course. I can pick you up and bring you there. Will you be free around six?”
    “Sure, that sounds great.”
    “OK, see you then,” I said, getting up.
    “I’ll be staying at Betsy’s, I think,” she told me.
    “Oh, really? OK,” I said. I thought that was a little strange, but I didn’t worry too much about it.  I leaned down to give her a goodbye kiss. “Also, just so you know, I’ve been doing my exercises every day like a good boy.”
    “Is that so,” she said, a sly smile spreading across her face.
    “It is. And that means you owe me my reward,” I reminded her.
    “I suppose I do.”
    “After the fight. You’d better be ready,” I said, cupping her face in my hand. I pressed my lips against hers to give her a long, deep kiss. When I let go, she opened her eyes slowly, languorously.
    “I’ll be ready,” she purred.

Chapter Ten
Hunter
    T he next day, I woke up early and went to the gym like always. Since I had a