Ultimate Prize by Lolita Lopez Read Free Book Online Page A

much to reduce the soreness. Only the sweet
    taste of victory lessened the pain.
    And what a victory it was! Zel couldn’t have asked for a better retirement fight. He could walk away
    from this life satisfied he’d made his mark on the world of mixed martial arts and done his very best. Mace
    had rung his bell in those final seconds, but somehow Zel had managed to summon forth the last remnants
    of that primal energy deep within him to win it all. From this moment forward, he’d hold his head high.
    He switched off the shower and cautiously crossed the wet tiles. Zel snatched a towel from the bench
    and wound it around his waist. Grabbing another, he used it to dry his hair and wick away the moisture
    clinging to his upper body, his bare feet leaving heat marks on the concrete floor as he walked to his locker.
    As he applied deodorant, Zel heard the door behind him open.
    Jack’s voice boomed inside the cavernous locker room. “Feeling okay?”
    Zel cringed. “I’d be better if you weren’t shouting at me.”
    Jack laughed softly. “This is my last chance so I figure I may as well get it all out while I can.”
    Zel glanced over his shoulder at his longtime trainer and confidante. “Just because I’m not going to fight
    for you anymore doesn’t mean you can’t call me up to yell at me every now and then.”
    Grinning, Jack nodded. “I just might have to take you up on that.”
    Chuckling, Zel turned back to his locker and returned his deodorant to its shelf. “You need something?”
    “There’s a woman out there, says she knows you and is causing quite a ruckus. Gorgeous face. A bit
    thick for my taste…”
    Zel didn’t hear anything else Jack said. The bottom fell out of his stomach as he realized Yoli was out
    there. “Send her in.”
    “If you’re sure…”
    “I’m sure.” Zel gulped as anxiety invaded his belly. At the sound of the door opening and the
    unmistakable clack of heels against the concrete, Zel slowly turned. Like that first night, she took his breath
    away. The sight of her puffy red eyes made his chest tighten. She’d been crying. For him?
    Yoli’s lower lip trembled. “Your face.”
    Zel barely heard her distressed whisper. He self-consciously touched his swollen left eye. “It’s fine.
    You’ll see.” She didn’t look convinced. He fought for the right words. “You came.”
    Tears dripped down her cheeks. “Yes.” Yoli stepped forward. “I’m so sorry, Zel. You were right. I was
    lying when I said this was just a fling. It started that way but—”
    Zel quickly crossed the distance between them. He gently cupped her face and kissed her more
    passionately than he ever had. “I don’t care,” he murmured against her lips. “You’re here now. That’s all
    that matters.”
    Yoli’s shoulders sagged with relief as he tightly hugged her to his chest. For a long time they simply
    embraced, content with just being together again. Eventually Yoli pulled back and looked up at him. “Come
    with me?”
    He wasn’t quite sure what she was asking. “Where?”
    “Everywhere,” Yoli said. “I don’t have a home right now and I’ve got shows lined up for the next five
    weeks before I take my three-month vacation. Come with me?”
    Zel had never seen her look quite so vulnerable. His heart swelled with love for her.
    Smiling, he interlaced their fingers and touched his forehead to hers. “I’m right beside you.”
    About the Author

    While browsing bookstore shelves as a teenager, Lo discovered the erotic writings of Anaïs Nin and
    Anne Roquelaure. Certain her mother would not approve, Lo smuggled the books home and squirreled
    them away in the most likely of places—under her bed. Late at night, she delved into the sensual worlds
    both writers created.
    As a co-ed studying biochemistry and genetics at Texas A&M University, Lo dabbled in creating
    naughty tales to entertain her friends. Study for a midterm or pen a deliciously dirty story to delight her
    small band