Read Online The Fighter's Stubborn Lover (The Burton Brothers Series Book 2) by Leslie North - Free Book Online

was it? Nightmares?”
    She blinked and pushed a hand into her tangled hair. Her eyes glistened with tears. She bit her lower lip and nodded. She looked young and lost. He pulled her into his arms and she clung to him, her body still shaking.
    “Sorry. I…I’m not like this every night.” She sniffled. She wouldn’t meet his stare and he could guess she must be embarrassed she had woken him.
    He glimpsed bare legs and pink panties—so the pants earlier must have been meant as a distraction or as armor against him. He smiled. He liked the bare legs, but he had to admit, he didn’t mind the cartoon characters, either.
    Untangling himself from her, he headed into the bathroom and came back with a glass of water. He found her sitting up with the covers up to her chin. He handed her the glass of water. “Drink.” She did—and without giving him any grief. Sitting down on the edge of her bed, he said, “Must have been some dream. I used to have one—had it before every fight—where I was falling off a cliff. Woke up on the floor every morning. My brothers starting laying out mats for me.”
    Avery didn’t smile, but merely nodded at the story. “Sorry I woke you up. I’ll be fine now.”
    “Will you?” Mason asked. “What—are you thinking you’ll get up now? Work? How about you just talk about it?”
    “Thanks, but no thanks.”
    “Now you sound just like Dustin.” He brushed a fingertip over the bruising beneath her eyes. “When was the last time you got a full night’s sleep?”
    “I’m fine when I have a regular routine. It’s just…” She let the words trail off.
    Mason put an arm around her. “The training camp? Me? Dustin bailing on you? Way too long a day?” He could see her try to slow her breathing, catching soft breaths. He could still feel a quiver in her body, trembling just under her skin. He could also feel the press of her thigh against his. “Avery, I know one cure for nightmares. One way to get a great night’s sleep.”
    She stared at him, her lips parted and her cheeks pink. He saw interest stir in her eyes, a flicker of something that pulled him to her. He touched the base of her neck where the pulse beat erratically. “Do you even know how enticing you are?” She licked her lips. Mason gave a groan. He brushed stray strands of hair from her forehead. “Avery, let me stay with you. Just for tonight. I won’t do anything you don’t want, but God help me I want to do more than just sleep with you.”
    “You do? Are you...?” She shook her head but that gleam in her eyes didn’t go away. “This is a bad idea. A really bad idea.”
    “Oh, it’s the worst.” He touched a hand to the top of her tank top right above the swell of her breasts.
    She pulled in a breath and said, “I wanted to get to you earlier, you know. So I could get you on my side to help me save Dustin.”
    Mason looked at her and wet his lips. “This won’t change my mind about Dustin. You know that, right?”
    Avery nodded. “I’m tired of trying to fight. I’m…just tired.”
    He put a finger to her lips. “Angel, I’m all about being on your side tonight.” He let his hand drift over her collarbone and he began to rub his thumb back and forth. “Let me make everything go away, if only for a little while?”
    She gave a sigh. “I want that. I want you, too.”
    “What are we going to do then? Are we going to be smart, sensible people who listen to reason, shake hands and head to our respective corners?”
    Avery pulled in an even sharper breath. He could see thoughts dancing behind those wide eyes of hers. No matter what her decision, he would honor it. He knew that. He also knew he didn’t want to screw things up.
    Yeah, she was Dustin’s sister, but she was also a woman who could easily get hurt. He didn’t want that for her. He knew he should listen to the warnings in his head, kiss her good night, and get out. But he was way too far past that point of being reasonable.
    She looked