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She drew in a breath, then focused on the floor. “I got spooked and was afraid someone might see me, catch on, and it would get back to Ajax.”
The apprehension in her voice chilled him. He hated thinking Ajax and the Marauders had so much hold on her.
“I asked the bartender, and he told me where your room was, then I hoped you’d be happy to see me, but—”
“I am happy.” Mamba cupped the back of her neck. “So happy.” He jerked his thumb at the door. “Forget about them. That was nothing more than me blowing off steam. I get pissed off, and usually, my decisions are shit poor.”
“You were mad about the fight or me?”
He eased her back into the chair, then perched on the edge of the bed. “I won the fight, and I wasn’t mad at you, just disappointed.”
“So, what had you twisted up?”
“Cobra was here, and shit didn’t go down the way I expected.”
“How?”
He shrugged, then mashed his lips together, feeling like a whining pansy-ass baby. “It’s not important.”
“If it’s got you upset, it’s important to me.”
Mandy’s comment gave him pause.
“The first time we talked in the salon’s parking lot, you were concerned about me. You didn’t even know me, yet you were willing to take down whoever hit me. Even after you learned I was involved in the setup with Ajax and Blaze, you were still concerned about me. You never judged but merely acted.” Mandy sucked in a breath. “No one has ever taken my side like that—ever.”
“I can’t stand to see people prey on someone defenseless. I’ll always fight for the little guy.”
“And that’s what makes you unique.” She waved her hand over him. “You’re built like a gladiator, yet you have a gentle side.”
Mamba barked out a laugh. “I don’t think my opponent in the cage tonight would agree with you.”
“That’s different. That was a fair fight.”
“True.” She blew him away with her simple logic.
“I can see you’re still hurting, but not from the fight. You’re hurting inside.” Mandy placed her hand over his heart, and it beat hard against her palm. How could this innocent girl see right through him and connect in such an unexpected way?
“Sometimes shit doesn’t turn out the way we want. I screwed up a few times with the Serpents, and now I gotta pay. It’s just that the Gold Mine is my home, and the Serpents are my brothers, and it sucks to be put out of it.”
“Pretty much the way I feel about my situation with Ajax. He’s made plenty of mistakes, but he’s also made sacrifices for our family and helped my mom with the bills. If it wasn’t for him, we would’ve lost the house years ago. The home I grew up in, the only one I’ve known.” She grabbed his hands in hers. “So, I get it.”
Their eyes met, and Mamba had difficulty believing this woman was real. He leaned in and brushed her lips with his—hoping she would respond, but understanding if she didn’t. They teased and nipped at each other’s lips. Her hands rested on his shoulders, then slowly slid over his pecs, landing at his waist. He gathered her closer, and when she didn’t resist, he pulled her onto his lap.
Mandy smiled down at him. “I’ve missed you. Can’t stop thinking about you.”
He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist. “Same.” He drew her closer until her fresh floral scent surrounded him. “Gotta ask you something.”
“Okay.”
“What the hell does a sweet thing like you see in me? A scarred-up cage fighter with nothing to offer who’s almost ten years older than you?”
“First of all, everything about that sentence is wrong.” She ran her finger over the deep scar that led from his cheekbone to his jawline. “I love your scars. They prove you’ve had to fight for what you have, and you being a cage fighter is a huge turn-on.”
Mamba squeezed her hips. “So far I like what I’m hearing.”
“And I never think about the age difference.”
“You’re twenty-two and could have any guy you want.”
