Pound (Hard Hit #10) Read online

  Pound

  Hard Hit 10

  Charity Parkerson

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Title Page

  Pound

  Hard Hit #10

  Charity Parkerson

  Copyright Page

  Without limiting the rights under copyright(s) reserved above and below, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

  Please Note

  The scanning, uploading, and distributing of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the copyright owner is illegal and punishable by law. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Brief passages may be quoted for review purposes if credit is given to the copyright holder. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. Any resemblances to person(s) living or dead, is completely coincidental. All items contained within this novel are products of the author’s imagination.

  --Warning: This book is intended for readers over the age of 18.

  Copyright © 2017 Charity Parkerson

  Editor: Hercules and Consultants

  Photographer: Spanic

  All rights reserved.

  Introduction

  Von lives by three relationship rules—no lies, no games, and no strings. Justin has him breaking all three.

  Von knew the first time he kissed Justin that the man was different. Justin didn’t play by Von’s usual rules. He also knew Justin was way too passionate to be tied down by someone who travels as much Von has to with his team. For a while, Von was content with being Justin’s part-time lover. That is, until Justin decides to be his no-time lover.

  At first, Justin was star struck by the sexy hockey player. Von’s brilliant mind, good looks, and delicious accent had Justin enthralled. He might have chosen to stay Von’s friend with benefits forever if Von hadn’t flaunted another man in his face. Justin might like Von, but he’s no one’s fool. Unfortunately, when he chooses to give Von one last chance, the man rips out his heart, leaving Justin broken and infuriated.

  When Von ignores Justin’s fury and refuses to go away, Justin is left with two choices. Either he can listen to Von beat on his front door for the rest of his days or he can let him in and pound some sense into the man who’s ruined Justin for all others.

  1

  Justin couldn’t stop staring at the total on the cash register. It wasn’t that he found the numbers especially fascinating. He equally wasn’t concerned with over-spending on his groceries. It was the name flashing on the face of his ringing cell phone he was trying to ignore. The woman behind Justin in line had cleared her throat twice already and given him countless annoyed looks. He didn’t care. There was nothing she could do or say that could possibly equal the destruction Von wreaked on his life.

  After silencing his phone for the third time, Justin handed the cashier three twenties and a five, told her to keep the change, and headed for his car. With every step, Justin told himself a different lie. He didn’t care to hear what Von had to say. Justin didn’t want to see him. It didn’t matter to him if Von was back in town. There was nothing left between them. A mousy-looking brown-haired woman walked past and flashed Justin a smile. Too late, he realized he hadn’t smiled back. Every ounce of his concentration was locked on not feeling anything. That was what Von brought to Justin’s life. He wasn’t allowed to feel. After all, when he’d agreed to a one-night stand with the gorgeous German-born hockey player, Justin had sworn it wouldn’t matter. Von traveled too much. They’d never see each other again, but they had—many times. Somehow, at some unnamed point, Justin had become the man’s local piece of ass. It was a role Justin didn’t want.

  Justin drove the familiar route home, not seeing a thing in front of him and hoping he didn’t kill anyone. All he could see was Von’s gorgeous blue eyes and the way his dark blonde hair always fell across them. Justin’s fingers itched with the need to push the man’s hair out of his eyes. He wanted it with such an intensity it took Justin a moment to realize he was staring at the real thing. With his cut arms crossed over his massive chest, Von stood leaned against his F150 parked in Justin’s driveway. His usual smiling lips were pressed into a hard line. Justin couldn’t find the energy to open his car door. Von Wolf was larger than life. He was over six feet of smoldering good looks, talent, and fame. Justin was a nerd who should’ve never caught the man’s eye. He was helpless against Von. Justin hated him a little for it.

  Von opened Justin’s door, as if Justin had been waiting for him to do so. “I’ve been calling.”

  Seeing nothing else for it, Justin climbed out. “Fifteen times, to be exact.”

  “So you’ve been ignoring me?”

  Justin had to tilt his head back to meet Von’s gaze. It wasn’t fair for any one person to have so much of everything. “Seemed the fair thing to do, seeing as how I haven’t heard from you in six months.” Even as Justin made the claim, his hand went to Von’s side. Hard abs were calling Justin’s name, begging for his touch. It had been six long, excruciating months. Von would disappear again. He always did. Justin meant nothing to the man. The shittiest part was—Von didn’t play games. He didn’t mince words. Every single time, he let Justin know they were only temporary. They were no more than sex. His heart didn’t care. It was deaf and blind. Too bad it wasn’t also mute. His damn heart screamed in denial every fucking time Von walked away. Justin was the one who kept letting the man back in. He had no one to blame but himself.

  Von’s nostrils flared as he glowered down at Justin.

  Justin fought the urge to punch Von in the stomach. The only thing stopping him was the sure knowledge the move would only hurt his fist.

  “All you have to do is say you’re finished.”

  Von’s claim gave Justin the strength he needed to push the man away. He moved to the back of the car and popped the trunk. It was easier to speak his mind when he wasn’t staring into blue eyes that had watched Justin as he’d orgasmed. “Fuck you for that, Von. You never say you’re finished before moving on.”

  Von appeared at his side and grabbed all the bags of groceries in one swoop. “That’s because I’m never done.”

  Justin turned away and headed for the door. He couldn’t let Von see the way his words cut. A thousand retorts raced through Justin’s mind. Unfortunately, the one that fell from his lips was the one that hurt the most. “That’s funny. When I saw you on TV, openly dating that team owner, I would’ve sworn we were over.”

  Von didn’t respond. Justin fought the urge to glance over his shoulder and check the man’s reaction. It wasn’t like there was anything Von could say anyhow. With his front door unlocked, Justin did his best to block the entryway. He couldn’t let Von step inside. That was the point of no return—the point where Von always won.

  He motioned toward the porch. “You can set those bags there.”

  “I can carry them inside,” Von shot back.

  Justin stiffened his s
pine and held Von’s stare. “No.”

  Obviously realizing Justin wasn’t joking, Von set the bags at his feet before meeting Justin’s stare. “A couple of dates doesn’t constitute dating. It was two dinners and a movie.”

  “Did you sleep together?”

  “No.” The way Von held his stare let Justin know it was the truth. Not that Von ever lied.

  “Did you try?”

  Von’s expression never changed. “Yes.”

  Without a word, Justin grabbed the bags and tossed them inside, uncaring of the mess or if he destroyed anything. “You can leave now.”

  Instead of doing as Justin said, he continued holding Justin’s stare. His blue eyes seemed different today somehow. Not colder, exactly. Justin couldn’t decide what it was, but he knew he’d turn this moment over in his mind for weeks, trying to figure out what had changed. “You never said you wanted more,” Von said, sounding near to accusing.

  “You never said I wasn’t enough,” Justin shot back, surprising even himself. Normally, all Von had to do was show up, and Justin was his man. Not today. Not ever again. Justin’s heart couldn’t take Von’s destruction any longer.

  Von’s gaze moved over Justin’s face. A humming noise came from the back of the man’s throat. The sound hardened Justin’s dick, even as it stabbed him in the chest.

  Because he wanted to ask Von what in the hell he meant by that noise, and his pride couldn’t take asking, Justin did the only thing he could to save himself. He stepped backward into the house and shut the door in Von’s face. A gasp tore from his lips as he released the knob. His shoulders heaved as if he’d run for miles. He’d done it. For the first time in his life, Justin had walked away from Von. Now all he had to do was figure out why the move left him filled with regret and disappointment.

  Von stared at the closed door and contemplated the merits of kicking it in. Most people would consider him a smart man. His IQ said he was a genius. Right now, he felt like a complete idiot. Worse, he was also a jackass who deserved to have Justin’s door slammed in his face. None of that explained why he was smiling. That was all Justin’s doing. This was why Von kept coming back. Justin was by far the most passionate person he’d ever met. That was why Von had never tried tying him down. Von’s career kept him on the road. Someone like Justin needed constant affection. Von didn’t want to be the reason the man sat around—starved.

  Instead of giving in to temptation and kicking the door down, Von knocked.

  “Go away.”

  A low chuckle escaped Von at Justin’s immediate muffled words. The man didn’t do a good job of hiding the fact he still stood on the other side of the door. While biting his bottom lip to keep from laughing, Von knocked again. The door flew open. Chestnut-colored eyes filled with rage stared out at him.

  “What the fuck do you want?”

  Von bit the inside of his cheek—hard. He knew laughing would only get him shut down, but goddamn. Justin looked hot as hell when he was angry. Of course, the man was sexy all the time. He wasn’t a large man. In fact, he was compact—like Von wanted to put him in his pocket. At five-five, Justin was near to being a foot shorter than him. His dark brown hair had more than a little curl to it. Von loved running his fingers through the soft locks.

  “You slammed the door in my face.”

  “You deserved it,” Justin shot back.

  “I know.”

  The outrage bled from Justin’s features at Von’s answer, leaving Justin looking defeated. Von wanted the anger back. Otherwise, he was just the asshole who was hurting this amazing man. “Just one kiss, and I’ll go,” Von said, pleading his case.

  Justin huffed. “You’re like the dude who always claims he’ll just put the tip in.”

  Von snorted. God help him. He couldn’t contain it. “I’ll do that too, if you’d like.”

  “I’m sure,” Justin grumbled, but he took a step back, silently inviting Von inside.

  Instead of falling on Justin and bending the man to his will, Von bent and picked up the groceries. He headed for the kitchen. Without glancing Justin’s way, Von put the food away. It was ridiculous how well he knew Justin’s home, as if it was his own. There was a box of artificial sweetener. Von shook his head as he opened the pantry. He set it on the shelf before pulling it back off again and shaking the box at Justin.

  “This shit is really bad for you. It would be better if you used regular sugar, or better yet, honey.”

  Justin’s gorgeous eyes flashed with irritation as he snagged the box from Von and tossed it on the shelf. “Why don’t you mind your fucking business. Next, you’ll start bitching about the candles I use releasing toxins in the air, or you’ll tell me the toilet paper I buy causes ass cancer or some stupid bullshit like that.”

  “Now that you mention it,” Von said, incapable of holding back his smart-ass tone.

  Justin growled. It was hot. Damn, it had Justin’s dick stirring. “Shut the fuck up, Von.”

  Von blinked. He’d never seen Justin like this before. “Wow, you’re really mad, aren’t you?”

  “What clued you in?” Justin asked under his breath as he shoved the carton of milk in the fridge.

  “You should drink Slim instead of Whole.”

  Justin’s gaze slid his way. Von took a step back from the hatred flashing his way. “What?” A second too late, Von realized he should’ve stopped trying to tease Justin out of this mood long before now. It seemed insulting the man’s milk was a step too far. “Did you just insinuate that I’m fat?”

  Von swiped his hand over his face. “Okay. That’s it,” Von said. Without warning, he swept Justin off his feet and tossed the man over his shoulder. Justin tried fighting his way loose. Von easily held on to him. While turning in a circle, Von eyed the items that still needed to be put away. “Anything perishable left? Nope. Okay, then,” Von said, talking more to himself than Justin as he headed for Justin’s bedroom. “I tried playing nice, but you obviously don’t want that.”

  “Put me down, Von.”

  “I thought maybe we could have dinner, and I could hold your hand. Hell, you never know, maybe we’d go to a movie. But no, you don’t want that, I see.”

  “Put me the fuck down, Von.”

  When he reached the edge of Justin’s bed, Von tossed him on top with enough force the man bounced. He dodged a knee to the groin as he covered Justin’s body with his, pinning the man down with his weight. He’d never seen Justin look more outraged.

  “If you don’t get off me, you’ll be sorry.”

  “I doubt it,” Von said as he held Justin’s jaw and claimed the man’s mouth. Justin bit him—hard. Hard enough that Von tasted blood. He didn’t let that deter him. If anything, Justin’s rough treatment had Von’s dick leaking. Damn, he’d missed the way this man rocked his world. Von bit him back. Justin moaned. Von damn near came in his jeans right then. Cool air brushed Von’s back as Justin clawed his shirt off. He did mean clawed. Von was certain Justin took three layers of skin off his back along with the shirt.

  “I won’t enjoy it,” Justin swore as Von peeled the man’s jeans down his legs, setting his erection free.

  Von could barely hear him past the blood rushing through his ears. “I’ll do my best to disappoint you,” he said before swallowing Justin’s cock. Von’s scalp stung from Justin pulling his hair. He didn’t realize how much he’d missed the man beneath him until Justin’s dick beat against the back of his throat. Von didn’t mess around. He needed Justin a quivering mess. All Von had was a lubricated condom. There was little hope Justin would hang around while Von hunted down a bottle of lube. He needed the man relaxed and ready to go because Von intended to be inside him as soon as Justin’s orgasm hit.

  Justin’s body tensed beneath him. Von hollowed out his cheeks even as he set his own erection free. When Justin came, Von transformed into the multitasking king. He dragged every last wave of satisfaction from Justin even as he suited up. Most days, Von could skate circles around everyone. Some da
ys, he fell over while trying to pull on his pants. One thing he never did with anything less than grace was get inside Justin. As Justin’s tight heat pulled him inside, Von realized several things at once. He still had his shoes on. His pants were only halfway down his hips. The biggest realization of all, he was such a fucking idiot for trying to date anyone else. Justin clung to him. Their tongues fought for supremacy even as Von fell victim to Justin’s perfection.

  Von strained and moaned, seeking what only Justin gave him—some form of inner peace. After tearing his mouth away from Justin’s, Von pressed his forehead to the man’s shoulder, squeezed his eyes shut, and focused on release. Justin bit his shoulder, sinking his teeth into Von’s flesh and setting him free. A roar tore from his throat as the pressure tightening his balls exploded into a blinding light. The air left his lungs. His spine bowed. Von forced his eyes open so he could stare down at the man who brought him so much pleasure. Justin looked… sad—like his moment was over, and now Von would be gone again.

  “I’m sorry it’s me,” Von gasped against the man’s mouth as he captured Justin’s lips. He didn’t know how else to explain the many thoughts rolling around inside his head at once. He was sorry he was the one Justin had fallen for. Von couldn’t apologize enough for being the one who couldn’t stay away. Most of all, he was just sorry.

  2

  Luka: I’m in town on business. Can we meet for lunch?

  Von: Tell me a time and place. I’ll be there.

  If Justin hadn’t opened his eyes at just that moment, he would’ve never known. He would’ve gone on, happily forgiving Von without fully recognizing how deep the man’s lack of care for Justin went. But he had. His eyes had opened and latched on to Von texting another man while leaning across him as if having not a care in the world. It wasn’t just any other man either. Luka’s name blared out at Justin from the face of Von’s phone. Justin ground his back teeth, trying not to elbow Von in the ribs. The fucker was seriously making lunch plans with the same dude Justin had seen Von dating on the news. It was too much. Justin had endured too fucking much. His whole body ached from the bullshit.