Break Me (Caged Hearts Book 2) Read Online Free
Author: Heather West
Carl nodded again towards the bedroom. “And I’m relieved. I’ve told you before that you can’t be in a relationship.”
“Yes,” Jasper acknowledge curtly. “I’m aware of the need for my single status.”
“You just need to remain focused, now more than ever,” Carl continued, feeling compelled to explain himself even though there was no need. “Having a relationship, whilst nice, is nothing more than a distraction and a drain on your time. Both of which you don’t need right now, Jasper. You are so close to all you’ve ever dreamed of. Win a couple more titles, and you’ll go down as one of the greats of all time. That’s what you want isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Jasper insisted, “of course.” And that was what he wanted, wasn’t it? Since he’d first stepped in to a ring and thrown his first punch, he’d dreamed of being the greatest fighter of his generation. He wanted people to know his name, to admire him. To see him as more than a guy who had a bad start in life.
“I need you one hundred percent focused right now. It has to be all about your training.”
“I know that.”
“Do you?” Carl challenged. “You skipped out on the gym today to what? Pretend you’re Hugh Hefner for the day?”
Jasper gritted his teeth. He wanted to correct his agent. He’d skipped out on the gym because he needed to forget about Kait. He needed to stay true to his decision not to be in a relationship, to be committed only to his sport. Each time he was with her, he felt his resolve weakening, and Carl was right; there was too much at stake for that to happen right now.
“Carl, I’m committed, one hundred and ten percent,” Jasper promised fervently as he uncapped his bottle of water and began chugging down its cool clear contents.
“Good,” Carl nodded stiffly to himself. “Because this week I’d like to see you put in some ten hour training sessions every day. I’ve bought in a trainer from the US who really knows his stuff.”
Jasper swallowed nervously. He’d had trainers bought in before. They could be ruthless and would push his body to breaking point. His limbs were already barely holding together; he wasn’t sure he could handle such a grueling week.
“This is for the best,” Carl continued as if sensing his client’s apprehension. “Next time you’re in the ring, you need to look strong and powerful rather than tired and winning because of luck rather than talent.”
The truth of what Carl was saying made Jasper’s head pound. He was well aware of how bad his last fight had looked and how narrowly he’d managed to secure his win. His bones still throbbed from the beating he had taken. Whilst he grew older and started to weaken, young, hungry competitors were springing up everywhere, desperate to relieve him of all his titles. No matter how many steps he took, someone was right up behind him, eager to follow.
“I’ll try,” Jasper admitted lamely. “But I’m still pretty beat up.”
Both men looked up as they heard the distant creak of the bedroom door.
“You’re clearly not that beaten up,” Carl said with a raise of his eyebrow. Jasper sighed and looked down at the marble countertop. His night with the brunettes hadn’t been the hedonistic evening Carl believed it to have been. He’d struggled to engage with them both mentally and physically, but he wasn’t about to admit that.
“Are you coming back to bed?” The girls peered into the kitchen. They were still completely naked and didn’t blink as Carl’s eyes hungrily roved their exposed bodies, savoring every immaculate curve and stretch of taut, tanned skin.
“I can’t, I’ve got to train.” Jasper told them apologetically.
“Aww,” the girls pouted in unison and gazed hopefully at him with puppy dog eyes.
“Sorry, girls,” Jasper drank the rest of his water as he stood up. “But duty calls.”
“Then what are we
“Yes,” Jasper acknowledge curtly. “I’m aware of the need for my single status.”
“You just need to remain focused, now more than ever,” Carl continued, feeling compelled to explain himself even though there was no need. “Having a relationship, whilst nice, is nothing more than a distraction and a drain on your time. Both of which you don’t need right now, Jasper. You are so close to all you’ve ever dreamed of. Win a couple more titles, and you’ll go down as one of the greats of all time. That’s what you want isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Jasper insisted, “of course.” And that was what he wanted, wasn’t it? Since he’d first stepped in to a ring and thrown his first punch, he’d dreamed of being the greatest fighter of his generation. He wanted people to know his name, to admire him. To see him as more than a guy who had a bad start in life.
“I need you one hundred percent focused right now. It has to be all about your training.”
“I know that.”
“Do you?” Carl challenged. “You skipped out on the gym today to what? Pretend you’re Hugh Hefner for the day?”
Jasper gritted his teeth. He wanted to correct his agent. He’d skipped out on the gym because he needed to forget about Kait. He needed to stay true to his decision not to be in a relationship, to be committed only to his sport. Each time he was with her, he felt his resolve weakening, and Carl was right; there was too much at stake for that to happen right now.
“Carl, I’m committed, one hundred and ten percent,” Jasper promised fervently as he uncapped his bottle of water and began chugging down its cool clear contents.
“Good,” Carl nodded stiffly to himself. “Because this week I’d like to see you put in some ten hour training sessions every day. I’ve bought in a trainer from the US who really knows his stuff.”
Jasper swallowed nervously. He’d had trainers bought in before. They could be ruthless and would push his body to breaking point. His limbs were already barely holding together; he wasn’t sure he could handle such a grueling week.
“This is for the best,” Carl continued as if sensing his client’s apprehension. “Next time you’re in the ring, you need to look strong and powerful rather than tired and winning because of luck rather than talent.”
The truth of what Carl was saying made Jasper’s head pound. He was well aware of how bad his last fight had looked and how narrowly he’d managed to secure his win. His bones still throbbed from the beating he had taken. Whilst he grew older and started to weaken, young, hungry competitors were springing up everywhere, desperate to relieve him of all his titles. No matter how many steps he took, someone was right up behind him, eager to follow.
“I’ll try,” Jasper admitted lamely. “But I’m still pretty beat up.”
Both men looked up as they heard the distant creak of the bedroom door.
“You’re clearly not that beaten up,” Carl said with a raise of his eyebrow. Jasper sighed and looked down at the marble countertop. His night with the brunettes hadn’t been the hedonistic evening Carl believed it to have been. He’d struggled to engage with them both mentally and physically, but he wasn’t about to admit that.
“Are you coming back to bed?” The girls peered into the kitchen. They were still completely naked and didn’t blink as Carl’s eyes hungrily roved their exposed bodies, savoring every immaculate curve and stretch of taut, tanned skin.
“I can’t, I’ve got to train.” Jasper told them apologetically.
“Aww,” the girls pouted in unison and gazed hopefully at him with puppy dog eyes.
“Sorry, girls,” Jasper drank the rest of his water as he stood up. “But duty calls.”
“Then what are we
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