With the life he's led and the muscles he's gained, Armie Jacobson isn't afraid of anything. Except maybe
Merissa Colter's effect on him. It's not just that she's his best friend's little sister. Fact is, she deserves
better. Women pursue him for one night of pleasure, and that's all he wants to offer. Until rescuing
Merissa from a robbery leads to the most erotic encounter of his life.
Good girl meets bad boy. It's a story that rarely ends well. But Merissa is taking matters into her own
hands. No matter how he views himself, the Armie she knows is brave, honorable and completely loyal.
And as past demons and present-day danger collide, they're both about to learn what's truly worth
fighting for…
Bestselling author Lori
Foster shares a fighting scene from the last book in her Ultimate Series,
Fighting Dirty
Fighting Dirty by Lori Foster
is the final book in her addicting and wicked hot MMA-themed
Ultimate Series. Check out
the excerpt below to see just what we mean. Happy reading!
***
Merissa
loved her brother. She’d always seen him as Superman, larger than life, a rock
whenever she’d needed one.
He
was only a couple of years older than her, but for as long as she could
remember he’d seemed grown-up.
Right
now, Superman was in her kitchen, insisting on getting her a drink when all she
really wanted was the time alone to let go. She knew if she fell apart in front
of him, Cannon would never leave her.
He
didn’t need to be a savior, not right now.
“Here.”
He returned with a cola over ice, urging her to the couch. He smoothed back her
hair, his gaze drawn to the bruise. Yes, it hurt. But the physical discomfort
was nothing compared to the fear.
And
here she’d promised herself, long ago, that she’d never again let herself be
that type of victim.
But
this fear—it was more about Armie standing in front of her, using himself as a
shield. Risking his own life.
Willing
to die.
“Take
these.” Cannon handed her two aspirin.
She
tried a teasing smile. “This feels so familiar.”
He
stalled, then shook his head. “Don’t think about that.”
She
couldn’t help herself. They’d lost their dad when she was only sixteen. As the
owner of a neighborhood bar he’d resisted the extortion of local thugs,
refusing to pay their demanded fees for “protection.” Late one night when he’d
been closing, men had come in and beaten him to death.
Devastated
but determined, their mom had nearly worked herself into her own grave trying
to keep them afloat. Merissa could remember it all like yesterday. The goons
wanted her mother to sell but she’d refused.
Until
some of those goons had cornered Merissa on her way home from school.
“It’s
all the same. You coddling me, being the strong one for both of us.”
“You
were a kid then.”
“You’re
only two years older than me,” she reminded him with a shoulder bump. “You were
a kid then, too.”
“Maybe.
I remember feeling so damned helpless.”
“Like
you feel now?” She knew her brother, knew he wanted to make things right for
her when that wasn’t his responsibility. “I’m not a kid anymore, Cannon. I can
handle it.”
“You
don’t have to.”
“Yes,
I do,” she told him gently. “Because I don’t want my big brother stuck taking
care of me again.”
He
folded her hand into his own. “You know I enjoy it, right?”
Her
laugh sounded pitiful. But she still remembered how her mother had given in
because of her. Cannon had found those men, and even at eighteen he’d made them
pay with his fists—because of her.
She’d
influenced him into becoming a fighter.
And
it was because of her that he’d formed the neighborhood
watch. Everyone loved Cannon, but no one could love him more than she did.
“Superman,”
she teased. “This time, I promise I can take care of myself.”
A
slight knock on the door made her jump.
“It’s
just Armie,” Cannon said with a squeeze to her shoulder. “I’ll let him in.”
Nodding,
she again thought of the way Armie had stood in front of her, willing to block
bullets if necessary.
Emotion
welled up, choking her, killing her.
She
quickly took the aspirin and tried to get herself together.
Armie
peeked in cautiously, saw her on the couch and came in farther. “She okay?”
“Yes,”
Merissa and Cannon said at the same time.
Armie
gave a slight, tilted smile. “Hey, Stretch.” He came over to her, laid her keys
on the coffee table, then winced at the darkening discoloration on her jaw.
“I
bruise easily,” she explained. “By tomorrow it’s going to look worse, believe
me. But it was just a slap. I doubt you guys would have even noticed.”
Armie
crouched down in front of her. “Hey, you’re not a fighter, hon.”
She
liked it when he called her something other than Stretch. Something affectionate.
“No kidding.” She hadn’t fought at all; fear and the furious beating of her
heart had kept her malleable and weak. It infuriated her.
“I
may be big, but I lack muscle.” And guts.
“Tall,”
Armie corrected. “You’re tall, but far from big. More like…”
“What?”
He
thought about it. “Delicate.”
A
genuine smile took her by surprise. So Armie Jacobson saw her as delicate? Huh.
Knowing
she needed to get this over with, Merissa took another drink, then set her
glass aside and stood.
Armie
slowly did the same, his cautious gaze never leaving her. Cannon stood near
him, strangely quiet.
They
both watched her as if expecting her to lose it at any second.
And
maybe she would—if she didn’t have an audience.
***
MY REVIEW
So I
hadn’t really read any books in this series by Lori Foster, but I definitely remedied
that after reading Fighting Dirty. Armie is one of the best fighters available,
but old problems have left him unwilling to seek the fame and recognition he
deserves, while Marissa is just fighting to keep her sanity after being
rejected by Armie one too many times. But Marissa has had enough, and she gives
Armie an ultimatum he can’t refuse.
Armie
is a reformed manwhore, having changed his ways for Marissa. This was a bit of
a stretch for me, but you can tell from his actions that he truly loves Marissa
and wants to be with her. The mystery that encompasses them from the beginning
of their relationship just adds to the story. While it’s pretty apparent from
the very start who is to blame for everything happening it doesn’t diminish the
fact that Armie and Marissa are trying to figure out who has is out for her. The
addition of the other couples from previous books and series was great to read
about, and I definitely hope to read more about them in the future.
