Title: Believe
Series: Oni Fighters #2
Author: Natalie Gayle
Genre: Contemporary/MMA Romance
Release Date: December 1, 2015
Have you ever hit a point in your life where everything looks good from the outside but there’s this feeling deep in your gut that tells you something is wrong?
Dane Roberts was just an ordinary guy—so he thought. Best friend to MMA fight sensation Xander Todd, and all round decent guy. But now a restlessness surrounds him. Dare he reach for more? Could he too emulate his best friend’s results in the cage?
Arianne Le Flegg was a woman starting over, with her son. Running from a past littered with broken promises, manipulation and violent abuse at the hands of family. Violence terrified her on every level. She longed for an “ordinary life”—safety for herself and her son.
Can there ever be a future for two people who view violence so differently? One embraces it, the other dispels it. One is seeking the extraordinary, the other ordinary. She longs for the type of man he’s trying to leave behind.
For there to ever be a future together, they’ll need to dig deep and decide what really is important to each of them.
To do this, they must first accept—The hardest demons to defeat are the ones inside.
They’ll have to Believe
Dane Roberts was just an ordinary guy—so he thought. Best friend to MMA fight sensation Xander Todd, and all round decent guy. But now a restlessness surrounds him. Dare he reach for more? Could he too emulate his best friend’s results in the cage?
Arianne Le Flegg was a woman starting over, with her son. Running from a past littered with broken promises, manipulation and violent abuse at the hands of family. Violence terrified her on every level. She longed for an “ordinary life”—safety for herself and her son.
Can there ever be a future for two people who view violence so differently? One embraces it, the other dispels it. One is seeking the extraordinary, the other ordinary. She longs for the type of man he’s trying to leave behind.
For there to ever be a future together, they’ll need to dig deep and decide what really is important to each of them.
To do this, they must first accept—The hardest demons to defeat are the ones inside.
They’ll have to Believe
ARC received for an honest review
This is the second in the Oni Fighters series, and runs on a parallel time frame to the first book Brave. You could read this as a standalone, but why would you want to miss out on any sexy MMA goodness.
Dane Robert feels like he is kind of skimming through life. His work life and his training are all going well, but he feels that he doesn't have a real sense of purpose, a goal that he is stretching to reach.
A chance encounter with Arianne - Ari - and her son Isaac sets him on a path he never expected for himself.
I loved the chemistry between Dane and Ari. There is that instant spark of attraction, but there is that fear, that wondering, that longing also.
But Dane.... le sigh! What a man!!
It immediately drew me in, and I wanted, no needed to know more. I needed them to make a go of a relationship. I could understand Ari's misgivings about Dane and a relationship with him, but I just wanted to clip her around the ears and tell her to wake up to the man he is.
There were plenty of ups and and downs in their relationship, but Dane kept at it until it really was a foregone conclusion.
In my opinion, the scene stealer in this whole book was Isaac. And the relationship that he forms with Dane. Out of the mouths of babes, some of the things he says and asked really tugged at my heartstrings.
I loved that we also got a bit more of Xander and Eden's relationship further on from where their book Brave ended.
There are some wonderful secondary characters - expeicallly the boys from the dojo, and Seth in particular. Can't wait for his story.
This is the second in the Oni Fighters series, and runs on a parallel time frame to the first book Brave. You could read this as a standalone, but why would you want to miss out on any sexy MMA goodness.
Dane Robert feels like he is kind of skimming through life. His work life and his training are all going well, but he feels that he doesn't have a real sense of purpose, a goal that he is stretching to reach.
A chance encounter with Arianne - Ari - and her son Isaac sets him on a path he never expected for himself.
I loved the chemistry between Dane and Ari. There is that instant spark of attraction, but there is that fear, that wondering, that longing also.
But Dane.... le sigh! What a man!!
It immediately drew me in, and I wanted, no needed to know more. I needed them to make a go of a relationship. I could understand Ari's misgivings about Dane and a relationship with him, but I just wanted to clip her around the ears and tell her to wake up to the man he is.
There were plenty of ups and and downs in their relationship, but Dane kept at it until it really was a foregone conclusion.
In my opinion, the scene stealer in this whole book was Isaac. And the relationship that he forms with Dane. Out of the mouths of babes, some of the things he says and asked really tugged at my heartstrings.
I loved that we also got a bit more of Xander and Eden's relationship further on from where their book Brave ended.
There are some wonderful secondary characters - expeicallly the boys from the dojo, and Seth in particular. Can't wait for his story.
Excerpt
The drive home was a killer. Although the restaurant we’d gone to was amazing, I didn’t really think it through. Mount Tamborine road was definitely a two hands on the wheel type of drive with its succession of hairpin bends and drop offs. There was no chance to have my hand on her leg or up her skirt.
“How are you doing over there? Sulking? Plotting my demise?”
“I can’t believe you left me like that!”
I chuckled, “Building anticipation, Miss.”
“I so want to reach over and grab you by the crotch just to see how you like to be tormented. This is not a road to be doing that.” She wriggled in her seat a little more suffering from frustration.
“Spread your legs, Miss.”
“What did you say?” She was playing coy because I’d left her hanging. Ari loved it when I started bossing her when it came to sex.
“You heard me! Push your hips forward and hike that skirt up. I want to look over and see your naked pussy. I want to know that’s what I’m going to have anyway I want it when we get home.”
I noted her sharp intake in of her breath, as she did as I asked.
The road evened out into the long straights on the flat. I could take a hand off the wheel now and be safe, although I had something naughtier in mind.
“Touch your pussy for me, Miss.”
“Dane!”
“Don’t Dane me. Do it!” I growled using my Sensei voice. She called it my Get it on voice. It was my Sensei voice but hey...whatever worked for her.
“I’ve never, in front of…” She was looking at me all concerned. The other day I’d demanded her hands on her tits. Today I wanted more.
“What’s the big deal? You let me do all kinds of stuff to you. I want to see you do it.”
I glanced across and she still looked unsure. “Give me your hand, Ari.”
She took my offered hand and I placed her hand directly on her mound. Then I let my fingers trail lower.
Oh wow, she was so wet. I teased her slowly with my fingers, letting them slide through her slick flesh. A couple of times her hips jolted forward and I knew I’d hit a particularly sensitive spot.
My eyes remained focused on the road, the driving was easy—all straight roads and gradual bends. Her other hand was gripped on the armrest of the door. Not in fear, but in a need to ground herself to something. Ari liked something solid to hang onto when she was into it. There was no way I could resist sliding a finger into her hot, wet channel.
“Oh, Dane.” Her voice caught and my dick flexed in my pants in response to the sound.
The hand she had on the door was now locked around my forearm. I eased my hand upwards and covered hers. Then I slowly moved it down over herself.
I spread my fingers lightly on top of hers. “Now show me what you like.”
“Why? I love everything you do!”
“Because I want to know what you do. Come on, Miss. You didn’t spend two years on your own without at least using your fingers occasionally. Or have you got a secret cache of toys you haven’t told me about?”
She tensed briefly, then relaxed as I guided her fingers lightly.
“This really turns you on?”
“Yep! Like you wouldn’t believe. Anything that involves you and sex is an instant turn on for me.”
“And I thought you were such a gentleman!” she huffed out in shaky breaths.
“I am.” I pushed her finger against her clit and rolled it in circles the way I knew she liked. “I just like to get a little wild and demanding when it comes to sex. You love it, don’t deny it. You’ve got even wetter since we’ve been talking if that’s even possible. I can’t wait to get home and lick all that sweetness from you.”
Ari let out a few long pants and her body had gone rigid. She was almost there and I couldn’t resist moving my hand back to the wheel. It was up to her whether she came now or later. I was kind of hoping she’d finish herself off; it would be another little hurdle we jumped together.
“Dane!” she shrieked.
“Finish it, Ari. Come for me. Let me see you, hear you,” I demanded of her.
Her fingers wriggled in her pussy and she started to groan and pant all at once.
“Oh God Dane, I can’t believe you made me do it,” she cried as the orgasm racked through her. I couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped out. From the corner of my eye, I watched the spasm fire through her body and her face contort in passion.
“I just encouraged you, Ari. Miss, that was hot! My dick is so hard right now.”
“I should make you return the favour,” she grunted.
“Anytime you want. Just not tonight and not when I get home from Vegas. They are definitely my cock in your pussy kind of days.” I chuckled, and pulled her fingers from her pussy and sucked them into my mouth.
“You’re impossible!”
“How are you doing over there? Sulking? Plotting my demise?”
“I can’t believe you left me like that!”
I chuckled, “Building anticipation, Miss.”
“I so want to reach over and grab you by the crotch just to see how you like to be tormented. This is not a road to be doing that.” She wriggled in her seat a little more suffering from frustration.
“Spread your legs, Miss.”
“What did you say?” She was playing coy because I’d left her hanging. Ari loved it when I started bossing her when it came to sex.
“You heard me! Push your hips forward and hike that skirt up. I want to look over and see your naked pussy. I want to know that’s what I’m going to have anyway I want it when we get home.”
I noted her sharp intake in of her breath, as she did as I asked.
The road evened out into the long straights on the flat. I could take a hand off the wheel now and be safe, although I had something naughtier in mind.
“Touch your pussy for me, Miss.”
“Dane!”
“Don’t Dane me. Do it!” I growled using my Sensei voice. She called it my Get it on voice. It was my Sensei voice but hey...whatever worked for her.
“I’ve never, in front of…” She was looking at me all concerned. The other day I’d demanded her hands on her tits. Today I wanted more.
“What’s the big deal? You let me do all kinds of stuff to you. I want to see you do it.”
I glanced across and she still looked unsure. “Give me your hand, Ari.”
She took my offered hand and I placed her hand directly on her mound. Then I let my fingers trail lower.
Oh wow, she was so wet. I teased her slowly with my fingers, letting them slide through her slick flesh. A couple of times her hips jolted forward and I knew I’d hit a particularly sensitive spot.
My eyes remained focused on the road, the driving was easy—all straight roads and gradual bends. Her other hand was gripped on the armrest of the door. Not in fear, but in a need to ground herself to something. Ari liked something solid to hang onto when she was into it. There was no way I could resist sliding a finger into her hot, wet channel.
“Oh, Dane.” Her voice caught and my dick flexed in my pants in response to the sound.
The hand she had on the door was now locked around my forearm. I eased my hand upwards and covered hers. Then I slowly moved it down over herself.
I spread my fingers lightly on top of hers. “Now show me what you like.”
“Why? I love everything you do!”
“Because I want to know what you do. Come on, Miss. You didn’t spend two years on your own without at least using your fingers occasionally. Or have you got a secret cache of toys you haven’t told me about?”
She tensed briefly, then relaxed as I guided her fingers lightly.
“This really turns you on?”
“Yep! Like you wouldn’t believe. Anything that involves you and sex is an instant turn on for me.”
“And I thought you were such a gentleman!” she huffed out in shaky breaths.
“I am.” I pushed her finger against her clit and rolled it in circles the way I knew she liked. “I just like to get a little wild and demanding when it comes to sex. You love it, don’t deny it. You’ve got even wetter since we’ve been talking if that’s even possible. I can’t wait to get home and lick all that sweetness from you.”
Ari let out a few long pants and her body had gone rigid. She was almost there and I couldn’t resist moving my hand back to the wheel. It was up to her whether she came now or later. I was kind of hoping she’d finish herself off; it would be another little hurdle we jumped together.
“Dane!” she shrieked.
“Finish it, Ari. Come for me. Let me see you, hear you,” I demanded of her.
Her fingers wriggled in her pussy and she started to groan and pant all at once.
“Oh God Dane, I can’t believe you made me do it,” she cried as the orgasm racked through her. I couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped out. From the corner of my eye, I watched the spasm fire through her body and her face contort in passion.
“I just encouraged you, Ari. Miss, that was hot! My dick is so hard right now.”
“I should make you return the favour,” she grunted.
“Anytime you want. Just not tonight and not when I get home from Vegas. They are definitely my cock in your pussy kind of days.” I chuckled, and pulled her fingers from her pussy and sucked them into my mouth.
“You’re impossible!”
I loved pushing her and she loved me, too, for doing it.
Also Available
A confessed readaholic and romantic junkie, Natalie spends her time juggling a busy career as an IT professional and author. In between staring at a computer screen (she spends lot time doing that!) Natalie, enjoys living the Gold Coast life with her very tolerant husband and two school aged children.
She loves spending time with family and friends, hitting the beach, cooking, working out and curling up with a good book. Her pet hates are cleaning and anything else that can be considered “domestic dullness”. If she could have one wish it would be to be able to fit 48 hours into 24.
Natalie is the author of the Centre Games Series. A fast paced, romantic suspense series set on the Gold Coast, Australia. The series tells the stories of the Centre, a quasi government agency established to fight environmental, biological and agricultural threats. The Centre Games books are filled with hot alpha males and the feisty independent females strong enough to capture their hearts. Natalie’s books pack lots of action, hot romance and surprises.
She recently released Brave—the first in her Oni Fighters Series. This series is MMA contemporary romance with inspirational themes. The series is about people overcoming tragedy, pain and circumstances—fighting their inner demons. The next book, Believe, will be released late 2015 with another early 2016.
