by Lane Hart
…
Gabby
It's been over a week since Cain and I talked outside of the gym, and I haven't seen or spoken to him since that day. And it's not that he hasn't been stopping by the house, because he leaves a rose on my pillow every night. Since it’s the end of winter, I have no idea where he steals them from, and I don’t care. It’s…really sweet. I just wish he would talk to me.
That’s why I’m staying awake tonight, despite how heavy my eyelids are. I will wait him out, figure out what time he sneaks in, and catch him before he can leave.
Did I mention I got undressed underneath the covers again?
I’m just about to drift off to sleep when I hear the floorboards creak. My tired, burning eyes fly open, trying to adjust to the darkness while I hold my breath. Lying on my side, I see his tall, dark shadowed figure standing in the doorway a moment before he comes closer. When he leans down to leave the rose, I reach out and grab his arm with both hands.
“Shit!” Cain exclaims in a whisper. “Why aren’t you asleep yet? It’s almost three a.m.”
“Why haven’t you been by to visit during the day?” I ask.
Squatting down next to the bed after I don’t release his arm, he replies softly, “I’ve been working my ass off training. Tomorrow night’s my first fight.”
“You already have a fight?” I ask in surprise. He’s only been training for a few weeks, not much more than a month.
“Yeah, I think the fucker wants me to lose,” Cain grumbles under his breath about why Mario gave him a fight so soon.
I want him to lose too. If Cain wins, well, then he’ll go to Escapades, and he’s already told me exactly what will happen there.
“Can I come watch?” I ask.
“Hell no,” he answers without even considering it.
“Why not?” I huff. Robbie’s never let me come see him fight either.
“It’s too brutal. You don’t wanna see that shit,” Cain says.
“Please–” I start to beg, but he slaps his palm over my mouth. The move sends a sharp stab of need through my belly, making me gasp.
“The answer’s no, Gabby. Now get some sleep,” he orders.
“Stay,” I plead. Peeling his hand from my mouth, I slide it down to my bare chest before he jerks it away and gets to his feet.
Swearing, Cain says, “You need to stop this. I can’t –”
“Can’t what?” I ask, sitting up in my bed to hear what he’s about to say. “Can’t have sex before a fight?” I knew the coach’s rule, but I didn’t really think all the guys adhered to it.
“I can’t see you as more than a friend,” he tells me. “A sister even,” he adds to drive the dagger into my heart a little further. “I have to go.”
Cain turns and walks out, leaving me without another word.
And if I had known what that one mistake would cost me, I wouldn’t have done it, because that’s the last night I got a rose.
Chapter Eleven
Cain
Vaughan doesn’t even finish getting my hands wrapped before I have to make a run for the adjoining bathroom’s toilet and toss my cookies.
This is the third time I’ve thrown up this afternoon thinking about the fight.
Wade Turner is a big guy, maybe twenty pounds heavier than me, but he’s slow. I think I can beat him. But what if I’m wrong?
“You’re not gonna make it through the first round if you dehydrate yourself,” Vaughan says from the stall doorway as I wipe up my mouth with toilet paper and flush down everything I’ve eaten today.
When I stand up and turn around, he holds out a bottle of clear Gatorade that I accept. Screwing off the lid, I pour it down my throat to wash away the acid. Vaughan’s right. I can’t go into a fight dehydrated. It’ll make me weak.
“Want a protein bar?” he asks after I’ve downed half the bottle of liquid.
“Yeah, give me several.”
“Good. It’s time to get ya head in the fight,” he says, tapping a finger to the side of his receding, brown hairline.
I follow him out to the locker room and wait on one of the benches for him to come back with food. The bars taste like shit but the ingredients are the best you can do for energy in a pinch.
“Do you think I can beat him?” I ask, peeling back the wrapper of the first bar and taking a bite.
“Anybody can beat any opponent on the right day,” is Vaughan’s not so motivational response.
“Fine, then do you think I can beat Wade today?” I rephrase to be more specific.
“Sure,” he replies, not the least bit convincing. “Stay out of his reach. Make him chase ya. Nothing will wear the pudgy man out sooner than havin’ to try and catch ya.”
“Yeah, I can do that,” I agree. Sounds easy.
“In the second round, ya start swinging. If he’s tired, he won’t block. You should be able to get him on the ground by the third round.”
“We’ll see,” I reply since I’m not convinced it will be that easy. “I can’t lose,” I tell him.
“I know,” Vaughan says with a nod, telling me Mario has made him aware of what’s at stake. “So fuckin’ don’t.”
“You suck at motivational speeches,” I tell him with a chuckle as I finish chewing up the disgusting protein bar.
“Ya don’t need a speech,” he responds. “Ya need to have confidence in yourself that ya got this. Get in the winner mentality instead of expectin’ the worst.”
“I’ve got this,” I tell him, tearing into the second bar and devouring it.
“I know,” Vaughan agrees. “So why are ya sittin’ in here on ya ass? Let’s go.”
He gestures toward the locker room door with his arm, so I get to my feet and force myself out into the small arena housing tonight’s fight. Rolling my shoulders back, I try to at least look like I’m a badass even if, on the inside, I’m scared shitless.
There aren’t many people here tonight since it’s a Thursday, but I bet all of them have put money on who would win.
“What are the odds?” I ask Vaughan as we walk to the square chain-link fence that looks like it’s made to hold dogs rather than men.
“Everyone’s money is on Wade, so make ’em regret it,” he says with a slap to my back.
Oh, I plan to.
These motherfuckers don’t know shit!
Inside the cage, I wait for the bell. When it sounds, I silence all the shit in my head and every sound in the warehouse.
Wade comes at me first like a raging bull, so I quickly jump out of his way. When he hits the fence, I punch him in the back of his head so hard his knees nearly buckle. He turns around to face me, but he’s still off balance. Instead of standing still, I make the chubby, angry man chase me around for the next minute or so until I kick him in his stomach. Wade doesn’t double over in pain, but he does briefly lower his hands, giving me a chance to nail him in the face. And I do it again and again until he’s face down on the canvas and the ref calls the fight.
I can’t believe I did it. I survived my first fight night.
Then I wonder how many more it will take before Gabby and I are free.
Fuck, now I need a drink or, like, ten to calm my nerves that are still making me shake all over. If the fights don’t kill me, the overwhelming pressure of what's at stake just might.
…
“To my boy on his first win,” Knox says, holding up his beer bottle to clang it with mine when we get to Escapades. He already has a topless girl on his lap, Jasmine I think he said was the dark-haired beauty’s name. “Nothing to it, right?” he asks.
“Yeah, too easy,” I bluff as I take a sip of beer.
Instead of enjoying my victory, all I can think about is who I’ll have to face in my next fight. What if they’re better than me? I can’t let Gabby down. Imagining her up there on the stage, showing every man in the building her tits and ass puts me on edge. I would want to kill every fucker in here except for Knox before they'd even lay eyes on my girl.
No, that’s not gonna happen to her.
I will win, whatever it takes. There are no rules in our fights, unlike the pussy IFC fighters on television.
“I knew you had that shit,” Knox says, squeezing one of the tits in his face while his tongue circles the other nipple.
“Yeah, right,” I mutter with a grin because he’s lying through his teeth.
Removing his mouth from the dancer, Knox reaches into his jeans pocket, then holds up a wad of bills. “I bet on you, and I won,” he says. “Here’s our rent money for the next year.”
“I’ll be damned,” I say in honest surprise. “Thanks, man.”
“There was too much on the line for you to lose,” he says before burying his face in Jasmine’s breasts.
“Ivan told you?” I ask.
“Yeah, of course. He’s worried about you,” Knox mumbles.
“You know, it’s really hard to have a fucking conversation with you when you've got tits in your mouth,” I tell him, rather than comment on that particular subject.
“Suit yourself. We’ll talk later,” he says as another dancer comes over and climbs on him.
“I heard you won tonight,” Cassandra says when she suddenly plops her thong-covered ass on my lap and then throws an arm around my shoulders.
“Yeah, my first fight,” I admit proudly, tipping my beer bottle up to my lips.
I met Cass at the house a few weeks before she turned eighteen and left. And yeah, I can admit that, when I was fourteen, I had a huge crush on her. What teenage boy wouldn’t? The petite brunette somehow was still endowed with big tits and an incredible ass. But once I met Gabby, the older woman was barely a blip on my radar.
“So tonight’s the one night you can get drunk and fuck before you have to get back to training, right?” Cass asks.
“I think I’m good for now,” I tell her, looking up at the stage instead of at her bare tits just inches from my face. It takes a Herculean effort and defeats the purpose of coming to a titty bar, but I’m only here because Knox insisted we needed to celebrate my first win. Besides, drinks are free for us at Escapades after a win even though we’re underage, and I need the alcohol to take off the edge.
The only woman I want is back home in her twin bed, and I would rather be there with her knowing my dick won’t leave my pants than with a sure thing here, even as hot as Cass is. Yet, I can’t even do that anymore, climb in bed with Gabby, not with Robbie’s threat hanging over me or how the girl keeps tempting me more and more.
Last night I was so close to saying fuck it, jerking the covers back and climbing on top of her. Too close, especially the night before a fight. That’s why I lied to her about how I feel and why I can’t go back again. Either I’ll have to hurt her with my rejection, or I’ll give in and lose everything. If I don’t win a fight or if I go to prison because of Robbie, Gabby goes on the stage where Dani, one of the dancers, is currently bending over to give everyone a nice, long look at her ass and bare pussy. There’s no way that can happen. So, even though I’m allowed to tonight, I won’t have sex or jerk off. I’ll need my aggression to keep building up for the next fight.
“Aww, come on, Cain. Help a girl out,” Cass whines next to my ear, making me tear my eyes from the stage.
“What do you mean?” I ask, trying to figure out how fucking her would actually help her in any way.
Leaning down to whisper in my ear, she says, “Mario makes it worth our while to take care of his fighters.”
“Really?” I ask in surprise since I figured he was a cheap bastard.
“Sure does. And what girl wouldn’t want to get fucked with all that adrenaline you’ve got going after you beat a man’s ass?”
“So you girls don’t mind going home with the guys on fight nights?” I ask. When I glance over to Knox, I see he has not two but three girls on his lap vying for his attention like usual. Now it makes sense why they’re always so happy to see him in here.
“Definitely don’t mind,” Cass purrs in my ear. “The other girls are just nervous because they’re not sure what they’ll get with you, tiger. You look like a man who likes it rough. If so, I can take it.”
Jesus…fucking…
“Look, sweetheart, I’m not trying to get laid by anyone tonight,” I tell her so she won’t waste any more of her time. Despite what my hard cock wants, it’s not gonna happen.
“Then take me home and let me sleep on your sofa. I’ve got a little girl now that I’m trying to take care of on my own,” she says, giving me her sob story.
“So why don’t we leave, and you just go on home to her?” I suggest.
Putting her lips back to my ear she says, “Honey, I wish I could. But Mario’s not a man you try and pull one over on.”
While I think about that statement, Cass winds her arms through mine and begs. “Come on, Cain. Help a single mom out.”
Dammit, how can I say no to that shit when I remember what my mom did as a single mother all those years for me before she met that asshole and then died? Cass already sells her body to random men most nights. The least I can do is give her one night off.
“Fine,” I grumble. “Go get your things and let’s go.”
“Yes! Thank you,” she exclaims, giving me a kiss on my cheek.
I have a feeling I’m gonna regret this; but as long as Knox and Ivan keep their mouths shut, Gabby won’t ever find out.
Chapter Twelve
Gabby
Friday morning, I don’t go to school.
After staying awake all night worried about Cain and his first fight, I’m too tired. I kept waiting for him to sneak in and tell me what happened, and I was heartbroken and disappointed when he didn’t.
Knowing the rules, that he can fuck on the night he wins a fight, I was certain that if he won he wouldn’t be able to resist finally climbing in bed with me, regardless of what he said about seeing me only as a friend. And no matter what it took, I wasn’t going to let him leave the house until I convinced him to take my virginity.
But he didn’t show.
When I finally roll out of bed, I get a shower and go to the gym instead of to class to find out what happened.
Cain’s not there, and neither is Ivan or Knox yet, but Robbie is.
“Hey,” I say in greeting when he stops hitting the punching bag to come over to talk to me.
“Why aren’t you at school?” he asks with a raised blond eyebrow.
“Did he win?” I ask Robbie, knowing he’ll understand exactly who I’m talking about.
“Yeah, he did,” he answers before glancing around the gym. “And he’s not here yet, so he must have had a late night.”
“Oh, did the fight run over?” I ask.
“Ah, no,” Robbie replies, covering his smile with his hand. “I heard he took Cass home last night, and there’s nothing that girl won’t do…”
“Cass?” I repeat in disbelief. “Cass is a…a…”
“Stripper at Escapades,” Robbie helpfully fills in for me.
“Cain wouldn’t,” I argue.
Shrugging, Robbie says, “Go to his apartment and see for yourself.”
“You think she’s still at his place?” I ask, completely stunned. My chest aches at the thought of Cain in bed with another woman.
“Probably. Most of the guys take the whole twelve hours, because they know it’ll be weeks before they’ll be allowed to get off again. No masturbation is allowed either,” he rambles while all I can think about is Cain fucking a nasty stranger for hours and hours. If he did, I will lose my shit!
What does she have that I don’t? Bigger breasts? More experience? Why the fuck doesn’t Cain want to be with me? I’ve loved him for years, and it kills me to have to admit that he’s apparently never gonna feel the same way about me.
Eyes stinging with unshed tears, I turn around without another word and storm off toward the guys’ apartment to torture myself with the truth. I need to see for myself if I’m ever going to try to get over him.
/> …
Cain
“Cain! Wake the fuck up!” Ivan yells while shaking my shoulders. “Gabby’s here.”
Those last two words work just as well as an electric shock to my heart. Hearing her name would normally jolt me awake, but even more so this morning when I remember what I did last night.
“Is Cass still here?” I ask as I push myself into a sitting position on the mattress.
“Sure am, sugar,” Cass answers from the other side of the bed as she stretches her arms over her head, wearing nothing but a bra and, hopefully, panties.
“Good luck,” Ivan says before he walks out.
I was a little drunk when we got home, and my body hurt too bad from the fight to sleep on the sofa. Rather than be an ass and make Cass take it, I told her my bed was big enough for both of us. But I sure as fuck know I didn’t lay a hand on her all night.
“You can’t tell anyone the truth,” Cass mutters sleepily. “If Mario finds out, we’ll both be dead.”
Fuck. I know she’s right, but I’m just not sure if I can bear seeing the look of disappointment on Gabby’s face if she finds out I brought Cass home.
When I start to get up, Cass stretches across the bed and grabs my arm to stop me.
“Please don’t. I could lose my job,” she tells me.
After a second of deliberation, I nod in understanding even though my stomach churns at the reality.
“Cain?”
I hear Gabby’s voice a second before she appears in the doorway. Cassandra finally lets me go but it’s too late. Gabby looks from me to the woman in my bed and back to me, the expression on her face one of disbelief.
“What are you doing here, Gabby?” I ask as I stand up, wearing my shorts and tee. If nothing else, that should tell her the truth, that nothing happened. “You should be at school.”
“I can’t believe you,” she replies softly, gripping the doorframe as tears well up in her wide blue eyes.
