by York, Marie
“That’s something Karl would do,” she said matter-of-factly, and the frustration I was trying to contain boiled to the surface.
I couldn’t even manage to get words past the fury burning its way down my throat and through my body. My chest puffed out as my breathing picked up.
Brooklyn rested her hand on my arm, and I swallowed down the fire making its way back up. “I shouldn’t have said that,” she muttered.
“No. You shouldn’t have, but you did.” Her hand was keeping me from exploding, but if she thought I was just like that piece of shit, maybe I needed to prove her right. I took her hand from my arm, and placed it back at her side.
“I’m sorry,” she said, as I stepped away from her.
“Too late.” I headed for the door, unsure of what else to do. My patience was wearing thin, and I was pissed the hell off.
Her hand wrapped around my wrist. “Nix, please.” I glanced up, but refused to look her in the eye. If I did, I’d be a prisoner to her gaze, and any control I’ve managed so far would be lost. One glimpse at those fuck-me eyes, and all the anger would vanish. I wouldn’t be able to keep from kissing her, thrusting my tongue in her mouth, or running my hands along those gorgeous curves.
“I’m trying to sleep here!” the old hag in the next bed screeched, and I was actually thankful for the distraction.
“Sorry,” Brooklyn said, and yanked me back on her side of the curtain.
“What?” I growled, yet completely aware of her hand on me, and how amazing it felt on my skin. The desire to pull her against me was strong, and I had to dig deep to keep from doing so.
“I don’t know. I just don’t want you to leave mad at me.”
I stopped fighting, and touched each side of her face. She blinked up at me, and, like the fucking champion I was, I stayed strong. “Then, come home with me.”
Her eyes went void of any emotion, and she drew my hands away from her. “I can’t.”
“Dammit Brooklyn!”
A thump came from behind the curtain, and I assumed it was the old hag smacking her mattress in annoyance. It was followed by a loud sigh. I ignored it, and grabbed Brooklyn’s waist, pulling her back to me. “You know you want to. Stop fighting it. Us.”
“There is no us until there is a me. And I can’t do that unless I go home and prove to myself that Karl doesn’t have any control over me anymore. I need to know that I am free of him.”
“And you can do that at my place.”
She shook her head. “No. I can’t.”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake!” the hag exclaimed.
Both Brooklyn and I yelled back at her at the same time. “Shut up!”
“Kids these days have no respect,” she muttered.
Brooklyn lifted up on tiptoe and pressed her lips to the corner of my mouth. “Let me do this,” she whispered against my skin. “I’ll be okay. I promise.”
“Let me go with you, then.”
“I need to do this on my own. I’ll call you,” she said and ran out of the room, disappearing into the hallway.
“Fuck!” I cursed.
Another loud sigh came from behind the curtain. I ripped it back, and the old hag startled.
“I’m leaving!” I stormed out of the room and out of the hospital. Hopped in Tanya and headed home. Alone.
Chapter 30
Brookyln
My apartment was no longer a crime scene, but yellow tape still hung on the doorway. I pulled it down and the old lady from across the hall stuck her head out. I offered her a smile, but she quickly closed her door and disappeared into her apartment. So much for keeping a low profile.
I stepped inside and my eyes lingered to the place where Karl took his last breath. Blood still stained the floor and the dishes the Karl knocked over in an attempt to grab me were still scattered from one wall to the other.
It was a fucking mess. I turned to lock all three of my locks and stopped myself. I no longer needed to hide from the outside world. The threat on my life was gone. I locked the door and left the dead bolt and the chain alone. Feeling relief and a sense of security, I stepped farther into my apartment and started cleaning up the remnants of what was left of my past.
I grabbed a rag and some bleach. I started scrubbing, an anxious desire to get rid of every last piece of evidence came over me. I thought if I kept moving, kept cleaning, I wouldn’t have to think about it, but my thoughts were relentless, refusing to let me have a moment of solace. I scrubbed until my hands hurt. Scrubbed until, the reality hit me and knock me on my ass and then I scrubbed while I cried my eyes out.
***
Nixon
The more time passed, the more I wished I threw Brooklyn over my shoulder, and carried her out of there. But, then, her words popped into my head, and pissed me off. It was an annoying cycle that I couldn’t get out of, no matter how many times I hit the damn bag.
I had a fight tomorrow night, and if I couldn’t focus, I’d be screwed. Maybe I should’ve listened to Mark and rescheduled the fight. Sal would have loved that phone call. Probably give me a lecture on responsibilities and all that shit. It was a wonder he was still my agent since he was a royal pain in my ass, but he was the best in the business, there was no denying that.
I threw a few more punches, then grabbed my shit, and headed out of there. I got in Tanya, and was relieved to see it was eleven o’clock. At least, I could go home, and just pass out. Forget about today and focus on tomorrow and the fight.
Sassy greeted me at the door. I filled her water bowl before jumping in the shower. Brooklyn was still in my head, and driving me fucking insane. My mind shifted to the way her ass looked when I walked into the room, and how badly I wanted to smash my mouth to hers.
My cock throbbed with each thought, and I wrapped my hand around it. I was never a fan of jerking off, but since easy whores weren’t my thing anymore, and Brooklyn would barely touch me, it was all I had.
Maybe shooting a load was exactly what I needed to clear my head and be able to go to sleep. So, I closed my eyes, and continued to stroke my shaft, thinking of Brooklyn and every sexy curve. I thought of that amazing round ass and imagined how it would feel to grab the bare skin. How I wanted to bury my face in those huge tits of hers, and suck and kiss her nipples until they were tight little peaks. Run my tongue along her collarbone and down her entire body. Spreading her legs wide and tasting her. Plunging a finger into her pussy, and working her clit with my tongue until she was screaming my name and writhing beneath me.
The pressure built, my balls constricted, and I came with a vengeance. I rested my head on the cool porcelain tile as the last of my cum spurted out. I felt relief for about two seconds, then Brooklyn walking out on me flashed back in my mind, and I was pissed again.
I rinsed off, then stepped out of the shower. I dried myself off, and hung my towel on the back of the bathroom door before heading to my room. I pulled on a pair of boxers, and flopped onto the bed. Sassy jumped up, and snuggled into my side.
The first few weeks, every time she hopped in bed, I would place her back on the floor. After a while, I just gave up. She was relentless, and I admired her stubbornness. Funny, since that’s exactly what was pissing me off with Brooklyn.
I pinched the bridge of my nose as if that would erase her from my mind. Wishful thinking. If anything, when I closed my eyes, the vision of her became more vivid, and reminded me that she wasn’t here.
It took an hour, but I finally drifted off to sleep. An hour after that, a noise woke me. I blinked my eyes open, and swung my legs over the bed. Sassy didn’t even bat an eye.
I heard the noise again, and realized it was someone knocking. I went to the front door and pulled it open, expecting a drunk neighbor who had the wrong door. Instead, I found Brooklyn, her arms wrapped around her waist. Her hair was pulled back, but curls came free from their restraint. She licked her lips as she looked up at me. Defeat radiated in her eyes along with a thin sheet of gloss that looked like it would crack at
any minute.
I didn’t say anything. Instinct took over, and I just grabbed her arm, pulling her against me. Her head rested on my bare chest and I caressed her cheek.
“I couldn’t do it,” she mumbled into my chest. “I couldn’t do it.” It was the first time through this whole fucked up ordeal that I saw her break. It pained me more than I thought it would.
“Shh.” I kissed her forehead.
“He won,” she repeated over and over.
“No, he didn’t.”
“He did.”
I took her face in my hands and urged her eyes to mine. “Listen to me.” Her teeth slid over her bottom lip and she sniffled. “There is no game, and even if there was, you won. He can’t hurt you anymore. Okay?”
She nodded, and I held her tightly, wanting nothing more than to free her of the pain and the fear she still clearly possessed.
“Is it okay if I stay here?”
“I don’t know. You did reject my offer, and I don’t take kindly to rejection,” I joked.
She swatted my chest, and I caught her hand, bringing it to my lips. I kissed her fingers, trying to keep my original promise, but finding it increasingly hard to do so.
“Of course you can stay.”
“And, who is this?” Brooklyn asked, bending over to pick up Sassy who had decided to get her lazy ass out of bed.
“That’s um… yeah, that’s Sassy.”
Brooklyn’s eyebrow lifted in amusement. “Sassy?”
“Don’t let her fool you. She’s a feisty little thing that doesn’t take no for an answer.”
“Sounds like someone I know,” Brooklyn said with a wink. She scratched Sassy behind the ears, and Sassy purred her approval.
“I could say the same about you,” I rebutted.
She put Sassy back down, and I guided her to the bedroom. “This is your space for as long as you want.”
“I’ll need to get my stuff from my place.”
“You don’t need to go back there. I’ll stop by tomorrow and get whatever you want.”
“I don’t have pajamas.”
“Who needs pajamas?” I winked, and she nudged me with her elbow.
“I thought you said no moves.”
“If you think that’s a move, then you better prepare yourself.”
Her cheeks flushed, and I loved that I had an effect on her.
“You can borrow a t-shirt,” I offered.
“Just a t-shirt?”
“Boxers too, if you must.”
“I doubt they’ll fit me.”
My eyes travelled down her body and slowly back up, lingering on her thighs and then her tits. “I think they’ll fit you just fine. Permission to enter the room,” I said, making sure she knew despite what I said I was serious about the rules.
She smiled. “Permission granted.”
I went in, grabbed her a few things, and laid them out on the bed. “You can change in here. I’ll be just outside unless you want me to watch.”
She pointed to the door. “Out.”
I jokingly pouted as I schlepped toward the door. A laugh slipped from her lips, and after everything that had happened over the past few days, it was the best sound I’d ever heard.
She shut the door, and I made my way to the couch. I flopped into the cushions and tried my best to get comfortable.
I heard the click of the door, and when I opened my eyes, they immediately landed on Brooklyn’s sexy bare legs. They followed every curve up to my t-shirt that hugged her in all the right places. I was regretting my promise because I wanted so badly to pin her up against the wall and show her how much she turned me on.
I cleared my throat, hoping to force down the desire. “What’s up?”
She shifted from one foot to the other, then reached her hand out toward me. “Sleep with me?” I flung my legs over the edge of the couch and shot up. She laughed again and rested a hand on my chest, keeping her distance. “Just sleeping.”
“I’ll keep my hands to myself, but I can’t speak for you.”
She smiled and it was pure and genuine. “I think I’ll manage.”
“I don’t know. I’ve heard I’m irresistible.”
“I think they were lying,” B said, as she slid her hand in mine, and guided me to the bedroom.
She crawled into bed, and I slid in beside her. She pressed her back against my bare chest, and I could feel her warmth radiating off her skin. I could smell her shampoo and the slightest hint of perfume.
I had fucked so many girls, but I had never once slept with one. I thought it would be strange and annoying to share a bed, but it was none of that. Brooklyn fit perfectly against me and the sound of her breathing relaxed me.
It was the most comfortable I’d ever been and I couldn’t imagine not falling asleep with Brooklyn in my arms.
“Nix?”
“Yeah, B?”
“Thanks,” she whispered, and I tightened my hold on her. I closed my eyes, realizing that, for the first time in my life, I was completely content without hitting or fucking something.
Chapter 31
Nixon
It was finally the night of my fight, and I should’ve been focusing on the win, but my mind kept drifting to Brooklyn pressed against me in bed. The restraint I showed by not flipping her over and taking her right there was fucking award-winning. I had never wanted someone so bad in my life, but I made a promise to her, and I would keep it.
She wanted to come watch me, but I told her it’d be better if she stayed home. It was a two-hour drive, and it would be a good time for me to get my dick under control. Not that I thought that she’d be a distraction; it was that I didn’t want the fight to provoke any bad memories for her. Surprisingly enough, she didn’t argue with me, though I was fully prepared for it.
I walked out of the locker room with Mark and Kevin on one side and Sal on the other. I headed down the path that led to the cage, trying to let the crowd drown out all other thoughts and focus solely on the task ahead. My opponent, Tanker, was already in the ring, jumping up and down like a damn circus monkey. Pumping the crowd up was a waste of fucking time if you asked me. The only thing that mattered was the win, and no amount of cheering or clapping could guarantee you that. He thought he was getting his adrenaline pumped when in reality, he was wasting his energy.
Tanker was a good fighter, but he had nothing on me other than a few inches. Height meant shit, though. In the end, I’d still come out the bigger person.
I climbed in, and Mark and Sal took their places. I didn’t put on a ridiculous act, just threw my hand in the air to let the crowd know the champion had finally arrived. The applause and cheers intensified and it was clear I was the one they were here for.
“Fighters, center of the ring,” the ref called to us. We stepped to the middle, and the ref started his speech. “Gentleman, we all know the rules. I want a good clean fight and I will not tolerate anything less. Let’s touch gloves and let’s get ready.”
I touched my gloves to Tanker’s and we walked back to our sides. A few seconds later, the bell rang, and we went in. He squared off with me for a moment, jumping back, and holding his gloves up, ready to make his move, but he was taking too fucking long, and I had a girl I wanted to get back to. Done wasting time, I went at him full force, giving him a good left hand. He jabbed back with his right, but I blocked him. I threw a kick and got him nice in the side as he continued to move at me.
His floor game was good, and I knew he was trying to get me down there. Lucky for me, I was good at everything, and didn’t care where the fight took us. So, why not give him what he wanted? I went at him, grabbing his waist, and slamming him to the floor. He managed to get out of it and get right back up.
He tried to fire back to my body, but I got him with a right hand on the inside. He stepped back, bouncing from side to side, before coming at me again. I gave him a jab, right to the chin, he shook it off and then tried to throw a million punches, but barely landing a single one.
> This guy didn’t know how to pace himself, and pretty soon, he’d be making my job easy. Tanker went for my body, and I immediately tied him up. He tried relentlessly to get out of it, but I held tight, refusing to give him the upper hand.
Eventually, we both broke free and got back to our feet. He swung hard, but I ducked out of it, and all he got was air. I took advantage with a swift uppercut followed by a left hook. Tanker stumbled back, and I was ready to go in for the sweep when my eyes landed on the audience.
Brooklyn was on her feet, hands clasped, and eyes fixated on me. What the fuck was she doing here? I should’ve known it was too easy. Brooklyn never listened to me. Never did as I asked. She was always more than happy to argue until she was blue in the fucking face.
I caught her eye, and she gave me an apologetic smile, but I didn’t find it cute or amusing. I was worried about her, and her being here. Seeing a fight couldn’t be good for someone who just had the battle of her life. Her eyes widened just before I took a hook to the face. Fuck. I violated my one rule. I got distracted.
Tanker got me in a guillotine, and for anyone else this would be the end, they would spaz out, and start shoving at their opponent’s side. But I wasn’t stupid, and there was no way in hell I was going down that fucking easy. I pushed Brooklyn out of my head. I would deal with her later.
I dropped his wrist, and pulled on it, releasing some of the pressure. I threw my hand over his shoulder and walked toward it. Once I was in position, I used my back leg to hit right behind his knee, taking him down. I mounted him, driving my hips forward to maintain pressure. I rained punches and elbows on him, and while he did his best to block them, he couldn’t block them all.
He attempted to fight back, and I got him in an arm bar. I quickly positioned his arm between my knees, so I could use my hips to intensify the strain. Tanker’s face turned bright red, and his struggle grew weak. I didn’t let up, and eventually, Tanker tapped out.
