by Jenika Snow
Sunny had wanted to talk to him, to see what his thoughts were after London told him about their relationship, but clearly he wasn’t going to make this easy. Well, he couldn’t hide for long since they lived together. Shaking her head because all she could do was wait it out, she decided a long, hard run would help her clear her head, even if it wouldn’t fix her immediate problem. But before she could get on a treadmill she heard her phone vibrate once more.
Daria: Gurl, don’t make plans 2nite. Gots us someplace exciting 2 go 2!
Gr8. I can only imagine where u plan on taking me.
Daria: Don’t B a bummer. It’ll B fun. Promise.
Just tell me now so I can prepare myself.
Daria: Two words. Man. Candy.
Sunny groaned as she reread Daria’s text.
This better not be another foam party with wieners in my face.
Daria: Hey, that was fun times.J It’s not tho. I’ll call u later.
Daria brought a whole new meaning to the word “Outgoing”. She was fun to hang out with, but there were times when Sunny had just wished she stayed home, especially when Daria had thought it was fun to take her to a foam party, one where everyone at the club was pretty much in G-strings and pasties and jiggled their way through a sea of bubbles. Sunny had seen more wieners than she thought humanly possible in a two hour period. And that had been one of the tamer times. There had also been the strip club hopping one night, one where men in elephant themed thongs shook their “trunks” in her face. Daria was imaginative, that was for sure, which meant Sunny would have to be on alert, because no way was she going to have a surprise lap dance with balls all over her lap again.
****
Daria decided not telling Sunny where they were going was a great idea. Sunny thought it was a suicide mission. She had picked up Sunny a little after eight, and now they were headed deep into the city, and toward the industrial part of Absinthe. It was nearly an hour away, and the farther they drove the more Sunny was starting to think this was a very bad idea. “This doesn’t look like where another foam party or strip club would be.” The big and ominous buildings were on both sides of them, and the river that ran parallel to those and separated Absinthe from Haralston came into view.
“I told you it’s something way different.”
“Define different.” Sunny peered out the window and saw a large building with boarded up windows.
“Think big sweaty hunks, knocking each other out.” Daria pulled her car into what appeared to be the pothole riddled parking lot for a loading dock in front of the scariest looking building out of all of them. She turned and looked at Daria when they finally stopped.
“You took me to an underground fight?” Daria’s face lit up, and she nodded furiously. “I see guys fighting all day long. Why would I want to see them do it in a freaky ass building in a place that is probably crawling with rapists and murderers?” Daria rolled her eyes and grabbed her purse.
“You’re being dramatic. First, we are totally safe. Look.” She pointed out the windshield, and Sunny followed the line of her arm and saw a man standing by a rusty and scarred door. The light right above him flickered ominously, and was so dim she hadn’t even initially noticed it. “They have guards all around this place, making sure people stay in line. I went to one of these with Sandra.”
“What? When?”
Daria shrugged. “Like a month ago when you went on that weekend vacation with your dad. Anyways, it was intense. The guys are like nothing I’ve ever seen before. And the best part is they are so violent, so masculine, that your panties will get so freaking wet you won’t even be able to walk right the rest of the night.”
“Eww. Why didn’t you tell me about going to one of these with Sandra?”
“Because you would have complained the whole time, told me it was dangerous, and given me the mom speech.”
“I would not have.” Sunny looked back at the small door. “I’m kind of numb to guys fighting, Daria. I don’t think it’s going to have the same effect on me as it does on you.” There were guys that trained at the center specifically for these underground fights.
“Sunny, this will totally have a different effect on you.” Daria got out, and Sunny quickly followed. She was apprehensive about their surroundings, and would have been perfectly content to get back in that car and get the hell out of there, but Daria was a risk taker and hauling ass toward the front. When she looked over her shoulder and saw Sunny lagging behind she stopped, moved quickly toward her, grabbed her hand and pulled her forward. They made their way to that scarred door and stopped in front of the shifty looking bouncer. He eyed them, but made no move to let them in. “Honey gave us these.” Daria let go of Sunny’s hand and reached into her purse. She pulled out pieces of paper about the size of a postcard. The bouncer looked over the cards, eyed them once more, and then moved over and opened the door. Daria grinned over her shoulder and grabbed her hand again, leading her inside. The stench of decay, mold, and an aging building filled Sunny’s nostrils, and she covered her nose and mouth with a hand.
“God, what died in here?” The lighting was shady at best, and Sunny was glad she had worn her jeans and boots instead of the “club gear” that Daria had tried to insist she wear. As it was her friend was having one hell of a time maneuvering her stilettos through the junk lining the ground. Sunny knew a little bit about underground fights, even if several of the guys at the center trained for them. She knew enough that the cards Daria had given the bouncer had made it so they didn’t have to pay a hefty cover charge. She also knew that there was most likely going to be a shitload of people watching the fights, and that the guys fought dirty, without gear or protection. It was like UFC on speed and crack.
“Once we get to where everyone is it’ll open up and won’t be so bad.” They passed a few guys leaning against the decrepit wall, smoking cigarettes. The sound of cheering became louder the deeper they went into the warehouse, and once they took a long flight of rickety stairs and followed the hallway the room opened up. For a moment Sunny was stunned by what she saw. This was certainly not like any UFC fight she had ever been to. A cage was erected in the center of the room, and there were so many people crammed inside that the heat was strong enough to knock a person on their ass. The bodies were shoulder to shoulder, and the smell of sweat, alcohol, and even blood was overpowering.
“Come on, I want to be close to the ring.” Daria gripped her hand tighter, and they pushed their way toward the front. When the crudely erected cage was only a few feet from them Sunny let go of Daria’s hand and pulled out her phone. There was a missed call from her dad, and a text from him, which had her smiling. The only interaction she had with her dad was when they passed each other on her way out tonight. He had seemed in a pleasant enough mood, so he was either coming around, not likely, or London may not have told him exactly what was going on with them. That seemed like the most logical explanation.
Dad: Be safe and have fun with Daria.
Yeah, she was starting to wonder exactly what London had talked to him about that made it so he wasn’t sitting her down and lecturing her on her decisions. Sunny couldn’t help but smile at the fact her dad sent her a text. He was the least tech savvy person she knew, and it had taken him an hour of just teaching him how to use a cell phone.
Thanks dad. I’ll B home late. Love U.
No way was she going to tell him that she was currently standing in an abandoned warehouse, with at least three hundred people packed inside, and about to watch guys beat the shit out of each other in a bare-knuckle fight.
“Oh my God, I am so excited about this. There is this fighter tonight, Max ‘The Devil’ Sorrenson.” Daria started fanning herself, and Sunny couldn’t help but laugh at how dramatic she was acting. “I saw him when I came to the fight last month.” Daria was rubbernecking, trying to see over the heads of all the people, presumably to find this guy. “He sure is some damn fine eye candy.”
“Are you ready for Max ‘The
Devil’ Sorrenson and the undefeated champion, London?” The announcer drug out London’s name, and Sunny’s heart started to pound. Holy shit. What were the odds of her being at one of these underground things where London was fighting? She looked over at Daria to find her friend already staring at her with “no fucking way” eyes. She shrugged, and they both turned back toward the cage just as the crowd went even wilder. The bodies pressed forward like a wave, bending and curving and having both of them having to take a step forward to balance themselves or they’d be pushed on the ground. A mountain of a man climbed into the cage, his body hard muscle, and his face a mask of indifference. The tattoos that covered his arms were like London’s, from shoulder to wrists, but where London’s were colorful, this guy’s were black and white. In a crescent shape from collarbone to collarbone was a tattoo in Old English font, “Anarchy”.
God, London was going to go up against this guy? He was like a tank, and it seemed the crowd hated him, which led her to believe he may not fight clean, even if this was a dirty fight. Worry settled inside of her when the announcer called London’s name. The crowd went ballistic, chanting and shouting. The females screamed out his name, and Sunny picked up on a few obscene gestures and words from the girls close to them.
“Ugh, what a bunch of Chaser sluts.” Daria said it loud enough to be heard over the noise, which also had the girls standing beside them hearing and glaring in their direction. Daria lifted her hands to her head and gave them little devil horns, which had Sunny cracking up. The girls said something to each other, most likely calling them some kind of colorful word, but there was too much noise and they said it too low that they couldn’t make it out. Sunny and Daria grinned at each other and went back to staring up ahead. London climbed in the cage, and everything else faded around Sunny. Her pulse pounded in her ears, and she tried to swallow the lump that was lodged in her throat. His expression was one of steely composure and apathy. He didn’t look like the man that had had touched her so passionately in the locker room, or who had held her almost tenderly. He looked like a guy that was ready to kick some ass. A shiver worked up her spine, because for as many times as she saw him train, she had never seen him actually go head-to-head in the cage. Heat filled her, wetness spilled from between her thighs, and her nipples hardened. Just seeing him standing in that cage, even as crudely erected as it was, was a heady sensation.
The announcer rattled off a few things, but the one that she heard clearly out of all the rest was “no rules”. London and the other guy charged forward, their big bodies crashing together. Fists flew, legs kicked out, and before she knew what was happening they were on the ground grappling. It was flashes of black and multi-colored ink, muscles and limbs moving together, and blood spraying from mouths and noses. London slammed his fist into the guy’s face over and over again, and his rage was downright frightening. Sunny had never seen a man so fiercely intent on his actions before, and she actually took a small step back. Wave after wave washed through her, and she was embarrassed by her response to the violence and aggression she was witnessing. She was aroused. Shit, she was so aroused that perspiration started to dot her spine. Both men were back on their feet, and now sparred with each other. The Devil slammed his fist into one of London’s kidneys, which had him stumbling back. Her desire vanished, and she slapped her hand over her mouth. He came after London full force, and right when she saw his fist go back, and feared he would do some serious damage to the man she cared about so much, London was back on his feet and like a machine.
Left, right, right, left. He threw his fists into The Devil over and over again, so much that she saw his knuckles start to bleed, watched the crimson trail trip down his arms and land on the already rust colored mat. His opponent fell to the ground, and London was on top of him, delivering punch after brutal punch. It was almost too much for Sunny to watch, but it was like a train wreck. She couldn’t look away. With one more hit right to the side of the guy’s head London climbed off of him, turned his head and spit a mouthful of blood out. His eyebrow was cut, and a line of crimson dripped down his temple. He stared at the guy now lying motionless by his feet. The crowd was insane with their chanting of the victor’s name, but everything faded away when London turned and their eyes locked. He showed no surprise, but his eyes flashed with a dark hunger. Something inside of her melted, and she leaned forward, wanting to get closer to him. It didn’t matter that blood covered his chest, or that he had held a man’s life in the palm of his hands. London was hers, had moved with masculinity and strength, and the very primal part of her, the one that was all female and quivered while looking in his eyes, wanted to give herself to him.
He moved a step closer, and she did the same. Sunny watched him climb out of the cage, and make his way toward her. She could tell his focus was on her, and it amazed her that people actually took a step back from him. Before he reached her she saw movement to her side and tore her eyes from him. A thin girl with short, dark bobbed hair bounded up to him, and flung herself into his arms. She could see the irritation on London’s face at the girl’s reaction, and when he looked down at her that emotion was replaced with surprise, and then slowly morphed into anger. The girl’s red painted lips started moving, and in a move so quick Sunny didn’t even realize what in the hell was happening the girl planted her lips right on London’s. Everything stilled, and her arousal was pushed to the back by hard jealousy. Never had she felt like this, and all because some Chaser thought she was going to score with her guy? Oh. Hell. No.
Chapter Eight
For just a second London was frozen in shock as the girl planted her lips right on his. She tasted like stale cigarettes and sour beer. The surprise at seeing her face, knowing she was the girl he had fucked after one of his fights before he had made Sunny know she was his, should have had him pushing her away, but it took him a second too long. Gripping her arms and pulling her away from him, he ran the back of his arm over his lips. “Don’t ever fucking do that again.” Her smile wavered, and her eyes narrowed. She crossed her arms under her breasts and glared at him. Shit, she had kissed him right in front of Sunny. He snapped his head to where his girl was, saw her coming toward him with a fierce expression on her face, and knew a slap or two was coming. There was another girl with her, with some pretty fucking unusual colored eyes.
Hell, he hadn’t been the one to initiate the kiss, but if it helped Sunny blow off some steam… Sunny stopped in front of him, looked in his eyes, and then turned and stared at the brunette. For a full minute all the females did was stare at each other, and London was proud that his little fighter was standing her ground.
“What?” The brunette all but snarled the word, and for such a skinny thing she had some fire behind that lone word.
“Go find some other guy to fuck around with. This one’s taken.” London couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his face. Well shit, Sunny girl was a possessive little thing. He fucking loved that. It made him not feel like such an ass for getting all jealous and territorial about her.
The brunette bared her teeth, and he couldn’t believe this was the same timid seeming chick he had been with less than two weeks ago. She was like some kind of rabid animal now, snapping and looking like Sunny was the one that had stepped over the line.
“You’re crazy if you think that he sticks with one girl.” Sunny didn’t say anything, and London moved closer. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back against his chest. Becky looked at where he held Sunny and wrinkled her nose. “Just remember that he has a lot of pussy to choose from. In fact,” she looked smug as hell, and London knew what she was about to say. “He fucked me real good not that long ago. Had me coming more than once, too.” Sunny stiffened in his arms, but she didn’t pull away.
“Get the fuck out here, and don’t ever come up to me again.” His voice held an edge to it, but he wanted her to know that she was fucking with his life and he wouldn’t stand for it.
“Take your dirty ass out of here. Mayb
e you can find a guy to screw you in a dirty backroom.” Sunny hit that on the head pretty good. That was how he had taken the brunette, and shame filled him over that fact.
The girl grinned, but it wasn’t one of amusement and made her face contort into some kind of pinched mask. “Don’t say you weren’t warned. Men like him tend to stray.” With that she turned and left. For a long moment Sunny stood there staring at where Becky had disappeared to, and then slowly she turned around and looked at him. He expected anger and jealousy to be the main emotions on her, and when she smiled up at him he was a little dumbstruck.
“Aren’t you pissed over her and what she said?” He ran his hand over his hair and breathed out. He wanted to get her alone and talk about this, not surrounded by a bunch of screaming drunks who wanted to see more fighting. She shrugged.
“I won’t say I’m not jealous, because that would be a lie.” She looked down, but he didn’t want her hiding her feelings, so he lifted her head with his thumb under her chin. “How can I get pissed over what she said when that was before we got together?” Shit, he had struck the lottery when it came to her. “Besides, I know a Chaser when I see one, and I can tell when a girl is a bit demented and thinking there is more than there is. She was all talk, and not really a threat. Although I needed to make it known that I wasn’t a pushover when it came to you.”
He shook his head and smiled. “Damn, Sunny, I think I may just marry you right now.” She laughed and gently pushed him.
“Funny.” Her sarcasm was tangible, and he started laughing himself.
“Come on, baby, let’s get out of here.” He made his way toward the back of the warehouse, holding tightly to her hand and making sure she stayed right by his side. A few people came up, trying to talk to him about the fight, but he just wanted to collect his winnings and get the fuck out of there with Sunny. Ross leaned against the wall, talking to a bunch of shady looking guys that thought they were badass wearing sunglass inside and at night. Ross saw him approach and pushed off the wall and reached inside his coat pocket.
