by Penny Wylder
Ducking to the side, Gil blocks his face. He comes in with a one, two punch, and a roundhouse kick. Blocking his hands, I deflect his foot.
I don't really want to drag this thing out. I want it done. I want it over with. I want to throw my contract in Daniel's face, and tell him I'm out. I held up my end, I finished what I started, and I finished strong.
Gil's head bobbles on his shoulders as he circles me, trying to force me into the corner. He's so fucking obvious. He's like a child trying to lead their parent into a trap. I'm not biting.
With one swift kick, I connect with the side of his face. His head whips to the side, mouthguard flying out as I send stars into his eyes. Shaking his head, he picks up his mouthguard and sticks it back into his mouth.
Gil smiles, a dark, tense smile. He's ticked, and now I'll need to be careful of his next move. Rocking his jaw side to side, he sidesteps, moving his hands waist high. His eyes are boring a hole into my face as his pupils turn to empty pools.
He wants to kill me.
In one giant leap, he charges forward, grabbing me around the waist and dragging me to the mat. His hands are locked around my ribs, and his head is buried in my side. Shifting his weight, Gil attempts to lock his legs around mine, and move his arms up to my neck.
His hands are reaching, grabbing, pulling on my shoulders and the back of my head. His heel cuts into the back of my calf, and a sharp pain shoots up through the muscle behind my knee, causing my leg to seize up.
“Ah!” I growl, gritting my teeth and sucking in air through tight lips.
Gil's sweaty arms slip across the side of my cheeks as he tries to wriggle higher up my torso and clasp his fingers behind my head.
This isn't going to happen. I won't let it.
Slipping a hand between his arms, I flip so I'm up on one knee. Throwing him off balance, his arms slide down instead of up and I'm able to trap him in an arm bar.
Pulling his arm up higher, I can see the grimace of pain on his face as he tries to bear it long enough to figure a way out.
I'm not giving him a chance. With a fast jerk, I knee him in the jaw. My hands are clutching the back of his head, not giving him any room to move. His weight goes limp, and his arms fall loose.
The ref jumps in, pushing me away. Holding up my arms, I step back as he checks Gil. He's out cold. His eyes are closed and he looks like he's sleeping in a puddle of sweat and blood.
A giant gash is trickling blood down his chin, mixing with his sweat before it puddles on the mat. The ref and a medic are checking him over, making sure he's just knocked out and not comatose.
Waving a smelling salt under his nose, Gil's eyes pop open, blinking rapidly. The medic shines a light in his pupils, asking him some questions. The room is in an uproar, yelling and clapping, calling my name and cheering.
My ears burn from the explosion of sounds. Walking to my corner, I grab the small towel from Stone and lay it over my head. He's checking me over, but there's no damage on me.
Gil is trying to get up, but the ref is holding him down and waving his hand, calling the fight.
The room becomes a plethora of screams, clapping, and yelling. The entire audience is on their feet. Stone is shaking my shoulders, but everything seems to be moving in slow motion.
I know he's yelling, excited that I won. I know the announcer is speaking into the microphone, announcing the decision. The amount of hits and points between us. What each judge counted. His mouth is moving, his voice a high pitched hum overhead.
I hear nothing.
Sylvia is standing on the edge of the ring, her smile broad as she slips through the ropes and runs at me. She's the only one I see, the only one I hear, the only one I feel.
“You won! You did it, Phade!” Jumping into my arms, she wraps her arms around my neck and holds on tight as I lift her off her feet.
I stumble back slightly, caught off guard with how hard she's hit me. Our eyes freeze on each other, hers warm and happy, full of love.
That's what I see when I look at her now. I see love.
Pulling her back, I hold her face. “I love you, Syl,” I say, kissing her forehead. Lowering my hands, I cup her belly. “And I love our baby.”
She smiles, brushing caring fingers down my jawline and over my chest. “I know you do, I can feel it in my heart, in my body, in my soul.”
Kissing her again, I wrap my hand around her lower back and dip her slightly. The room gushes with more cheers. Standing her up straight, I take her hand, leading her out of the ring and back to the locker room.
I can't stop looking at her. This win doesn't even matter to me. It signifies an end to the past, and a doorway to the future.
Sylvia spins, grabbing my arms excitedly. “You won, you know what this means, right?”
“What? What does this mean?”
A hard hand falls on my shoulder. “Phade, congratulations on this win. It's big, it's really big.”
Sylvia takes a step back, her happiness falling flat as her eyes drift over Daniel's face. He gives her a smile, acknowledging she's there, but nothing more. There's no more emotion in his eyes for her than I have for a passing stranger on the street.
“Thanks, he wasn't much of a challenge. I thought you'd get me more of a fight.”
Daniel tips his head back and lets out a gruff laugh. “Well, the good news is that you both can end this little tryst and call it quits.” Flipping a finger between us, he dips his head. “There's no need for you guys to play this game anymore, I think we've given you enough space, Phade, you're safe for at least another year. All I'm going to need is your signature.”
Every instinct in my body is screaming to just knock this guy out. My hands ball instantly, my muscles tighten, ready to strike. I'm not leaving her. Not now, not ever. And he's done giving us orders.
My mouth opens to tell him to go fuck himself, but I don't get the chance to make a sound.
“End it?” Sylvia asks, stepping in between us. I have never seen so much fire in her eyes. “We're not ending anything. I'm sorry, but this isn't over. You know I'm pregnant.”
Veering his stare, he runs his fingers over his mouth. “I know a lot of things about you, Sylvia, but your stupidity bothers me most. You've needed me to hold your hand through life up to this point, and you're going to need me after. Never have you ever been so reckless, you've ruined your life.” His thick jaw rocks back and forth as his eyes jitter side to side. “You're going to regret getting pregnant, but you're going to need me if you still want a job to support the baby.”
Sylvia frowns, her eyes turning to slits as thick, angry lines crease her forehead. “I'm not a child anymore, Daniel, I'm not going to let you keep treating me like one. You've made me think my entire my life that I was the reason for my father leaving, that I'm the one at fault. I'm not doing it anymore.” Shaking her head, she steps into my side and snuggles up close. “You can either move forward with me, or you can stay right here. I don't give a shit. But I choose Phade and the family we're building, I'm not choosing you.”
Slipping her hand down my arm, Sylvia braids our fingers together. I kiss her forehead, smirking at Daniel because he looks shocked.
Pulling me along, we both walk into the locker room, leaving Daniel to stew in his own silence. I'm proud of her. She needed to stand up to him a long time ago, and she finally did, that makes her stronger than I could have imagined.
Spinning around on her heels, she has a huge smile on her face. “Did you see his face?” she asks, pleased with herself. “He looked like a deer in headlights.”
She's peering up at me, her eyes sparkling in happiness. I smile back, simply holding her face in my hands.
Touching the outside of my wrists softly, her eyes settle on mine. “Well, say something. Anything.”
I have no words to give. She doesn't need me to reinforce that I was happy she stood up for herself. She doesn't need to hear me sprinkle her with compliments about having a backbone.
I'll let her
feel it. Brushing my fingers lightly over her skin, she looks down shyly at the floor. I draw small circles on the curve of her jawline, causing her to suck in a quick breath.
Sylvia knows what I think, she knows what I feel, and she knows I'm proud of her.
Pulling her face up to mine, I crush my lips onto hers. Her lips part easily, giving me ample room to slip my tongue into her mouth.
Her tongue meets mine, spiraling around like a snake up a tree. Licking and lapping, tracing ridges and slipping over teeth.
Exploring her scalp, my fingers work into her hair, taking fistfuls in each hand. Sylvia groans into my mouth as I give her hair a light tug. Kissing me deeper, harder, I feel her entire body unhinge.
Her eyes change, the deep brown now burning with amber and gold highlights. They flicker like hot sparks from a fire. Pushing her chest against mine, she glides her hands up my stomach.
Sylvia explores my abs, gently tracing each one as she moves her hands higher. It's my turn to groan as she flicks the tip of her tongue across my bottom lip and sucks it into her mouth.
My hand finds her tit, squeezing and pinching her nipple through her shirt, pulling another coo from her. Touching her belly, I whisper against her lips, “Mine.”
Sylvia smiles, placing her hand over mine. “Yours.”
Something deep in my core, something feral, wild, written into my muscles, ignites like a white hot flame. I need her. Right here, right now.
Twisting her, I press her shoulders forward. The locker echoes as her hands slap the outside of the door, causing it to shake. Her ass pops up as I dig my fingers into her hips, pressing my hard cock against her skin.
Looking back at me over her shoulder, her eyes hood, glazing over in desire. Curling my fingers into the side of her pants, I tear them down her hips. Fumbling with the drawstring on my shorts, I wriggle my hips free, and my cock bounces out.
I'm rock hard, my crown swollen, glistening in precum. Pushing my hips forward, I spread her lips and sink in slowly. She's soaked, her pussy dripping in arousal. I stay still for a moment, letting her body adjust to my thickness.
Her pussy pulses around my length, walls tight, gripping me hard. Arching her back, she pushes herself down the last inch of my cock with a quiet moan. Slipping my hand around her chest and up under her neck, I lift her off the wall.
Sylvia wraps her arm around my neck as I splay an open palm on her chest. Moving my hips slowly, I begin to rock back and forth. I don't want to move fast, I don't want to rush through this. I want to feel every breath she takes in and lets out. I want to see her body writhe beneath me. I want to enjoy every single second until the orgasm crashes over her, and all that's left is a shivering shell.
Pulling out to the ridge of my crown, I drive back in hard. Her eyes roll back in her head, and a tremor runs through her body as she moans. Pistoning my hips, I thrust in and out with vigor. I can't control it anymore. And I don't want to. I take her like she's a gift, made just for me.
Holding her throat, I drive myself in deeper, harder. I can feel her voice catching in the back of her throat, but I don't let the sound escape. My fingers dig into her warm skin, biting the soft, red flesh like the teeth of a snake.
Raking her nails across my scalp, she grinds her ass back against the base of my dick, rolling her hips. Slipping my hand down her chest and between her tits, I palm her cunt. With two fingers I circle her clit, flicking the swollen bud.
Faster and faster, I fuck her as I massage her pussy. The back of her head is pressing against my collarbone as her pussy milks my length, refusing to let it go. I feel the muscles in her stomach as they clench and a shiver, all along the length of her body.
Sylvia's mouth falls open and a soft, erotic moan escapes her lips. The sound she's making is so intense, it's music to my ears. With one final thrust, I come, and her pussy greedily accepts.
Letting out the breath I was holding in, I release her body, and she falls forward, catching the wall with open hands.
“Wow,” she says, turning and laying her back against the wall. “Like, wow.” Smiling, she runs the pads of her fingers across her lips and down the center of her chest. “That was incredible.”
“This is just the beginning. We have our entire lives in front of us, and there's plenty of that where we're going.”
“Our entire lives?” she asks, biting on her bottom lip and tugging it in. “What are you saying?”
“Well, I know I'm not going anywhere. And with the baby, I kind of figured you aren't going anywhere either. We love each other, and I thought. . .” Pausing, I adjust my pants, letting my eyes do some of the talking.
“Is this some type of proposal?” she smirks, slipping her hands behind her ass as she leans against the wall. “Are you asking me what I think you're asking me?”
Shrugging a shoulder, I run both my hands over my head. Holding up a finger, I unzip my bag and dig around inside.
I can see her from the corner of my eyes. She's fidgety, bouncing back and forth on her feet, rubbing her hands together. Her breathing picks up. Her mouth forms the cutest little O as she tries to slow down her breaths.
Pulling out a small red box, I turn to face her, sitting on one knee and holding it up toward her. “I don't know if this is the perfect time, and I'm sure you didn't picture it happening this way, here in a locker room. But I can't wait. I had this whole thing planned out in my head, where I was going—”
“Phade,” she says, cutting me off. “Just shut up and ask me already.”
Pulling back the lid, I take in a deep breath, and as I let it out, the words quickly follow. “Sylvia Fontain, will you really marry me?”
Shaking her head yes, I pull off the old ring and slip on the new one. Climbing to my feet, I take her in my arms. Tears are streaming down her face, happy, beautiful tears. Tears that can only be cried while wearing a smile.
I can feel her heart in her chest as it thumps, and her breath on my skin as she presses her face against my cheek. And in that moment, something inside me changes. My heart stops for a single beat, restarting to a new rhythm. I'm not living for me anymore. . .
It beats for her, it beats for the baby, and it beats for the family that somehow found me in the chaos of life.
I have a family. And I'll never take that for granted.
Epilogue
Sylvia
The bristles of the brush sweep across my cheeks, painting them pink. There's a woman bending over me, staring at my face like it's a canvas and not skin at all.
She's focused, her eyes darting around my features, tapping her tray of paint and moving back in to highlight, brighten, and cover the contours of my face.
Claudia steps up beside me and is peering at me through the mirror. “Here, something to calm your nerves.” Handing me a tall flute filled with bubbly liquid, she smiles.
Taking it, I lift it to my nose, and smell it. “I can't drink—”
“Don't worry, it's sparkling white grape juice.” Giggling, she sucks down her glass. “Mine, on the other hand, is not.” Resting the glass on the small table at my side, she gives herself a refill, and sets a bottle of champagne beside it.
I sip the juice, closing my eyes as the girl doing my makeup applies thick bronze eye-shadow. “Have you seen Phade?” I ask, my stomach tumbling with butterflies.
Today is the day. The first day of the rest of our lives. We're getting married. It's a small wedding, nothing huge. We really want to get married before the baby comes, so keeping it simple was the best plan.
My only request was to get married with my toes in the sand. The rest didn't matter, so long as Phade is by my side.
“I have, and no, I won't tell you how handsome he looks in his suit.” She lets out a breath, and I feel a rush of air wash across my face as she plops down in the chair beside me. “But I will tell you, the altar is gorgeous. Oh my God, Syl, it took my breath away, leaving me speechless.”
“That's a tough thing to do,” I say with a smile. “
You always have something to say.” I wink at her playfully, giving her another smile.
Claudia meets my eyes and tilts her head, thinning her lids. Sticking her tongue out at me, she laughs. “Yeah, you're one to talk.”
We both start laughing. I reach up to rub my eyes, and the woman slaps my hand away with annoyance. “Don't rub. We're done,” the woman says.
Smiling, I lean in closer to the mirror. “I love it.”
“Syl, you look beautiful.” Standing, she grabs my shoulders and leans over so our faces are side by side. “I hope he knows how lucky he is.” Hugging me gently, her eyes start to tear up. Shaking her head, she inhales a quick breath. “Now, enough of this.” Fanning her face, she dries her eyes. “Are you ready to go get married?”
Nodding, I'm trying so hard not to cry. It isn't working. The tears are coming and there's nothing I can do to stop it. My hands are at my face, flapping with the hopes I won't ruin my makeup.
Hormones from the pregnancy, and the gravity of marrying the man that owns my heart, is too overpowering. I can't win this battle.
Blinking, the bubbles over my eyes pop free, cascading down my cheeks. Passing me a tissue, Claudia takes one for herself. I dab my face, sniffling and doing my best to not rub my eyes.
Claudia holds out her hand, and I take it. Helping me to my feet, she passes me my bouquet. I freeze for an instant as I look at us in the mirror.
My dress is long, the fabric light and flowy around my ever growing belly. The lace bodice wraps my torso and down my arms, with a sparkling crystal belt that sits just above my stomach.
Pinning the veil in my hair, my stylist opens it up and pulls it around the front, letting the veil blanket me in frosty silk. There's a thin trail of flowers embroidered down the seam. The train of the veil opens on the floor, and the same flowers spill at the base like the seamstress had dropped the basket of flowers and left them there.
I feel beautiful.
Claudia's dress is a strapless green chiffon that stops at her calves. There are layers in the skirt, so the dress dances across her legs whenever she moves.
