“Like what? Hey kid, I’m fuckin’ drownin’ here. The kids are screwed and you could be unemployed soon.”
“I dunno. Maybe I could’ve helped.”
“You’ve known me long enough to know that I don’t involve others in my problems.”
“So, I’m just an ‘other’ to you?” I shoot up from my seat. Hearing him say that hurts. It hurts more than I ever thought it would. For years now, I’ve considered Frankie my father; I’ve looked up to him, respected him, and loved him. Yeah, at times we’ve butted heads, but he’s the only steady male role model I’ve ever had.
Frankie takes off his glasses and rubs eyes. “That’s not what I meant, kid.”
“No? Then, what exactly did you mean, Frankie?” I start to pace back and forth in his tiny office. “I’ve been with you since I was fifteen fuckin’ years old, and you can’t even give me the common courtesy of sharing somethin’ as life changing as losin’ the gym?! Yet, you can run to Blaine and ask him for help?”
He slams both hands down on the desk. “Actually, no, Gabriel!”
I jump, his anger taking me by surprise.
“It’s the exact opposite of what you think. I didn’t want to involve you because I didn’t want you to worry. I wanted to protect you. You’ve had enough on your plate. You don’t think I realize how much stress you’ve been under between your brother, Salem, and the accident?! I thought this may push you over the edge, and that you’d decide to leave altogether.”
I sit back down in my chair because, at this point, he’s left me speechless. I mull over what he’s said before responding, “Leave? Where would I go, Frankie?”
“I dunno, that new fancy gym I forced you to work at?” his voice is laced with sarcasm. “I pushed you to go to Blaine’s because I knew you’d be okay there. I know that if I did lose the gym, you’d have a steady income comin’ in and that you’d be fine. What you don’t realize, Gabriel, is that every decision I’ve made since the day you walked into my life, has been for you. I wanted to have somethin’ to pass down to you.” Frankie pauses and his eyes begin to glisten, “I didn’t want you to be disappointed in me, like you are with your real father.” His voice cracks at his last few words.
I swallow hard, trying to find the right words to say. “Frankie, takin’ me in when you did… you saved me. Saved me from becoming…” a single tear rolls down my cheek, “Jase.”
“I don’t think for a minute you would’ve ended up that way, Gabriel. You’re a born fighter.” He chuckles, “Hell, you still fight me. Look at us now, fighting. Not many men have the balls to stand up to me. You, you’re different. We’re cut from the same cloth, fighters through and through.” Frankie sits back down behind his desk. “I want you to know that I tried like hell to make you mine.”
I look at him, confused.
Clearing his throat, he explains, “Up until the day before your eighteenth birthday, a few times a year, I’d go to the jail. I’d ask to speak with your father and present him papers.”
“Papers?”
“Yes, adoption papers. I had everything drawn up, all the documents he’d need to sign to give me the right to adopt you. The first couple of times, he listened to my plea, but after a while, he refused to even see me. And once you became an adult, I figured there was no need to keep fightin’.”
I’m stunned. “I’m sorry, you did what?”
“I apologize if I overstepped my bounds, Gabriel. In my eyes, you’ve always been my son, but the courts didn’t see it that way without his approval. You are my son in all the ways that count, and I wanted you to carry my name.”
Closing my eyes and shaking my head, I snarl through clenched teeth, “That son of a bitch! Even behind bars he still needed to control me.”
“I tried like hell, Gabriel, I even tried payin’ him off. But, money meant nothin’ to him since he was behind bars. He wanted me to use my connections to shorten his sentence and that wasn’t somethin’ I was willing to do. I didn’t want to take the risk of him getting out and tryin’ to get you back.”
“Why haven’t you ever told me this before?”
“Well, you and me, we don’t go sharin’ our feelings around, do we? So, as you can imagine, it’s not easy for me to tell you this even now. Especially, the last part of it. I’ve always felt like I’ve failed you, Gabriel.”
“Failed me? How do you figure? You taught me how to be a man; one who might actually be worth somethin’.” I realize this to be true just as I say the words. I’m not my past, I’m not my parents’ shitty choices, and I’m definitely NOT my fuckin’ father! Maybe I do deserve some fuckin’ fantastic in my life…
“Like any other parent, I wanted better for you than what I have. And look at me,” he picks up a stack of papers, “I couldn’t even keep my own gym afloat.”
“How are you doin’ it now?” I need to know so that I can help if he still needs it.
“I have some investors helpin’ me.”
“Investors?”
“Yes. After everything happened between you, Blaine, and Salem, he pulled out. And don’t think I don’t know that you went over to his place and threatened him. I’m kinda insulted that you didn’t invite me to join in on that one,” he gives me a lopsided grin. “But, I actually have to thank Blaine.”
“Thank him?”
“Easy now, let me finish before you go jumpin’ to conclusions.” Frankie continues on with his story, “After his announcement at the party, several people contacted me about the program. They wanted more information about it, and it just so happens they’re interested in donating and investing some of their money in us.”
“Really?!” I reply, my excitement clearly showing through in my voice.
“Yeah. So, you’re gonna see some improvements around here.” He picks up a book and tosses it at me, “Startin’ with new equipment and a new ring.”
Absently flipping through the pages, it finally registers that it’s a commercial sporting equipment catalog. I look over at Frankie excitedly. “Are you shittin’ me?!”
He laughs, “No, I’m not shittin’ you, and I want you to help me pick everything out.”
Happiness radiates through me. This’ll be like the Christmases I never had! “I’d be honored, Frankie.”
“Great! Now that we’ve got all the shit cleared up, here’s the second part of why I wanted to talk to you. I got a call late last night about a fight. It’s a big one, kid.”
“Sign me up,” I respond without hesitation.
“You’d need to be ready in a month.”
“A month?” My heart sinks; it typically takes me at least four to five months to prepare for a fight.
“We can do it. It’s gonna be grueling, but it can be done. Besides, it hasn’t been all that long since you backed out of that last fight and stopped trainin’.”
“Then, that’s all I need to hear. If you say I can do it, then let’s do it!” I nod confidently at him.
Salem picks me up promptly at seven-thirty. She smiles happily as I get into the car. “Hey baby, how was your day?”
“Weird.”
“Weird? Weird, how?”
I rub the back of my neck. “Well, the morning started with Frankie and me gettin’ into it.”
She shakes her head. “Can’t you two ever get along?”
“Well, it’s not what you think.” I then explain everything that had happened between Frankie and me this morning.
Salem clutches her chest. “Gabriel, that’s one of the sweetest things I’ve ever heard,” she cries.
“Don’t go and get all weepy on me, Say. I’ve done enough cryin’ lately.”
She sniffles, regaining her composure. “Okay, you’re right.”
“I’ve got some more news.”
“More?” Her eyes widen in excitement.
“Frankie’s signin’ me to a new fight.”
“Really?!”
“Yeah, it’s next month.”
“Next month?” She looks
worried, knowing that’s typically not enough prep time. “You know I believe in you, but is that even possible?”
“According to Frankie, it is. He said it’s gonna be grueling, but he thinks it can be done.”
“And you trust what he says?”
“I trust him with my life, Say.”
“I know you do, so I will, too.” Reaching across the center console, she rubs my thigh reassuringly.
“Can you go a little higher?” Laughing, I raise my hips.
“Gabriel…” she exhales.
Journeyman – A journeyman is a boxer with good boxing skills who strives to succeed but who has limitations and little or no expectations of winning a fight. Journeymen are often hired on short notice to fight up-and-coming prospects and contenders to pad their records.
“Keep your hands up and your elbows down, Gabriel!” Frankie yells from my corner of the ring. “’The Destroyer’ is a Peek-a-Boo fighter!”
There are several different types of fighters in the world of boxing. Peek-a-Boo fighting was introduced by trainer, Cus D’Amato, and made famous by Mike Tyson. This type of fighter has quick reflexes and rapid-fire combinations, along with the ability to duck, bob, and weave expertly; all while protecting his face with his fists at nose-eye level. His opponents need to keep their gloves high to cover and block the majority of their own faces. If a Peek-a-Boo fighter gets the chance to give you a powerful hook or uppercut, you’re all done.
“He’s gonna be all over you, kid, and if he lands an uppercut you’re gonna go down.” Frankie’s now pacing the outside of the ring.
I turn and nod at Frankie, breathless and exhausted. My arms feel like they’re made of lead and my legs feel rubbery, like they could give out at any moment. I take a seat in my corner. Jimmy and I have been going at it for almost three hours. “Come on, Saint, keep it up. Just a little while longer,” Jimmy encourages me.
Salem squirts some water in my mouth and I can see the worry on her face. She’s been watching me train over the past couple of weeks. The first few times, she actually had to leave; she said she couldn’t bear to watch Jimmy and I beat each other up. Ever since then, Steph has been coming along and keeping her company. She’s been helping to ease Salem’s mind about things by filling her in on the rules and different types of moves. And if things do get too heated for her, they go and grab a cup of coffee.
“I’m okay, Say,” I manage to get out between pants.
She places a cold towel over my shoulders and wipes my chest and back down. Frankie rings the bell as a signal for me to get my ass back out in the ring.
“I love you,” she murmurs and gives me a light peck on the cheek.
“I know,” I answer with a cocky smirk and a wink.
“Wise guy,” she mutters, smiling back at me as she pops my mouth guard back in for me.
I watch as she climbs through the ropes. Instant boner. Fuck, her ass is so fine. I spit my mouth piece back out, “Hey!” Salem turns. “I’m gonna give you a workout when we get home.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” she purrs as she rubs her hands over my sweaty chest.
Oh, fuck me now.
“Gabriel, you can have sex later! Get your ass back in the middle of the ring!” Frankie yells, pulling my attention back to training.
Both Salem and I begin to laugh and I mouth “I love you” to her. Turning around, I holler, “Let’s do this!” as I clap my gloves together.
We’ve finished training for today, and everyone has gone but Salem and I. She’s in Frankie’s office doing homework and I’m getting ready to hit the showers. Frankie wasn’t kidding when he said this was gonna be tough. But I feel like I’m ready for this fight, and with Salem by my side, it only makes me realize how much more I want to win. I want to prove to her that I’m worthy of her, that she’s dating a champion.
“What are you thinking about?”
Her soft voice startles me. “Nothin’ really.”
“It was something. You were so deep in thought that you didn’t hear me come in.”
I look up at her. “I was thinkin’ about you.”
Curious, she tilts her head. “What about me?”
I shrug my shoulders, almost embarrassed to tell her what I was really thinking about.
She takes a seat on my lap. “What is it, Gabriel? You know you can tell me anything.”
I gaze up at the ceiling. “This fight.”
“What about it?”
“I have a good feeling about it.”
“That’s good,” she says happily. “But, how is that about me?”
I choke back my nerves. “I wanna win it for you, Say. To prove to you that I’m a champion, and that I’m good enough for you.”
She puts her small hands on my cheeks as her eyes search my face. “How many times do I have to tell you that I don’t need a champion, Gabriel?”
“But, your family…”
“Haven’t you figured out that I no longer give a shit about what my mother thinks? Or anyone else, for that matter. I love you, all of you, exactly as you are.” She leans forward and her lips softly meet mine, then she slides off my lap and stands up. “I wanna go home.”
I laugh, “Lemme just shower first. I’m all sweaty and smelly.”
“I like you all sweaty,” she teases with a playful gleam in her eye.
I stand with her. “I like when you get me all sweaty.” I stalk her until her back is flush against the lockers. She looks to either side of her and confirms she’s trapped. My hands wander up and down her curvaceous body, and her breathing begins to quicken as I press my body against hers. Nipping her bottom lip with my teeth, I groan, “I’m gonna go shower.”
I leave her breathless and horny up against the lockers. I quickly rinse the stench of sweat off my body. My cock is stiff and my balls are aching at the thought of her being just a few steps away. With one hand up against the wall, my other hand falls between my legs. My body jerks when I grasp my cock. I have so much pent-up tension, giving myself release will help later on when I’m with Salem. I don’t wanna be a one pump chump when I finally find myself between her legs. I begin thinking in detail of her pussy. Christ, it’s perfect. My mind races as I think of her standing in front of me naked. I can clearly imagine her beautiful, pink lips and the delicious slit that guards that magical world between her legs. I swear it’s laced with crack or something, because I find myself needing it more and more.
I begin to move my hand faster up and down my length and my body tenses. My eyes open when I feel a hand cover mine; Salem has joined me. She’s wet, naked, and helping me jerk off.
“Salem?” Quickly, I drop my hand as my cheeks redden.
“Don’t stop,” she orders as her eyes devour my cock. “I want to watch you.”
Gabriel walks away leaving Salem all hot and bothered. Just his kiss alone gets her insides all tingly and twisted. Then there’s the way he looks after sparring; his muscles are swollen, his entire body is glistening with sweat, and the eagerness in his eyes when he looks at her. She lets out a deep, ragged sigh and fans herself as she begins to overheat from her thoughts.
Trying to shake the feeling she always gets between her legs because of him, she starts picking up all of the gear he’s left scattered on the locker room floor. Shaking her head, she smiles and talks to herself out loud as she gathers his gloves, headgear, and wraps. “No wonder Frankie gets pissed off. He’s a damn slob.”
She suddenly hears a groan coming from the shower and a wave of heat rushes through her at the sexy sound. Curiously, she tiptoes over to the doorway and peeks around the corner. She sees Gabriel with one hand on his penis, while the other is against the tiled wall. Quickly, she turns away, embarrassed by what she sees. Salem is not naïve. She’s fully aware that both men and women masturbate. And, she’s quite certain that during the time she and Gabriel had taken a break from sex, after the attack, there’d been many nights he’d taken matters into his own hands. She honestly couldn’t blam
e him. He’d been so patient with her, and there were many nights that she, too, wanted to go further, but something always stopped her.
Intrigued, she turns her attention back to Gabriel, who’s completely unaware that she’s standing there watching him. Her eyes hone in on his sculpted body and her heart rate quickens. That tingling feeling is back, sending volts to both her nipples and core.
Unconsciously, she kicks her shoes off, then removes her pants and top. Lastly, her bra and panties fall to the ground. With every step she takes toward him, her heart beats faster. Watching him is taking her somewhere she’s never been before; she feels dirty, yet turned on, at the same time.
He lets out another breath, and this time, he says her name. The butterflies in her stomach are aflutter as desire floods her. He’s thinking about me. Silently, she creeps around him. He’s completely in his own world, not even feeling her closeness to him.
She stands under the water, watching as his hand moves up and down his length. His beautiful, hard cock is gliding so gracefully through his soapy hand. Arousal shoots through her body, and she can’t fight it anymore. Giving in to her urges, she covers his hand with hers as he’s stroking himself. The tips of her nipples grow tight and tingly. God, I need him filling me.
“Salem?” Gabriel’s voice is hoarse, catching her off guard, and he immediately releases his cock.
“Don’t stop,” Salem orders as her eyes devour his groin. “I want to watch you.” Her hand gently leads his back to his throbbing shaft. Gabriel’s eye skirt away and his cheeks are flushed. “It’s turning me on, Gabriel. Please, keep going?”
His eyes return to hers and she removes her hand from his, slowly bringing it between her own legs. Her fingers press against her entrance. “Oh God, Say,” Gabriel’s voice is deep and primal.
She lets out a moan as her fingers enter inside and her thumb dances over her clit. “Do it for me,” Salem tells him in a low, throaty voice, as she stares into Gabriel’s burning eyes. She moans as her fingers go knuckles deep and her pleasure is evident on her face.
Gabriel’s hand returns to his thick cock and he resumes stroking himself. They stare into each other’s eyes, neither of them needing to look below the waist, as they both know that they’re pleasuring themselves for one another. His skillful mouth finds its way to Salem’s neck, and she feels his teeth gently nip her skin, slowly tormenting her. A chill runs through her and her head is spinning. Stepping back, she loses her footing and her back arches as it hits the cold tiles. She tugs gently on Gabriel’s wet hair while her mouth gently teases his earlobe.
Going the Distance Page 29
