Unexpected Forfeit

by Sapphire Knight

  CHYNA

  He kissed me again. It’s all I can think about over and over, the tender feeling of his lips and the sweet taste of his minty gum. He has an absolutely perfect smile, too. It’s usually sort of crooked and he has really white teeth. Sometimes if he thinks I’m being silly or amusing his nose will crinkle a little when he smiles and I just want to pinch it.

  “Hey! You zoned out again.” I blink and see Vivid waving her hands in front of my face. “Do you have like a soundtrack or something always playing in your head? You’re the only person I know who does that so much.”

  “Oh Lord no, Vivid velvet lux, I don’t have a soundtrack!” I give her a crazy look. “You always act like I have a marble loose or something. Clearly, I am perfect on all accounts.” I stick my nose in the air and she starts giggling.

  “You are so freaking weird sometimes, Chyna. And now you’re giving me new nicknames?”

  “Yes, I’ve come to the conclusion that if you are going to make your stripper dream come true, then you need as much inspiration as possible. I mean, how else are you going to come up with your dance routines?” I question her seriously.

  I love to give her shit about her name. I do it every single time we work together. It’s kind of our thing. She always acts offended but I know I’m really her favorite person to work with.

  “Whatever, you better quit that or else I’m going to send you back to work with dorky Donald.”

  “Hey! There you just made up your own name for Donald. I’m rubbing off on you, you should be flattered. I don’t usually do a lot of rubbing on people.” She rolls her eyes at me and I smirk.

  “Speaking of rubbing on, how was your trip? Did you rub on any hot guys down there?”

  “Not really. Gavin’s friend, Jace, went though. Okay so, I’m totally lying to you right now. His sexy ass kissed me a few times, and I rubbed up on him a little. I didn’t do the serious rubbing with him though.”

  “Oh my God! You actually have something juicy to tell me for once!”

  “For once? I’m not a boring person thank you!”

  “You are such a boring person, Chyna. The only thing you talk about are those fights you go to. Which if I’m not mistaken Gavin’s friend, Jace, is really the Jace “King” Kash, am I right?” I try to hide my smile from her but fail.

  “Yes that’s him, okay.” I smile even wider. I can’t help it, thinking of him makes my tummy spin, and it always has.

  “Did you go all fangirl on him like you talk about? I can’t believe you didn’t do any serious rubbing! All you talk about after those fights is if you could, how you would. Are you at least going to see him again?”

  “Woah, slow down and take a breath woman. I actually just saw him right before I came to work. I was leaving the gym. I was bent over tying my shoelace and poof he was right behind me. He was working out at the MMA gym he likes. He walked me to my car and kissed me again.”

  “He just kissed you right before work and you’re barely spilling to me now? You seriously need to get your priorities straight. This type of information you’re supposed to tell me as soon as you get to work.” I giggle at her dramatics and roll my eyes. “I may have to fire you for this, Chyna.”

  “Ha, yeah right, then you would have to stand up here and draw all alone. You know you can’t live without seeing my face a few times a week.”

  “Oh wow, riiiiiight. What on earth will I ever do without seeing your face?” She laughs.

  “Chyna, this means you’re dating like… a celebrity!”

  “He’s not a celebrity, he’s a fighter. It’s way different.”

  “That’s what you think, hun.”

  The door chimes as a new customer walks in. Vivid and I freeze when we see who comes through the door. I stare straight at him.

  Jace must feel it, because he turns right towards me and walks our way. Vivid is standing beside me speechless. I guess she’s never experienced the Jace effect. I experienced it the first time I met him, too. You know where you just stand there staring, hoping you aren’t actually drooling, because that would be just plain mortifying.

  “Hey, Kiki,” he murmurs and his voice washes over me, giving me tingles. I feel it deep in the pit of my stomach. I think my ovaries just high-fived each other. I shudder a little then put a smile on my face. If anything, I want him to know I’m happy to see him.

  “Hey, Jace. I wasn’t sure if you would actually show up.”

  He leans his arms on my little hostess podium, slouching and licks his lips. “Of course I’m here, Chyna. I told you I want a date, and I don’t give up easily when I want something.”

  I hear a throat clear and turn toward Vivid. She looks like she might jump up and down, she’s so excited. “Umm excuse me, but Chyna hun, why don’t y’all go sit at a table. It’s your break time, anyhow.” She’s such a damn liar. I don’t get many breaks because I only work like four hour long shifts. If I work any longer, I might take a ten-minute break or something. She gestures sideways with her head and mouths Kiki? “Go!”

  “Okay Vivid, thanks for my break.” I make a silly face at her. “Come on, Jace. Let me get a Dr. Pepper then we’ll talk. Do you want something to drink?” I ask and walk him toward a small table off to the corner of the dining room.

  “Yeah sure, water with a lemon please.”

  I head to the server station, topping off a glass with a Dr. Pepper and no ice for me, along with Jace’s water. When I return, I set my glass down opposite Jace and then set his glass right in front of him.

  “Thanks. You don’t want to sit next to me?” He gestures to my cup and I smirk.

  Sliding into the chair across from him, I shake my head. “No, I want to be able to see you.”

  “I’m so gorgeous, you just can’t resist? That’s understandable, I guess.” He shrugs like it’s the answer he expected and I can’t help myself; I have to laugh at him.

  “I wouldn’t go that far. For all you know, you could smell. You did just go to the gym.”

  “Bull, I smell awesome. You know how I know?”

  “Hmmm?” I raise my eyebrows.

  “I know you love how I smell, because when I was walking behind you, I could smell my body wash. I thought it was me, until you set my drink down and you got really close.” He finishes flashing me a grin, dimples on full display.

  Biting the inside of my cheeks, I feel my cheeks flame. I can’t believe he could smell that! The other night when I stopped for some groceries, I just couldn’t help myself, I had to get a bottle of his body wash. I haven’t been able to resist using it every day in the shower. It’s not as moisturizing as my other stuff, but I’ve felt like I’ve gotten to smell him every day since our trip.

  “So we wear the same body wash, no biggie.”

  “Chyna.” He cocks an eyebrow and I chuckle.

  “It’s men’s Old Spice. When we went to Corpus I saw yours in the shower. Admit it, you love how I smell and you bought it so you could remember me.”

  “Cocky much? I liked how it smelled so I bought a bottle, sue me.”

  “I knew it, you did buy a bottle! I was just guessing, but you actually admitted it.” He laughs and I glare at him in return. The ass has sneaky tactics, and I completely just fell for them.

  “Well then, you should be flattered; you’ve converted my shower gel preference.”

  “Oh Kiki, you have no idea just how flattered I am. But baby, if you want to smell me, next time just come find me. I’ll be happy to let you close enough to satisfy your craving.”

  I swallow down a big gulp of Dr. Pepper, attempting not to choke on it. This guy is good. I’m nowhere near prepared for his level of flirting. I roll my eyes and go for a subject change.

  “So, do you have another fight this weekend?”

  “No, I’m on strict training for four more weeks. I have my big fight in Vegas right after that.”

  “I can’t wait until you fight Judas.”

  “The Tank? Really, why?”


  “Because, Judas ‘The Tank’ goes all crazy inside the cage. I think his crazy and your super calmness will be explosive!”

  “You sound like the fight promoters,” he grumbles, taking a drink of water.

  “Is that bad? I mean, it’s true. You’re amazing; you must know how talented you are.”

  “I wouldn’t go as far as amazing. But I do all right, thanks.”

  “Why do you fight anyway?”

  “That’s a much deeper conversation, for another time and place. I’m not here to talk about me, but to whisk you out sometime.”

  “Whisk me away? Like sweep me off of my feet, kind of whisk?”

  “I don’t know, Kiki. Is that on the table? Would you let me keep you if I wanted?”

  “Those are some pretty dangerous questions, Jace. Let’s just start with one date. For all you know, your body wash may be your best asset, then I won’t have to worry about any whisking going on.”

  He chuckles, shaking his head briefly. “All right, Kiki, how about I take you out tomorrow?”

  I tap my fingers on the table, making him wait a few seconds. “Tomorrow will work for lunch.”

  His eyes widen and he sits up. “No lunch, we can do dinner or something else.”

  “What’s wrong with lunch?” I inquire, confused Poor guy looks spooked over the thought of a sandwich.

  “Dudes get friend zoned that way, and trust me when I say my intentions with your body are not friend related.”

  I burst out laughing. Thank God I had swallowed down my drink or he may have been wearing it after I hear his ridiculous answer.

  “Oh Lord! Jace, you are far from a friend in my thoughts as well. Dinner… I will make it work, okay?”

  “Sounds perfect.” He grins, flashing me his gorgeous set of dimples.

  Once Jace leaves, Vivid of course rushes over to me straight away, digging for information. She’s such a nosey, sweet friend.

  “Hey, hooker breath.”

  “Chyna, for all you know I could be someone’s sweet momma.”

  “Are you?”

  “Nope.”

  “Hahahaha! I knew it.”

  “Dish, sweet pea; give me the good stuff.”

  “So he may have asked me out. I kind of agreed, and I’m pretty sure he called me beautiful at one point.”

  “Ah, Chyna, this is fantastic news! He is so hot, Lord! Did you see the booty on that man?”

  “I’ve seen it when he fights and when we went swimming. I swear you could bounce a quarter off that thing.”

  “I’m so excited for you! You have to tell me everything when you come to work, and if things get heated, bite that butt!”

  “Oh my God, Vivid!”

  “What?” She shrugs, acting innocent and I shake my head at her.

  The door opens, letting in a burst of warm air as a group of new customers enter for dinner. Guess it’s time to go back to work.

  the next evening…

  Chicks like bowling right? Or should I do something else? I normally just take them out to dinner, but I’m trying to do something different with Chyna. She’s quirky and fun, so I know dinner would be enjoyable, but I want her to realize I at least put some kind of thought into it. Let’s see, I know she likes to swim, she works at a restaurant as a hostess and she likes junk food. Not the greatest selection of facts. I really need to find out more about her.

  Wait, she said she wanted to take some MMA classes. That could be fun, but would it be too cliché for me to bring her into the cage?

  I think I figured it out, what to do with her. I’ll take her to Desserts, and after that, if she would like to learn, I’ll stop over at the gym.

  Pulling out my phone, I bring up her number in a new message.

  Me: Bring comfortable clothes with you tonight.

  Chyna: Oh, what are we doing?

  Me: It’s a surprise!

  Chyna: Okay

  Me: See you at 6?

  Chyna: Sounds perfect.

  Me: XXX

  Chyna: OOO

  Huh, cute. No one’s’s ever responded like that. Usually it’s the same as me or both xoxox. Seriously? I’m acting like a chick, getting excited over a text.

  I need to get dressed. I have no idea what to wear that is good for the dessert place and then the gym after. I think I’ll just go with a black polo shirt and my camouflage cargo shorts. They’re my favorite non-basketball shorts or MMA gear that I own.

  I dig through my closet until I find exactly what I need and head to the shower. I climb under the hot spray, washing my hair. As I pour my shower gel on my loofah, I can’t help but think of Chyna now. The scent hits me and I rub the sponge directly over my dick, applying a little bit more pressure with each stroke. The soapy liquid helps the loofah slide up and down over me easily and before long, I’m dropping it all together to grasp my cock tightly.

  I can’t help but to picture her smooth back, missing her bikini top when I was spreading lotion all over it. I pump my dick a few times and get rewarded with shocks of pleasure running all the way down to the arches of my feet.

  Fuck, that feels so good. God, I know she would feel even better wrapped around me. Her sweet little cunt, pulling every drop from me as I fill her up.

  I lean against the smooth, tiled wall, the hot spray cascading over each hard ridge of my muscles. Flexing my fingers I give my thickness a good squeeze, curling my toes at the amazing zings I’m rewarded with.

  “Fuck.”

  I squeeze again, feeling on the verge of spilling myself everywhere. Closing my eyes tightly, I remember how soft her thighs felt as I rubbed sunblock between them. Fuck. I was inches… just a few damn inches away from touching her pussy lips.

  That does it, imagining myself grazing her lips with my fingertips as I rubbed her thighs, causes me to erupt.

  “Fuuuck, Chyna.” I croon loudly to the empty bathroom, as I expel every last drop.

  Catching my breath, I finish washing my body. I eventually make my way to the bedroom, drying off along the way. Once I’m dressed, I place a small amount of product in my hair and then layer on the deodorant. Being in Texas, we need a lot of it. I lightly spray on some Calvin Klein cologne, and then I slip into my shoes.

  Grabbing my pre-ready gym bag, I head to the Jeep, loading up and making my way to Chyna’s apartment. She doesn’t live too far away from me, only about twenty minutes or so.

  It takes a little longer than it should because I decide to stop off and get her some flowers. I pick out some pink and white lilies. I hope she likes them. I feel like I’m going on my first date, and it has me a little jittery inside. I don’t know why. I spent the whole weekend with her when we went out of town. Hell, I even slept in the same room, yet here I am feeling young and nervous again.

  The last person I bought flowers for was my mother; it was the last time I went to visit her. She got pissed and told me that next time to just bring her the money or some pills instead.

  I guess the big difference is that I never really went through any of this. Growing up, I was always out running with the gang I hung around. You didn’t take chicks on dates back then. They fucked you based on your status in the ranks. I fought more than the others, so the girls came at me left and right.

  I had a girlfriend for a short time, then I caught her with my older brother, and that shit stopped immediately. She ended up getting her ass beat by a bunch of my boys’ chicks. None of them had any sense of boundaries, always quick to jump on anyone’s scraps.

  My life was such a train wreck back then. My brother had me believing it was okay to rip people off or to go in stores and steal as much as we possibly could. I was always getting in trouble at school.

  I finally blew it my ninth grade year.

  ***

  I was walking through the plain grey hallway one day. The school I went to was fairly large with what we called four ‘wings.’ Each wing had certain classes down it, and in the middle was a courtyard outside.

  If you had ti
me before your class, it was cool to walk the hallways with a bunch of your friends, basically checking out chicks and stirring up shit with people. It was like a routine. We went for our walk before classes. At lunch we were stuck out in the courtyard, and at the end of the day, we all met at the same lockers.

  It was my day that day. I was all hyped up, surrounded by a few of my boys as we walked the halls. I can’t really remember but I was probably on something or coming down off some sort of drug from the night before. A few of my boys kept saying different people were running their mouths and we wanted to see if anyone would have the guts to say anything to our face.

  We were strolling through the first wing and I saw a dude I hadn’t gotten along with in middle school standing at his locker. I couldn’t even remember his name, that’s how unimportant he was and just how stupid I was, at letting others mess with my emotions back then.

  Naturally, I buffed my muscles up, attempting to look mean, glaring at the kid. I shoulder checked him as I passed by, but he didn’t do anything, just flew into his locker with the impact. I laughed with my friends and kept walking. I remember thinking he was just an ant I would happily step on.

  On our next pass through of the first wing, he decided to get brave and run his mouth. I wasn’t about to get embarrassed in front of my friends by some jackoff, so I talked a load of shit back to him as people started to crowd around and watch.

  I got right up to him in his face, looking down on him, as he was about two inches shorter than me.

  He taunted me some about my gang, and then thought it would be cute saying “hit me!” He clearly thought it wouldn’t happen, like I would let him taunt me and not rectify his actions.

  When the words left his mouth, I nodded. Instantly I agreed, and answered with an “Okay!” His eyes grew wide and then I slammed my fist into his face.

  I got him a few good times against his locker, and then somehow we both ended up in the middle of the hallway. I remember holding onto his head and smashing it against the wall, trying to do as much damage as possible. At one point we fell to the ground. He got me good one time by poking me in my eye as his arms were flailing.