Housekeeping

by Summer Cooper

  John’s shop was basically a converted garage that was attached to his house. He appeared to be the only person who ran his business. It was a nice little setup. It struck Kelly as being the type of environment she would expect to see John thrive in; he was a self-employed man who worked alone with his hands all day.

  “Hey, there. I haven’t heard from you lately,” Kelly said. She tried to keep her words from sounding too eager. She felt enough like a tool coming to meet him on his turf when she hadn’t heard from him in a week.

  “I’ve been kind of busy. My little brother’s in training again, so I got to help get his ass into shape.”

  “You work in his corner? So, you’re like his trainer?”

  “Something like that. I got to keep the boy focused. He tends to get distracted with partying too much. So I got to put my boot in his ass every now and then.”

  “I wanted to talk to you about the fight, actually.”

  “Oh, yeah? Your boy ain’t getting nervous now is he?”

  “No, he is training hard. I wanted to talk about us, actually. Aaron and I have gotten pretty close and he needs to stay focused, so if you could make sure and not tell him about us, then I would appreciate it.”

  “What? You think I would do something like that?” John smiled. His smile was wicked and sexy all at once. She found herself lusting after his sexy swagger. The way he carried himself was just so unapologetically masculine and dominant that she just couldn’t help but be overwhelmingly turned on by him.

  “This isn’t funny. He could get really hurt if he isn’t focused on this. Besides, do you want your brother to fight a man who is at a disadvantage? If his mind isn’t sharp then it’s going to be a lousy fight.”

  “My brother doesn’t need that kind of help. Your boy is at a disadvantage because he thinks he won that last fight and he thinks he is a better fighter than Jack. That is what’s going to get him hurt. He doesn’t need my help for that.”

  “Then you have nothing to gain by telling him. It would just hurt me,” Kelly said.

  John walked around behind her, getting close, and taking a big sniff of her hair. His breath on the back of her neck and his dominant position behind her sent small goosebumps up and down her back. She wanted him to rip her damn dress off and do her right there. The same thought was running through his mind also.

  He grabbed her hand and led her through the garage and into his house. Leading her through the kitchen and into the living room he threw her down on the couch. In an instant he had pulled her panties from her body, and pulled himself free from his pants.

  He rammed deep inside of her and their bodies began to sync up in perfect harmony.

  Kelly thought about Aaron and how much this might hurt him if he were to know about this. She was so confused. She knew that she should choose one or the other, but it was impossible to know which one to choose. Which one would make her happy? Did she even have a choice? John was not a man to be tied to any woman, but did that make her want him more? In the back of her mind was she secretly thinking about how many other women he was probably having casual liaisons with on a daily basis? She would have been stupid to think it was just her, but he was so damn good. The way he touched her and dominated her was what she needed sometimes. But she also needed a more tender touch like she had with Aaron and someone who respected her and listened to her. She saw a future with him, but the thing with John was like a drug that she lusted for daily. Once she had sampled it, she had to have more and more.

  She left John’s shop feeling both exhilarated and dirty. It was almost a blur and she found herself almost wondering what had just happened. She had gone there to ask the man a simple question, and had ended up naked on his couch. She needed a good hot shower, to wash away the dirt—both physical and emotional. She could feel patches of grease on her body and she found this somehow turned her on. The man was able to just at the drop of a hat have her submit to his every need.

  She didn’t know what to do. She wanted to stop this thing, but she knew that if she were in that situation again she would allow it to happen. A part of her needed it, but she couldn’t continue to have both. Could she?

  The night of the fight came faster than she anticipated and somehow she suddenly found herself at ringside watching the fight. Her friend Amy had decided to come along and surprisingly she had ditched her poor excuse for a boyfriend, so it was just a girl’s night out which they had not had in quite a while.

  She had waited through two other fights, before the main event, which was Aaron and Jack. She heard his entrance music, “The Sickness” by Disturbed blasting through the speakers and the crowd was suddenly on its feet. Aaron came into the ring and removed his robe. He looked great and the look on his face showed the kind of determination and raw aggression that Kelly had seen in him when they first met.

  Jack entered a few minutes later. John was trailing right behind him working his corner. John spotted her in the front row and smiled at her. She really hoped that he didn’t do anything stupid, but with that man you couldn’t tell.

  The fight started off with a bang. Jack ran right at Aaron releasing a flurry of kicks and punches. Aaron was ready for him and he easily side stepped it all. He went for a takedown tackling Jack’s legs and pulling him down. In an instant Jack was back on his feet. He grabbed Aaron in a clench and began to use knees and elbows to his ribs and chest. Aaron took a few hits, pushed Jack back releasing the clench. Then Aaron let loose a hard kick to Jack’s leg. Jack’s face clenched in pain as his leg buckled.

  Aaron seized the opportunity and tackled Jack again, this time gaining a half guard position on top of him. Jack struggled to get loose, but Aaron kept his position. From there he began to let loose on Jack, raining down punches upon him. Jack managed to block a few but some hard shots were getting through. There was blood spewing from Jack’s nose now and Aaron showed no signs of letting up on his attack.

  Jack struggled and managed to get a leg up across Aaron’s chest and he quickly went for the arm bar. He had it about halfway sunk in when Aaron stepped against Jack and twisted away from him pulling his arm out of danger. Jack tried to quickly get to his feet, but he no sooner stood on his feet then he caught a round house kick from Aaron right to the jaw.

  The blow was devastating and dropped Jack to the ground.

  “Go Aaron!” Kelly yelled.

  John turned and looked at her. His face was stone for a moment, but then he smirked at her and turned his attention back to the fight.

  Aaron leapt on Jack, pounding punch upon punch down upon him. Jack quickly turned his back, grabbing Aaron’s leg and pulling him off balance, offering relief from the onslaught of vicious blows pouring on Jack’s head and face.

  Aaron steadied himself and pulled his leg free. He instantly hit Jack hard on the shoulder blades, causing him to drop his guard from his face. Aaron wrapped him up, with both arms wrapped tightly around Jack’s neck, cutting off the air. He jerked and pulled harder, locking the rear naked choke tighter. Jack was in trouble. He was passing out. After a few seconds of being unresponsive the ref called the fight.

  Aaron had won.

  “Yes!” Kelly screamed. Amy gave her a hug and high five.

  Aaron stood in the ring victorious as crowds from both parties began to invade the ring and the announcers all clamored to interview the winner.

  Kelly smiled. She knew what her choice was.

  It had been clear all along.

  The End

  Part III

  Double Rebound

  Menage Romance

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jessie Holbrook looked down at the papers in her hand once more and hit the dial button on her phone. She finally had her freedom and it was time to celebrate. Her first call was to her best friend, Megan. They’d been waiting for this day for two longs years and it was finally here!

  “Hey, it’s me; give me a call when you get this. Big news! Love you, bye!” Jessie hated talking on the phone so
she was happy the voicemail on Megan’s phone picked up but she hated leaving messages just as much so she rushed through it.

  Putting her phone down she went to her closet, pulling out the dress wrapped in plastic that she’d been waiting to wear for over a year now. Her “I’m free” dress. A concoction of black silk that hugged every curve nicely and flared where it needed to. The dress looked simple enough but when Jessie put it on the dress made her feel beautiful, desirable, and confident, even if she was a little bigger in the waistline than some of her friends.

  Jessie looked in the mirror after a shower and applied makeup. Her blue eyes popped with the expert application of black mascara, her lips were a subtle, seductive, shade of light pink that made her full lips appear to be wet from her tongue, while her high cheekbones and straight thin nose were decorated only with a slight dollop of powder to keep her skin from shining. Jessie was naturally pretty; she didn’t need much to accentuate her looks. Besides, she found her confidence in her ability to hold a conversation, her intelligence, and the way she could make others laugh and enjoy themselves. She didn’t have to look like a painted trollop to attract attention.

  She did reconsider for a moment as she adjusted the bust-line of the very low top. A little cleavage didn’t hurt, though. And she had a lot of cleavage with her large breasts. Grinning at herself once more before putting on black heels and a lace shawl Jessie picked up her phone and read the message Megan sent her.

  “Be there at 8, bringing the girls. I’m so excited, tell me now!”

  “No, see you in a few then.” Jessie sent the response and couldn’t suppress the urge to wink at the phone. Tonight was going to be incredible!

  It was Friday night and Exotica, the club Jessie was meeting Megan at, was proof of it. She produced her license for the doorman, proving her age was 24, and walked into the busy club. People filled the club, some dancing under flashing colored lights; others were sitting at tables in dark corners, trying to get away with as much as they could. Then there was Megan and “the girls” as they called each other. Four other women, two blondes, a brunette, and one with purple hair, surrounded the petite black and pink streak-haired Megan.

  Jessie slid in to the booth, her long black hair a curtain hiding the intricate work of her lace shawl. She grinned at the ladies as they jumbled up to greet her, doing half-stands to kiss her cheek in greeting. They knew what was coming and Jessie could almost feel their excitement coming off of them in waves.

  “Well?” Megan finally demanded as Jessie just sat quietly, grinning at her closest friends. “Is it that day?”

  Jessie squealed but still didn’t answer. Instead she pulled the papers from her bag and set them before the waiting women. Megan snatched them up and read them out loudly over the din of other people and pulsing electronic music. The other ladies assembled, a mix of short and tall, thin and thick, listened to Megan with rapt attention until the end when they all cheered.

  “You’re free! Your divorce is final!” Another round of hugs and kisses started up then and Jessie felt a moment of tearful joy. These truly were caring women and they rejoiced in Jessie’s divorce because they knew the hell her now ex-husband had put her through to have it. From dragging his feet signing papers, to contesting how much money would be split between the pair, Michael had been a complete douchebag over the whole thing.

  Drinks were ordered and Cara and Seline pulled Jessie out to the dance floor for her first “free-woman” dance. Jessie laughed in joy, her hair falling down her back to her waist, and she danced seductively with her friends. She’d be lying if the movement of her friends against her body wasn’t even slightly tempting but Jessie was looking for partners of the male persuasion tonight. And she’d just spotted two over in a corner, their eyes on her as she danced.

  “Those men seem to be eyeing you, Jessie. Give them a wink.” Cara, a short, thin blonde whispered to Jessie, her teasing words making Jessie giggle.

  Jessie caught their eyes, smiled at them, and gave them an undeniable wink. Then the one towards the back, standing almost in the shadows stepped out into the light giving Jessie a wink back.

  “Oh my god, that’s my neighbor!” Jessie cried, rushing back to her seat. Embarrassment made her cheeks blaze, and Jessie hid behind her fall of hair, holding her mouth to smother her giggles.

  “Here, drink this.” Megan ordered Jessie, looking over at the men Jessie still couldn’t take her eyes from, and smiled. “Oh yes, they are a lovely pair of devils aren’t they?”

  “Indeed. That one on the left is my neighbor, Liam. The man is gorgeous! He moved in last month and I still haven’t worked up the nerve to say hello to him but spot him in a club and wink at him. I feel like such an idiot.” Jessie buried her head in her hands but then took a shot of her drink. No, she came to laugh, to play, and to have a good time. This simply wasn’t going to do. Not at all.

  She looked over at Megan to see her beckoning to the men. Jessie felt an urge to stop her friend but decided to be brave instead. Jessie sat up straighter, brushed her hair behind her shoulders, and waited with a smile on her face.

  “Good evening, ladies.” The men said in unison.

  Each of the women said hello back and Megan invited them to sit between her and Jessie. They refused but the tall one with a blindingly handsome smile that made Jessie’s knees weak asked her to dance. The dark headed one, the one with such piercing grey eyes, held his hand out.

  “Oh with both of you? Well, that should be novel.” Jessie replied, popping up out of her seat. This was a twist.

  Jessie moved out to the floor with the men, studying them as they walked to a spot less crowded with more room to move. The dark haired one was at least six foot tall; Jessie was only five and a half feet and the man stood well over her head. His face was chiseled, familiar somehow, but she became distracted by the dark shadow of beard on his face and stopped trying to remember which actor he reminded her of. And the other one, the one moving up behind her, his hands going to her waist, he reminded her of statues of Adonis. The man had those sleepy bedroom eyes that made women go all gooey inside, with a muscular body. The one behind her had a lean waist, with a strong face that beckoned fingers to slide over his cheek into his dirty-blonde hair. Jessie’s pulse kicked up as the one in front moved up to her, his hands around her hips, pulling her close.

  Jessie forgot to breathe as the man in front leaned down, his eyes on her lips, but his lips kept moving past her mouth, barely brushing against hers, to whisper into her ear.

  “I’m Jax, the man behind you is Liam. What’s your name pretty lady?” Jax moved her with the beat of the music but Jessie didn’t notice, she was too busy resting back against the hard body of the man behind her as Jax moved enough to stare down into her eyes.

  “What?” She asked, her train of thought on his eyes and lips, not what he’d asked her. “Oh, it’s Jessie, my name is Jessie.”

  “Nice to meet you Jessie.” Jax replied, before pulling her closer. His hands on her hips guided her movements, a slight pressure at her shoulders from Liam guiding the top of her body. They were dancing on one of the darker parts of the floor and Jax and Liam must have felt free to do as they pleased in that semi-darkness.

  Jessie, lost in the moment of her freedom and being so close to these two strangers, gave herself up to their attentions. She felt fingers brushing her breasts, a hand gripping at her ass as her hips were pulled into Jax’s, and the pull of Liam’s lips as her neck was grazed in the slightest of kisses. Their movements were sensual, erotic, and hidden from view.

  Jessie had started off her night telling herself she wasn’t a trollop, and for a moment anxiety rang through her body. She’d not been with anyone but Michael in her entire life yet here she was, all but having sex on the dance floor. She stumbled for a moment and looked at Jax. Something about him drew her in, some animal magnetism that she couldn’t define and she knew if he asked her to strip here and now she would.

  That thought was li
ke a cold splash of water and Jessie stumbled away, pleading the need for the bathroom to disentangle herself from the men. Jessie had never felt anything so strongly, not even in the early days of her relationship with her ex-husband. In the bathroom Jessie splashed her face with cold water before toweling herself dry. She looked into the mirror, into her own eyes, wondering what exactly had happened.

  She pulled her hand up to brush her hair out of her face and caught Jax’s scent on her hand. Pulling the other one up, she smelled Liam. Her knees actually wobbled for a moment and she grabbed the sink to stay up. Her body already craved the men, their scent made that craving worse. What was it about a man’s scent, especially if mingled with a very nice cologne, that brought us to our knees, she wondered. Jessie looked at herself, unsure of what to do.

  Be a big girl, something told her. Do what you like now, what you want to do. You’re free, it’s your night, do exactly as you like. Jessie squared her shoulders once more and decided to do just that.

  Jessie spotted the men at the bar and waved at her friends with a confident smile as she walked past them. She signaled to ask if any of them wanted a drink and counted as hands raised. She walked up to the bar and settled between the men.

  “What are you having, lovely?” The bartender asked his hands on the bar as he watched her.

  Jessie ordered the drinks and turned around as the bartender walked away to make the drinks.

  “What are you doing later, Jessie?” Jax asked, putting his drink up to his lips, his very kissable lips, Jessie noted.

  “I’m not exactly sure yet.” She offered with a twinkle in her eye.

  “I could drive you home, later.” Liam offered, holding up a drink that looked like soda. You’re my neighbor right? I’m heading your way.”

  Liam spoke with a jocular tone, as if he knew the old come-on was corny and was laughing at himself for using it. I liked that he didn’t take himself so seriously.