“Come on, man. I can tell. I know for a fact you have more skill at fighting than you just showed. So let me warn you. Don’t waste any more fucking time with this asshole. We got to get up early as fuck, and I’m tired as shit.”
I laughed and checked the taping job he did before he helped me with my gloves. “Don’t worry. I’m done playing games.”
“Good.”
When I turned and entered the ring, so did Lawrence.
Our RDC said to us both, “Gentlemen, I won’t stress to you the importance of this moment. You get three minutes to get all this frustration out on each other, so the animosity will die here. You guys need to learn to work together, regardless of how you feel about one another. So let’s go on and get this over with. Three minutes will start at the bell.”
“This better not take three minutes,” Alex said in disgust.
I laughed for the first time since I got there, saying, “Don’t worry. It won’t take that long.” I looked at Lawrence and smiled, “This will only take about thirty seconds.”
Lawrence smiled at me, not knowing what was about to be unleashed on his ass. Someone rang the bell, and we started dancing around the ring. I watched him intently, wondering when he was going to make his move. I watched his eyes calculate how he was going to attack me. I knew what he was going to do before he even decided to make a move. I’ve been trained since I was young to predict my opponent’s movements. I waited—giving him a chance to save face—but he was taking entirely too long. So I did what I said I would and ended the fight in less than thirty seconds.
Needless to say, I had no problems with Lawrence after that day—nor anyone else, for that matter.
****
“Alright, West. You can hit the shower,” Lou said to me finally.
I looked at Lou’s tall, thin frame and nodded with exhaustion. Alex told me that Lou had been around boxing all his life. He was a middleweight boxer in his day and had a pretty decent record. He gave it up, though, to raise his two boys. After they grew up and left home, he got into training upcoming boxers.
When Alex was young and used to work for his uncle and Lou, Lou was the one that taught him everything he knew about boxing and training. What surprised Alex the most was the knowledge Lou had about MMA. Since they opened the gym, they’ve trained some successful fighters.
I flopped down on the nearest bench while Alex started removing the tape from my hands. All I wanted to do was hit the shower, eat, and sleep.
“Hey, you remember Rachel from last weekend?”
I vaguely remembered, but I nodded as I knew where he was going.
“Well, she called asking if we wanted to do another foursome. I told her…”
I cut him off and shook my head. “No, Alex.”
“Aw, come on, Reap,” Alex pleaded, calling me by my SEAL call name. “She said she had the girl that would be perfect for you.” He chuckled at the painful look plastered on my face.
“Come on, man. The last time she said she had someone perfect for me, she was the dumbest broad I had ever met in my life. How the hell she thought any sane man would be interested is beyond me.”
“Aw, come on. She was willing to put out with no fuss.”
I looked at Alex about to say something else, when I saw the most beautiful being I have ever seen in my entire life flash in the corner of my eyes. I sat up straight and watched as she glided across the floor. Man, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She wore high heels that did her beautiful, shapely legs extreme justice, not to mention the jeans that looked painted on her body. The shirt she wore left nothing to the imagination, showing her flat stomach and beautiful round perky tits. When my eyes finally met hers, all I could do was smile, since I knew I was caught eye-fucking her. She gave me this perfect smile that made me react in a way I never thought was possible for my hard ass.
“She is way out of your league.”
I finally turned from her angelic face as she approached one of the fighters also working out in the gym. Then I looked into the eyes of the traitor next to me. I stood exhaling, realizing I was holding my breath that whole time. “What the hell do you mean?”
Alex grabbed my bag and started following me to the locker room. “You know what I mean. She is way out of your league. She’d run circles around your country white ass.”
I laughed. “Oh, so you’re just saying that because I’m white and she’s black?”
“Exactly,” Alex stated.
“Well, I’ll have you know that I’ve been approached by plenty of black women,” I told him.
He looked at me skeptically. “Yeah right. When? I don’t know no sistah that would willingly go looking for your vanilla ass.”
“I prefer pecan ass over vanilla. I’m not that pale,” I pointed out to him. “And I’ll have you know I’ve been approached by plenty of sistahs, as you call ’em. Remember Sally from NC?”
Sally was a Petty Officer Second Class on the USS Truman. There were many times where we stayed on a particular carrier for a while, until we got our orders to deploy to someone’s backyard.
Alex scoffed, “Please. Sally doesn’t count. She grew up in the suburbs with a silver spoon up her ass. No, I mean a round-the-way sistah.”
I smiled brightly, as I stripped and then headed to the shower. “Oh, you mean someone like Latricia Jones?”
I knew the moment I said her name Alex would shit bricks. Latricia was another Chief Petty Officer 2 and had been on Alex’s hit-it list since the moment he saw her. With brown skin and curves everywhere, she was on the list to be hunted and conquered by most of the men on the carrier.
“No fucking way.”
I didn’t reply. I simply shrugged my shoulders. The shower area was set up with private stalls only covering the body from the chest down. So I saw Alex follow me inside, which I knew he would do.
“Nah, come on Reap. Spill it. Are you saying you and Latricia hooked up?”
I shrugged again. “Look, Latricia is a lady, and I’m a gentleman. I’m not going to give you blow by blow.”
“The hell you aren’t,” Alex said incredulously.
I laughed. “All right, I can tell you this. She was impressive in some ways and average in others.”
“What the fuck does that mean? Come on, man. Just tell me. Was the pussy as good as it looks?”
I shrugged again, which I knew was pissing him off.
Alex growled, which made me laugh again and say, “Look, man. Was she a good lay? Eh. I’ve had better, but she was cool. Great head, though.”
I knew that would make Alex smile. Alex was a firm believer that a woman that could give good head was a plus and a must in his book. The rest of the shit didn’t matter to him, he would always say, which I thought was bullshit. Any woman that couldn’t work what she had wasn’t something that I wanted to invest my time in.
“Shit,” he drawled while waving at me. “You probably didn’t know what the hell to do with her, anyway. If I had the chance, I would definitely put it on her so good she’d be dreaming about me for a lifetime.”
I turned off the water and wrapped myself in my towel. “Well, I have her number. I can give it to you so you can call her. She did say she would be coming to Philadelphia permanently.
“Are you fucking kidding me? And you haven’t mentioned this before now? What kind of friend are you?”
I laughed and looked at him. “My bad, man. I didn’t know you were still interested.”
“You didn’t know I was still interested? She’s my Mt. Everest.”
I got dressed and grabbed my wet workout clothes. “So does this mean I don’t have to go with you and Rachel tonight?”
“Oh hell no. You’re still coming with us.”
As we headed out of the locker room and walked through a now-quiet gym into the front hall of the facility, I couldn’t believe what was standing in front of me. The angel that I had seen earlier was there in front of Lou, smiling and talking as if they’ve known each other for year
s.
I tried to concentrate on breathing this time as I approached the pair. She was even more beautiful close up. Her smile was indescribable. Her skin was milk-chocolate in color and looked smooth to touch. Her eyes were oval in shape with lashes for days. Her face was the perfection of beauty, and I couldn’t stop staring into her eyes. I sighed loudly, and I heard Alex chuckle next to me.
I was hoping by the time I got to them that I could at least get to talk to her, but as we got close, she turned around and ran right into my chest. I instinctively placed my arms around her waist to steady her, and she in turn placed her hands on my chest. Her touch sent fire all through my body.
“I’m so sorry,” she said as her eyes traveled from my pecs up to my lips and then to my eyes.
I just about fell apart with just the sound of her voice. It was so smooth and seductive. I knew I had to have her. Just the thought of hearing her say dirty shit to me in my ear while I’m balls deep in her... Holy hell.
I finally found my voice and smiled, “No, it was my fault, darlin’. I was completely distracted.”
We stared at each other for a second longer before I made the first move and let go of her. She seemed to step back reluctantly from me. Could that really be true? I watched her leave the building, focusing on her hips and beautiful apple-shaped ass sway as she moved.
I shook my head involuntarily and said out loud, “Who was that, Lou?”
“Max,” was all he said.
Max turned and smiled at me again before she completely disappeared from view, and I knew at that very moment that I would do anything for that woman.
I felt Alex lean into me, “Yeah, she’s definitely out of your league.”
Chapter 2
Maxine
“Come on, Max. Will you do this for me?” Mimi asked.
We were in the back of a place called “The Bar,” getting ready for our shift, when she asked if I would sing with her and two of her friends tonight. Michelle “Mimi” Waters and I have been friends for four years now. We’ve been roommates the entire four years, while each of us attended school; me in nursing and she an arts major at Drexel University. I filled out an ad for the room on the bulletin at school, and it’s been great ever since. She found this job here at “The Bar” as a bartender first. Then when I needed the extra money, she got me hired too. What helped me get the job as well was me knowing the owner personally.
Typically there are various bands that play at The Bar on Saturday nights, but Fridays are open mic. All you have to do is let the manager of the bar know—his name is Keith, by the way—and he’ll give you three minutes to perform. We have had some very hilarious people get up there and sing or dance and even recite poetry. Almost every Friday, Mimi and her two friends Laura “Lulu” and Teresa “Tiny” get up on stage to sing and dance for the patrons. Most of the time, when it’s known they’re singing, this place gets packed with crazed horny men and even some women. They know that Women’s Dream Men’s Desire, or WDMD, as they like to call themselves, are typically half-dressed and usually give the crowd a hell of a show and view.
Mimi told me her brother was getting married, and they were just going to stop in to have a few drinks before they went bar hopping. But since he called her complaining about his strippers, she changed the plan. She told me they were supposed to have strippers come to their hotel earlier, but whoever was in charge of the extra-curricular activities did a piss-poor job picking the women; her words, not mine.
I frowned and shook my head, “Aw, Mimi. Why can’t you three just sing?”
I didn’t mind singing, but I didn’t feel like being half-dressed. I remember the last time I sang with them, and my boyfriend saw me. He had to be escorted out of the bar for fighting.
“Because you can sing better than the three of us put together, number one. Number two, I really want to make sure my brother’s friends have a good time with four very hot ladies singing for them.”
I groaned. “You know I would love to. I like Mikey. I really do. But remember the last time I sang here, and Trip saw me?”
Mimi frowned. “You haven’t broken it off with that psycho yet? Come on, Max. What are you waiting for?”
I met my boyfriend, Travis “Trip” Weeks, during my internship last year at an amateur MMA fight. I was helping Lou, who is like an uncle to me, with his fighters last year—taping up injuries, stretching, and doing physical therapy for his fighters. Travis was so sweet and attentive when I met him. He swept me off my feet so fast that I didn’t know what hit me. He showered me with gifts, time and attention. I was really happy, and even the sex was pretty good. He was my first interracial relationship, and I had reservations about it. But he never made it awkward. Travis was about six feet and weighed at least 270 pounds. He had brown eyes and short brown hair, with a body that was something to dream about.
A few months ago—after our one-year anniversary—things started to change. He started to get more agitated and aggressive with me. It has only gotten worse since he started training extra hard for this MMA season. He started accusing me of cheating on him multiple times, and I was getting fed up. Travis’ brother, Train, keeps telling me that Travis is under a lot of stress trying to go pro in MMA, but I think it’s more than that. I keep telling myself that it will get better. But as the weeks have gone by, it is actually getting worse. Sometimes he scares the crap out of me and gets very aggressive with me physically.
I cringed. “I know, Mimi. I was planning on doing it today, but he was really off his game tonight and pissed at me. So I didn’t want to make a scene.”
Mimi put her hands on her hips. “Yeah, when does he not make a scene?” she asked me and then started to leave the room.
I smiled at a memory. “Well, today was slightly different.”
Mimi sensed the change in my demeanor and turned to look at me. “What do you mean? And why do you have that silly grin on your face?”
“Today I was running late to Trip’s practice, as usual. I told him I had a test today, but he kept blowing my phone up as if I was out with someone. Anyway, as I was stomping up to him, I had this feeling come over me, and I slowed my pace. It was so weird that I can’t truly explain it. All I can say is, I felt goosebumps all over my body, and my heartbeat started to increase. I started to breath heavy, and it was that moment that I felt a pair of eyes on me.”
I watched her as she sat down next to me. I could see that she felt the excitement that was radiating from me. I mean, I felt wild right at that moment just talking about him.
I asked her, “Have you ever seen someone that completely affected you just by looking at you?”
“Well, yeah. I can say that Amy did,” she told me.
I knew Amy was Mimi’s first love. But two years ago, she left to join a band and travel leaving Mimi brokenhearted. I smiled at her, knowing she may have an idea. But I was certain she hasn’t felt what I did.
I explained, “I mean, as soon as I walked in the room, I felt his eyes on me. Then when I met his gaze, I felt him all through me. He had a complete effect on me that I never thought was possible. It was odd for me, you know. I mean, I’ve been around plenty of men with great bodies; working around fighters all the time and all that. Some have even tried to push up on me, even though they knew I was with Trip. But this guy—this specimen of perfection—was the exception.”
“Really?” That piqued Mimi’s interest.
“Yes, girl. Now I know you’ve never had this feeling about a man, of course. But all I wanted to do was lick him from head to toe. He had tats on his chest and tribal art on his shoulder blade. He had some anchor type tattoo on his chest, but I couldn’t quite see it from where I was. His body was glistening with sweat. I imagined what it would be like to be under him, with sweat glazing his body because of me instead of because of a punching bag.”
I touched my neck, feeling my own heart about to burst out of my chest while trying to slow my breathing and calm the need growing between my legs.
>
Mimi laughed. “Well, holy shit. You mean to tell me that you are talking about someone other than Trip?” I nodded as she clapped her hands. “Do you realize that this is the best news I’ve heard in forever? Girl, you’ve been wrapped around Trip for so long that knowing someone else is making you hot under the collar is music to my ears. Now, of course, I have no idea what you see in men. But hey, I can acknowledge if a guy is cute or not.”
“Well, sweetheart, cute is what puppies are. This man is like a Greek God of some kind. And his voice…”
“He spoke to you? What did he say? Did you get his number?”
“No, nothing like that. So, I was talking to Lou, you know, asking him if I can get more shifts there. This guy is actually one of Lou’s fighters. Anyway, girl, I started to feel my heart beating faster, and goose bumps started forming on my arms again. I started getting this feeling in between my legs; this need or something. I needed some air. So I quickly tell Lou I had to go. I turn and smacked right into him.” I smacked my hands together for effect. Then I closed my eyes and hugged myself. “He wrapped his arms around me, and I’ve never felt so safe and warm in my entire life. Then to open my eyes and inhale him….I thought I was going to faint.”
Mimi started fanning me with her hand. “Do I have to hose you down?”
I laughed and nodded. “Oh, yes. Because when that man smiled at me again, and I saw the most beautiful pair of blue eyes you have ever seen, I almost creamed my panties; especially when he hit me with his Texas drawl.”
Mimi’s eyes bulged out of her face.
“Wait, he’s white? Here I am thinking you gave my race a break and was talking about some chocolate being. And you think he’s from Texas? How do you know that?”
I stood and shrugged. “Girl, I’ve never been the type of girl who cared about race. If you’re hot, then you’re hot. And I’ve spent more time with Texans than I would like to admit. I can pick up on their accents easily. Come on, let’s get to work.”
“Wait!” She grabbed my arm as she stood. “So are you going to sing with us tonight, or what?”
Ruined: Loving An Alpha Male: BWWM Romance Page 2
