by Anne Mercier
“Is there any specific way you wanted to, for lack of a better term, ‘come out’?” Cage questions.
“We were thinking of just going out in public more, maybe dinner and lunch. Shopping,” Linc replies.
“Oooh, shopping,” Meggie says with a bounce. “Can I come?”
I laugh and Linc smirks.
“Does that mean Styxzilla will be coming as well?” I ask.
“Styxzilla!” Meggie laughs. “That is perfect for him!”
“I didn’t realize I said that out loud,” I admit. “It’s just, he’s so…” I move my hand, “just so…”
“That he is,” Meggie agrees.
“I like it,” Trace says. “Styxzilla. Yeah, I like that. Nice.”
I squeeze Linc’s hand. I need to know.
“Now that it’s been said,” I begin, “does anyone have anything they need to say? If you aren’t on board with this, we get it. Not everyone’s as tolerant as others.”
“Now you’re pissing me off,” Trace says.
Linc sits up straighter, ready to defend me.
“You really think anyone here is going to think or feel differently about you because you’re gay? Because you love him, and he loves you?” Lucy asks. “Ethan, we love you for you, and that includes everything about you. This is part of who you are. We wouldn’t be true family if we didn’t embrace this with you.”
I nod, my nose getting tingly, but I suck it up.
“Thanks.”
“Now, others. The public. The media,” Marta says shaking her head when Cage looks at her. “We’re going to have to just see what happens, and if it needs spin, then we find one. Just remember, it’s always bad at first and then it gets worse before it gets better.”
Cage leans forward, resting his hands on the table. “And it will get better. We’ll make sure of it.”
Linc nods and I do too.
“I’m not sure why I was so anxious about telling you,” I confess.
“Fear of the unknown,” Kennedy tells him. “By the way, I’ve always known. Just wanted to put that out there. If you fuckers have a problem with it, take it up with The K.O. Kid here.”
“Yeah, pretty sure if anyone had a problem with that, no one would say a fucking word,” Jace teases. “He’s one big motherfucker.”
“And mean, when he needs to be,” Xan tells them.
“Remember when he broke Xander’s nose?” Jesse taunts.
“Fuck off,” Xan says, reaching up to touch his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “I still have a lump there.”
“Your dad’s one hell of a doctor, but he’s not a magician,” Linc tells him. “And you had it coming.”
Xan looks at Linc. “I damn sure did. Just remember, Jesse challenged you that day.”
Jesse laughs, and Linc looks at Jesse.
“History,” is all Linc says.
Jesse nods.
“I love this fucking family,” Meggie announces with a bounce.
We—Linc and I—decide we’re going to be spontaneous with our outings, no pun intended. Cage is in agreement as is everyone else.
God damn, I’m going to hate this. All the attention. Linc looks at me and winks.
One day at a time.
“So… what does moving up a level mean for you?” I ask Linc when we enter our suite.
He smiles at me and rests his palms on my shoulders. “Don’t worry too much, E. It’s not much different than it is now. The guys are just more of a challenge.”
“Closer to the intensity and skill you have when you fight, right?”
He nods. “Exactly.”
“That could mean broken ribs instead of bruised. That could mean more cuts and stitches on your pretty face.”
“Pretty?” Linc asks with a laugh.
I nod. “Yeah. Your face is pretty, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to it—or to you.”
“It’s just fighting, Ethan. Just like I do now.”
“Don’t bullshit me. I know what can happen.”
He nods. “If I move up two levels, then your worry is warranted. One level, well, they’re closer to my skill, more of a challenge. I’m bored with things now, Ethan.”
“I get it. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
Linc smiles. “It’s what I do. Get hurt a little but hurt them more.”
“That’s why they call you Knox,” I add, agreeing.
“Mhmm. It’ll all work out. We’ve made it this far. You wanna go grab something to eat? Be all public-like and shit?” he asks with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
I chuckle. “Yeah, I could eat.”
“And the cameras?”
I shrug. “I just hope they get my good side.”
“Baby, ain’t no one taking a picture of your ass but me.”
5
LINC
WE WALK INTO THE RESTAURANT and heads turn. Ethan called ahead. His name has clout, so they got us in right away. I gotta admit, that’s sexy as hell.
I know what they see. A muscled, tatted up Hispanic dude with the normal-looking white guy. Ethan’s got tats, but somehow on him they look natural. Maybe it’s the shading. Mine have more color.
I see their eyes widen in surprise, and the whispers start. Ethan. Ethan from Falling Down. Bass guitarist from Falling Down.
Then I hear, “Who’s that with him?”
My hand is at the small of his back, lightly so not to freak him out. He’s cool with the touch from me so long as I let him know ahead of time. This is our normal.
We’re seated at a shaded table on the patio and within seconds we hear the shutters of cameras. They don’t ask questions—yet. They will when we leave. I don’t know how they missed us coming in, but they did. Likely someone more “important” was on their radar.
“And so it begins,” Ethan says softly.
I nod, and we take our seats.
“Can I start you off with something to drink?” the waitress asks.
“I’ll have a Corona with lime, please,” I order.
“I’ll have the same,” Ethan replies.
“I’ll be right back with your drinks,” the waitress twitters, her face flushing when she looks at my guy. She’s obviously star-struck by Ethan.
“How does it feel?” I ask.
“What?”
“Having chicks trip over their own feet because you’re you.”
He chuckles. “It’s odd. I’m just a guy who plays a bass guitar in a band. Granted that band is well-known, but still. I’m just me.”
I nod. I’m feeling guilty for holding back on Ethan earlier. There’s more to moving up than I admitted.
“What’s eating at you?” he asks.
Too perceptive. He knows me well.
“I wasn’t exactly forthcoming with all the information earlier.”
Ethan frowns. “Okay. So, tell me now. I already know I’m not going to like it. I knew it earlier.”
“I won’t be underground anymore. I’ll be official MMA if all goes well. Jabs is trying to get a sanctioned fight so I get a foot in the door, so to speak. Coach and the rest of the team are handling the details.”
“Oh. So, it’ll just be all legal-like?” he asks.
I nod.
He breathes out a sigh of relief. “I was worried. Honestly, this makes me feel better, Knox. I hate that anything goes in those underground fights. Some of them fight so fucking dirty.”
“Your beverages,” the waitress interrupts. After setting them down, she asks, “Are you ready to order?”
We order quickly, and she scurries away.
I chuckle.
Ethan shrugs.
“So, you feel better that it’ll all be legit? I won’t lie, Ethan. It’s going to be one fucking hell of a challenge. It won’t be UFC, but these guys are the real deal not those pussies like the ones I’ve been fighting,” I admit.
Now he lets out a quiet sigh. “I just don’t want you to get hurt like some of the guys in the fights I’ve seen.”
It’s possible—no doubt, but I puff up my chest anyway. “Never gonna happen, baby.”
Ethan nods. We eat our meals, still hearing the camera shutters. I now know why Ethan hates the attention the band gets.
“This sucks,” I admit.
Ethan smiles softly. “Yes, it does. It’s only going to get worse.”
I nod. “I know. You’ll be okay? They may do some digging.”
“It’s fine. Everything’s sealed or destroyed. Don’t forget, we’ve got Cage.”
“He’s intense. I wish this would be easier for you. I know how you hate this,” I say with a wave of my hand toward the paparazzi.
He shrugs. “I’ve been through this kind of thing before with the band, but us? This is going to get worse. Much, much worse.”
“Yeah.” Announcing to the world that you’re gay isn’t an easy thing. There are so many anti-gay assholes out there, and I’m worried they’ll hurt Ethan. I can handle myself, but my boy isn’t a fighter. He’s a lover. I rest my hand on top of his on the table and gently squeeze. “If they talk shit, E, let it roll off your shoulders. We know what we’ve got and we’re the only ones that matter.”
Click. Click. Click.
“This fucking sucks,” Ethan declares.
I nod. “I know, but it’s our life. We just gotta keep it in perspective and ignore all the bullshit.”
He nods in return. “I don’t want to know. Cage can deal with that. Celeste said she’d work with Marta on the PR if we needed. Lucy agreed to ‘loan’ her to us.” He chuckles.
I smirk. “She’s something. Lucy.”
He nods. “That she is. Perfect for Jesse in every way.”
“I like that she calls him out on his shit. That’s fucking epic to watch,” I laugh.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.”
“I can’t wait.”
We ignore the media as best as we can, but now that they know there’s something to report, they’re following us everywhere. We just try to pretend they don’t exist, but when they follow me to the gym and disrupt my workouts, that’s when I can no longer avoid them.
“Fuck!” I yell.
Coach doesn’t say anything, but the tips of his ears are red, a sure sign he’s beyond pissed off.
“We’re gonna have to find somewhere else to train, Linc.”
“Yeah. I know. Maybe we can do it at the house. The gym’s big enough. We’d just have to add a few things and make a few adjustments. I’ll talk to the family.”
“Good. For today, we do our best to keep working. The extra security will keep them out.”
I sigh. “But it doesn’t keep them from looking in the front windows.”
“No. I suppose not.”
“Fuck this! Why don’t I go home and swim for today and do some lifting? I can’t concentrate with this bullshit going on,” I admit.
“Grab your gear and let’s go,” Coach commands.
I just look at him.
“What? You still need instruction. You’ll spend all day on the speed bag if I’m not there,” he scolds.
Damn. He knows me too well. “Yeah, yeah,” I say picking up my bag. Let’s go.”
6
ETHAN
“…so, I was hoping you’d all be okay with me doing my training here in the gym.”
Linc’s frustrated. I knew this was coming but I didn’t know it’d happen so soon. The media is rabid right now, and it’s only going to get worse. They’re at the gates but luckily not able to get in.
“Yeah, sure, man,” Jesse says. “Whatever you need. Mi casa es su casa.”
“Gracias.”
“You know those are nearly all the words he knows in Spanish, right?” Xander teases.
“And you know more?” Jesse taunts.
“Fu—heck yeah, I do. It’s my wife’s language, Dude.”
Tera rolls her eyes. “Swear words don’t count. Neither does estupido or idiota.”
I can’t help but laugh.
“That’s unfair,” Xan pouts.
Tera pats his arm. “No one said life was fair.”
He huffs.
“You’re such a baby,” Kennedy chides.
“Whatever, man,” Xan says, still pouting.
“Anyway...” Linc begins, “I want to add a speed bag and some other things if that’s okay. That means I need to hire some contractors to make sure it’s all done right. Any suggestions?”
“I’ll talk to Cage. He knows who we can and can’t trust better than any of us do. I think they have Famiglia in everything,” Jesse replies.
“They do,” Lucy affirms.
“Cool. I’d like to get started ASAP. The paparazzi are fucking distracting. I can’t concentrate on what I’m doing with all those flashes going off through the window, and truthfully some of the clientele are getting pissed,” Linc informs us.
“I’ll call him now,” Jesse says and dials his phone, leaving the room.
“How are you handling all of this, Ethan?” Lucy asks softly.
I chuckle. “I have no idea. I haven’t been out the last couple days. I imagine there’ll be a lot of questions. I’m sure there are photos and speculation out there, too.”
“We’re all on lockdown as far as media is concerned, so I’m not sure,” Lucy replies. “You know how it was with me and Jesse. I hate that because you fit in the LGBTQ category it’ll be even worse for you. It shouldn’t be that way. Love is love.”
“Thanks, Luce,” I respond. “I knew this day would come, and I’m not looking at it like D-Day. I’m looking at it as freedom.”
“That’s my guy,” Linc praises and I smile as he takes my hand in his.
“I’m surprised it’s taken this long, to be honest,” Kennedy states. “You’ve been here over a month already, and you’ve been seen together more than once.”
I nod. “Yeah, but never just the two of us. Not like that.”
“Imagine what it’s going to be like next time,” Linc speculates and shakes his head.
“We’ll just go somewhere that’s more closed off, so we have at least some privacy,” I tell him.
“There are quite a few places that come to mind,” Lucy announces. “I’ll email you the list.”
“Perfect,” Linc praises.
We make it up the stairs and are heading toward our rooms when I pull Linc to a stop.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Nothing.” I reach up behind his neck and pull him down so his lips press against mine. What starts as a simple kiss turns into something heated, breath-stealing, and so fucking arousing.
“Ethan,” he breathes into my ear when I reach down to rub his hard cock. “Let’s go before I end up fucking you right here.”
I smirk. He grabs my hand and pulls me down the hallway—fast. “You’re always in such a hurry.”
“You started it,” he reminds me, opening the door and pulling me inside. “How do you want it, Ethan?” He kisses my neck just below my ear. “Slow and teasing or fast and intense?”
“Uh…” I can’t think when he’s doing that.
He leans back and meets my gaze. “Tell me.”
“How about I show you instead?” I lift his shirt over his head then slam my mouth down over his. The kiss is savage and erotic and I’m hard within seconds. He removes my shirt as I kick off my shoes. I unbutton his jeans while he removes his shoes. It’s a flurry of hands and flying clothing until we’re both naked and wanting.
“Show me,” he demands.
My hands roam over the smooth muscular surfaces of his chest and arms. I lean forward and lick one of his nipples and his breath hitches. It’s a heady feeling knowing I can give this man that kind of pleasure.
I walk him backwards toward the bed. He falls backward. I pull the rest of our clothes off then just look at him. He’s a bountiful feast, and I’m really hungry.
I climb on top of him, our hard cocks sliding against each other. I wrap my hand around our erections, sque
ezing them together gently. Linc lets out a soft groan of approval. When I thrust my hips, forcing my cock to slide through my hand and against his, that groan gets louder.
He reaches for me.
“Uh-uh. Not yet.”
“So that’s how it’s going to be?” Linc asks with his brow raised.
I chuckle. “For a little while. You know I can’t resist you.”
It isn’t long before he’s reaching up, tugging on my nipple piercings. Damn it. He knows that’s my trigger. It feels so damn good my cock leaps in appreciation.
I roll to the side and pull him on top of me. He looks into my eyes. “You can take control if you need to, baby.”
I shake my head. “No, not this time. I just need you.”
We kiss and touch one another until it gets to be too much. Linc reaches for the nightstand drawer, then makes sure I’m ready by sliding his gel-covered fingers into my ass. First one, thrusting slowly; then he adds another.
“Fuck,” he groans. I don’t think he even knows he’s said anything.
His fingers. That motion. I’m starting to recite the math tables in my head. Two times two is four. Two times three is six.
I feel the head of his cock at my opening, and he withdraws his fingers. Linc looks up to me to make sure I’m okay, that I’m ready, and I lift my hips in response.
Slowly, so slowly he slides inside. So careful. So cautious. But I know that won’t last. Once I’ve adjusted, he begins to move. He lifts my legs over his thighs, pulling my ass closer to him, and then he kisses me. He palms my shaft then begins stroking in the way he knows I like.
Where was I again? Two times four is eight. Two times five is ten. Two times six is twelve.
He looks down at me with a smirk. “Baby, I’m not doing a good enough job if you can think that much.”
Busted.
He picks up the pace, lifting my hips off the bed, delving deeper.
“Fucking hell,” I moan.
“Yeah, that’s just how I like you.”
“If you keep that up, I’m gonna come too fast,” I warn.
“There’s no such thing.”
Linc bends forward, licking my nipples and tugging at the piercings. Then he wraps his hand back around my cock, his abdomen sliding against it.
