by LL Dahlin
“To get the maximum benefits of the 30 days of training you’re going to need to do a few things as listed on the paper I’ve just given you.”
Myles took a minute to look over the paper. Get 8 hours of sleep each night. Drink a gallon of water a day. Strength training. “Looks like typical stuff.”
“It is.” Cash nodded. “I’ll work on a specific fitness plan for you and we can come up with a meal plan that fits you.”
Myles was almost shocked at the attitude Cash had. It was pretty bland and almost aloof. That shouldn’t have been a problem. They were just two guys that were going through the intro to Kick Ass but he felt weird that he was still fighting his attraction and the man across from him looked like it was just another day at work. The few hours they’d been apart had done wonders for Cash, but Myles hadn’t gotten himself together enough. He nodded his agreement with the game plan.
Cash stood suddenly, reached for his coat and headed for the door. “I guess I should show you your living arrangements.”
It would almost be funny that this was the third time in the last hour that Myles was following this man to yet another spot. It wasn’t as if it was a hardship to walk behind this man. The view was spectacular but it didn’t help him with his desire to keep his thoughts as clean as his diet was supposed to be.
Chapter 3 – Cash
Just when he thought he couldn’t be more impressed by this guy he kicked it up a notch. He wouldn’t lie to himself. Cash had got Myles in the ring to see what kind of fight he had in him. He didn’t usually do the kick off fight himself but he’d watch all the newbies first attempts. It’s what they did before you got started that way the progress from the first day and the last is noticeable.
There were people who just came in the door and watching them made Cash wonder how they ever made it through life. Although they probably didn’t fight for a living, it was a wonder they could walk and chew gum at the same time. There was a lot of fight in Myles. What he lacked in skill he made up for it with passion. He’d told the man to go for it and he had almost got him a few times. Cash was quick which was a good thing because the sound of those swings slicing through the air would have been painful on connect.
He’d brought the man back to his house and pointed in the direction of the room he was to occupy. There was a noise in the kitchen after he’d come out of the shower that made him throw back his head and growl. Cash had forgotten that he was having a party to introduce everyone to his sister, but little had he known when he put the party together that she wouldn’t be here.
It didn’t take long to get ready so he told the guys he’d be right back and went to find Myles. Knocking on the door, Cash was almost annoyed that it was taking the man so long to get to the door. It opened and he pushed his way in closing the door behind him.
“What’s wrong?” Myles moved close and looked into his face. It was almost like the man thought 1. That he’d come to him for protection and 2. That he’d run from anything. Both thoughts didn’t set well with him but more importantly he refused to acknowledge whatever the hell feeling that was in his chest.
“There is going to be a party. I forgot to cancel it before now. It was so that everyone could meet my sister, but since she’s not here I’m just going to call it a New Year’s party. You don’t have to come out and meet everyone if you don’t want to, but you are welcome if you’re into it.” Cash didn’t like any of this. The last minute change of plans, the fact that he wasn’t going to be spending time with his sister or the interview that was going to be happening all made him jumpy but the look of concern on Myles face was making him even more jittery.
“Hey I can play this anyway you like. I don’t mind staying in here while you entertain as long as I get a plate of whatever smells so good.” Myles smiled like they were in cahoots about something and the bit of wickedness in his eyes made his cock thicken just a little and Cash wanted more.
Cash wrapped his hand around the back of Myles neck and brought their faces together, but then stopped. This isn’t what he wanted to do. He swore he wasn’t possessive of this man but here they were frozen like someone had stopped time. Myles pupils were blown but he didn’t move to bring them closer or to move further apart. Kissing wasn’t typically high on his list of things to do but any chance to rub himself all over this man was so appealing that he wanted it whenever he looked at him.
“Do it,” Myles whispered as he moved closer but still there wasn’t any contact but Cash’s hand on the back of Myles’ neck.
It was just one taste. What could it hurt?
“Cash!” Someone called from the hallway.
Saved by the bell. Well he should have been, because he had to go but something was keeping him from letting go. Myles pushed him up against the wall and moved in close enough that Cash could feel how hard the man was as he pushed his cock against his. It brought back memories of their first encounter at the bar just last night. Cash rocked against him trying to get closer but then he stopped.
What the fuck.
They were both breathing like they’d completed a full circuit of training that had all their body parts as they stared at each other. Cash brought his hands up to Myles chest to push him away. His hands only rested on the man’s chest, but Myles moved away like he’d been pushed.
“Sorry, Cash.” Myles turned away from him and walked toward the other side of the room.
Cash wanted to say something to let him know that he wasn’t alone in what he wanted to do, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to encourage him. Myles was hard to resist and just thinking about him in a room down the hall so accessible to him was making him sweat. The man had to have felt his cock throbbing against his own, but looking at the way he’d turned away he probably felt how awkward this situation was.
“Feel free to come down if you’d like.” Cash opened the door and moved out into the hallway since the voice that had just called sounded further away than it did when it first started. Something about the way Myles was standing made him have to say more. “I’d like you to come downstairs in 5 minutes and I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
Myles looked back at him with an expression he couldn’t figure out last night when they didn’t know each other but he’d seen it a few times today. It was a look of informational interest. Fuck. He was learning the guy now?
Cash turned to leave before he was holding the dudes hand as they walked into the room to calm the man’s nerves. “See you out there.” Marching out the door and down to the kitchen he hoped he didn’t look as annoyed as he felt. He wasn’t annoyed with Myles…well not really. Accountability was big for him. Cash made his guys own up to what was bothering them. It wasn’t about what someone was doing to you, it was about how you were dealing with it. That wasn’t always the case but for the most part it was. He couldn’t allow this reporter to get him all soft and mushy as the man was just looking for a way to get a juicier story. That’s what they all wanted.
“Hey, Cash.” There were several people who said that as he came into the dining room that opened into a large TV room. The table had loads of food in large aluminum platters.
“What the hell? Did you get this catered?” Cash turned toward Maddox who shrugged.
“Did you think I was going to make food to feed all these hungry beasts?” He turned his head to look at all the guys in the room. “I only had a little time between working and getting this place set up.”
“I guess you’re right.” Cash walked past the table and into the room filled with his elite fighters. The house could have held more but he liked this house more than he let on and wasn’t big on letting a huge group of people in to trash the place. These were the guys he wanted to meet his sister, make her feel welcome and help her with her article and training. Cancelling it would have been a good idea if he’d have remembered to do so before Maddox got all the stuff and let all the people in.
They were playing some video game on the gaming system that a good number of them seem
ed to be interested in, but the others looked at him with expectancy.
“Since we’re all here. Let’s eat.” Cash went to get a plate of food and saw Myles walk into the room. He stood among the rough and tattooed bunch of guys and looked so out of place Cash almost felt sorry for him. Almost. Although he had brought these guys here to meet his sister and smooth the way for her he wouldn’t do it for a reporter. He was supposedly good at what he did and Cash wanted to see it first hand. Myles was being watched like a hawk. Outsiders weren’t looked on fondly until you’d earned respect. That usually came from a good fight but this guy wasn’t here for that so it would be interesting to see if this challenge made the guy throw in the towel.
“Hello everyone, I’m Myles O’Rourke.”
“Aren’t you a reporter?” Brooks “Spoony” Richmond said as he piled chicken wings on his plate but stared at Myles.
“I am.” Myles stood there looking like he was comfortable with all the attention and Cash wondered if he knew the men were feeling a bit hostile. It was almost a smell in the air.
The group looked at Cash and several of the men had their eyebrows raised so he guessed an explanation was in order.
“I invited you guys to meet my sister and she was going to interview me for a story in her magazine that is debuting in a few weeks but at the last minute she sent this guy.” Cash picked up a bottle of water and drank it down. As an introduction it wasn’t the most encouraging, but he wanted to see what Myles would do with it. Was he punishing him for not being his sister? Who knew. It had been a long day after a very satisfying night but he needed to regroup. He’d eat his food and let whatever happened…happen. If the reporter was scared off by a large group of ruffians then he wasn’t cut out to get the interview in the first place. Right? Right.
“I have been a huge fan of MMA since it officially started in 1993.” Myles picked up a place and proceeded to fill his plate as the other guys looked at each other and then back at Myles occasionally. “I’ve followed Cash’s career from the beginning and I’ve watched each and every fight. He got to the very top of the food chain, stayed there for a while and then vanished.”
“Cash doesn’t do interviews and he’s not crazy about reporters.” Sam Steele was the Light Heavyweight Champion of the world right now and regularly looked like one hard, mean son of a bitch, but he’d turned that up a notch for this discussion
There were murmurs in the room as they all seemed to agree on what Sam had said. Myles picked up a water and brought his plate and drink to the couch.
“I’m happy to discuss anything you’d like as we eat.” Myles said like he was the masters of ceremony at this event.
There was a lot of grumbling but the men got their food and beverages. When they were all seated around the room. Some on chairs, some at tables and others taking a spot on the floor Myles took a drink of water and cleared his throat.
“Like Cash said I’m here for his sister. I wasn’t aware he didn’t know I was coming but thinking back on the conversations I should have known something wasn’t quite right. I’ve talked to Cash and he’s agreed to allow me to interview him and I’m doing the 30 day Kick Ass challenge.” Myles looked at all the men as he spoke. He sounded confident and sincere, and for whatever reason Cash was a bit bothered by that.
“You said you’ve followed MMA since the beginning?” Chaska who was one of a very few Native American’s in the sport tilted his head and his waist long black hair shimmered with the movement.
“That’s right.” Myles sat back in his seat and it looked like he was prepared to be interviewed himself.
“Well there is a lot of talent at Kick Ass Academy. What do you know about any of us?” Chaska was elbowed and patted on the back by several fighters who thought that was a good question.
Myles looked as though he wasn’t prepared for that question and Cash was a bit smug. It seemed as if Mr. Intelligent wouldn’t be able to shine as brightly as he thought. Maybe when he failed at this it would take him down from the pedestal his cock wanted to place the man on. Myles sat up straight and leaned forward like he was trying to find something to say about one of them.
“Well let’s see what I know.” Myles finished off his bottle of water and turned toward Spoony. “Brooks Richmond son of Senator Rich Richmond. You were a teenaged trouble maker who found and seemed to be saved by MMA. Lost your last fight but it was your first loss out of 10 wins.”
The group spoke among themselves before Sam spoke up. “That was easy. Everyone knows about Spoony since he has that high powered dad. Pick another one and not me.”
Cash finished eating as he watched the guys grill Myles, but he was smiling and in good spirits. The tension in the room had changed from high tension to curiosity. Myles chose Garrick and Kyle to talk about. The two were best friends and had gotten into this sport together even though they were in different size classes. Cash stood up and walked into the kitchen. He’d seen enough. Yes he could charm even the roughest of guys.
The door opened as he threw his plate away in the garbage and tried to figure out what he should do to get away from this scene. Most of the time when they had something at his house it was a quick thing. This is why any one and done wasn’t done at his house. It’s hard to tell people to get the hell out for no reason. He also didn’t necessarily want the guys to go he just didn’t want to be around anymore.
“You stayed longer than you typically do.” Maddox threw his plate away too and then stood across from Cash with a weird look on his face.
“What?”
“What?” Maddox responded back.
“I hate when you give me that look like you know something or you think you know something.” Cash moved to open the refrigerator. There was no way he was going to talk about what happened. It didn’t mean anything and he didn’t want to hear what Maddox thought of his sexual behaviors or practices. The man was like the big brother he never had even though he was older than Maddox.
“I just do it when you act funny. You seem guilty of something but I can’t figure out what it is. There is no way you are fucking Myles because you wouldn’t allow him to be in your house. Heaven forbid you sleep with a man more than once.”
“Here we go.” Cash closed the refrigerator knowing that Maddox the bulldog was just getting started and he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear any of this right now. He moved toward the door that would lead him away from all of this.
“I’m not going anywhere and although I know you don’t want to get into this I want to make sure everything is alright. I can see you’re uncomfortable with the guy. I know he’s a reporter but he’s ethical and straight forward.” Maddox blushed a little as he cleared his throat. “He went to Northwestern undergrad and then got his masters from Columbia University. Myles has been on the rise ever since. He’s gotten award after award for his viewpoint and documentaries.”
“What the fuck? Are you his agent? There is no reason to go for the hard sell I’m already stuck with him.” Cash took a deep breath and shook his head. Something about the way Maddox was talking about Myles made his stomach twist. “You have a crush on him or something?”
“Of course not but the man is brilliant. How could I not find that a bit hot? The way he looks is total fire though.” Maddox smile was sly and almost predatory. “He’ll be here for a good while and maybe I’ll see what all that intelligence adds up to in different areas.”
Cash watched Maddox walk back into the dining room and decided that was it for him. After all he’d gone through today he got to meet another side of himself he didn’t think existed. The side that was green with envy and wildly possessive. Maybe he was just tired. That’s what he’d tell himself until this shit went away. For now he’d get a full nights rest he was going to have to deal with Myles tomorrow. He needed to come up with a few rules to keep this interview in scope and distance himself from this guy. He was more dangerous than he thought.
Chapter 4 – Myles
Myles had been in
a lot of interesting and weird situations but this one had to be one of the oddest. He couldn’t sleep because he was so wound up and he knew that Charles “Cash” Tucker was somewhere in this house asleep. It wasn’t like he’d been told not to look around or told he was free too. He’d been shown his room then Cash came in to tell him something about a party. It went haywire after that because it appeared the man was going to kiss him but froze. Myles didn’t know what exactly was going on so he didn’t complete the final inches that would have started the firestorm of fucking between them but he did want to remind the man of all the hot fun they’d had the night before.
Now he was horny, filled with a restless energy thinking about how the next month was going to go and excited that the guys had seemed to warm up to him. He wasn’t sure what to think when Sam offered to square up with him in the ropes to see what he had. He told them he’d fought Cash earlier that evening and they’d gone back to looking at each other and then him. He’d wondered what that was about but figured Cash must not do that often. Myles was sure he didn’t want him to get too hurt. It would be hard to write a good article if he got his ass kicked before the first day. At the end of it all Cash was a business man and he didn’t want anything to affect his bottom line.
He’d walked through the TV room and ventured down a long hallway. Damn this place is huge. Myles wondered if he had other families living in here. At the end of the hallway there was a sign on one of the doors that said Game Room. He wondered what kind of games would be here. Hopefully something that would quiet his mind. A video game would rile him up too much. He should probably look and see where the gym was. With a body like Cash there had to be a weight room or exercise equipment somewhere.
Turning on the light caused a shock to his eyes. It was bright as hell in there but it allowed him to see the man had a full sized pool table, televisions, old school video games and pin ball machines.