by Xavier Neal
If it were up to me, we would so skip the gentleman phase and go straight to the pin me against the wall and shove your tongue down my throat phase. Oh dear God, my sexual frustration is reaching new levels.
The kiss is so brief I don’t even have time to process the feel of his lips on my skin.
“Good night Maxx.”
“Good night Tony,” I say sweetly, and then turn and insert my key into the lock allowing myself access to my friends who are camped out in the downstairs living room. Before I get the chance to greet them my phone vibrates with a text.
Tony: If it makes any difference, it took all the self control I had not to kiss you.
I smile proudly.
Me: It totally does.
“You’re home early,” Erin says blowing on her freshly painted fingernails. She always changes the color to match the theme of Fight Night. This time it’s Jungle Green.
“Bad date?” Luke asks from the recliner, a book opened in his lap.
“Bad kisser?” Erin follows, her face scrunching like she understands.
“Good date.” I address Luke who’s in sweat pants and his reading glasses looking like a fitness model on his down time during a photo shoot. Then Erin who is in her sweats and sports bra. “Wouldn’t know. He didn’t kiss me like that.”
Annoyed she grunts, “Ugh.”
“He was trying to be a gentleman.”
“This isn’t the ‘50s anymore. A girl likes a good tongue session and maybe a boob graze on the first date.”
“My little sister ladies and gentleman,” Luke says like an announcer.
“Oh please, like you don’t enjoy when your really hot first dates accidentally dick graze you.” Her attitude towards him causes him to roll his eyes. “Anyway, why are you home so early?”
“Uh…pre Fight Night traditions are to ensue. Speaking of, where’s Logan?”
Erin cuts her brother a glance before she picks up her nail polish bottle. After clearing her throat she bluntly says, “Out.”
I divert my attention over to Luke who looks as uncomfortable as Erin but doesn’t do as good a job hiding it. My hands wrap around the back of the couch right behind Erin although I’m still staring at him. “Do you know where?”
Luke shakes his head and picks his novel back up. “Nope.”
Before I have the chance to bother them with more questions, the sound of the front door cuts me off, and in Logan strolls with his gray t-shirt slightly wrinkled, jeans loose, and his hair disheveled.
All classic signs of a freshly fucked Logan.
He stops dead in his tracks. In a surprised voice he says, “You’re home early.”
“Am I?” I sarcastically say out loud. “Was I the only one who wasn’t aware there was a minimum time limit I had to be gone?”
“I just meant you’re home earlier than I expected.”
“Clearly,” I mutter under my breath as Luke speaks up.
“Dude, why are you sparkling like a fucking disco ball?”
“And why do you smell like Bath and Bodyworks and…” Erin inhales sharply, “cheap lemon flavored vodka.”
“Just fulfilling all pre Fight Night rituals.” The cockiness in his tone causes my fingers to dig deeper into the back of the couch.
Why did I even think for a second that his complimenting me would ever mean more? I’m so fucking stupid. You don’t have to remind me.
“Could you please fucking shower? Between you and Erin’s nail polish smell, I feel like I’m in the backroom at a low class strip club.” The words fly out of my mouth as Luke laughs.
Logan chuckles and heads up the stairs with my eyes following him.
The vow to put him in the Friend Zone permanently has to start now. It’s gonna take constant repetition to go back to the way things were before he stirred back up those old feelings. But you know what? The sooner the better. Because for once in my life, great things seem to be fast flowing towards me and it’s a wave I happen to wanna ride.
Chapter 9
Logan
This is fucking ridiculous. I feel like there isn’t even going to be a goddamn fight with the way I’m feeling. I’m just gonna end up ramming my fist through the guy’s ribcage and it’ll be over in record time, leaving this power surge of adrenaline coursing through my body.
I. Hate. This. Rage. Nothing good comes from Kellar men when we are in this state.
“Dude, you’re a little high strung for Fight Night.” Luke points out from his usual post against the wall opposite of me.
At this point I’m pushing against the wall, a stress reducing technique I heard mentioned on a T.V. show once.
It’s not fucking working.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine,” I groan and push the wall harder, shutting my eyes.
“Man, you’re not fine.” He continues to ramble.
I wish he’d just shut his mouth.
“In fact, now that I think about it…you haven’t been fine all day. It’s like you’re…frustrated.” My hands drop from the wall as I turn to give him a shut it look. He doesn’t take the hint or doesn’t care to. “Which doesn’t make any sense since part of pre Fight Night ritual is tapping some ass. Unless…”
“Are you done?” I shake out my limbs hoping he’ll change the subject.
“You didn’t get laid last night did you?”
My silence is my guilty plea.
Not a word from you.
“Holy shit!” His excitement makes me wish he weren’t basically family so that I could pound him for a pre fight warm up. “No wonder you’re wound up tighter than a three year old’s toy car fresh out of the box.” I flex my fingers. Do not hit Luke. He is your best friend. “So what happened? Couldn’t get it up?”
“Do I look like I have trouble getting it up?” I stretch my neck from side to side.
On the record. Never had that problem.
“No, but you don’t look like you have trouble getting laid either.”
That remark sends more adrenaline pumping through my veins. This fight isn’t gonna last long, which isn’t what I need. I need that fucking burn. I need something to take the edge off.
“So?” Luke asks.
“So what?”
“So what happened?”
I stop bouncing on my toes and shrug. “I don’t even fucking know.”
“Explain it to me.”
“Called up Kimmy—”
“Isn’t that Liz’s roommate?”
“Yeah.”
He looks mildly disgusted. “Really?”
“What can I say? It’s an easy household.” The remark causes him to pretend to gag as I continue. “Called her up. She wanted to get a drink, so I met up with her. After she had a couple, we went back to her place, started making out, and when she was ready for the next step I just…couldn’t. So I gave her a finger bang and bounced.”
“What do you mean you just couldn’t?”
“I mean I just couldn’t. She was hot. She was horny, but I just…wasn’t in the mood I guess.”
Wasn’t in the mood? What the hell am I, a girl? Do you even believe this bullshit? What dude do you know that needs to be in the fucking mood to get his dick touched?
I grab the back of my neck with both hands and pull. I know exactly what the fuck was wrong with me. All I could think about was Maxx and how smoking hot she looked in Erin’s little navy blue dress. The way her tits looked like they were desperate to be freed into my mouth. The way the dress would sneak up her thighs, giving your eyes directions to follow it as it crept upward towards her tight ass. And the fact that she was the girl I wanted straddling my lap. The recall of her outfit has my dick threatening to rise. I swear you greedy son of a bitch, if you pop up now,
no reward for a fight well done.
“Ah.” His face does that thing I hate again. Smug bastard.
You stop looking smug too.
Before he can continue, there is a sharp knock on the door. Annoyed, but grateful that our conversation is cut off, I call, “Come in.”
Two male faces I’m not familiar with appear in the doorway. One is tall, skinny, dark haired, and pale. He looks like someone from the BBC channel. Damn Maxx and her British show obsession. The other is slightly shorter, tan, skinny, and with shaggy hair that reminds me of someone from MT.V..
Yeah. I think you’re right. I watch too much television.
“Can we help you?” My arms fold across my bare chest.
“Sorry to interrupt,” the British looking one speaks. “I’m Tony, Frank’s new tech guy, and this is Stuart the photographer. Frank wanted us to get a couple warm up shots of each of the fighters to post online.”
Tony. So this is the asshole who thinks he’s worthy of my best friend. Not at all what I pictured. The sight of him causes me to tense more. What the hell does she see in this sheepish looking asshole? He’s nothing like me.
Wait. That’s the point isn’t it?
“Sure.” I remain professional. Extending my hand for each of them to shake I introduce myself, “I’m Unbreakable.”
After a quick shake I look over my shoulder at Luke whose mouth is agape. What the hell is his problem? Confused I clear my throat instructing him to speak up. To my surprise it takes an extra minute for him to catch on.
“I be Luke. I mean Luke be me. I mean, Luke I am.” The ramblings out of his mouth as he fumbles to extend his hand for Stuart to take are frightening. I’ve seen Luke in various states. Smug because he’s right. Smug because he thinks he’s right. Smug because he’s taken. Smug because he’s single. But this babbling idiot routine is not on the list.
“Your father,” Tony finishes the sentence and chuckles slightly under his breath. I stare at him not responding. Clearing his throat he quickly tries to explain, “You know, from Star Wars?”
Oh yeah. Because I’ve never seen Star Wars.
“I know. Just didn’t think it was funny.”
It wasn’t. Don’t pretend because you think you like him more.
“Serious before a fight?” Stuart speaks up again and Luke doesn’t say anything else. “Should make for some great shots.”
“Every picture of me is a great shot.” The cockiness in my tone is followed by Stuart raising his camera.
Fact.
“Just continue your routine as normal. Pretend we’re not even here,” Tony says pulling out his cell phone.
I wish he wasn’t here. And you. You stop looking at him like that. The guy’s a loser.
“No problem,” I sneer and turn back around to begin ghost jabbing, another way I like to loosen up my muscles.
A faint sound of heels catches my attention and apparently Tony’s as well because he turns around just as Erin is passing by. Quickly he stops her and whispers something low that makes her giggle.
Loudly she says, “Don’t worry lover boy. I’ll tell her.”
She doesn’t even bother shooting me a look, a mission clear on her face.
Lover boy? What? She’s on his side now too?
I clench my taped fingers tighter as I sketch Tony’s smiling face into my brain. It doesn’t matter that I’m fighting T-Bone tonight because the face that I’m going to see my knuckles cracking into a million pieces will be the one that just passed a secret message to my biggest cheerleader.
Chapter 10
Maxx
“Take off your underwear,” Erin demands.
Pulling down the dress I refuse. “Absolutely not. It’s bad enough that I have to wear this see through thing on stage in front of all those people, but now you want me to take off my underwear? What? Do I have Kardashian written on my forehead?”
“First off, you’re the one who insisted on wanting the black and white zebra print dress.” She refers to my Ring Side Girl ensemble that happens to be a halter dress with a pair of black heels that are going to kill my feet while I run around making sure everything is perfect tonight. “You had other choices, but nooooo. You wanted to be a zebra.”
I look at her leopard print mini skirt and off the shoulder top.
Clearly this is punishment for actually thinking I could have something to do with wardrobe. Lesson learned.
“Second, because you’re wearing the see through dress, it’s going to be worse when the lights come up. Trust me. So drop the panties and let’s roll. You should be on stage in three minutes.”
With a stomp of my heel I growl, “Fine!”
While I wiggle out of the barely there thong I was wearing anyway she smirks. “I saw Tony by the way.”
“And?”
“He was lurking in the backroom with Logan.”
Paranoia strikes me quickly as I pick up the underwear. “Why?”
God I hope he’s still breathing.
“Looked like him and Stuart were grabbing a few photos. He wanted to tell me he couldn’t wait to see what you were gonna wear to blow his mind.”
A hint of a smile crawls across my face as I stroll over to my locker where I slide the underwear into my gym bag that’s inside. He’s been texting me almost all day, most of the time cute little sayings like that. I actually kind of like it.
He’s making me act girly. Is that bad?
With confidence, I grab my signs and hand my phone to Erin to hold onto until after my little performance. Once I’ve done my small role, I have to do a couple of bar checks to make sure the specials are going, check how we’re doing on crowd control, decorations, and that everyone is genuinely enjoying themselves. However, at this point, according to Frank, we’ve been almost at capacity since long before the fight, something that hasn’t happened since they first opened.
My heels click up the stairs as the DJ starts a rap song that I actually somewhat enjoy, making it a bit more fun to walk out into the ring where I see a crowd full of people dressed in their best jungle gear. Guys in camo, guys with face paint, and girls in animal prints. I strut out with my sponsor sign high in the air.
“And coming to the ring tonight. He’s mean. He’s lean. He’s what’s for dinner! They call him T-Bone!”
Note to self: Help DJ write better introductions.
I lower the sign and signal for T-Bone to plant a kiss on my cheek. Judging by the small pouch on the front of his stomach, I’d say T-Bones are all he eats, maybe alongside some potatoes and beer. Instantly he strolls over and rubs his rough beard against my cheek before planting a wet one on me causing the crowd to cheer wildly.
They wouldn’t be cheering if they’d just had that ogre rubbing his face against them. Neither would you.
Lifting my sign back up I switch it over as the D.J. announces, “He may twist! He may bend. But he does not break! The one, the only, Unbreakable!”
I proudly hold his sign up high and the cat calls along with the girlish screams from the audience accelerate tenfold.
I’ll give Logan that. He’ll always be the crowd favorite. And mine. Yours too by now.
Without looking over my shoulder, unsure that I can handle the look on his face tonight, I tap my cheek the same way for him on the other side.
Propping myself up in a seductive way against the posters, I prepare myself as his hand lands on the small of my back. In my ear in a very stern voice he whispers, “My backroom as soon as this fight is over.” And his lips slip onto my cheek leaving a trail of smoke behind.
That may have all happened in the blink of an eye for you and the crowd but for me, it was like a chopped and screwed rap song.
I do my best to stay calm, and in character as I like to think of it, and strut o
ff stage while a few guys from the crowd seem sad to see me go. I’m slightly sad to see me go too. I don’t know what it is about being in the ring that makes Logan feel comfortable saying shit like that to me, but I sure the hell wish it would carry over.
***
When the sound of the crowd’s cheers erupt so does my heart shooting straight into my throat. I’m pacing back and forth in Logan’s backroom.
What the hell could he want? I mean really? To tell me I should wear underwear on stage? I tried! He’s probably just going to give me a warning lecture about mixing business and pleasure. You know what? He has no right to! No right to lecture me! And you don’t either!
I told Erin I had to slip away for just a few and to cover for me if someone came looking, but I don’t know why I bothered. Conversations with Logan lately have been record timing short.
Series of grunts, okays, yeahs, and sure things kind of short.
Suddenly the door creaks open and a very sweaty, very tense Logan is staring at me. My eyes drink in his six foot plus height, his deep tanned features, those muscles that are concrete proof of hours on end at the gym, and his piercingly deep blue eyes that are fixated on me in an unfamiliar way. It’s heated and not in the angry fashion.
Are you as confused as I am?
Using the heel of his foot he kicks the door closed with a loud clunk and whips me around so that my back lands against the wall with a heavy thud. I let out a gasp but before I can finish, his lips are mounted on mine.
Oh shit!
Every other part of Logan is solid like a steel wall except his lips. They’re rough yet soft. They’re a beautiful contrast to the rest of him. And by the way he is aggressively sucking my bottom lip into his mouth, I would say he probably knows it.
As much as I don’t want this moment to ever end, hell I’ve dreamed about this happening to me since I was 14, I’m not sure if it’s real or if it should even be happening.
Wait. Why is it happening?