I nod towards the rest of his crew, who are all standing there with their arms across their chest watching us. Jep seems happy that I’m coming, however waves of animosity are coming from the other two. “What about them?”
“I can only take three with me so you’re taking one of their spots.”
That explains the hostility. Jep must be a sure thing so the other two know that one of them is missing out. I feel bad. Despite Amy’s suggestion, I have no intentions of sleeping with Nate tonight so if he’s only taking me with the intentions of getting into my panties, then he should stick with his friends.
“It sounds like fun but I don’t want to—”
“Nah, it’s cool,” the tallest of the cranky guys concedes. “I’ve been before. I’ll wait up here.”
His quick acceptance confuses me. One minute he’s upset, the next he’s okay with me taking his spot? Grabbing his arm when he takes a step to leave us, I force him to a halt.
“I don’t mind, honestly. I’d hate to get in the way of your plans.” His eyes fill with appreciation, but it dies quickly when Nate grunts from his position next to me. Seems like my assessment of the situation was correct.
Letting go of his arm, I look between him and Nate, before letting my gaze rest on Nate. “If you’re only letting me come with you so I’ll let you fuck me afterward, I’m sorry but you’re shit outta luck. I’ve already told you I don’t mess around with colleagues.”
The guy who gave me his spot breaks into bellows of laughter. “I like this chick. Bloody hell, Nate. Looks like it’s you and your hand tonight.”
“Fuck up, Nick,” Nate snaps back at him. Pointing at a red-headed woman sitting by herself at the bar glaring at her phone screen, he speaks again. “You can’t come anyway. Emma’s here.”
As if on cue, Nick’s pocket beeps. I look at the woman at the bar and sure enough, she’s looking around the room as if she’s searching for someone.
“You’d better get the fuck over there before she finds you.” Nate wisecracks. The other two guys burst into laughter when Nick mutters something under his breath.
“What’s that?’ Nate asks him. Without waiting for an answer, he continues in a voice full of mirth. “You’re afraid she’s going to knock your ass out again?”
“Don’t you dare give into this little fuck.” Nick tells me seriously. “He doesn’t deserve a piece of your fine ass.”
The other guys holler their agreement as Nick walks off toward his girlfriend. Nate flips his middle finger at his retreating back and then punches Jep and his other friend in the arm. A funny feeling makes its way into my stomach. I know I’m all right looking, sexy even in that alternative way that some men like, but these guys are all hot as fuck so it feels weird to have them commenting on my looks.
“Don’t worry, my pussy is locked down tight,” I laugh in Nate’s face, before I continue in a voice loud enough for just the two of us to hear. “For you anyway. Jep, though, is another story.”
My laughter dies when he leans over me and stares directly into my eyes. “Ninja girl, if I don’t get a taste, I can guaran-fucking-tee that Jep’s not getting one.”
Swallowing the lump that forms in my throat at his words, I try my hardest not to let him see the affect his words have on me. My pussy clenches; making her desire known. Nate and his take-no-prisoner’s persona is her favorite type of man. Who am I kidding? He’s not just to my vagina’s liking; he ticks my boxes too.
If only we’d met up before I knew he was my new boss. I could’ve indulged without worrying about repercussions. When my clit tries to mount a throbbing protest at my logical argument, I decide it’s time to employ distraction techniques.
Changing tack, I mention something else that’s just occurred to me. “You remember that I’m only seventeen?”
“Fuck, I forgot. Just don’t mention it to anyone who works here.” He throws his arm over my shoulder and pulls me into his side. “You should probably tell Jep, though. He’s not a fan of underage pussy.”
Elbowing him in the ribs, I laugh when he grunts. “Come on, ninja girl. We’ve got a fight to watch.”
He leads me towards the bouncer who spoke to us earlier; Jep and his other friend trailing behind us.
“She know the rules?” he asks when we approach.
“Yep, she’ll keep her mouth shut.” Nate nods. I lift my head up and down with agreement.
The bouncer gives me another once over and I bristle until I see that this one isn’t sexual. It’s assessing and a little judgemental. “She gonna be okay with all the blood and shit? You know it’s gonna get hardcore.”
Nate looks down at me with the same questions in his eyes. I scowl at both of them. “I’ll be fucking fine. I’m a BJJ purple belt. I’ve fought in tournaments and shit before. I know—”
Nate starts to shake next to me, and the bouncer’s face screws up in a mocking grin before he bursts into laughter. Staring up at Nate, I find that he’s struggling not to laugh as well.
“What?”
“This is nothing like a martial arts grading. Have you watched the UFC or anything like that?” Jep cuts in as he moves to stand on my other side.
“No, I haven’t.”
“Fucking hell,” he turns his attention to Nate. Anger shines from his eyes. “You’re an idiot. Pharrell, you can’t let her in.”
The bouncer nods in agreement with Jep’s assessment. My temper sparks. Just because I’m small and a woman, they think they can tell me what I can do? I don’t think so.
“Listen here. I’ll be fine. I mightn’t know what the bloody UFC is but I’ve been in plenty of fights. A little violence isn’t going to worry me. I don’t faint at the sight of blood and I haven’t a problem watching someone get their head punched in.”
Shaking off Nate’s arm, I step closer to the bouncer and get in his face. They’re acting like I’m some sort of damsel-in-distress. Which I’m not.
Never have been and never will be.
“Hell, I knocked him,” I jerk my thumb over my shoulder toward Nate before spitting the rest of my statement at him from between gritted teeth. “on his ass twice today. So let me in or tell me I’m not welcome, it doesn’t faze me either way.
This was a bad idea. I shouldn’t have let Amy talk me into staying. As much as I think I’d enjoy watching the fights, I’m not keen on hanging around these guys anymore. I barely know them, at the end of the day, and it’s obvious they’ve underestimated me.
“Jep’s right,” Pharrell, the bouncer speaks up when I pause for breath. “She’s only a girl.
Pointing my finger at him, I finally explode. “Fine. I’m going home. Not because I couldn’t hack watching the damn fights but because I refuse to hang around with asshole’s who think they’re entitled to tell me what to do because I have a fucking vagina.”
With that final explosion, I pivot on my heel and head for the exit. I’m seething. My hands are fisted at my side, and my body is beginning to shake. That’s not a good sign. It means the next person who pisses me off is going to cop a fist to the face, no questions asked.
I’m barreling my way through the sea of bodies on the dancefloor when a hand lands on my shoulder and spins me around. I lash out with my fist, missing the person who grabbed me by mere inches. Pulling my arm back to throw another punch, I’m diverted from my plan when a shoulder is thrust into my stomach and I’m lifted over a big shoulder. My feet leave the ground when they straighten and my skirt flies up, giving anyone who’s looking a good look at my ass.
Thank fuck, I wore panties tonight. Normally when I’m out to pick up, I’ll throw on a thong or let my pussy breathe fresh air. It makes it easier to have a fast and furious fuck in the alley next to the nightclub or in the backseat of my partner’s car. The only reason I didn’t tonight is because Zali was in my room with me when I got dressed and she was scandalized enough by my outfit. I didn’t want to give her a heart attack by dispensing with my underwear as well.
“Pu
t me down, Nate.”
“Just shut up, ninja girl, and enjoy the ride.”
I hit him viciously in his chest with my knees. He doesn’t let me down, instead he grabs my legs and holds them to him with one hand. The other comes down on my ass with a stinging slap before it kneads my left ass cheek.
Looking up from where my head is hanging over his back, I see that we are heading back to the group I just stormed away from. Nate grabs my other ass cheek and rubs it.
“Stop touching my ass.”
He slaps me again before continuing on his merry way, groping as he pleases.
That’s it, I’ve had enough.
Jabbing him in his right kidney with my straightened fingers, I grab hold of his waistband when he grunts with pain. His grasp on my legs loosens, so using my death grip on his pants, I flip over his shoulder and after executing a perfect back bend, I land on my feet. Spinning on my heel to face him, I sweep his closest leg with my foot and send him toppling to the sticky floor. He lands on his back and I jump on him, straddling his waist with my heels locked under his ass. I grab him under his jaw, squeezing the pressure points on either side of his neck, and force his head up.
“Do not touch me again.” I’m deadly serious and I make sure my tone conveys that.
Fury in his eyes, he wriggles underneath me, grabbing onto the arm I’m holding his neck with in an attempt to dislodge me. I dig my heels into his ass and squeeze my fingers tighter until he falls still.
“I’m not messing around anymore, Nate.” I look him straight in the eyes, pleading with him to understand what I’m saying. “We need to work together. I can’t afford to find another job because I kick your ass and end up fired.”
A rare moment of weakness overcomes me and the truth slips out of my mouth unbidden. “I have my little brother and Zali to support. Our parents are fuckwits and I’m all they’ve got. I can’t lose my job because you can’t keep your hands to yourself.”
Something flickers in his gaze and he lets go of my arm. I maintain my hold, waiting to see if he’s trying to lull me into a false sense of security.
“I’m hearing ya. I’ll stop,” he promises in a raspy voice. “Girls normally dig my game. I thought you’d be the same.”
I can see where he’s coming from. Hell, I’d be all over him myself if we didn’t need to work together afterward, but I can’t afford for my sexual proclivities to end up the talk of the gym. The other PT’s will have a field day with it—gossiping about me and all that shit.
“Make sure you do.” I give his neck one last squeeze before springing to my feet. Smoothing my skirt down and adjusting my top so it covers my boobs, I realize that I’ve flashed my bits to everyone who watched our little drama go down. Drawing in a deep breath, I hold it for a second before facing Nate’s friends.
They’re staring at us with their mouths open. I expected some lewd comments or for them to step in when I was manhandling their friend, but nothing is forthcoming.
“You coming to the fight?” Jep speaks up, directing his question at me.
My eyebrows fly toward my hairline. I didn’t expect to still have an invite after the way I’ve acted during the past ten minutes. To be honest, I’m expecting to have issues with Nate at work as well after this.
“Nah, I’m heading home. I’ve had enough excitement for one night,” I answer. He nods, appearing a little disappointed, before making his way toward the door Pharrell has pulled open. The other guy follows and I wait for Nate to leave me to it as well. I feel kinda bad about what I did to him in front of his friends, yet at the same time, I’m hopeful that he might leave me alone from now on.
It hasn’t even been one day and I’m sick of fending off his advances already.
Patting my right breast to make sure my phone hasn’t fallen out, I squeeze the left one to make sure my cash and my ID is still safely tucked in there.
“Fucking hell, ninja girl,” Nate speaks up, throwing an arm over my shoulder. “I’m not gonna be able to keep my promise if you start feeling yourself up in front of me.”
And with that comment, I know that we’re going to be okay. I try to shrug his arm off so I can put some space between us but he refuses to let it budge.
“Stay. Watch the fights. I’ll leave you alone,” he tells me in a tone that only the pair of us can hear. “I know you think I’m a douchebag but I’m not really that bad. Let’s call a truce?”
I run my gaze over his face, trying to gauge his sincerity. He looks like he means it and, even though, my gut is telling me I shouldn’t—that I should let him go to the fights alone so I can concentrate on finding someone else to scratch my itch tonight—I nod my acceptance of his offer for a cease-fire and let him lead me to the basement entrance.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Gabbi
The roar of the crowd is exhilarating. I can feel it in my bones; the pulsing beat of the music mixing with the rumble of the crowd and the sounds of flesh hitting flesh as the two men in the octagon beat each other into a bloody pulp.
This is the third fight of the night and the last one before the main event featuring Nate’s uncle begins. The fights have been eye-opening, and have proven what Jep said to be one-hundred percent correct. This is nothing like the martial arts tournaments I’ve attended and it makes the fights I’ve been in look like child’s play.
Eyebrows have been split, blood has gone flying, and ribs have been broken right before my very eyes. I imagine that this is what the ancient Roman’s felt when they watched the gladiators fight to the death for their entertainment. The atmosphere is potent; feral and brimming with hostility and an animal-like wildness that I’ve never witnessed before. It speaks to me. I can picture myself in the cage channeling the rage that simmers underneath my surface into a need to annihilate my opponent. The desire to hurt has long resided within me, occasionally being let out and allowed to inflict pain, yet it’s never been given the free rein of the men fighting in front of me.
Due to Nate’s uncle, we have ringside seats so my view has been uninterrupted. Jep has passed me two or three beers, and I’ve drunk them without thought, intent on the action in the ring. Nate’s nudged me a few times when a particularly violent moment has occurred to make sure that I’m handling it. In my seat between Nate and Jep, I’m isolated from the rowdy crowd—as safe as I can be as one of the few women present tonight.
“Here,” Jep yells in my ear as he passes me another beer. I grab it, even though the previous ones have gone to my head and I’m feeling a little woozy. I’m not much of a drinker, usually popping an E if I want to party all night. My fake ID is good enough to get me into Nitro’s but I’ve never been game to try it to purchase alcohol. Not to mention the fact, that watching my mother drink herself into a coma every night doesn’t make it appealing. Ecstasy makes me feel in control and vibrant, high enough to have a good time, yet in control enough to stay safe and lucid.
“She’s only seventeen, dickhead.” Nate grabs my beer out of my hand and skulls it in one go. “She’s had enough.”
“Fuck off,” Jep leans across me to smack Nate light-heartedly. “There’s no need to tell lies to put me off. We both know she likes me better.”
Grabbing both of their wrists when they reach over my lap to slap at each other like a pair of girls, I dig my thumb into the joint at the bottom of their palms until they yelp. Throwing their hands back into their own personal space, I smirk at Jep who looks at me with worry in his glazed eyes. His face is red from the beer he’s thrown back and his hair is everywhere. He really is cute—not as cute as Nate, though.
“Pfft, who says I like either of you?” I quip. My attention is dragged away from his reaction to the cage when one of the fighters is knocked to the ground and the other fighter mounts him. I bound to my feet with the rest of the crowd when the fighter on top chokes the fallen fighter out.
“Woo, what a fucking move,” I scream, jumping in the spot and punching the air. I’m caught up in the moment and lovin
g every second of it. Nate meets my eyes and grins; a real grin that goes all the way to his eyes, not the one I’ve come to think of as his come-hither smirk. In that moment, I feel a connection grow between us. Maybe there’s hope that we can salvage a friendship out of this after all?
“Nate—” I begin to tell him how thankful I am that he talked me into staying tonight. This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time. My words are cut off by an iron grip around my torso that squeezes most of the air out of my lungs. Jep picks me up in a bear hug, jumping up and down with me in his arms.
Before I know what’s happening, he has lowered his lips to mine and is kissing me. My arms are caught at my sides; trapped and useless. Twisting my head away from his, I lean as far away from him as I can in an effort to put some distance between us. He doesn’t get the hint, his head following mine in order to maintain the connection.
“Jep!” I yell against his mouth. “Stop.”
To his credit he stops straightaway. Returning me to my feet, he smiles down at me, a rueful expression covering his cute face. Flicking his gaze between me and Nate, he takes a giant step back and lifts his hands in the air, as if surrendering.
“Don’t spaz out,” he laughs, leaving his gaze on Nate. “She said nothing was gonna happen between you two. Can’t blame a fella for trying...”
I’m in too good of a mood to tell him off. Glancing behind me, I find that Nate has his hands curled into fists and looks ready to have a go at his friend. Rolling my eyes when it dawns that, despite his words to the contrary, Nate still has hopes that he’s going to get in my panties, I decide it’s time to put an end to his delusions forever.
Sidling up to Jep, I slide my arm around his waist and curl into his side.
“It’ll take more than one kiss,” I wink and his eyes bug out at my abrupt change in behavior. “But keep up the good work.”
The MC climbs into the cage and begins his spiel into his microphone. His words boom and echo around the basement, denying Jep and Nate an opportunity to speak. A pleased smile grows on my face when I see that Nate’s finally gotten the message. Even though, he’s not meeting my eyes, I can gauge his change in mood. His fingers have returned to a more natural state and his shoulders have relaxed.
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