by Alexa Davis
“Is it working?”
“I guess, but hear me say this, Michaela – I am not hooking up with any jocks tonight.”
“I hear you. I’ll be there at eight to help you get ready.”
I hung up, still shaking my head at my crazy friend. Before she got serious with Trent, she had a reputation for being loose and easy, but she wasn’t really like that.
My poor Michaela had been left home alone to raise herself most of her life. Her mother was a showgirl and her father owned one of the smaller resorts in Vegas. They had plenty of money, but not much time for a kid. She compensated for the lack of love at home by going from one man to the other. I hoped for her sake I was wrong about Trent. I just got the same feeling from him that I did every player I’d ever known…and I’d known plenty.
“Karli!”
“Yeah, Dad?”
“Dinner’s ready, honey.”
I put the phone down and closed my laptop. Whatever Dad was making smelled great. I went out to the dining room to see he already had the table set and my plate heaped with chicken, rice with asparagus, and a bowl of what looked like some kind of cream soup. Dad spent his life taking care of his body, so everything he made was healthy, but he also knew how to make it all taste great. I’d learned to eat right and take care of my own body at a young age thanks to him, and even now that I’m in law school, I do my best to find time to work out every day.
“It looks great, Dad.”
“Thanks; the chicken is marinated in a garlic sauce. I got the recipe from Carole Lewis; you remember her?”
I sat down at the table and poured a glass of the iced tea Dad had put in a pitcher on the table. “Yeah, I remember her. Are you seeing her again?”
Carole was a sales rep for one of the protein powders Dad pushes at the gym he owns. They had dated for a while last year and all of a sudden, they just weren’t. He never told me what happened and I never asked. My father’s dating life had never been a comfortable topic for me. I did wish that he’d find someone, though. He’d been single for a long time and the longer it went on, the guiltier I felt about finding my own place and moving out.
“No, we’re just friends,” he said. “So, will you be at work tomorrow? If not, that’s okay, but I’ll have to ask Linda to come in and clean the equipment before things start growing on it.”
I laughed. “I’ll be there. Thank you for the time off; I really got a lot done.”
I usually spend at least three days during the week taking care of office work, ordering supplies, and cleaning at the gym. Dad has three other part-time employees, but I’m the only one he trusts to access the finances. He hates anything to do with money or paying bills. I’m not sure how he managed after Mom died and before I got old enough to do it.
Sundays are slow and he doesn’t do any training with the MMA fighters, so that’s usually the day I spend cleaning the mats in the octagons and washing all of their sparring equipment.
“You know how important your education is to me,” he said as he swallowed a huge bite of his chicken. “If you ever need time off to study, all you have to do is let me know.”
“Thanks, Dad. There’s a party at Circus Circus tonight that Michaela wants me to go to with her. You don’t mind, do you?” I was twenty-two years old and I didn’t need my father’s permission to go out, but as long as I lived with him and he was paying all of the bills, I felt kind of obligated to at least let him know what I was doing.
“Of course not. You’ve been working hard studying all week, you need to get out and have some fun. Just be safe.”
“Always. We’ll take an Uber from here and back,” I told him. “If it’s really late, I might stay with Michaela tonight, but I’ll be in to work early tomorrow, I promise.”
“Whenever you get there is fine. I’ve got this new kid I’m training, and he’s supposed to meet me there at seven.” He rolled his eyes.
“You’re training on a Sunday?”
“I’m training as often as I can get this kid in. He’s the one I inherited from Martin.”
“Oh.” I tried to be casual as I swallowed the lust that suddenly surged up inside of me.
I knew I just went on an on to Michaela about jocks and I wouldn’t touch this guy with a ten-foot pole…but damn was he hot. I’d yet to meet him in person, but Vegas was covered with photos of him in nothing but shorts; a more perfect specimen of a man I had yet to see. He was like sex on a stick dipped in ink, and I wouldn’t even be human if my body didn’t react. “He’s training for the heavyweight match in a few weeks, right?”
“Yeah, and he’s got a couple exhibition matches in between, too.”
“So why do you say, ‘supposedly’ he’ll be there at seven?”
“I’m just having a hard time getting this kid to focus. He wants to stay out all night partying and doing God knows what, and then he shows up half an hour late or more and I can tell that his head is just not in it. He’s crazy talented, and that is what has saved him up to this point. But I’m afraid the day is coming when his lack of focus is going to cause real problems for him.”
Typical, I thought. A guy that looked like him was way too busy spreading the love – and who knows what else – around Vegas. “Martin probably partied with him,” I said with a laugh.
Martin and my dad had been friends as long as I could remember, which was funny since they’d also been in direct competition with each other until Martin retired. He was a funny old man, and unlike my dad who was rigid about his diet and work-out routines, Martin somehow managed to stay in shape while partying like a teenager right up into his seventies.
Dad snorted. “Yeah, I’ll bet you’re right.”
We dropped the subject of his new fighter, which was good since I was suddenly feeling hot from the inside out just thinking about a poster I saw of him last week in front of the MGM. Dad asked me about school, and I told him how my classes were going and we talked about some of my instructors.
There was one attorney who had come in a couple of weeks ago to do a two-day class on criminal law. His name was Ethan, and he couldn’t have been more than a few years older than me. But he was so knowledgeable about the law, there wasn’t a single question asked that he didn’t have an intelligent answer for. He was also good looking, so that helped keep my attention. I didn’t tell Dad that part.
Ethan had been that intellectual type that I’d been telling Michaela about, though, and I’d actually been thinking about him a lot over the past week. He was in good shape, but he looked more like a runner than a fighter. His dark hair was perfectly styled and his suits well-tailored and always seemed to match his dark-blue eyes to a T. He was definitely not my usual type, but that was the main attraction.
I helped Dad with the dishes and by the time the kitchen was cleaned up, Michaela had arrived with the flapper dress and an overnight bag full of make-up in tow. Reluctantly, I got ready for the party, secretly wishing that I was dressing for a date with Ethan Grant, Esq.
Chapter Three
NICK
Charlie had given me Saturday off. I spent it at home hibernating and almost didn’t even answer Ethan’s call that afternoon. After I did, I wished that I hadn’t.
“Dad wants us at the house for dinner at seven.”
“It’s two in the afternoon on a Saturday. What makes him think I don’t already have plans?”
“You know Dad; he doesn’t care. He just said to tell you to be there.”
“Shit. Are you going?”
He laughed. “Do I ever say no to the old man?”
“You should every once in a while. We both should, and then he’d stop acting like he’s the king of the fucking world.”
“I doubt it. He’d just have us taken to the gallows,” he said with a macabre laugh.
“What’s the occasion?”
“Have no idea. He won’t tell us until he’s ready, so I didn’t bother to press for information.”
“Shit,” I said again. “Okay, fine,
I’ll be there.”
“You have to cancel any big plans?”
“Nope. I was going to spend a quiet evening at home with a pizza and a six pack of beer.”
He laughed. “No, really.”
“Seriously. I’m sick of all this party stuff. Maybe I’m growing up.” He laughed again. “Gee, thanks for the support, bro.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just hard to picture you home alone on a Saturday night. When did you decide to become a hermit?”
“I’m not being a hermit. I’m just tired of all of it. Man, have you ever been to Martin’s house?”
Cracking up now, Ethan said, “He told you about Reyna and got to you, didn’t he?”
“Yeah, I guess…a little bit. I mean, look at him, man. He’s seventy years old, and what does he have to show for it? He should at least have grown kids to spend the holidays with, right?”
“So, you want kids now?”
“No, man… I don’t know, maybe, someday. I just don’t want to end up a washed-up, old fighter all alone with nothing but regrets.”
“Well, I’ll be damned. My little brother is growing up.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
He laughed. “I’ll see you at seven.”
“Ish,” I said.
“Do you have to piss him off from the get go?”
“Yeah, I kind of really do.”
I ended the call and that ended my pleasant afternoon. For the rest of the day, all I could think about was what the hell Dad was summoning us for. He acted like we were supposed to be at his beck and call now after he hadn’t been there for most of our lives, and it pissed me off.
At six, I showered and dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. Dad and Ethan would both wear a suit like they were going to a damned party and not a family dinner, but I didn’t give a shit. I wasn’t dressing up just to please him. As a matter of fact, I wasn’t doing anything just to please him any longer.
At six forty, I was getting ready to walk out of the house when the phone rang. If I cared about being on time, I would have let it go to voice mail. It was only Jonah, my best friend and another fighter in the MMA league I fought in. But since I could care less about being on time, I answered it.
“Hey, man, what’s up?”
“Party at Circus Circus tonight,” he said.
“Nah, man, I have to have dinner with the old man.”
“Come afterwards; we’ll be there all night.”
“Nah, I don’t think so. I’m training in the morning.”
“So? When has that ever stopped you?”
“You’ve met Charlie, right?” Jonah had recently come over to Charlie’s gym. He didn’t train with Charlie, but he was around enough to know how he was.
Jonah laughed. “Since when do you take orders?”
“Since I want to be heavyweight champion. I gotta get going. The King of Las Vegas is waiting, and I doubt patiently.”
“Fine, but after he pisses you off, it wouldn’t hurt to come by for one drink. It’s a costume party for the UNLV football team. Lots of hot babes, cheerleaders…”
“I’ll talk to you later, Jonah.”
“Later tonight?”
“Bye, Jonah.”
“Give the old man my love.” I laughed at that. My dad hated Jonah.
“I’ll be sure and do that.” I left the house finally at five after seven. By the time I got across town nearly to Henderson, where Dad’s ridiculously big ass house sat on the side of a hill, it was almost seven forty-five. I walked into the formal dining room and between my clothes and my tardiness, I had two strikes already against me.
Dad and Ethan were already seated at the table. “Hi. Sorry I’m late. Traffic.”
Dad raised an eyebrow and gestured at my seat. Ethan was smirking, the asshole. I sat down and there was nothing but silence as my father’s maid rushed to start serving the meal. She brought out a silver cart with our salads and then one of the kitchen helpers, a younger girl named Kris, came out with pitchers with of iced tea and water.
She completely avoided eye-contact with me. It was a perfect example of why wild sex with one of the staff in the library during one of Dad’s charity dinners was not a good idea.
After the help was gone, Dad looked at me and said, “The masquerade ball will be held here on October 30th. It’s a fundraiser for the Arts Administration, and I expect you to both be here.” Before either of us said anything, he looked at me and continued, “And, I expect you to be dressed appropriately. If you can’t afford a decent suit, you can go see my tailor and put it on my bill.”
I let out a snort. “I have plenty of money, Dad, but thanks.”
He ran his eyes across my attire again and said, “That wasn’t apparent.” He’s such an ass.
“I’ll see if I can make it,” I said.
“No, Nicholas, you will make it. This is not a request.”
I dropped my fork, and it clattered to my plate. I could see Ethan trying to get my attention out of the corner of my eye. You would think confrontation wouldn’t bother an attorney so badly. “You’re giving us like a week’s notice? What if we had other plans?”
He opened his mouth and I held up my palm. I saw Ethan wince out of the corner of my eye as I went on, “Dad, in case you missed it – and I can see how you may have – your sons are both grown men. You cannot order a twenty-six and twenty-four-year-old man to do something. Therefore, everything is a request.”
He narrowed his blue eyes at me and put down his own fork before saying, “You live in a house that I paid for. That truck you drive so proudly around Las Vegas was also paid for by me.”
“I bought my own house and truck…”
“With what, Nicholas?” Fucker.
“With my trust fund. But I’ve made enough money since then on my fights that I could pay you back double for both.”
“You could, but you haven’t. So, that means Grant Realty is responsible for your cushy life. Which means you have a responsibility in return to occasionally show up when the company puts on a public event.”
I rubbed my temples with my fingers and finally looked at Ethan. “It doesn’t bother you to be ordered to do something, rather than asked, like a normal father would do?”
I could tell by the look he gave me that I’d catch hell later for dragging him into it. “I would prefer to be asked,” he said. “But, since the company and Dad as the CEO of that company happened to pay for my law school fees, the BMW I drive, and the apartment I live in, I agree with what he said about having some responsibility in return.”
I chuckled. It was a chicken-shit way to agree with us both. “Fine, Dad. I’ll be there. But I’d like you to do something in return for me.”
He gave me one of his arrogant looks and raised both eyebrows before saying, “And, pray tell, what is that, Nicholas?”
“December first is my big fight. I’d like to see my father there in the front row, rooting for me.” Dad had never been to a single one of my fights. I doubt that he even advertises that we’re related.
“You know that’s not my thing, Nicholas.”
“And black tie events are not my thing, Dad.”
He sighed. “Fine. I can’t for the life of me understand why you always have to be so difficult.”
I shrugged. “I learned from the best,” I told him as I picked up my fork again.
Ethan did what he does best and changed the subject to talk about a case he was working on. I held back the sarcasm and insults whenever the old man spoke for the rest of dinner. After dessert was served and eaten, he told us to join him in the study for a drink. I acted like it was a request and politely declined.
After saying goodnight to Ethan and a pissed off father, I left the mansion and headed for the strip. I sent a text message and got a reply just as I drove up in front of the luxury apartment building on Paradise Way. The valet took the truck and the doorman greeted me warmly as he let me inside. I took the elevator up to the penthouse and rang the buzzer. A few seco
nds passed before a smooth female voice said, “Yes?”
“It’s Nick.”
“One minute, Nicky.”
Pamela was the only person who ever called me Nicky. I hated it and the truth was I hated almost everything about her besides the fact that she’s been my favorite booty call for the past five years.
Her father was on the board of directors of my dad’s company, and they came from old money. Their kind of rich made ours look like poverty. Pamela shopped, partied, and fucked. She was picky about who she fucked, however, and I happened to be one of her favorites. We used each other and it was a relationship that worked out on both ends. No strings, no feelings, no babies…perfect for the guy I no longer wanted to be. But after dinner with Dad, I had to have some kind of release.
When she pulled open the door dressed in a short, satin robe open down the front and something small and lacy underneath it, I didn’t waste any time on words. I fisted her long, blonde hair in both hands and began conducting an all-out assault on her mouth.
Kicking the door shut, I began walking her backwards down the hall. As soon as we reached the bedroom, we both began stripping off our clothes. I pushed her down to her knees and held her by her hair again as I pressed my cock to her lips. It was only at half-mast, but I knew that would change quickly.
She opened her lips, and I sucked in a breath as she sucked me into that warm, moist tunnel. I was hard as a rock in no time with her ministrations of her lips, teeth, and tongue. She even gave my balls a few, soft sucks and licks. I held on tightly to her hair as she bobbed her head up and down on me. She was an expert at this.
I never let myself think about why she was so good. Usually when I was with Pam, I didn’t think at all. Pure, animal lust took over everything. I began to thrust my hips harder, fucking her mouth as she sucked me with a vacuum grip.
I increased my pace, and she increased hers, holding onto the cheeks of my ass now, pushing while I pulled, bobbing when I thrust. I wanted to just come in her mouth and be done with it, but I knew even with Pamela I couldn’t be that much of an ass. I pulled out and reached down for her dime-sized pink nipples and tweaked them before telling her, “Get up on the bed, on your knees.”