Unexpected Forfeit

by Sapphire Knight

  “Okay, this is it!” Sin yells, slapping me on my shoulder a few times, grabbing the little bench I was sitting on as they leave the cage.

  The loud noise sounds off, letting me know it’s time for me to fight again.

  I approach Ramirez slowly, chanting to myself, ‘keep pace, slow down, watch him, I can do this, my fight, my cage.’

  Before another thought crosses my mind I charge him this time, completely going left from the original plan, grabbing his head, I bring it down to meet my knee, the crunch of bones crushing against my knee brings a new found rush of adrenaline to course through me, and it’s on like Donkey Kong.

  The Beast, huh? Well I’m the fucking King, and I rule this shit.

  He brings his head up and a feral growl escapes me as I lift his body completely up off of the ground. I turn us around, my muscles straining as I pick up my momentum and slam his body on the ground.

  Rapidly I move to climb over him. His leg shoots out and I shove it away, dropping myself to the ground, on top of him, I rain blow after blow on him, straight ground and pound. His face becomes a bloody chewed up mess, our body’s slick with sweat. I pop him over and over, my body exhausted, yet never giving in, aching to dominate and overcome.

  I’m thrown to the side as the ref wrenches us apart, putting his body between us to save my opponent from my deadly hits. Too many hits in the wrong spot and Ramirez can count on going brain-dead or even worse, I could take his life. This sport pays a lot because the risks are so serious.

  The horn echoes through the auditorium and my song blares over the speakers. I start to shake the haze currently corrupting my senses, telling me to fight. The other sounds of the crowd start to flood through as I realize that I won.

  Suddenly, Ramirez stands up and angrily runs at me, roaring something fierce. My heart rate sky rockets with what’s about to happen. I wrench my fist back as he gets too close, plowing into his jaw with a punch so hard that his head jerks back, his feet fly off of the ground, and he hits the mat in a motionless lump.

  A scream unlike anything I’ve heard before leaves the crowd as they stand, chanting my name like it’s the greatest thing on earth.

  There’s nothing like that feeling of when you turn in a circle in a huge auditorium full of people and they’re cheering for you. The noise, the crowd, it makes you feel fucking invincible. It’s like you could conquer anything thrown at you.

  In the end though, my eyes land on the one person who means the most to me. She looks like a fucking queen dressed in her sparkly black dress standing next to Jaxon and Aria, and man my baby’s happy. She yells, with her hands in the air, bouncing up and down in her sexy-as-hell shoes.

  I blow her a kiss, and then I’m plowed into by Sin and Gavin, lifting me up and spinning me around in celebration.

  CHYNA

  God, I thought I was going to lose my mind and puke when I saw that guy get back up and charge at Jace. Thankfully, he saw it coming and was able to protect himself. His career is going to make me die an early death at this rate.

  My throat clogs with emotion as his voice fills the overhead speakers, thanking his coach and friends. I’m taken off guard when he calls out “Kiki.”

  “My buddy, Gavin, watch out y’all, cause he’s brutal himself in the cage. Then there’s Kiki. Most of all for this fight, I’d like to thank my girl. She took care of me and pushed me hard. She’s my partner. I love you, Kiki.”

  I taste the warm salty wetness as one of my tears reach my mouth. I hiccup, overcome with emotion and blow him kisses, mouthing that I love him so much.

  The doubts I had eating at the back of my mind vanish with his public declaration. I had no idea that’s what I needed, but he just unknowingly gave it to me. I jump up a few times cheering, full of happiness. These shoes are freaking killing me, but he damn sure deserves to see me in them and nothing else as soon as he’s able to.

  “Wow, Chyna, he’s never said anything about family before,” Jaxon shares and I don’t know how it’s possible, but my smile grows even wider than before.

  “I love him, Jaxon, with my entire heart.”

  “I know. I’m happy for you guys, you’re good for him and you’re pretty cool, so that helps.”

  I laugh and hug Aria. I was dreading tonight but so far it’s turned out to be one of the best nights I’ve ever had.

  A few bodyguards clad in all black approach to escort us back to Jace’s dressing room. I take Jaxon’s elbow on one side with Aria doing the same on the other side and we head back to see Jace. I’m so excited, I can’t stop shaking. When I saw Jace hit Ramirez and send him flying, I wanted to jump on top of him like a mad woman. It was so unbelievably sexy, and then to hear the crowd go wild for him made my head spin.

  We get to the dressing room and I run to him. He holds me tightly and I bask in his warmth. I couldn’t give a shit less if he’s bloody and sweaty.

  Sin quickly cuts the tape off of Jace’s gloves, everyone congratulating him the entire time. Once he’s able to peel his gear off, he pulls me to the shower stall with him; our friends whistling and cheering the entire time.

  “You can’t wait a few hours?” I laugh and he grunts.

  “Fuck no, I’ve already waited days, baby. That ass is all mine right now, I earned it.”

  He starts the shower, jumping under the cold water and lathering up with soap bubbles all over. I just stand there watching his hands run over his muscular body. It’s so damn hot how his cock’s rock hard.

  “Come here, Kiki.”

  “Oh no, I’m not getting soaked!” I protest shaking my head, but it doesn’t matter. He leans out of the shower, yanking me to him before I have a chance to react.

  He pushes the shower spray to shoot off to the side, pressing my front to the wall; he hikes up the short back of my dress.

  “Jace!”

  “Are you ready, Chyna? Cause trust me when I say I won’t fucking stop.”

  I’m ready.” I reply shakily, turned on.

  “Now, Kiki,” he demands, thrusting deeply into me.

  “Oh God, yes!” I yell and he pushes into me again. Fuck, he feels amazing.

  “I love you, Chyna,” he growls, gripping each of my hips tightly in his hands as he seats himself again.

  “I love you too, Jace, so much.” I gasp and claw at the shower wall for something to hold onto, attempting to brace myself against his delicious assault on my body.

  “Fuck, I forgot the condom. I’m so sorry, baby.”

  “We talked about this before, I’m on birth control and I trust you. It’s okay.”

  “Jesus, you’re so fucking amazing,” he pants, kissing down my back.

  We’re used to the double protection—condom and birth control pills—but it’s time to move to the next step in our relationship.

  “I’m not going to last this time. It’s been a few days and having you bare feels crazy good.” He ends with another powerful drive and I call his name out.

  I feel his hands grip me tighter and it spurs on my orgasm, my pussy gripping and pulling at him, wanting him even deeper. He doesn’t disappoint as he leans in over me, pushing my body into the wall more as he pushes in and up, getting as deep as possible and it’s all that I can handle.

  I give up trying to hold onto anything, placing my hands flat against the cool wall as he finishes, whispering my name.

  Jace pulls back, and I’m surprised when a warm sensation meets my tender flesh between my legs. I glance down as he takes his loofah and gently cleans me up. When he’s finished, he hands me his clean towel to dry off with.

  “There, good as new.”

  I smile, “thank you.”

  He finishes scrubbing up in the shower. When he’s all cleaned up and redressed, we meet an irritated medic. He had to wait for us in order to check Jace over, but we couldn’t care less. It was so worth it. Jace isn’t badly hurt anyhow, thank God.

  “Just put some ice on your face.” The medic repeats himself, putting a butter
fly stitch over Jace’s eyebrow.

  “Okay,” Jace answers, trying not to move.

  “And rest. Do you need pain pills or some x-rays on anything?” The medic glances over Jace again, making sure he didn’t miss anything.

  “No, I’m okay.”

  “I’m serious, you need to ice everything.”

  This guy has told him that already, but he doesn’t realize that Jace will actually take care of his body, icing and soaking it like he needs to.

  I cut in before Jace gets irritated. “I’ll make sure he’s taken care of properly, thank you.”

  The medic looks over at me, huffs, and then gets up. He collects his medical supplies, and then he finally leaves.

  Jaxon jokes, “I’m guessing he bet on the other guy?”

  We all laugh and Jace answers, “Probably. So what’s the plan, now?”

  Gavin cocks his eyebrow, “You’re not too sore, champ?”

  We’re interrupted by a low knock on the door, and Sin moves to open it.

  Once he discovers who’s at the door, he talks to them for a second, and then Sin turns to us, irritation covering his features. “Jace, it’s your brother.”

  “Here?” Jace questions, his eyes wide, astonished that his brother is actually in Vegas. I don’t blame him, after what he’s told me. I can’t believe it either.

  “Looks like it. You want me to get rid of him?”

  “No, man. Thanks, but I’ll talk to him for a minute,” Jace replies and heads for the door.

  As soon as he’s in the hallway and the dressing room door closes, everyone turns to me like I have the answers. I don’t know what’s going on either.

  Aria breaks the awkward silence first. “Did you know his family was here?”

  “No way! Jace hasn’t said anything either. You could see by his face though that he was just as surprised to hear who was at the door as we are.”

  Sin clears his throat. “Looks like Jace has shit to deal with after his fight after all. He should be celebrating, not worrying about past shit.”

  Gavin mutters angrily, “Only one reason that scum would be here.”

  Jaxon turns to him, “Money?”

  “Yup, or his brother needs Jace to clean something up for him. It’s not the first time he’s showed up someplace random, searching out Jace because he was in some sort of trouble.” Gavin nods.

  Sin mumbles with what we’re all thinking, “Fuck.”

  JACE

  It never crossed my mind when my brother said he was coming, that he would actually be telling me the truth. He’s never gone to a fight of mine out of town before. I don’t know how on earth he could have afforded it in the first place—the ticket, and bus fare, plus a hotel room. I think the only reason I agreed to talk to him was to see him with my own eyes. I appreciate the gesture, but at the same time deep down I know he’s not really here to support me. He’s only around because it benefits him somehow.

  “You’re here.” I start off with the obvious and he nods, smiling.

  “I told you little brother. Congrats to the motherfucking champ!”

  “Thanks,” I grunt, unfazed.

  He nods and claps me on the back, “You look fine. You headed to party now?” Back in the day after a good scrap we’d head off and party all night. Getting wasted on whatever we could get our hands on.

  “No, I have to go take care of my injuries.”

  “Bullshit! Quit being a pussy and let’s go party. We’re in fucking Vegas!”

  “I’m not interested.”

  “I came all the way out here, for you to not wanna do a fucking thing?”

  “I didn’t ask you to come to my fight. I didn’t even want you to come.”

  “This is the thank you I get for showing my family fucking support. You know Ma and Pops wanted to come, too, but they didn’t have the fucking money to get here. I can’t believe their own fucking punk-ass son wouldn’t have them come to his biggest fight yet.” He’s so full of shit. I know my family would have spent that money, never having a thought of me grace their minds as they did it either. That’s fine. I’m a much better person without them.

  “That’s just it, brother.- Yes, this is my biggest fight! Why would I want them here? They don’t give a shit about me or my fighting career. Why are you really here? You here for a handout again?”

  He shoves past me, shoulder checking me, but I let it go. I know I could seriously hurt him, but I won’t stoop that low with him. He would try to sue me or blackmail me in a heartbeat if he could. It’s pathetic when your own family members will do what they can to take advantage of you.

  “Fuck you, baby brother!” He calls swaggering down the hallway and shooting me the bird over his shoulder.

  He’s sorely mistaken if he thinks I’ll follow him or call after him. Screw that shit. It’s time to celebrate with my girl and my friends, the people who actually give a shit and support me daily. They’re the ones who should benefit however they can from me, not some scum who shows up whenever he thinks I’m doing well for myself.

  Yes, I’ll get a very large payout from this fight. Not only do I win one hundred fifty k from completing all of the fights, but I also got offered a six figure contract from the man himself—David Sharpey—before this fight even started. He told me he didn’t need to wait until after the fight, that he knows I’m the real deal. I didn’t sign it though. I liked watching him sweat when I told him I’d find him after the fight was over. It was probably stupid, but he may come at me with a bigger offer now that I’ve won.

  When I step into the dressing room, all eyes shoot to me, waiting for some sort of a reaction. They won’t get one though, because honestly at this point in my life, I no longer care. Chyna was right when she told me that, at some point, I have to let it go and stop feeling guilty. I’ve made peace with the fact that my family are pieces of shits. My body and mind feel remarkably lighter now.

  “Everything okay?” Chyna asks, peering at me worriedly.

  “Yeah, Kiki, it’s cool. I’m good, everyone, don’t worry. Now, we were discussing plans for tonight.”

  “Is your brother sticking around?” Gavin asks and I shake my head.

  “Nope, all clear. Enough with that though, what are we doing to celebrate? ‘Cause I’m the fucking champion, in case you all forgot!”

  They laugh and the mood lifts as Jaxon and Aria argue over what they want to do first.

  Sin steps into the middle of the room. “First things first—we feed my fighter!” he orders and everyone cheers like it’s the best idea they’ve heard all night.

  four days later…

  I draw another blue squiggly line on the dry erase board we have on the hostess stand. I swear this is the slowest shift in the history of workdays. The restaurant’s been completely dead with a whopping three tables today. At this rate, I could have been the waitress and the hostess today. My boss just finished walking by, grumbling again about it.

  I want to text Jace so badly, but if management sees my phone out during my work hours I’ll get written up. I know it’s not professional, but I can’t help to want to talk to him. It feels like we’ve grown closer, and I don’t like being separated from him, especially while he’s still recouping.

  Vivid approaches, bumping her hip with mine. “Hey, Chyna doll.”

  “Hey, you. What are you up to?”

  “Oh nothing, boss just told me to cut you and Sophie. Y’all can go home, and I’ll take over for you both.” That must have been what the boss was grumbling when he walked by but I didn’t even pay him any attention.

  “Awesome, thanks. I can’t wait to go check on Jace.”

  “I’m sure he’s enjoying you being gone to work finally and not having you fuss all around him.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” I roll my eyes and blow her a kiss. My man likes to be fussed over.

  I clock out and make my way over to Jace’s apartment. He’s supposed to be taking it easy since his fight was just days ago. I, of course, find the o
pposite.

  His apartment door is open partially and I’m greeted with a crash sound as I approach it. I hear a slam then cussing, so I open the door quickly to make sure he’s okay. I know he’s perfectly capable of taking care of himself, but I can’t help it to want to protect him if needed.

  JACE

  I’ve been staring out my window like some kind of love-sick loser ever since Chyna texted that she was off early. It’s the second day with her being back to work, and I miss her. I feel like such a yuppie thinking that shit, too. I’ve never missed chicks like this before, and I’m wondering if maybe I’m coming down with a cold or something.

  Having her support the entire weekend for the fight, being in another city, was like my own little box of having her shower attention on me. I’m a very independent person, but being with her like that was beyond amazing. She’s such a remarkable person; her parents have no clue what they’re missing out on. What a bunch of dicks. I shake my head and shift my feet to get a better look out the window.

  On our trip I realized I love her more than I initially thought, and this is the woman I will do whatever I have to, in order to keep her. I know a good thing when it’s staring me in the face, and she surpasses good by a long shot.

  I watch her pull into the parking spot beside my Jeep. I have two parking spaces for my apartment, so it’s nice she always has a spot. I like to watch her walk from her car because you never know the type of creepers out and about.

  I used to be one of those little punks, just waiting for an easy opportunity. I never would have raped her or anything but when I was a teen I would have easily robbed her. I was a piece of shit, and now I’m paying for it by worrying about her safety. The next jack off may not think that way and rape or kill her.

  I unlock the dead bolt on the front door and open it about six inches for her. I make my way back to my spot to watch her. I don’t know why I don’t go outside and greet her; I guess I like to just have a chance to take her in when she doesn’t know it.