Fight for You

by Charisse Spiers

  I fist both hands in her hair and roughly press her against the door with my body, trying not to make too much noise. The bulge in the front of my jeans is quickly growing and hardening. I've gone weeks without sex before, and in some extreme cases months, because I controlled when I called upon a woman, but with her I can't seem to go more than a few hours. It's fucking insane. My dick has suddenly taken control of everything.

  I look down at her and lick my bottom lip. Her lips are quivering. "Dammit, what are you doing to me, Piper? I feel like I'm hanging off a cliff with one hand, and one finger at a time I'm about to fall. My adrenaline is raging nonstop and every emotion is constantly swirling around inside, emotions I haven't felt in years or ever. I don't understand it and I have no fucking idea why I feel this way. I feel like a horny teenager every time I look at you. I do know that if you keep looking at me like that, I won't be able to wait until we get home to feel your warm pussy clenching around my cock. I really don't want to have to explain to the only family I've got why we turned up missing in the middle of dinner."

  I wrap my lips around her full bottom one, needing another quick taste. She places her hands underneath my shirt and rubs them up my back, pulling me closer to her, even though we're perfectly aligned with each other. My dick is throbbing for release, as if I've been neglecting it. I pull her hair, now frustrated with the way I'm feeling. "Sexual chemistry is a beautiful thing. I feel the same way, so there's no need to fight it. I can't deny you my body. I won't. The day I stop making you feel this way is the day we both know this is over."

  My jaw steels. I tug her hair harder, tilting her head more, pulling her ear closer to my lips. "Not going to fucking happen. I take ownership of things that I want. You might as well get settled baby, because you aren't going anywhere. I don't care what it costs."

  I lean back enough to see her face, placing my hand on her cheek. She has a sexy smirk on her face, not helping this situation any. "I'm not objecting, Hayes. I'm pretty sure you already own me anyway."

  "Good, because it's going to stay that way." I slam my lips to hers and take what's mine. She moans as our tongues mingle, and I have to make myself stop. I push myself off the door and grab my hair in my hands, backing up a few feet. The sight before me is the most beautiful sight I've ever witnessed; each one of her is. Her hair is slightly messy and her lips are red from my stubble. I'm breathing heavily and an ache starts to form in my chest. I feel like some force has taken over my body. It wouldn't be the first time, although this one is slightly different. "Piper, I-"

  Her eyes widen a little. "What, Haddox?"

  "Haddox, Piper, are you two over there?" Kaitlyn's voice shouts across the yard, interrupting us.

  I blink a few times, trying to clear the haze going on in my head. I'm not sure what I was about to say. "Nothing. Let's go eat. I'm sorry. I'm being kind of an ass by keeping you over here, making us look like bad guests. Come on, beautiful."

  She takes a deep breath and runs her fingers through her hair. I hold out my arm until she walks into it, allowing me to wrap it around her shoulders. "You look beautiful in case I forgot to voice it aloud. I'm so used to keeping my thoughts to myself that I may forget when it's meant to be outwardly spoken, but I am trying, Piper. At some point I will tell you things about my past, but it may be one thing at a time. I'm harboring some really bad shit inside, so I need you to remember that I am trying. Execution isn't as easy as I thought."

  She places her arm around the back of my waist. "I won't push you to tell me. It only means something if you tell me on your own." We step off the covered patio into the grass, heading for the grill and patio set.

  Now it's eating at me. I want to tell her things, because I don't want her to be with someone that's done the things I've done without being warned, but I don't know how. I've never wanted to before. Marlin and Kaitlyn know things, because of the circumstances in how we met, but not everything. I want her to make the choice to stay even knowing what kind of monster I am. Even if the beauty always ends up with the beast, I won't trick her by deceiving her. The scary part is if she chooses to leave, but it wouldn't be the first time that a woman I've cared about has.

  I watch Maggie run around the yard with a magic wand, ribbon attached and flying behind her in the wind, as if she's the fairy godmother on Cinderella. She's even singing the words as she watches the wand. "Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi bobbidi-boo." It makes it better that it's in a child’s voice. I get the vibe that she's going to be a singer. I'm not even sure how she knows the lyrics to such a complicated song. I've watched that damn movie hundreds of times over the course of my life and still couldn't sing most of it now. She's four.

  I take another sip of my beer, half of it already gone. I'm stuffed from the food, but the alcohol is putting my nerves at ease. I really like Marlin and Kaitlyn. They are laid back and make me feel like I've known them for years. I can see why Haddox is close to them. I just hope that he can one day be as close to me. I want to know him like they do.

  The sun is already setting. The last couple of hours have flown by as the conversation flows between us. Kaitlyn asked how the two of us met, which led to my career choice in fashion design. We spent almost an hour talking about that, but the guys quickly moved to the side and started their own conversation. I can't blame them. It's not usually a topic that interests the male population.

  "So, Piper, have you ever played darts?"

  I look at Marlin with a grin on his face. "No," I say in return. "I can't say that I have. Is it fun?"

  He gets a wild look in his eyes, one of competition. "It's the best game there is. No one comes to the Bankston house without being properly broken in. That calls for a game of darts. You want to play?"

  I look at Haddox and he's shaking his head with a smirk across his face. "Don't do it. Marlin here is a champ. It's almost boring because he always wins."

  Marlin playfully slaps Haddox on the back of the head. "Hey, don't be a sore loser. You're just still mad that I'm better at something than you. Just because I'm the dart champ between me and you doesn't mean she can't beat me. Hold your tongue. What are you afraid of?"

  "I was drunk. That hardly qualifies you as a champion when the other player can barely see the board."

  I laugh at their playful banter. It's cute to see two men full of testosterone fight over the title of winner. I stand and finish off my beer. "Okay. I'll bite the bait. Show me what to do."

  "Nice," Marlin says. "We have a player. She's a keeper, Haddox."

  Haddox looks at me, as if he wants me to hear him. "I'm aware. That's why she's here." Damn you. Stop stealing my heart. I'm becoming putty in his hands.

  Marlin grabs two sets of darts and hands me five. "Step up to the line, Piper. I'll even let you go first."

  I take the darts in my hand and do as he says, stepping to the edge of the cement where the grass meets. The dartboard is hanging on a large Oak tree in the yard, several feet away.

  Marlin steps up behind me but keeps a distance and grabs the back of my hand in his, pulling it level with my head, as if he's about to show me how to throw. "Okay to aim-"

  "Marlin," Haddox interrupts, walking up to us. His voice is now serious. "I think this is my domain. I'll teach her." I get a flutter in my stomach as I watch him become territorial. I glance at Marlin and he winks, as if he did it on purpose. I can't be more thankful either.

  Kaitlyn has her hands over her mouth as if she's trying hard not to laugh. I can see it in her eyes. She stands and walks toward us, looking out at Maggie in the yard. "Maggie," she shouts. "Come on, baby. It's bath time."

  Maggie starts to run toward her. "I'm going to get her settled down while you three play. I'll be back shortly." She looks at me, and smiles, as Marlin and Haddox change positions. "I guarantee you'll still be playing when I get back. I'll bring the wine when I return."

  She grabs Maggie's hand and leads her inside, leaving the three of us to this game I'm probably about to be terrible at. I ho
ld all the darts in my left hand and one in my right, preparing to aim. "So I just aim for bullseye, right?"

  Haddox aligns his body with the back of mine, placing his hands on my hips and his head over my shoulder, his lips residing just outside my ear. I shiver against him as he angles my body, my left hip turned toward the board. "That's a good start, but not exactly. I thought you were left handed?"

  That voice does things to me that should be kept secret. I can't believe he noticed what hand I write with. Most guys don't notice those things, little things. "I'm ambidextrous with a left hand dominance. I usually have to figure out what hand I do things with. In sports it's almost always the right."

  "Noted," he says, but continues. He makes no effort to distance himself from me. I like it, but it's hard to breathe, to speak, or to perform simple actions that should be instinct. "There are a few ways to play, but the way Marlin likes to play is this: each player starts with five hundred and one points. The first person to zero wins."

  He points at the dartboard and starts explaining the various, colored sections divided by metal wire, but keeps speaking in that low, seductive voice, making this sexual. "The outer ring is single scoring based on which one you hit, the middle double, and the inner triple points."

  "Um...okay." This doesn't really sound fun, but I'm not going to complain with him holding me like this. This is what's fun, not the rules of this game; however, he can continue to explain if he's going to whisper in my ear like he's been doing. I may even feign idiocy so he will continue.

  "Just aim for bullseye until you get close to zero. I'll keep your score. If you can beat Marlin, your reward will be waiting at home." Oh shit. Bless him. He knows the mechanisms for proper bribery.

  "Are you trying to offer me sex if I can win us a championship, Hayes?" I keep my voice low where only Haddox can hear me. I'm not even sure what Marlin is doing at this point. He's out of my line of vision.

  "Maybe...is it working?"

  "It's definitely working. Game on." He places his hand against the outside of my forearm, pressing upward for me to lift it. As I do, his fingertips brush along my skin toward my underarm, causing goose bumps to arise. How in the hell am I supposed to concentrate with him this close to me? I need to focus. I want the prize.

  "Aim where you want it to go and swing your arm forward, letting the dart slowly release. Try it," he says and replaces his hand on my hip. I exhale deeply, trying to revert my attention back to the not so interesting board in front of me from the sexiest man alive at my rear.

  I hold the dart in my fingers similar to a pencil and swing forward, hitting in the middle twenty. "Well, it's not the center but it's on the board. Throw the rest of them." I do as he says until all five darts are out of my grasp: three on the board and two on the ground. I guess I could have done worse.

  "It's about time. I was starting to gray over here waiting for Haddox to actually let you throw. I'm pretty sure I just downed a whole beer." I laugh at Marlin as he walks up beside me, taking his stance.

  I try to separate myself from Haddox to move out of the way, but his hands move around to my stomach, tightening his hold. "You aren't going anywhere. I like you like this."

  He pulls me backward to give Marlin some room. I lay my head back against his chest and tilt it toward his neck. I immediately forget where I am, not caring about the stupid game. I just want to be locked in solitude with him. My hand wraps around him and stops on the back of his neck. I rub upward, letting his hair slip through my fingers. This is the closest to him I've ever felt. I'm hooked and I find myself not wanting to let him go. "I could stay like this all night," he says. "It's strange, but I feel more at peace with you than I've ever felt in my life."

  He speaks as if he's thinking out loud, not meaning for me to hear. If only he knew what he was doing to me. I'm falling hard and can't be stopped. I've been at the edge for the last few days, but today I lost my footing and the spiral downward has begun. I can't see the bottom and that scares me, but the feeling and the rush that I get as I free-fall is enough to keep going.

  "Bullseye, baby!" Marlin shouting in excitement pulls us from our perfect moment. Well, damn...

  I've laid in this bed staring at the ceiling for over an hour. My mind is going a hundred miles an hour and won't stop. The beauty of this weekend is starting to hit me hard. I'm overthinking everything. I hate that about myself. It's probably why everything gets ruined ninety-five percent of the time. I can't seem to just enjoy things for what they are. I am constantly picking at every conversation and situation, looking for something to go wrong.

  I can hear Haddox breathing peacefully beside me, his arm laid over my stomach. I can't lie here any longer. I'm making myself crazy with my thoughts. I grab his hand and lay it on the mattress, slipping out of bed quietly. Tiptoeing across the floor, I open the bedroom door just enough to fit through, and inch it closed behind me. I turn, now looking at the staircase before me, spiraling down to the first floor. He really has a beautiful home. I actually like this one better than the penthouse in the city.

  It's dark, but surprisingly he has nightlights throughout the house, starting with the staircase. I wonder if it's coincidence or because of me. I'm surprised I'm even wandering through an unfamiliar house in the dark by myself, but I need some air. I just need to be able to think...clearly. I can only do that when I'm not surrounded by that man. Placing my fingertips on top of the twisted iron railing, I slowly descend down the dark wooden steps.

  I pass by the kitchen bar and notice a set of French doors. Through the door windows, it looks like a pool based on the reflection of moonlight spotlighting on the water.

  I unlock the door and open it, hoping and praying that an alarm system doesn't go off. Then I'll feel like an idiot, or end up shot, one or the other. I'm sure a guy like Haddox is packing. It's just part of his nature. He's protective and territorial. I like that about him. It makes me feel safe...and wanted.

  When I'm in the clear I shut the door as quietly as I can. A security light comes on and I freeze, until I realize it has a sensor. The back part of the house is fenced off, making it private to the surrounding neighbors. That's probably a good thing since I'm in one of Haddox's tee shirts and my panties. I look overhead at the covering that runs down the length of the house, keeping the patio furniture free from weather, and also the support for three leaf shaped fans evenly placed. Damn. I bet this place is awesome in the summer.

  The natural light reflecting off the pool water is beautiful, drawing me toward it. I walk to the edge and sit, placing my feet in the water. The water comes up above my calves. It feels warmer than I expected. I lean back and place my palms on the cement as I kick my legs back and forth in the water. The sound of the water with my feet in motion is soothing. The slightest breeze is blowing, picking up strands of my hair and tossing them around. Tilting my head back I look at the stars, shining brightly across the blackened sky; a peaceful ambiance.

  Things I shouldn't even be worried about are plaguing my mind. I want so bad to think that when we return to the city things will remain this way, but to be realistic means that you hold the expectations life will get in the way. Haddox has a career and I need to focus on school. Things are about to get really complicated and busy, probably for both of us.

  Neither of us knows how to make a relationship even work. I dated Cole in high school. I had no responsibilities then, so things were pretty damn simple. I was his shadow most of the time, never having to think or do for myself. I just went along with everything that he wanted, trying to constantly conform to the perfect girl in his eyes, always scared that one wrong move and he would leave me. Eventually he did. It was a fucked up relationship when I think about it. Even I'm ashamed of it and I'm the one that was living it. I never want to be that girl again. I need to remember that when I'm around Haddox and he consumes me.

  On top of all that, we live in different areas, separated by fast pace living. Hell, we live in totally different worlds when it
comes to social circles. He may meet my family once and decide he doesn't want to deal with that shit. I don't most of the time and I was born into it. I guess I'll see at the charity ball...if he's still going and doesn't back out.

  I want this to continue once we get back tomorrow, but I need to prepare myself in case the opposite happens. Here, we're surrounded by solitude, good friends, and no schedules or itineraries. The opposite of those things add stress to a person's life, and stress puts pressure to eliminate extras, i.e. a relationship that is new. Those are the reasons that I need to be careful still, even though things are going great right now. If I don't, I'm going to regret it later.

  I can already tell that Haddox is hard not to love. He's that man that every woman is drawn to once they get a small peek. Even swirled with darkness he's still an amazing man. He reveals a little of his character from time to time, but even if he didn't it's not hard to see. Usually the people worth knowing stick out like a brightly shining star in a dark sky, exactly like the ones above me. They radiate a physical beauty, but when you get a look up close, you fall in love. I'm there.

  I'd like to think Haddox feels the same about me, but some of the way he feels could just be because it's the first time. First love is beautiful, but it's titled first for a reason. It almost always doesn't last forever. It starts through curiosity of the heart feeding off the senses. It's your heart venturing out for the first time, experiencing the light flutter that it's never known before, but it's immature.