by Alice Dee
“I want to feel you,” she whispered, taking his lobe between her teeth. Dominic wasn’t about to argue. It felt so right; he’d hit it so hard her head was bouncing off the mirror behind her. Just as she was about to be sent over she was panged with fear of someone catching them.
“What’s wrong?” he murmured in her neck.
“I can’t,” she whispered back.
He gripped her hips and pulled her closer to his body. His eyes were hazy and he looked into hers and saw distance.
“Come on baby, yeah you can.”
Hearing him purr “baby” to her blew her flame brighter. He kissed her, gripped her harder and smiled, playfully biting her lip until he brought that smile back to life. She had a yearning to hear him say he loved her but because it was far too soon for that, she would accept him telling her how much he wanted her instead. They were equally sexy to hear at a time like this one.
“You feel me?” he asked, “This doesn’t tell you right here, how bad I want you?”
She pressed one palm on the counter top and wrapped her arm around his neck, getting back into the rhythm of things. She squeezed her eyes closed, toes mashed up against her shoes, biting into his jaw line. He almost told her he loved her in the heat of release, not because he did, but because it felt that good. She felt him pulsating inside of her, while waves blanketed her from the inside out. Eyes still closed, he moved his mouth to hers and slowly they peeled away from one another, mouths last.
With a feel of euphoric inebriation and mild chills, Hope sauntered out of the bathroom and bummed a cigarette off a stranger. She lit it and slumped back against a wall, the casino blaring constant bells and chatter. She was starting to develop a relationship with these cigarettes. From across the casino floor Shamayla could see Hope standing against the wall. Shamayla tapped her promo flyers against her hand and then strutted over to Hope, bumping arms with people.
“You whore!” Shamayla said with a sly smile on her face.
Hope gave her a look of discontentment.
“Oh, right, oops.” She smiled again. “You are seriously bad!” Shamayla turned to pass-byers and handed them the flyers the girls were instructed to hand out to promote Club F01.
Hope let her head fall back against the wall and languorously stared up at the ceiling, which seemed miles high. She freed the smoke from her lungs and watched it evaporate toward the ceiling, grinning to herself, bottom lip squeezed between her teeth. She moved in sleepy motion, putting the cigarette to her lips. Her eyes rolled down from the ceiling to the slot machines a few feet away. Shane was sitting at one, leaning into it with his eyes on her. After their eyes locked he looked away and focused his attention on the sporadic colored flashes in front of him. Hope could tell he’d been there for a while and no doubt saw Dominic exit moments before she had. She wasn’t sure why but it mattered that he didn’t look happy. It mattered that he knew what had just happened. It mattered because… she felt she owed him something after they had kissed, maybe? She wondered.
She watched Shane get up with a drink in hand and walk away without looking her way again. She looked at Shamayla who was looking back at her like “what the hell was that?”
36…Can’t hate her
Shamayla and Hope exited the Lucky Star together. Out on the sidewalk the guys were in a pact. Hope looked passed Dominic and zeroed in on Shane who was talking to a girl. She felt herself getting jealous but Dominic’s presence drowned out the feeling. The group discussed what the plans were for the remainder of the night, and it was decided they’d go to one of the hotel/casino bars on the strip and just hang out.
Hope left with Shamayla and Justin while Dominic and his buddies car pooled together. Sitting up front with him, Dominic took a moment to thank Shane for giving him the heads up about Tristan, and also for not telling her anything. Shane brushed it off as nothing.
“It’s not like I knew anything, anyway.”
“Still, I appreciate you looking out like that. I haven’t had the chance to really thank you.” He turned onto the Boulevard and broke it to Shane; he and Hope were indeed messing around. Shane took it all in stride, dismissing Hope as someone he thought was pretty and all, but “there aint nothing between us, do your thing”. Dominic appreciated Shane’s sort of approval and thanked him again. Now he wouldn’t so feel awkward being affectionate with her in front of any of his friends. Everyone knew he and Tristan called it quits and Hope was the girl in his life now. Dominic wasn’t sure what this meant just yet. He liked things the way they were. Making it official might kill it so as long as she was fine with it, he wouldn’t push for anything more.
Out on the strip the group broke up into couples and Dominic and Hope walked behind the rest of the gang, his arm around her shoulder. She sipped her cocktail and before she knew it she was drunk. Shamayla, walking with Justin just a few feet away from them, turned around and snapped her fingers to get Hope’s attention. She pointed to two nuns on the corner of Tropicana, the next block up. When they approached the nuns one handed Hope a flyer which she politely took. Dominic grabbed it from her hand and let it spiral away in the breeze from passing cars.
“Why did you do that?”
“It’s nonsense.” He pulled her in close and kissed the top of her head. Even through the blaring effects of the booze in her system, she could feel the pride he had being seeing with her, showing the world she was his woman, if only for the moment. She knew he felt something for her and after all the outstanding sex it was just a matter of time until he would label her his girlfriend. Of course it wasn’t just sex; it was a mutual passion and fondness of one another. Still, even in her lush mind state, her feelings were split. She looked up from the black sidewalk littered with wallet size cards of naked women. Shane was off to Shamayla's right, still talking to the same girl who tagged along.
At around one-fifteen they stopped at one of the casinos but Hope was too intoxicated to notice which. The group took an elevator up to the top floor where there was a nightclub and pool. The guys chipped in for a private bungalow. It wasn’t too crowded this night but for some reason none of the cocktail waitresses approached the bungalow so some of the guys went to the bar. Shane stayed behind with the stranger girl who excused herself to take a phone call. Hope, only feet away watched his eyes watching the chick’s ass when she walked passed. He smiled at it and then caught Hope staring at him.
“Hey,” he said, tossing his chin up at her.
She got up and sat closer to him, so they were sitting side by side. He looked at her for a moment and then joined her in sky gazing. It was so clear and deep purple with that yellow glow from the electric skyline. He inched his leg closer to hers till they were pressed together. She glanced at his face but he didn’t look at her. He took out his cigarettes, offered her one and lit it, still lost in space up there. He couldn’t hate her if he tried.
37… Fight Night
Dominic knocked on Tristan’s door though her car wasn’t parked in the driveway. He thought it might be parked on the garage or she stepped out for a bit. He’d been calling her all day but as usual she was acting like a kid and giving him the silent treatment. So he showered after work, grabbed something to eat, and drove to her house. Dan answered the door this time and told Dominic that Tristan wasn’t home.
“She went to California for the weekend. She’ll be back Sunday evening.” He cocked his head to the side. “She didn’t tell you?”
Dominic slid his hands in his pockets.
“No, she won’t take my calls.”
“What’s going on Dominic? What happening with you two? Tristan doesn’t tell me anything.”
Dominic didn’t want to be the one to inform him.
“We’re just having some issues right now, Sir. Our differences, you know?”
“I hope you work everything out, I really do.”
Dominic wasn’t sure how to respond.
“Uh, thank you.”
“You’re a good kid,” Dan went on.
“You’re like a son to me, one of the family.”
Dominic nodded. ‘Right, if only he knew…’
“I’ll try again Sunday.”
“Okay. Bye Dominic.”
He turned away from the Tristan’s dad and headed to his truck. THAT was awkward.
***
Figuring she’d deal with the consequences later, Hope called one of the girls and told her she wasn’t going into work that night, pass it on to Hammer. She deserved it after everything she dealt with at the “all new” Club F01. Sometimes she wondered how she went from a casino floor go go dancer to Club F101 “eye candy girl”. It all happened so fast! She stood in front her full length mirror and reached in a bag for her clothes. While she was yank-snapping tags off of the fabric, she double looked in the mirror. She had plum color bruises on her inner and outer thighs. Her eyes ran down her reflection and she noticed all the finger print marks on her legs.
Dominic…she could fall in love with him.
She slipped into a dress that was black with bb size white dots. It hugged her body perfectly. Her eye makeup enhanced her dark features and the red lipstick was the splash of color that completed the look. She went in the bathroom, getting nervous, fumbled with her mascara and dropped the wand against the porcelain sink. She looked away from the caked on black smudges and made sure her hair looked exactly how she wanted it to. She flicked off her bathroom light and went into the living room. Dominic was already knocking on the door. She swung it open and he did a double take. He walked into her with one hand on her ass and with the other closed the door.
“You sure you want to wear that around me?” He ran his hand up and down her backside.
“You have a fight tonight.” His bottom lip felt like rubber between her teeth. “Save your energy.”
“Screw the fight; I wanna submit you all night.”
She opened her eyes and moved her head back.
“There’s always later.”
“Okay, hurry up, we gotta be out of here,” he said, getting serious.
She grabbed her purse and locked up. Roberto was downstairs waiting for them in a black Expedition. They drove to Mandalay Bay where the event was held. Hope sat beside Dominic in the back with her head on his shoulder, squeezing his hand. There was no doubt in her head Dominic would do fine.
“Do you pray before these things?” she asked.
“Pray to what?”
She moved her head from his shoulder.
“Uh, God?”
“I don’t believe in God, sweetie.”
“What do you believe in?”
“The power of self.”
The vehicle came to a stop.
“You ready for this?” he asked her.
“I’m ready, are you ready?”
“Give me a kiss.”
She leaned in and they kissed for a few seconds.
“Hey,” he said, with seriousness in his eyes. “Be strong for me.”
“Good luck,” she called out as he got off the Expedition and grabbed his stuff.
***
Dominic lay on top of the bed with an icepack pressed to his forehead. He looked at Hope when she walked into the hotel room. Her hair was styled up and she had bracelet size loops hanging from her earlobes. She still had on her dress but her shoes were in her hand. She climbed up on the bed and rested her head on his chest.
“I’m proud of you,” she said softly, her eyes watching her finger glide over his nipple.
“I appreciate your support.” He put the icepack aside and nudged her to move up.
She studied the fresh cut above his eyebrow, bound together with shiny black stitches. His face was swollen in sporadic spots, fruit colored and contused. She didn’t like seeing what she saw that night. There were points where it seemed his eyes went blank, be it while he was bombarded by fists and elbows, or while he was hitting someone else. He had the same look in his eyes when he beat up Zefar. In the back of her mind she knew it bothered her. How much? Only time would tell.
“What’re you thinking about?” he asked, running his hand up her back, under her shirt.
“That was scary,” she responded.
“Seeing me hurt?”
“Everything.”
“I’ve been in worse shape than this, trust me.”
“It was exciting,” she admitted. Sitting amongst amped up spectators and commentators and cameras rolling, cheering and jeering fed her energy. She could only imagine what it must be like to be at the actual octagon. Surely Dominic had a foot in the door.
“Did you like it?”
“I did but I didn’t like seeing you hurt.”
Dominic unhooked her bra in a single snap and scratched an itch Hope had there. She recalled theories she heard around the keg. There were people out there who joked these fighters were basically trained killers of man, barbarians or modern day gladiators, and things like that. She knew she was fucked. She didn’t want to admit it to herself but there was no denying it. She liked him a lot. It hadn’t been long at all but the way he made her feel was out of this fucking world. Soon, nothing about him could possibly be enough for her to break away.
“Did you like seeing me hurt them?”
Honestly, a little bit, especially after his opponents struck him. She remembered during the first fight Dominic was kicked in the face. To see Dominic fire back with brutal force was accelerating her drive.
“A little, yeah,” she smiled. “You sure you don’t want to go the after party upstairs?” she asked.
“Fuck that, I’m sore and exhausted. I’d rather be here with you.”
She raised her chin, looking at his face again. She stretched her neck to kiss his bruises. Liking his physical response, she got really into it. She took her dress off and climbed on top of him.
“You gonna take care of me or what?” he asked, running his hands back and forth on her thighs.
“I’m a take care of you,” she whispered, backing up and pulling his shorts off.
Dominic lay back with his arms folded behind his head, smiling all big. She saw his smile and thought it was so cute. He stared at her until he was fully enclosed it wet warmth, brain flat lining on the spot. He gently took a handful of her hair from the underside of her head, grabbing at her roots so as not to hurt her.
She was amaaaazing….star wonder. Neither he nor she knew where all his energy was coming from but it ended with one side of Hope’s perspiring hairline against the satin pillow case. Dominic was breathing heavy, sore body heaving in and out. He had his arm tucked around her waist and slowly pulled it form under her. He fell back on the bed, holding his ribs that were killing him.
“I’m fucking crazy about you, girl,” he said all out of breath. He stretched over to the night stand for his pills and popped a pain killer, closed his eyes. She rolled over on her back, hopped off the bed and went into the bathroom, looking at herself in the mirror, wondering what she was doing, where this would go. She knew where it could go and all the problems that followed seemed minute. She got into a shirt and went back to the bed, staring down at him. He was already asleep.
She cuddled up to his body and fell into dreamy, beautiful sleep.
38…Tristan tells Dominic
Tristan lay on her side in the fetal position, staring dead into the wall. Her room was very childlike with a twin size bed and stuffed animals, trophies from grade school and posters of her favorite actors and recording artists. She held a stuffed panda bear against her stomach, her face warmly tingling and watering. There was a tap on the door that startled her. She rolled over and called out that was she “resting”.
“It’s me.”
She recognized Dominic’s voice immediately and sat up, her hair falling over her shoulders. She wiped her face and went to her bedroom door, pulled it open. He was standing there with that sharp seriousness in his blackened eyes. His face was still swollen all over, different shades of bruised. It angered her in more ways than one. He actually fought without her ther
e, he probably took Hope, and he got his ass kicked.
He was wearing black jeans with a black tee shirt and she could smell his cologne. The familiar scent swept her with grief. She missed him. Dominic let himself in and she closed the door behind him. He didn’t notice how red her eyes and nose were, that she’d been crying. He was here to say what he had to and that was it.
“How was California?”
Tristan crossed her arms.
His eyes zeroed in on her stomach. Maybe her shirt was a little too baggy, maybe she just wasn’t showing much, or maybe he just couldn’t tell.
“I don’t want to fight,” he began calmly, sitting in a woven chair. “I just want you to know that I want to put everything behind us and focus on this baby-“
“Oh,” she said with an eye roll. “That’s why you’re here.”
“Tris, I don’t want to fight,” he repeated.
“Was she there? Did you take her to that fight?”
“I’m not here to talk about that-“
“How could you move on so fast, like nothing?”
“You couldn’t be there anyway, you’re pregnant. Seeing me like that wouldn’t have done either one of us any good.”
“Can you just tell me why her? Is it even her? Did you just fall out of love with me?”
“You know me,” he went on. “I will be here one hundred percent. This whole situation is a mess but that’s beside the point. Doctor visits, whatever, the birth, everything, and anything you need. I’m here.”
“Really?” she laughed. “Wouldn’t you rather be with your hooker girlfriend?”
He smiled knowing damn well she should refrain from even going there but Tristan was taunting him, wanting to take it there.
“This is between us. Please for once, act your age?”
“I don’t need you. Go be with that hooker.”
“She’s not a hooker, damnit.” He stood up on his feet.
“You’re banging a dirty nasty ho!” she pounded her fist against his chest. On the verge of losing her mind, she couldn’t hold it in anymore.