In His Corner

by Alexandra Warren

  Just like in a real fight, it wasn’t my job to let her fully recover, the daze she was in from her orgasm only making my desire to deliver a knockout combination even more urgent. So I wasted no time, swiping the back of my hand across my face to get rid of her juices before flipping her onto her back and entering from behind with one swift plunge that had her releasing a shrill cry of pleasure.

  My hands went to cover her fists that were clenching the sheets as I continued to drive inside of her, giving her everything we had missed out on while I was away, reminding her of what I had to offer now that I was back and letting her know I was here to stay. And even if she didn’t get the message completely, she definitely wasn’t complaining as I blew her back out with reckless abandon, naturally releasing some of the tension I had built up during fight camp without letting it all go since I’d need it for my actual bout with Boston next week.

  Somehow this also felt like a fight, like an opportunity to plead my case and solidify my place in Bella’s life regardless of how carnal it was. But it seemed to be more and more worth it with every moan of my name coming from her sweet lips, with every request to go deeper and harder, and especially once I felt her tense up as if she was getting ready to cum again.

  “Give it to me, Bella,” I demanded, feeling completely out of control as her walls began to contract around me with her orgasm, practically squeezing my nut out of me even though I did my best to pull out since we hadn’t used a condom. But even without being inside of her, my body was still spasming as I stroked myself empty onto her sheets, my grunts clashing with Bella’s heavy breathing as she worked to collect herself.

  Since I was at the tail-end of camp, I was in tip-top shape, giving me a leg up on recovery as I climbed from the bed and teased, “Didn’t know you liked it so rough.”

  “Me neither until you did it. What was that all about?” Bella asked, flipping onto her back and resting her forearm against her forehead as if she was legitimately exhausted.

  I shrugged as I made my way to the bathroom nearby to clean myself up, yelling from the sink, “I’ve been around nothing but grown ass men for almost two months, B! Shit felt like some fresh outta jail pussy even though the mission isn’t complete just yet.”

  Sure I had snuck away from training camp to see her, but I still had a big fight to worry about; a fight that I couldn’t take for granted nor an opponent I could treat like lightweight. And while I wasn’t supposed to be letting anything get in the way of that, seeing Bella’s smile live and in color as she leaned against the door frame to watch me somehow made it worth any possible trouble in the future. Though she still wasn’t completely sold when she asked, “Should I feel special or like a bad influence?”

  I quickly dried my hands so that I could pinch her chin when I answered, “Both. More special though.”

  She rolled her eyes teasingly as her hands went to my abs, admiring them as she gushed, “You’re so ripped. I mean, you’re always in good shape, but… somehow you look even more in shape.”

  “That’s what fight camp will do to you, B. Stricter diet, more training, more sparring. Had to get this body right so it’ll handle business for me next week,” I replied, laughing at how fascinated she seemed by the transformation until I asked, “But yo, what’d you have to tell me?”

  “Huh?” she said, snatching her hands away and turning to leave.

  But I was right on her heels as I reminded her, “You said you needed to tell me something earlier, but I cut you off.”

  “Oh! Uh… nothing. Nothing important,” she replied with a wave of her hand as she began to pull the bedding up so she could wash it, the action only making things feel more suspicious.

  Still, I tried to play it cool, jumping in to help as I said, “Must’ve been important if you were trying to get it out right away.”

  Once again, she only brushed me off. “Nah. I mean, it can wait. You have a lot on your plate, big fight coming up. I don’t want to put anything extra on your mind when you’re supposed to be focusing on that.”

  I didn’t mean to snap, but I could tell Bella received it that way with how she flinched when I asked, “How can I focus with you keeping secrets from me?” And her heavy sigh that followed only made my anxiety worse, my still mostly-deprived state unable to deal with even the smallest agitations.

  But her uneasy approach didn’t make much sense when the only thing she said was, “I… got another cover story. With Levi Graham.”

  “The ball player?”

  There was a notably odd switch in her mood the way she pepped up to answer, “Yep! Interview is in two weeks, with the photoshoot the week after that.”

  “That’s what’s up. Congratulations,” I replied shortly, legitimately proud to hear the news while also still feeling skeptical. And since I didn’t really have the patience to continue beating around the bush, I straight out asked, “Is… that all?”

  “That’s all,” she rushed out as she gathered the bedding to take to the washer which really meant that wasn’t all.

  But since I hadn’t been around to really know what else might’ve been going on in her world, the only thing I could do was follow her and ask, “You sure?”

  She kept herself busy stuffing everything into the washer as she answered, “It was positive. I mean, I’m positive, Princeton. Just good news about my career when you’re not even supposed to be thinking about me because you have someone waiting to get beat up by you and millions of people ready to watch worldwide; legally and illegally.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at her wit, shaking my head at what I knew was the truth when I said, “Aight. Well let me get out of here before Pops catches on and I gotta beat him up too.”

  I went back to the room to get the rest of my clothes on, Bella eventually joining me to ask, “How much are front row seats to that fight? Cause I’d be willing to pay double. Triple if I can get a lick in myself. You know I’ve been working on my left hook.”

  Once again, I shook my head with a laugh, grabbing her by the chin for a kiss before telling her, “You’re so crazy, B.” Then I landed another kiss that I especially savored since it would be the last for at least a week.

  On my way out of her room, I noticed a bad ass dress hanging from the door that made me smile just thinking about seeing her in it, turning back to ask, “This what you wearing to the fight?”

  Some of that skittish energy returned as Bella crossed her arms over her chest, gnawing at her lip when she replied, “I was going to, but… it doesn’t fit quite right anymore. So I have to find something new, something more comfortable.”

  “Well as long as you’re there, that’s all that matters,” I assured her before taking off towards the door with her right behind me, pulling the door open and turning around to take one last look at her.

  She was wearing a half-hearted smile when she said, “We’ll be there. Gina and I… will be there.”

  My original concerns returned, but I knew I didn’t have the capacity to take on whatever she was holding in without losing complete focus. So instead, I gave her a smile of my own, brushing a hand against her cheek as I told her, “See you then, B.”

  &

  She wasn’t there.

  Physically, sure.

  I could see her, and she looked gorgeous as always.

  But it was clear Bella’s head was elsewhere as I took on the press with her at my side, her eyes constantly drifting off into space as if there weren’t a million and one things going on around her.

  I originally assumed she was just a little taken aback by seeing me completely in character at the weigh-ins, not used to the rowdy persona that made for good photo ops and built suspense to sell last minute Pay-Per-View purchases. Then I wondered if she was just overwhelmed, not used to being in the spotlight, much more comfortable as the one asking the questions instead of the one answering them. But it usually took even the shiest person only a few questions to shake that off. And since Bella and I had been at it for at leas
t an hour now, I knew something was really up with her.

  Without causing too much of a scene, I leaned over to whisper, “B, you good?”

  The way she jumped in response to my words only showed me just how out of it she had been, especially once she said, “Huh? Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little tired, I guess.”

  “Bright lights and hot takes got you beat, huh?” I asked with a grin, knowing good and well how draining it could be.

  Honestly, I was glad she could see what it was like to be on the other end so that she’d be forced to take that into consideration in the future when she got back to business. But it didn’t seem as if that was the true root cause of her standoffish demeanor when instead of giving her usual wit, she only answered, “Yeah, yeah. All that.”

  The response made my concern grow steeper to the point that I decided to excuse us from the press room, the action earning a side eye from my father though he knew better than to intervene. And once we were alone, I couldn’t help but notice the way Bella still seemed aloof, forcing me to ask, “Bella, for real. What’s going on with you?”

  “I… really don’t wanna talk about it right now. I just need you completely focused,” she answered, taking her attention to the table of goodies instead of leaving it with me.

  But even then, I followed her over, watching intently as she picked away at a croissant before tossing it in the trash. As if whatever was on her mind had taken her appetite. And once I thought back on her words, I realized, “So that’s what this is about? Now that we’re a day away from the fight, you’re feeling nervous about my well-being?”

  It shouldn’t have surprised me that the fight had Bella feeling uneasy since that had never not been the case, though she only rolled her eyes when she replied, “Princeton, you’re a black man in America. I always feel nervous about your well-being.”

  While I was grateful to see at least a small glimpse of the witty Bella I knew, I still told her, “You know what I mean.”

  She released a heavy sigh, peeking up at me to explain, “I just want you to… No. I need you to be okay after this.”

  “Bella, we already talked about this. I’ll be fine. I mean, it’s not like this is my first time in the ring,” I reminded her with a laugh, once again finding her concern adorable.

  She only doubled down on that when she replied, “It’s not. But it’s my first time seeing you in the ring and actually being invested in the outcome.”

  “So you really fuck with me like that, huh?” I asked with an arrogant grin as I pulled her into a hug, hoping that would ease some of her worry.

  Though she didn’t let me pull her completely into the embrace, instead stopping me with a hand against my chest as she said, “Princeton, I’m serious. This whole thing has me… beyond sick. For more reasons than one.”

  Her anxiety was evident, but it was also the exact type of energy I didn’t need around me since confidence and aggression would be the driving force in my victory. And while I knew it wasn’t because she didn’t believe in me, I still did my best to kill any doubt when I told her, “Listen, Bella. I appreciate your concern. Knowing you care so much has my heart feelin’ all warm and fuzzy. But I need my shit to stay on ice so I can really fuck “Big Time” up tomorrow. It’s an important part of the process, love.”

  “Understood,” she answered shortly with a nod before trying to make her way back to the goodies table.

  I didn’t let her get away, instead pulling her closer as I continued, “And when I’m done, we’ll sit back and laugh our way to the bank about you being all worried about the kid. Right after my celebratory fuck.”

  She didn’t seem so convinced, her grin half-hearted when she said, “If you’re up for it.”

  “Oh, I’ll definitely be up for it. Consider your guts demolished, B,” I replied, being sure to shut that down just like all of her other worries.

  And while it felt good to at least have the situation a little more stabilized, I wondered if I should’ve been the one concerned once she said, “Trust me, Princeton. They already are.”

  -Round Six-

  Bella

  I was in way over my head.

  Watching Princeton train at the gym was one thing since it was usually just a free opportunity to admire and lust. But watching Princeton in live action against a real opponent while also carrying the child I had yet to tell him about was far too much to handle, especially now that the fight was well beyond the round Princeton claimed he’d have “Big Time” knocked out by during the press conference at weigh-ins; one of the few things I had actually heard him say since my brain had otherwise been occupied with all things baby.

  I still couldn’t believe I had added an unplanned pregnancy to my long list of recent screw-ups, no matter how real the ultrasound, the heartbeat, the… symptoms. I mean, it almost seemed as if someone had a voodoo out on my life, teasing and toying with every aspect like I didn’t have to actually live the shit. And that only felt more real as I watched Princeton catch a hit above his eye that stumbled him back a bit while the crowd roared with excitement, the punch enough to draw blood and make me want to throw up.

  In fact, I was just getting ready to make a mad dash for the bathroom when Gina caught me by the arm, instructing me to sit back down so I wouldn’t miss anything.

  I wanted to miss it all.

  The crowd roared again as the bell rung signaling the end of the round, Princeton appearing stable enough to at least make it to his corner. And once he was there, Tony and Little Tony worked magic getting his cut cleaned and patched with a glob of Vaseline as his father yelled at him about what he was doing wrong, yet another thing for me to feel antsy about. But just as quickly as the round had ended, the bell was ringing once again to signal the start of another one, Princeton smacking his gloves together with new energy as he approached “Big Time” in the middle of the ring.

  The two did their usual dance, trading body shots back and forth that I knew Princeton could handle. But when “Big Time” threw a left hook, I flinched in my seat as if he was throwing it my way. Though Princeton not only managed to dodge it, but also meet him with a counterpunch that made him fall back against the ropes, eliciting another roar from the crowd.

  It seemed as if everyone was on their feet as Princeton continued to throw a combination of punches to weaken “Big Time”; some that he managed to block, others that he was forced to absorb. But when the referee came to break it up, giving “Big Time” a small chance to recover, I knew I was better off saying a prayer than actually watching the rest of the fight unfold.

  “Dear God. I know we don’t talk as often as we should, but I need a huge favor in the form of a knockout so I don’t stress your latest - though questionable - creation in my womb even more than he or she already is...”

  Another roar from the crowd snapped me from my plea, one of my eyes peeking open to find “Big Time” laid out on his back and Princeton’s victorious arms in the air.

  “Damn, you work quick. We’ll be in touch,” I told God before shooting a kiss in the air with my two fingers. Then I grabbed my clutch to join Gina and the rest of the crowd in celebration, my eyes on the verge of tears now that he had officially pulled it off.

  I couldn’t have been prouder as I watched Princeton be named Champion once again, though I wasn’t completely relieved since I knew I had to tell him about the baby sooner than later. But for now, I’d let him have his moment, let him enjoy the temporary smile on his father’s face, the joy from his play uncle and cousins, the excitement of the crowd around him. And I was especially giddy to listen in on his post-fight interview, thinking back on the first one I had heard from him; the thing that had intrigued me most.

  “And now look at you,” I thought to myself, shaking my head as Gina pulled for me to join her ringside while Princeton made his rounds taking pictures.

  When he noticed me standing nearby, his smile got especially arrogant as he yelled from above the ropes, “You trust me now?”

/>   “I always did,” I yelled back with a smile of my own, though I was cringing internally once I saw the way the space above of his eye was beginning to swell. But he seemed completely unfazed, tossing a wink my way as his father pulled him away for more pictures with his team.

  I was content just watching until Gina leaned into me and asked, “So… you ready to break the news?”

  In the moment, playing coy felt like the only option that wouldn’t have me curling into a ball of nerves. So that was exactly what I did, easily brushing off her question when I replied, “I think I’m going to wait until tomorrow. Let the hype die down a little bit. I mean, one more day won’t hurt, right?”

  Of course that response didn’t meet Gina’s standards as she got right in my face to shout, “Bella! He needs to know and he needs to know now!”

  “Says who?”

  “Says that little pouch you’re trying to hide under this dress,” she replied with a nod down below that had me trying to suck it in to no avail.

  But even with her acknowledgment - and her loud mouth - I still found a way to defend myself when I reasoned, “You only notice it because you know what’s going on. Everybody else probably just thinks I had one too many five-dollar boxes from Popeyes.”

  “Bella…” she groaned, once again making her annoyance known.

  And I quickly succumbed to her displeasure, telling her, “Fine, fine. I’ll tell him later on tonight. Maybe after our celebratory fuck.”

  If nothing else, I was at least looking forward to that part of the deal. Though Gina was quick to remind me, “That’s how your ass got like this in the first place,” before leading us towards the backstage grounds, our all-access passes hanging proudly around our necks so we wouldn’t be stopped.

  Once we made it back, we found the space filled with celebrities and reporters alike, Gina quickly becoming star struck as I dragged her past the action to get to Princeton’s dressing room which seemed virtually empty compared to what was going on outside of it. But I was glad to see familiar faces all working to get Princeton back to normal, Little Tony putting together a temporary solution for his eye until they could get a real doctor to suture the gash, Tony cutting his hand wraps, and Brandin… being Brandin.