by Claire Adams
“I’m glad to hear that,” Justin said and handed me a few forks. Our fingers brushed, and we looked at each other for a moment. I wondered if he felt the same spark that I did.
We finish cleaning up the kitchen and then moved into the living room where he motioned for me to sit by him on the couch.
“There’s something I wanted to ask you,” he began.
“Okay, ask away,” I said.
“Will you come to my big fight next Friday?”
I had to think for a minute. I remembered how nervous I’d been watching the last fight. It was hard to see him get hurt.
“I don’t know. I hate watching you almost get beat up. It’s hard to watch,” I said with a grimace.
Justin turned himself, so he was looking at me. “But you’re my good luck charm. I need you there.”
I gave him a smile. It was so sweet that he felt that way. It was also a huge turn on to hear him say that he needed me around. My cheeks flushed.
“Okay, I’ll go,” I said.
“You are amazing, you know that?” he said.
“Why is that?” I asked playfully.
“For one, you spend your time massaging people so they won’t hurt anymore. For two, you came to hang out with my daughter. You not only put up with her questions, but you also interacted with her like you actually cared.”
“I do care,” I said.
“I can tell; thank you. And also, you come to my fights when I ask you to.”
I smiled at him. “Thank you. You are amazing, too, Justin. And so is Margie. She’s very inquisitive.”
Justin moved forward and put his lips to mine. We were kissing, and I instantly felt the heat between us start to rise. His tongue entered my mouth, and I wrapped my arms around him. I kissed him back with a fierce passion.
He suddenly stopped kissing me. I blinked at him with confusion. As he stood up, he whispered, “Come with me,” and held out his hand.
I grabbed his hand and let me lead him into his bedroom. He closed the door behind us, and I sat on the bed. He pulled me down beside me and kissed me again. He leaned back so I was partially on top of him, and we pulled apart to get undressed. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his. He stared at me with such attention and desire that it was almost overwhelming.
The intimacy of the moment just made my desire for him that much stronger.
When we were down to our underwear, Justin laid on the bed and pulled me onto him. Our mouths met, and we started kissing. Our tongues moving together, our bodies were pressed firmly together. I could feel his hard dick pressing into my thigh, and it was driving me crazy.
He slid a hand down my panties and started to massage my clit before sliding a finger inside of me.
“You’re already so wet,” he said to me.
“Just for you,” I said lustfully. I was ready to take him inside of me again. I had been thinking about Friday non-stop, and I was eager to be with him again.
I leaned forward and undid the clasp on my bra and let it slide down my arms. Then I tossed it to the floor. We both pulled off our underwear, and I leaned back as he rolled a condom onto himself. Without a word, he spread my legs apart and entered me.
“I missed this,” he said softly.
I let out a small moan. He began to move in and out of me in small increments, working himself further inside of me with each thrust. He laid on top of me and laced his fingers in mine above my head. He kissed my throat, letting his tongue taste me. I moaned with each thrust. He felt amazing. The sensations he created in my body were mind-numbing.
We started kissing again, and even though he wasn’t moving as hard or as fast as he had been the last time, the pleasure felt so much more intense. The slow motions allowed me to feel every inch of him.
He started thrusting harder, but he didn’t pick up the pace yet. I could feel myself getting closer to the edge of coming with each hard thrust. My insides were vibrating with pleasure.
He unlaced his fingers from mine and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. I wrapped both my arms and my legs around him as I took every inch of him.
“Nothing has ever felt this good,” he whispered in my ear as he picked up the pace a little bit.
“Oh, fuck.” I groaned. I was getting so close. “I’m gonna come.”
Justin stopped suddenly. “Not yet.” He sat up so he could pull himself out of me. “Turn over,” he ordered.
I turned over so I was now laying on my stomach. I started to get into the doggy style position when he pushed me back down.
“Lay flat,” he said.
I flattened my body and a few seconds later felt him begin to enter me again. Because my legs were together and not apart, not only did it feel extra deep because he was entering me from behind, but I also felt so much tighter than normal.
“Oh, fuck,” I said again as he began to move at a faster pace.
“Holy shit,” he moaned.
He picked up the pace even more, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. The pleasure in this position was more intense than the last time. More intense than I ever thought sex could feel.
I felt myself starting to get close again. It felt so amazing as I felt myself getting closer and closer. He was hitting my g-spot perfectly, and finally, I felt my release. My body shook uncontrollably beneath him, but he didn’t stop. With each continued thrust, my pleasure built. I fought the urge to scream out my ecstasy.
And a few thrusts later, he called out, “Oh my god, Anna,” as he began to come. I could feel him pulse inside of me, and I soaked up the feeling.
It might have been the best sex I had ever had in my life, and I was sure it was because of how intimate things had been between us. I couldn’t help the feelings that I knew were coming. Something about the way he said he needed me right before we had sex made the experience so much better for me. I had never really been told I was needed by anyone.
He pulled out of me, and I was a little sad it was over. Sex with him was amazing, and I wished it could just go on forever. I was already starting to think about the next time we could have sex.
“Was that good for you?” he asked as he pulled the condom off, and I rolled over.
I bit my lip. “Mmhmm,” I said and climbed off his bed to find my clothes.
We got dressed in silence, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Nothing with him seemed to be uncomfortable.
“Thank you for coming tonight,” he said.
I laughed. “Are you talking about in general or just now?” I couldn’t help myself.
Justin laughed. “Well, both. But seriously, thank you. I’m glad you got to meet Margie. You’re the first woman to meet her that wasn’t a babysitter or relative.”
“Well, I’m glad I got to meet her. She is so delightful, and I loved talking with her.” I meant it; Margie was a remarkable young lady. I just hoped I would get to spend more time with both her and Justin after the dinner with my parents. “I should probably get going. We don’t want her asking questions,” I said with a wink.
“I’ll walk you to your car,” he offered. We opened his bedroom door quietly and snuck out of the house. When we stepped outside, I was surprised by how warm the night still was. It was getting close to midnight, and this time of year went one of two ways: it was either pleasantly warm at night or still bitterly cold.
When we got to my car, I turned to look at him. “Thank you for dinner.”
“Thank you for helping.”
I smiled, and then he did something I had not been expecting: he leaned in and kissed me gently. His lips lingered against mine, and I felt myself melt into him.
“Get home safe,” he said before pulling back.
“I will,” I said.
I got into my car and started the engine. As I pulled out of the driveway, Justin watched me leave.
I thought about everything as I made my way home. A week ago, Justin told me he wouldn’t be able to see me anymore, and now here we were. I just left his house after some truly gre
at sex, and I felt butterflies every time he looked at me. I just wasn’t sure what he was feeling. This was supposed to be pretend, so it would not be a big deal if it turned out to be part of the act.
I remembered how he invited me to his fight last weekend—that was before any of this fake boyfriend stuff. He didn’t have to invite me, but he did.
I tried not to over analyze things. I didn’t want to be that girl. The one who reads into everything. I just wanted to relax and have a fun time with him. I wanted to enjoy the ride we were on together.
I sent him a quick text when I got home.
Hey. I’m home safe.
It took less than a minute to receive his response.
Hey, you. Thanks for letting me know. Sleep good, okay?
I smiled at his text message.
You too. XX.
I put my phone down and got ready for bed. I hoped the kisses weren’t too forward. I checked my phone, and there was no response. I figured he was probably just asleep. And it didn’t take long before I was able to fall asleep too.
Chapter 11
Justin
It was Friday night, my first high-pressure fight. To say I was nervous was an understatement. My whole life was riding on this fight and the next three. It was no longer just about my reputation as a fighter. This was about whether I was going to lose everything I ever loved or not. Just thinking about Markie gave me chills, and I tried to ignore them. He was a scary guy, and I wished I wouldn’t have gotten involved with him. The stress was starting to get to me.
On the other hand, I knew I had no other choice. I had been drowning in the debt for four years. I needed that money to pay off the bills. I lost it all, but I wasn’t going to lose anymore. Not with how much was on the line this time. I just had to win four fights. I could do it.
“You need to calm down and get your head in the game, Justin,” Artie said from beside me. He was looking at me, and I knew he wasn’t happy. Not after my last fight. It would take a win for him to have faith in my fighting ability again.
Shit. I was hoping that it wasn’t that noticeable. “I know. You’re right. Because if I don’t, I’m going to be screwed.”
Artie gave me a weird look. “What do you mean?”
I knew I needed to come clean with Artie. He had been there for me a lot, and I was doing a disservice to him by hiding it. I looked at him and hesitated. Telling Artie wouldn’t be easy.
“I made a new bet with Markie,” I said, avoiding Artie’s gaze. I didn’t want to deal with the judgment I knew I would find there.
“Dammit, Justin,” Artie said.
I was taken aback for a second as Artie never cussed. He was a straight-laced kind of guy that thought foul language just made people sound dumb. So, the fact that he was cussing now told me I was in some deep shit with him.
“I know, I messed up. I know. You don’t need to remind me like I’m a child,” I said. It was too late for him to be scolding me now. The deal was done, and the only thing left to do was to make sure I won my next four fights.
“What’s the bet this time?” he asked.
I was hesitant. “If I win my next four fights, then I walk away without owing him anything.”
“And if you don’t?” he sounded impatient.
“Then I owe him double,” I gave a small shrug like it was no big deal, but we both knew how huge this was.
“For fuck’s sake, Justin.” He cussed again, and I tried my hardest to ignore it. I needed to get my head in the game and stay focused. I couldn’t let him get to me. If I did, then I would lose for sure. He was saying some more things under his breath, but I ignored him. I knew he was pissed. He hated Markie, and for a good reason.
We were standing in the back as the first fight came to an end. I watched the crowd get rowdy for the winner. They weren’t nearly as loud as they got for me, but it could be different this time. I had let my fans down during that last fight, and it made me question whether or not I would still have any fans. My mind wandered to Anna. I couldn’t see much of the crowd from where I was, so I had no idea if she was there or not. I hoped she was.
I heard my name called by the announcer and made my way down the little hallway. People were screaming just as hard, if not harder than before. I was glad to know I still had fans after my beatdown last time. They were some true, die-hard fans. It made me feel good. It was an ego boost, one I really needed. But I just hoped that one fan was in the crowd tonight. One very important fan.
I stepped into the cage and went to my side with Artie where we talked strategy. Artie was saying something about jiu-jitsu. I knew I should be listening, but I wasn’t paying too much attention to what he was saying. I was distracted; I wanted to see if she was there. I searched the crowd closely, scanning each face.
Then I found her, and our eyes met. Anna. Anna was there. I wasn’t sure if she was going to make it since she was terrified of these things, but the look in her eyes when I told her I had needed her here… She knew I really meant it, and she wasn’t going to let me down. Deep down, I knew she would show up.
Her smile calmed my nerves almost instantly, and I tuned Artie back in.
“You’re smaller than he is. That gives you an advantage. All you need to do is be faster, Justin. Be faster and then you’ve got this one in the bag.” He gave me a pat on the shoulder. “Don’t let the crowd distract you. Just remember to focus on being fast. You have this, Justin.”
I looked across the cage at my opponent. He was much larger than me. Both in height and muscle mass, but I had learned in my years of fighting that size didn’t necessarily make him the better fighter.
The bell rang, and it was on. My nerves calmed some when I caught Anna’s eye, but I was still pretty anxious. I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know much about my opponent. All I knew was that I had to win this fight. I had to.
He went for a left hook. I ducked and got him in the ribs. He backed up some. I did the same. He went to lunge at me, and I ducked, again making him almost fall over. Artie had been right; all I had to do was be faster than him. I was doing great and holding up strong on my end when the end of the first round came. I was ahead and was starting to think how easy this was.
I was feeling good about myself. Maybe a little too good. I knew I should keep my cockiness in check, but I figured I could have this in the bag if I just kept evading him and making my move before he ever did.
The second round started, and automatically the guy picked me and flung me to the floor. I hadn’t had a chance to get away from him this time. The crowd gasped, and I got up right away, before he could put me in any sort of hold. I was glad I was quick to get up because I could have been KO’d. I could not believe how quickly this had turned around.
“You got this,” I said to myself and aimed for a right hook, then a quick left. I missed both and stumbled forward some, almost not able to catch myself. I took a couple of deep breaths to calm myself down. I could not let him have me. Just because he was bigger didn’t mean anything at all. He might not have the skills I did. He got a good hit in, and I almost fell over. I caught myself. He got a couple more hits in, and the third bell rang. I was relieved.
We started moving around in a circle a bit, eyeing each other. He was sizing me up, and I let him do it. I knew I could have an advantage if he started getting cocky. Just like I did at the end of the first round. My head was back on straight though. I was ready.
“Isn’t your wife dead?” the guy said to me. My ears perked up because I wasn’t sure if I heard him right or not. I was hoping it was the latter. No one could be that stupid.
“What?” I asked. It was hard to talk because of my mouth piece, but I made it work.
“Your wife. Isn’t she dead?” My blood started to boil, but he continued. “She probably died from embarrassment after being married to such a shitty ass fighter.”
I drowned out all the extra noise in the room. The crowd disappeared, and all I could focus on was him. I had never ha
d anyone bring her up in a fight. The guy must have done his research and found something he thought he could use to his advantage. My breathing slowed as I thought about what he said to me.
He was taunting me now because he wanted to get a rise out of me. It was working, but I didn’t think it was working the way he hoped it would. That was one subject no one could bring up, especially if you were going to talk smack about it. My wife had been an amazing person and did not deserve some asshole bad mouthing her just to get a rise out of me.
“You better watch what you say,” I warned him. My anger was growing deeper by the second. I thought I’d give him a chance to change his mind. If he kept going this way, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to stop after I KO’d him.
“I’m just saying I wouldn’t want to live any longer if I were her.” And that was all he could get out before I lifted him into the air and slammed him on the ground. The adrenaline was pumping through my body.
He got up, clearly dazed by the fall. Then he looked at me and grinned.
“Looks like I hit a soft spot,” he chided. I saw red.
Without even thinking, I got him with three uppercuts and watched as the guy fell back down onto the ground.
I quickly moved and put him into a sleeper hold.
“No one ever talks about my wife like that,” I growled.
The guy passed out before he could even tap out.
The ref ran over, got on the ground, counted to three, and called out that I was the winner. It didn’t hit me right away. I was still so pissed about what the guy said.
The crowd went absolutely wild. And that pulled me out of my anger. I started bouncing around the ring getting the crowd even more pumped. I was still a little pissed about what the guy said about my wife, but I let my anger go. He hadn’t realized that he was just adding fuel to my fire. He helped me win by being an asshole, and for me, that was true karma. I went to the side of the cage and waved Anna over to me. She made her way down the stands and through the crowd.
I picked her up and gave her a huge kiss. The crowd went wild all over again. It felt so good to hear everyone chanting my name.