by Leah Holt
Wrenching my head up, Cadence was biting her lower lip. The delicate features of her profile glowed under the lighting.
She's so beautiful. Every time I look at her I see more.
The slight upturn of her nose, the way her black lashes create a frame around the crystal of her eyes, the natural pink hue of her lips...
I could stare at all of it for hours, never needing another thing in life.
“How do you know things will be different after? How can you be sure? He's going to do what he wants to, he always does,” she said, moving her hands around her back, thumbs digging into her pockets.
“Because I'm not going to let him. He's done hurting you, Cadence.”
“Why do you care?” she asked, shrugging her shoulders.
Dipping my brows, I said, “Why do I care?” My voice strained and drawn out. “Because you deserve better, you don't deserve what he's going to do!”
I wanted her to realize what she was worth, what she deserved. She didn't need to stand by that man, give him everything he asked for, only to get shit on. He used her, he took advantage of his power as her father.
In my eyes, that was done now. That was over the minute I claimed her.
Cadence pushed out a forced sigh, rolling her eyes. “What do you know about what I deserve, huh?” Stepping closer, her mouth was pulled tight, razor thin. “You know nothing.” The words crept out through clenched teeth.
“I know he uses you, I know—”
“You don't know shit!”
“Why do you defend him when you know I'm right? When you yourself has said he was bad a man?” Throwing my arms out to the side, I stepped into her.
Her eyes squeezed tight, glaring at me under hooded lids. “Why do you think you can save me? You said you never break your word, but this fight, and the one you already did...” Her head cocked up higher. “You're no different, you just do what you want, just like him.”
The heat radiating off her words burned through me.
I'm nothing like him. She doesn't really think that.
She can't.
Without thinking, I grabbed her shoulders, digging my fingers in deep. Forcefully, I yanked her into my chest, my hands sliding up her neck, grabbing the roots, and tugging her head back. She was forced to look up higher, a light breath of air seeped out from inside her lungs.
I was pissed, I was nothing like her father.
But her daring nature to challenge me...
It was fucking hot. My cock jumped to life, throbbing painfully with raw desire. I was going to fuck her right here, right now.
“What? Are you going to hit me?” she asked softly, the sweet tone sounding innocent.
“No, I'm going to fuck you.” Freeing a hand from her hair, I traced the curve of her hip, cupping and clinching her mound.
Cadence pushed down into my palm, swaying against the pad. Her tongue ran across her lips, muscles tensing as her body quivered against mine.
I felt her tremor, the heat bursting between her legs. My cock stood at full attention, pressing against my jeans. My face was barely an inch from hers, so close I could see her skin lather from desire, the small droplets emerging as her body warmed.
Her lips parted softly, eyes closing as her head pressed into my hand. “What makes you think I'm going to let you?” she whispered into the air.
Gripping her hair tighter, I arched her head back further, her throat elongated as a single pant freed her mouth. “Because you haven't pushed me away.” I drew my tongue up her collar bone, following the muscle of her neck to her ear.
Cadence moaned loudly, the sound hitting each wall and bouncing back, driving my cock harder into the zipper. I wanted her more right then in that moment then the first time I laid eyes on her.
Her hot temper, intoxicating smell, the way she wanted to resist me but couldn't, it drove me fucking wild.
Breathing hard on her throat, I glided my hand over her stomach, reaching her breast and squeezing firmly. Folding my fingers into the edge of her v-neck collar, I tore it down. Her tits bounced free, nipples firmed and hard as diamonds.
Draping my warm tongue across, I twirled around one and moved to the other. Her back arched high as she moaned the sexiest little coo. Releasing her hair, I held the small of her back, cradling her against my bulge.
Cadence's hands pinned into my shoulders, her nails clawing into my flesh. Her body was so hot, burning for me.
She likes it a little rough.
God I fucking love this.
I love... Whoa! No! Don't go there, Quinn!
Briefly I had stunned myself, my head spun in confusion. I had never said, never even thought those three words before. What the hell was happening?
I froze, every inch of me stood still.
“What? What's wrong? Why did you stop?” she asked between inhales. Her eyes peered up at me, fingertips stretching up and tangling into my hair.
Shake it off, focus. Just stop thinking.
You can sort out feelings later, this is definitely not the time.
Her fingers massaged my scalp, helping to force my mind clear. I wanted to be here, right now, no place else.
The one thing I knew for sure was being next to Cadence was all I needed.
Grabbing underneath her jaw, I pushed my lips against hers, our tongues wildly crashed together. She pulled my hair hard, dancing around the inside of my mouth. Fireworks lit up behind my eyes, buzzing with electricity, prickles shooting across my skin.
Stepping into her, I forced her back against the wall. Tearing at her pants, I popped the button free. Her kisses rained over my chest, the muscles firmed to her touch.
Slipping her jeans down, she stepped out, and I kicked them to the side. Her silky pink panties covered her cunt, the center darkened with her wetness. Sliding a finger between the gap of her thighs, I teased her pussy, pressing the thin cloth between her lips, and pushing against her swelling clit.
Cadence's head wrenched back, her hands fiercely ripping at my pants, freeing my rigid muscle. A soft whimper expelled from her mouth as she wrapped her hand around my length.
“You want that? You want to feel my cock inside you?” Licking my lips, I traced the outline of her pussy.
“Stop teasing and fuck me already, before I change my mind.” Her lip curled to one side, hand stroking me from the furry base to the end of my shaft. Swirling her finger over the ridge, she slicked the tip with the pearly drip of pre-cum.
My eyes shut tight, moaning through closed lips. That was it, that was all I could take. Pinning her against the wall, I tore her panties off, the fabric splintering away in my fingers, and falling to the floor. Dipping my hands into the creases of her thighs and her ass, I lifted her up.
Her teeth dug into my shoulder, the smooth edges gripping my flesh, the twinge of pain charging my nerves. Shivers rode through my body, curling my toes. Pressing her firmly against the wall, I guided my cock into her wetness. The sheath heating my belly as I slid inside.
“Ahh,” she moaned loudly, biting her lower lip. Raking her nails across my back, the skin opening gently as she clawed.
Pushing myself in deeper, the full length stretching her walls to their limit. My hand lifted to her throat, holding her in place against the cement wall. Gripping tightly, her face flushed a bright cherry as she moaned loudly into my ear.
Her body gyrated against mine, rising and falling with each thrust. Her nipples perked, poking against my chest. Leaning down, I rolled them between my teeth, each one firming harder the tighter I clenched.
I watched the sweat trickle down her chest, falling over her ribs to her belly. Noticing another drop about to break, I licked it off. The salty taste, mixed with her sweet scent pushed my wanton need into an animalistic rage.
“God, you taste so good,” I mustered out, my lungs struggling to move.
Cadence shifted her hand to mine, pushing it harder into her neck. “Harder, fuck me harder.” My grip forced her words to be hushed, and full o
f air as she spoke.
Her pussy milked my cock, squeezing tightly around my thickness. Goosebumps jumped across her skin, her moans now loud screams as my hand freed her neck, falling to clench her ass.
She was balancing on the edge, her body riding my cock harder, forcing herself down as far as she could go. Her cunt was a waterfall, soaking my skin, sliding effortlessly over my shaft.
I could feel my dick tensing, balls pulling tightly up. I was about to cum, ready to shoot my creamy juice. Her body shivered, a long drawn out moan floated off her tongue, every muscle suddenly limp.
Quickly I pulled myself free, her pussy holding firm, trying to keep me deep inside. With one jerk I pulled out, shooting my pearly cum all over her stomach, the cream dripping out pump after pump. My cock twitched against her skin, her belly now a mix of sweat and my juice.
Lowering her slowly, my forearms fell onto the cool cement behind her head. I couldn't speak, my chest lifted intensely trying to force oxygen into my lungs.
Cadence leaned forward, rubbing the inside of her thighs. “I think I might get a bruise from that,” she said with a giggle.
“Battle wounds, baby. That's about as good as getting my name tattooed across your ass.” Smiling wide, I bared all my teeth as I looked down at her.
“Yeah, don't think I'm ever doing that.” She leaned down, picking up her torn panties and using them to wipe her stomach. “Don't think I'll be using these again either.”
“Hey, what can I say, you drive me fucking crazy. A crazed man can be rough.”
She smiled, peering up at me, balling the material and burying it in the trash. “So you're really going to do this? Fight for my dad?”
“Cadence, I really don't have a choice. I need to do this, if I don't...” I couldn't say it, the words wouldn't even form in the back of my throat. Sighing heavily, I said, “Trust me. Can you do that? Just trust what I'm telling you. I have to do this.” My eyes opened wide, searching her face for a sign of acceptance.
She stood quiet, fixed on her shoes. Her lips tapered down, fingers fiddling with the hair that escaped onto her forehead. “Alright.” Lifting her head up, her deep ocean blues had a single twinkle in each one. “But just so you know, I'm going to be there. I'm not letting you do this alone. That I can't do.”
“Fair enough.” As much as I didn't want her to go, as much as I wanted her to be as far from that place as possible that day during that fight, I knew she wouldn't hear it.
If I could, I would fly her to the other side of the world, send her off with a new name, a new life. Have her so far from here her father wouldn't be able to find her, and drag her back if shit went south...
If I failed her, I wouldn't be able to live with myself.
This was going to be my last fight, forever.
And it was for the one thing that I had come to realize was worth more than my own safety, more than the air I breathed...
Cadence.
Chapter Fourteen
Cadence
The warm rays of the sun spread across my face. Rolling to my back, I spread my arms over my head, forcing my eyes open. Clenching the blanket, I pulled it to my chest, blinking repeatedly to clear the haze coating my vision.
As I turned to my left, the spot beside me was empty. Draping my fingers over the lonely pillow, the cool feel of fabric told me Quinn had woke up a little while ago.
After we left the center, he asked me to come home with him. It didn't take much convincing, his words still played on repeat in my head like a record player with the needle stuck on a scratch of an old seventy-eight.
'Where are you going now?' he asked, his hands stuffed into his pockets, elbows bowed out.
'Home,' I said, the words catching the back of my tongue, swallowing hard, they sliced at the roof of my mouth. I hated going home.
'You know you don't have to, go stay somewhere else.'
'Ha! Yeah, I don't exactly have many options that wouldn't involve me under cardboard, next to a smelly dumpster.' Rolling my eyes, a smirk tugged up towards my ear.
'You have another option.' Quinn raised his eyes to meet mine, the deep brown glazed over, his lips creeping up in a smile.
'Oh yeah, and where's that?' I asked playfully, tugging at the seam of his jacket.
'Do I really need to spell it out for you?'
Pausing, the realization set in. 'Oh, no. No, I couldn't.' Biting my lip, I shook my head in disagreement. 'My father would kill me.'
'Don't you realize this yet?' His fingers wrapped around my wrists, pulling me into his arms. His muscles embraced me tightly, holding me possessively.
I thought I could have melted into him right there. My hand traced the hard ridges of his abs, his musk still strong from fucking me moments before.
When I felt his finger trail my spine through my clothes, the hair on the back of my neck shot up. His lips grazed the soft curve of my ear as he whispered. 'You're not his anymore. You're mine. You belong with me.' The delicate swirl of his tongue followed the lines of my throat. 'And that's where you'll stay.'
The thought made me gleam, glowing from head to toe. I smiled to myself while my muscles stretched long, a deep growling yawn rolled out of my mouth.
Looking around the room, the door was partially cracked, and the scent of burning bacon had started to filter in. I could hear the clank of metal coming from outside, the subtle roll of music beat quietly in the background.
Sitting up on my arms, I noticed a small picture propped up on his dresser. Sliding my legs free from the tangle of blankets, I crossed the room and picked it up.
It was definitely Quinn, though much younger, maybe eighteen? He was standing next to another boy, both had their arms wrapped around each others shoulders, huge smiles anchored across their faces.
They were standing in an arena, shirtless, bruises and red marks scattered across their bodies. Both their hands were wrapped in black tape, and they were holding a large golden trophy high above their heads.
He looks so happy here. Is this Rainee?
Suddenly a loud beeping rang through the apartment. Startled, the picture fell from my hand, hitting the hardwood floor, and shattering.
Ah, shit!
Quickly leaning down, I grabbed the frame around the wood. Yanking on the door, I stepped into a small open living room.
“Good morning, Beautiful.” Quinn said, waving an oven mitt rapidly at the smoke detector on the ceiling of the kitchen. “Thought I'd cook us some breakfast, but I forgot how bad I was at this.” Letting out a guttural laugh, he fanned the alarm.
My lips rose instantly, the smile painting my cheeks as butterflies swarmed my belly. It was an incredible feeling to see this man, flailing an old torn mitt, his bare chest flexing eagerly to stop the loud buzzing.
“Well, I appreciate the thought.” Leaning into the door jam, I lifted the frame to my chest. “I, uh, accidentally broke this, sorry.” My lip peeled down to the side, wrinkles raised up on my forehead.
“Luckily, you look really sexy in my t-shirt, so I'll only make you pay me half for it.” He walked out of the kitchen carrying two plates. “Come sit.” Falling back onto the couch, he held up the plate.
Climbing up beside him, I tucked my feet under my thighs. “Is this Rainee?” I asked, holding out the picture.
With a mouth full of toast, he shook his head yes. “That was our first big win. God, that was eight years ago, I looked good at seventeen, huh?” His words sloshed out between chewing.
Laughing loudly, I said, “Full of yourself, huh?” Taking the plate he had prepared for me, I rested the picture on the coffee table. “Thank you. You didn't have to do this.” Placing the dish on my thighs, I couldn't stop the grin holding my cheeks up. “Scrambled eggs, one of my favorites.”
“And one of the easiest to cook. Fair warning, I can't promise they're good.” Winking, he lifted a piece of blackened bacon, crunching it between his teeth.
I felt like I was floating on a cloud, in some alternate un
iverse that belonged to my polar opposite. I was sitting next to the first person who had ever gone out of their way to do something nice for me, and it was hard to grasp.
My entire existence had been spent doing what my father told me to do. Following his rules, working to fill his pockets, and striving to feel any sense of gratitude from him.
I had been a slave to his wishes, to his demands. We had been poor for so many years, I had no birthdays, no Christmas, nothing. When he did finally start to get ahead with his fighting ring and the bar, I still gained nothing.
He paid me two dollars and change plus tips to work the bar, and I didn't even get to keep it all. My father made a mockery of what being a parent was all about.
Letting my head fall to Quinn's shoulder, my fingers danced gingerly across the muscles of his chest, outlining his ink. Walking down each hard ripple, I traced the trim of his blue shorts, his cock jumping underneath.
The shape firmed, his tip visible despite the barrier. “What? Are you ready for brunch now?” His hand squeezed my thigh, slinking up to the hidden, bare skin of my sex.
“I was just snuggling, you're the one getting all excited.” Tapping the head of his cock, I giggled.
The thick muscle bounced as he shifted himself lower into the couch. Spreading his legs apart, his length stood up, forcefully trying to break through. “Babe, I'm sitting here next to you, of course I'm excited. You drive me fucking crazy, I can't get enough of you.” Wrapping his hand around the shaft, he pulled the cloth tight, gently stroking himself as he gyrated his hips.
Quinn's finger dipped beneath my shirt, delicately sliding up and down, spreading the wetness as he eased inside. My body shivered as he pressed his finger deeper, curling the tip into my sweet spot.
I wanted him to fuck me again, wanted to feel his cock press my swelling heat. His touch was magic, a well trained art he had definitely perfected over the years.
A twinge of jealousy flooded my belly, thinking of him and what his past would look like. What amount of women it would have taken for him to know all the right areas to touch and kiss.
But that was in the past, it wasn't right now, it wasn't here.