A Dominant Anthology

by Ethan Radcliff

  “I know, Dave, I’m a lucky man. I hope I can figure all this out. Wish me luck, and thanks for everything. I’ll need to get myself into a hotel for the next two weeks, so you’ll see a lot of activity in the checking account. Please pay the mortgage and any bills, whether Darlene says no or not.”

  “Got it, Joe. And Joe, work it out with Darlene. She loves you. Whatever has happened, beg, man, beg for her forgiveness.”

  “That’s what I plan to do.” Joe put his phone down. He knew Mack wasn’t well-liked. He’d known that from the time he decided to let Mack manage him. He’d felt a connection and wanted to see the little bastard make it. They’d gotten close once before. Then Darlene came along, and he did notice a change. Water under the bridge, he thought. He’d made his choice, and somehow he’d get Darlene back.

  Chapter Eight

  Darlene had thought she’d cried all the tears she had. She drove Devon to day camp then went home and crawled back into bed. There she’d stayed, feeling sorry for herself, crying the afternoon away. She ate what she needed to survive because of Devon and drank coffee. This had been going on for over a week.

  When she looked at the clock and saw how late it was, she finally decided to get out of bed. One hand pushed back her hair as her mind went over Joe’s behavior. “A blow job?” she screamed into the air. “He risked all we have for a fucking blowjob!”

  She sat up. Have was the key word. She never said had. If she kept, thinking had then there was a possibility that their love was nothing more than an affair and had run its course. However, that wasn’t true. Joe Murphy was the love of a life. She loved the big gorgeous boxer and wanted desperately to forgive him, but the pain inside still hurt too much. His betrayal weighed heavy on her mind.

  “I need to get over this. I need to talk to that son of a bitch. I can’t keep telling Devon he needs to be away from us so he can train for the big fight that’s coming up. My boy’s not stupid. He senses that there is something terribly wrong,” she said aloud.

  “Joe,” she whispered, “I need you. I never needed a man’s body the way I need yours.” Surprisingly, more tears rolled down her smooth cheeks.

  When they made love and he buried his cock deep inside her, she felt complete. He’d stop for a few seconds and tell her, “I could stay inside you all day. It’s where I belong. You are a part of me, and I doubt I could survive very long without you.”

  She shivered, remembering his words. “Damn it, Joe!” again, she said the words aloud.

  He’d called at least twenty times a day over the last week. He left few messages, but that was Joe. She knew how he hated voicemail and the internet.

  Was she ready to talk to him? She needed to ream him a new asshole. He had to hear her out. What if the tables were turned and she’d done a stupid move and been unfaithful? How would he have reacted?

  The tears began again. He was such a beautiful man. He was handsome, had a great body, and a great cock that rarely failed to bring her to orgasm. There was so much more to him. He had a huge heart and deep inside, he was a good man, one who loved her little boy. Even thought he was a boxer, physically, he’d never harm anyone outside of the ring.

  Then Mack came to mind. Why he decided to destroy everything by telling her about Joe’s behavior at that party confused her. It was time to speak to Joe. It was time to hear him out. If they were over, it was better to clear the air.

  Her phone rang. She checked the number and saw it was Mack. Why was he calling?

  “Hello,” she said.

  “Darlene, I was worried about you and Devon. Thought I’d call to see how you were,” Mack said.

  “Oh, we’re doing just fine, Mack. Thanks for fucking up our lives. Please don’t call here anymore,” she yelled into the phone.

  “Wait, wait, please listen, it’s about Joe. I know you want to hear this.”

  The bastard, she thought. “What about Joe?”

  “I’m not sure, but he may have gone off the deep end. He’s broken contract with me. I’m not sure if he’s been at the gym. Without a manager, he’ll never be able to get through the largest and most important fight of his life. He’s throwing everything away.”

  Darlene listened and heard the shakiness in Mack’s voice. It could mean one of two things: genuine concern or fear. She was going with fear. “You’re upset because he let you go as his manager. Mack, it’s about time. You’re an asshole. Now please don’t call here anymore.”

  “You’ll be sorry, and so will he. Fuck you, Darlene,” he said and hung up. Now she was even more upset than before. Maybe she should have listened to Joe. What he did was stupid, and they needed to talk. He had betrayed her trust, and that cut deep, but her love for him was still strong. It was undeniable.

  She called her mother. “Mom, I need you to watch Devon for me for a few days. I know this is asking a lot. I just need a few days with Joe. He has the heavyweight match coming up and, well, this could mean financial security for him.”

  Her mother agreed.

  “Thanks, Mom,” she said. She went to tell Devon and helped him pack for a few days.

  Next, she had to pull herself together and show Joe she was serious. She wasn’t giving up on him that easily, but he’d pay for his indiscretions. She needed a man she could trust, one she could lean on, and Joe was that man even though he had his flaws. She smiled. Perhaps all men did. What she did realize was that she loved Joe Murphy with every beat of her heart He had a lot of explaining to do.

  Chapter Nine

  Joe waited in Christen’s office. She was running late but told her secretary to let Joe wait in her office. He walked around looking at her array of photos. She managed some great boxers. He had to admit he was impressed. He hoped he was making the right move. Any move had to be better than staying with Mack.

  He didn’t want to go over the events of the last few weeks. It hurt too much. He did come to two conclusions; he loved Darlene, and he had to win this upcoming match. His life was in ruins, and he needed to get his shit together quickly. He was hoping Christen was the first move in that direction.

  The door opened and a short, white-haired, middle-aged woman walked in. “Mr. Murphy, I am so sorry I’m late. I was caught in traffic. I really need to move closer to the city.” She put her briefcase on her desk then turned to him, extending her hand. “So glad to see you again,” Christen Howard said.

  Joe took her hand and shook it firmly. “Ms. Howard, the pleasure is all mine. Thank you for seeing me today.”

  “Please call me Christen. Now, Mr. Murphy, how can I help you?”

  “I need a new manager, and please call me Joe.”

  “Really, done with that little weasel, Mack?”

  He raised an eyebrow. Was he the only one who saw Mack in a different light? “Yes, Christen, it seems I was blindsided by the guy. But when I took him on, I wasn’t in the best shape physically or mentally.”

  “Well, I’d love to take you on as a client, but I do have certain conditions. One of them is that you stay straight and change that party boy image. You’re too old, and people get tired of such antics and behavior. This game must be taken seriously, and I expect my fighters to take it seriously also.”

  She was laying down the law, and he was glad she was. He needed stability. With Darlene out of the picture, for now, he wasn’t sure how long he’d remain on the straight and narrow path.

  “You will have my complete cooperation. Now percentages …” She stopped him by pushing a small stack of papers in front of him.

  “This is my contract, all eight pages. I suggest you look it over and have your attorney go through it as well.”

  Joe wondered if his face was turning red. He’d fired his attorney a few months back on Mack’s recommendation. Mack insisted that he could handle all the legal aspects of boxing, including any contracts Joe had to sign.

  “At the moment, I have no attorney.” Joe sat back in his chair, feeling inadequate.

  “Joe, I heard some nasty r
umors about Mack. I wanted to scream at you for keeping him as a manager. I believe at the time, though, you would never have listened to me.”

  “It seems I was the only one who didn’t know what an asshole Mack was. I’m sorry for that. I’m usually a better judge of character. Man …”

  “Here,” she handed him a card. “See Tom Hayward. He’s a nice guy and handles a lot of boxers. He’s a great lawyer, fair, and his fees are reasonable. As for my cut, Joe, here’s what I ask from everyone.”

  She pointed to a sentence written in bold lettering. “Here’s my percentage. I think it’s fair, but please have it looked over.”

  His eyes scanned over her fingers. Mack had taken far more, and he never questioned it. His reasoning behind that was he looked at Mack as being the one who took him from being a mere street fighter to him having a chance as a pro.

  “Thank you for the card. I will definitely call Tom, but I’ll sign the contract now. What’s that old saying? You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. My life can’t get any worse than it already is.”

  She gave him a questioning look. “I can’t imagine any woman passing up a man like you. You have it all, and I believe you will become the next heavyweight champion. She’s a fool to let you go.”

  “Christen, I was the fool, but thanks for that vote of confidence. I’m determined to win her back.”

  He left Christen’s office and headed back to the gym. In the rear of the gym, there was a small room that the owner was letting Joe use until he decided what he was going to do. It wasn’t much; an army cot, clean linens, and a coffee maker. He’d told Joe it’s where he used to go when his ex-wife periodically threw him out. Joe couldn’t thank him enough but after today, he was determined to get Darlene back. He wasn’t giving up the best thing that had ever happened to him. He wasn’t giving up on love.

  It was dark when he pulled up, and there was a full moon. Joe stared at it for a few moments, wondering what Darlene might be doing. He found himself worrying about Devon. Was the little boy okay? He would have been devastated if his father had left him when he was that young. He kicked a small rock on the ground. He stood with his hands in his coat pockets and felt warm tears run down his cheeks. He’d fucked up before, but it had only involved himself. Now he had fucked up three lives. He had to do something to make things right.

  His mother’s words rang through his head. ‘Joe, you got to love who you are to make it in this world. You have to learn those who love you feel the pain the greatest. This fighting thing, I hate it, but you love it. I don’t understand why you sabotage yourself all the time.’

  He hadn’t told her about what had happened with Darlene. She adored her and Devon. She’d kick his ass. He grinned; it was time to get some rest. He used the key to get in and locked the door behind him. The interior of the gym gave off a gray cast as he walked through. It was funny how, without all the noise blistering inside, it seemed dank and ordinary.

  He tried to think positive. He’d found a new manager, and he was going to train like a son of a bitch for this chance to become the world champion. What he had planned all sounded great, but how was he going to get Darlene back? How was he going to make her see he’d never betray her trust again? How was he going to sleep with everything weighing on his mind? He took out his phone as he approached the back of the gym. Should he call her? Christ, it was late. He didn’t want to scare her or wake up Devon. He pushed aside the heavy curtain that covered the opening to the room he was living in. A small window was the only source of daylight, and now moonlight lit the room and the cot he used for sleeping.

  Were his eyes deceiving him? Darlene was sound asleep on his makeshift bed. The sight of her squeezed at his heart. He loved her more than he’d realized. Being an asshole had brought him to that realization.

  He approached her slowly, unsure if he wanted to wake her. He got down on his knees before her and kissed her forehead.

  “Joe?”

  “Yes, baby.”

  “Oh, God, Joe,” she whispered. “Please forgive me.”

  “Baby, baby, there’s nothing to forgive. I was a complete asshole. I’ll never hurt you again. I’ll never listen to anyone else ever again. I should never have allowed myself to sink that low.”

  “It wasn’t completely your fault. Mack was behind this.”

  “Shh, Mack is done. I’ve hired a new manager,” he told her then lowered his eyes. “Baby, I’m a grown man, and I should’ve known better. I should have exhibited some self-control. ”

  She sat up and gave him a soft smile. “Joe, I agree you should have had more self-control. I thought we had a fantastic sex life. Do I really lack in certain areas?”

  “Oh God no,” he said quietly, shaking his head. He put his hands over his face and bent his neck, resting his elbows on his lap. One of her hands patted his head, and she ran her fingers through his hair. “Baby, I love you. You lack nothing. I don’t ever want you to think that. As for what I did, what I allowed to happen, I'll deal with the guilt for years. Hurting you is killing me. The idea that I might have lost Devon, a child that I think of as my own, nearly destroyed me. I’ve learned to conceal my heartache well.” He stopped and sat up. “Fucking up is one of my God-given talents. I want to stop the rollercoaster and with you, I can.”

  He watched her face then his eyes settled on her lips. There he could see a faint smile as the corners of her very kissable lips lifted. “I still can’t believe that I’m with you. You’re so damn hot, Joe. A handful,” she let out a soft laugh. “And addictive, like a drug. Women would kill to be in your bed.”

  He kissed her softly. “I don’t want any other women, Darlene, only you. I love you. I love Devon. I want it all and with you, I can have it.”

  “I was so angry, so hurt. Do you know why?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “I’d love to hear why.”

  “Because your body is so damn beautiful. I love touching you. The moment I slip you into my mouth, my blood begins to boil. To be able to give you pleasure like that … I don’t want another woman’s lips on you. Sound crazy?”

  He shook his head. “No, not at all.” He laughed quietly. “So women like cocks−I mean, you think it’s arousing?”

  She lowered her eyelids ever so slightly. “Yes, Joe, most do, but …” she looked up at him. “For me, it’s so much more. I thought you belonged to me and having anyone else touch you …” He saw the tears well in the corners of her eyes.

  “Baby, I do, I do. I never thought−can I love you more? Baby, never again. I’m overwhelmed,” he whispered with his lips against her. “Sounds odd, but maybe I needed the wake-up call.”

  “Maybe we both did, Joe. I was so ready to throw what we had away. We all make mistakes. I’m not excusing what you did, but I do understand. I will listen and not be so quick to react.”

  “And I will never betray your trust again. I love you too much. I guess I didn’t realize you loved me as much.”

  “Oh, Joe, I adore you. You’re everything I want. You have a huge fight coming up, and you need to be at the top of your game. I believe you’ll be the next heavyweight champion of the world. “

  “Baby, I will be with you at my side.”

  “Please come home, Joe. Devon misses you so, and I can’t sleep without you by my side.”

  “All I needed you to do was ask. Let me get my things together.”

  She snuggled close to him. “This was fun. Reminds me of how we met.”

  “Does it? We could go back and …”

  “No, no, that’s okay.” She laughed. “I like our bed better.”

  “I like the kitchen table, the living room couch, the inground pool, the pool table …”

  She stopped him. “I sound like such a slut!” She broke into giggles.

  “My slut; mine forever.” And that’s when it hit him. What the fuck was he waiting for? He didn’t want to spend another moment away from her.

  He realized now was as good a time as any. He slid
off the small cot and to the floor on his knees. He tried to put on one of his more serious faces. He took her hand.

  “Darlene, I don’t want to spend another day away from you. I love you, and I love Devon. I want us to be a real family, and maybe, one day, add to it. There is only one way I know how to do that. Darlene, will you marry me?”

  He watched her beautiful face break into a huge smile. “Yes, Joe. Oh yes. I’ll marry you.”

  “Damn!” he said loudly. "Let’s get dressed and take a little trip to Tiffany’s. I want you to pick out a big old diamond ring, baby.”

  “That sounds wonderful, but it’s not necessary.” She bit her lip. “What am I saying? Of course, it is.” She began laughing, and he followed.

  “Let’s get dressed,” he said, taking her hand. He grabbed her to him. “Forever, I like the sound of that.”

  “And so do I, Joe. So do I,” she said and kissed him. “Your star will shine bright, my love. I knew that from the moment I saw you.”

  “Baby, it was you who removed the tarnish. It was you who showed me how to shine. It was your love that saved me.”

  Epilogue

  Joe Murphy went on to become the Heavyweight boxing champion of the world. He knocked out his contender in three rounds and only had a few bumps and scrapes to show for his victory.

  He and Darlene planned their wedding after his match. Win or lose, Joe was finally ready to retire from boxing and live his life with Darlene.

  One evening he sat reading a storybook to Devon. It was the fable about the tortoise and the hare.

  “Joe, I don’t get it. The hare is faster. He just fell asleep. He should have won.”

  “Devon, you will get it. The man who wrote the fable was Aesop. Most people eventually learn that ‘slow and steady wins the race’. Overconfidence and not using your God-given ability to its full potential should also be part of the lesson learned here.”

  “I see, Joe. Did you learn from this story?”

  “Man, Dev, for a kid, you’re pretty perceptive. Yes, I did. I became overconfident, and that’s when my career began to disintegrate. I wasn’t training the way I should, I was staying out late, eating foods that were bad for me, and drinking way too much. When I met your mom and saw how hard she worked, plus took care of you and lived her life, I realized I wanted to be like her.”