Nervously, she bites her bottom lip. I’m off base. There’s more to the worry resonating from her. “I know. I mean, I’ll always worry about you getting hurt. I can’t help that. But…” She hesitates, considers her words.
“What then?”
“I know you and Preach think winning this fight will help you get past things, but I’m worried that it will bring it all back. I’ve seen him. He looks like his brother.”
She’s right, he does. He looks just like Frankie. It’s like some sort of twisted fate fucking with me. And I’ve worried about the same thing. But I can’t allow that to control me anymore. I push it to the back of my mind and keep it there each time it finds its way to the surface. It’s all about control. Martial arts is as much about the mind as it is the body. Both must endure, submit to complete control. Work together.
“Preach thinks winning the fight will help me get past things. But I already know what it takes. And you’ve brought me further along in the last two months than a year and a half of trying to work it out on my own ever did. Before I met you, I was hitting my head against a concrete wall, going nowhere fast. Only I didn’t know it. Didn’t even realize I was stuck, until I met you and took that first step.” Elle gives me a hesitant smile. Some of the worry disappears from her face…but not all of it. So I go for broke, being the fucking sap this incredible woman has made me into.
“When we met, we were two injured souls. Both keeping the real out of our lives for fear of what we might find. But nothing could have kept us apart. I never believed in destiny. Thought that was a bunch of crap for people who read too many books. Until I met you. You’re it for me, Babe. I didn’t even know I was missing something until I found you, but now I don’t know how I got through a day without what you’ve given me. You’re my soul mate. As sappy as it sounds, it’s god damn true. Nothing has ever been truer in my life. So no, I’m not worried about this fight not helping me heal from my past, because it’s you who does that for me. You’ve filled all the cracks in my heart and made me better. I never thought I’d say this after what I went through, but I’m the luckiest bastard on this earth.”
She cries. That’s how she responds to my gut wrenching, pussy-whipped declaration that we’re soul mates. Tears stream down her face and, even though she’s smiling through the tears, I want to make the tears go away.
Chapter 47
I never thought I’d be happy. I was content with flatlining my way through life. It was good enough. Keeping out the highs and the lows was my favorite past time. No emotions meant nothing ever got out of control, and keeping control was higher on my priority list than breathing. Until I met him. He makes my heart race and my breathing hitch, and that’s just when he walks in the room. Don’t even get me started on what that face does to me. Or those hands…especially when they’re moving all over my body like he can’t get enough of me. I can feel his need for me in his touch. But his words, that’s what does me in. They’re raw and honest and filled with emotions, and I can actually feel my heart swell as they’re spoken.
He wipes away my tears with concern on his face. I’m sure he thinks I’ve lost my mind as I smile through my crying after listening to the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me. I’m the one whose head is usually filled with words. But right now I find myself at a loss for something beautiful to say in return. So I say what I feel and hope it’s enough. “I love you.”
He smiles, the worry leaving his face. “Love you too, Babe.”
And then I kiss him, the tears still falling, my mouth still smiling, and a sob escapes me as our tongues find each other. I’m a mess, but it’s beautiful and real and I can’t get enough of him. Not now, not ever. He’s right. We’re two lost souls that found each other and became one. And I’m the luckiest girl on the planet.
There’s still hours before the fight, but I’m ready to go right now. It’s a sold out championship fight, but Nico gave me four tickets of my own. My stepbrother, of course, has texted me half a dozen times to make sure we’re still on for the day. It’s a close race who is more exited, Max or Vinny. Both probably didn’t sleep last night with anticipation pulsing through their veins.
I’m excited I also got to invite Regina and Lawrence. Regina because, well, she’s the best friend I have ever had...and I think she’s more excited about my relationship with Nico than I am, at times, if that’s even possible. After all these years, she couldn’t wait to see me throw myself back into the land of the living. And Lawrence, he’s more than my boss, he’s been like a dad to me the last few years. Plus, it’s the first bit of excitement his wife has let him have since his heart surgery. She’s afraid too much might give him a heart attack.
At first I’ve forgotten what I’m wearing when Nico catches sight of me, he hasn’t seen the t-shirt Vinny made for me. I’m not sure if the kid did it on purpose, but it’s tight, very tight, hugging all my curves. My shirt is different than the one Vinny wore last time. It’s a full body shot with Nico facing forward. He looks more like a model than a fighter.
Nico freezes in place for a minute, gracing me with a devilish smile. “I like your shirt.”
I feel my face heat and I know I’m turning a nice shade of pink. “It’s my new favorite shirt. I can keep you pressed up against me all day, even in public.” I respond coyly.
Nico stalks to me. “I’ll press the real thing up against you all day in public, Babe. You don’t have to ask twice.” He’s smiling like he’s kidding, but I know he’s serious. He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me tight against his warm, hard body. He’s wearing only a pair of running shorts and my body responds to his rough touch, even though it’s been only hours since I’ve had him inside of me.
I’m flustered. “Don’t you have a fight to get ready for?” My voice comes out throatier than I had intended, but I just can’t help myself around him.
Nico presses into me, I can feel his throbbing erection pushing against my stomach. “They can’t start the fight without me.” He grabs half my ass in one of his massive hands and squeezes hard. His head lowers with intention to take my mouth, but the buzzer downstairs rings.
“Ignore it.” I feel the words on my lips as he devours my mouth. My body gives in almost immediately and a small moan escapes my lips as he lifts me underneath the knees and cradles me in his arms as he heads toward the bed.
The buzzer rings again and neither of us break the kiss, even though I’m certain he hears it too. But then it buzzes again, this time more insistently. Whoever is downstairs waiting to come up isn’t going away. Nico growls loudly, as he sets me down and stands. “Don’t move, I’ll get rid of whoever it is.” A stream of expletives leave his mouth as he makes his way to the poor fool who is about to feel his wrath.
I lie in the bed for a moment, my breath slowly returning to almost normal as I wait for Nico’s return. But then I hear voices and I realize that whoever it is has no fear of the irrational man that went in a frenzy to get rid of them.
I fix myself as best I can and head to the living room to see who’s arrived. My hair is fingered back in place and my shirt is readjusted, but there isn’t anything I can do with the heat on my face.
“Ma, you didn’t need to bring Vinny by the house. I wouldn’t have forgotten to pick him up.
“Hi Mrs. Hunter. Hi Vinny.” I smile and the two step around Nico who was blocking their passage for entry. Nico looks at me like I’ve just welcomed the devil into his home, instead of two of his biggest fans.
“You’re wearing the t-shirt!” Vinny is excited and smiling.
“Of course I am. It’s the coolest t-shirt I own.” I wink at him and the all-confident boy turns shy for half a second before turning to face Nico.
“You like it Nico?” It’s sweet how the boy wants Nico’s approval, I just hope Nico doesn’t flatten his enthusiasm because they interrupted a private moment.
Nico looks at me and takes my shirt in again, as if he is seeing it for the first time. His eyes go hooded and no response is really needed. The kid smiles as he watches Nico, knowing Nico couldn’t be happier.
