Chapter 44
The tension wafting off Jackson was tangible as we entered the building. I walked next to him, placing my palm firmly in his because this was going to be hard on him.
There weren’t as many people here as last night, but it was barely nine in the morning.
And those who were present looked official.
Right before Jackson walked up the steps to the stage, Trevor pulled him to the side, and my hand slipped from his.
We locked eyes, and I couldn’t help but feel he tried to tell me something, but his attention was stolen when his trainer shoved at his arm.
“He’ll be fine,” Lance said beside me. “He knows what’s riding on this fight.”
“And what exactly is that?” I asked.
“As you found out yesterday, there is bad blood between him and Jay. If he lost to him, I don’t know what that would do to him. I’m not being dramatic when I say it would be catastrophic.”
The sound of a door slamming pulled my focus to the back of the room. Jackson noticed as well, because his muscles bristled as soon as he saw his brother and father appear. I hoped they didn’t approach him like they did last night because there was a good chance Jackson wouldn’t hold back.
“What happens next?” I asked. I’d researched the logistics but needed Lance to distract me from a potentially disastrous situation.
“Each fighter will strip down and step onto the scale. If they each hit their weight, then the fight happens tomorrow.”
“Do they have to be exact?”
“No, but it has to be within a specific range.”
“Who goes first?”
“Since he’s the champ, Jackson will weigh in first.”
As if on cue, Jackson ascended the four steps and started removing his clothing, leaving only his underwear.
I shouldn’t be lusting after him right now, but my hormones shifted into overdrive the second Jackson shed his clothing and stepped onto the scale.
Even though his flexibility, agility, and strength were what had ensured his career, I couldn’t help but be captivated by his physique.
I’d seen his body countless times, but I could stare at him all day long; he was that perfectly sculpted.
The older, stalky man next to him adjusted the levers, then marked down the weight. “One hundred and eighty-five exactly,” he announced. Jackson shared a grin with Trevor, stepped off the scale, and took several steps to the side. “Monroe, you’re up.”
“Is Jay younger than him?” I asked, hoping Lance wouldn’t clam up at my question.
“He is. I think by two or three years.”
“When was the last time they talked?” Was I pressing my luck?
“It’s been a long time.” I opened my mouth to ask another question, but he shook his head before uttering, “If you want to know anything else, you’re going to have to ask Jackson yourself.”
Although slightly defeated, I understood why he wouldn’t divulge any other personal information about his friend’s family.
I wanted Jackson to look at me, but his focus was on Jay, who now stood on the scale, waiting for his weigh-in results.
“One hundred and eighty-four point three,” the man said, marking down his results as well. “They’re cleared to fight.”
Instead of the men dispersing, they moved toward each other. They had to take pictures for promotion, but I worried about Jackson being so close to his brother while he was still raw from last night. I gripped Lance’s arm in worry, but he patted my hand.
“He’ll be all right.”
Both men stood toe to toe, staring each other down.
Camera flashes followed, and I counted the seconds until they separated.
Jay’s mouth moved, but he spoke so low, I was sure only Jackson heard him.
But whatever he said was the wrong thing, because in the next second, Jackson shoved Jay so hard, he stumbled backward.
Trevor and Elton immediately jumped in along with a man from Jay’s team and separated the two fighters.
“I spoke too soon. Stay here,” Lance said, rushing toward the stage. But he didn’t reach the first step before Jackson barreled past him and headed straight for me, still only clothed in his underwear.
“Let’s go.” He snatched my hand and practically dragged me toward the exit, not a care in the world he was barely dressed.
“Jackson, your clothes.” I tried to yank my hand from his, but he tightened his hold. “What did he say to you?”
“Not now,” he shouted, continuing toward the door. Not wanting to be the cause of another scene, I followed him. Although, I didn’t have much of a choice, as he refused to release me.
Trevor shouted behind us, but Jackson’s strides never slowed. As soon as we stepped outside, Elton hurried toward the vehicle and opened the doors. We ducked inside, and a minute later, we were on our way back to the gym.
“What the fuck happened back there?” Trevor asked, tossing Jackson’s clothes at him. “You’re lucky if the UFC only fines you for that, Jax.”
“I don’t give a fuck,” he grated.
“You should,” he retorted, facing forward once more, grumbling something I couldn’t hear.
Jackson’s attention remained out the window the entire ride, but with each passing mile, his breathing slowed and his posture relaxed. I was afraid if I said anything, I’d draw him out of whatever headspace he was in, so I remained quiet, as did the guys.
As soon as Elton parked, Jackson hopped out of his seat, came around the back of the vehicle, and opened my door before I managed to unhook my seat belt. He reached for my hand and helped me out, but instead of heading toward the gym, he walked toward the stairwell to our apartments.
“Where are we going?” He didn’t answer me. “Jackson,” I said harshly, hoping he’d stop ignoring me. We were four steps from the top when I stopped, tugging my arm. “Jackson,” I shouted. “What are you doing?”
He turned to look at me, a desperate look in his eyes. “Please.”
I nodded, still unsure why he wanted to go to one of our places. Once at the top, he veered toward his apartment and unlocked the door. He released my hand and headed toward his refrigerator. After drinking an entire bottle of water, he grabbed my hand once more and led me to his bedroom.
“What are you doing?” I asked, hoping he’d give me a clue as to where his head was right now.
“I need you, Sophie.”
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me incredibly close, his mouth hovering above mine.
The storm brewing behind his eyes calmed when I nodded once more.
His sigh of relief tore at the deepest part of me.
I couldn’t imagine the turmoil he battled, and if I could provide him with the slightest bit of reprieve, I would.
He would do it for me, no questions asked.
He popped the button of my jeans and dragged them down my legs along with my panties, tossing them aside before rising back to his full height.
My shirt and bra were removed next. As I lay on the bed, he disposed of his only article of clothing, nudged my legs apart, and trailed his finger over the most sensitive part of me.
I was ready for him, and he barely touched me.
“I love you,” I said, caressing his cheek, his stubble tickling my palm.
“I love you too,” he whispered against my mouth, nipping my bottom lip before he deepened the kiss. He explored my mouth, the deep vibration of his groan rippling through me. He worked himself into me, the pleasure of his fullness catapulting my desire to new heights.
I hooked my legs behind him and moved with the rhythm of his body. He moaned my name as I raked my nails down his back. I was so lost in the feel of him, that I hadn’t realized he wasn’t wearing a condom.
“Jackson, stop.”
“What’s wrong?”
“You don’t have a condom on.”
“Oh, fuck.” I thought my words alone, along with his reaction, would cause him to move back and reach for one but he didn’t. “What if I just pull out before I come?”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah.” He started to move again, but I smacked his arm.
“Don’t even think about it,” I said as sternly as I could muster. “That’s all we need—me getting pregnant.”
He studied me for a moment. “Maybe that is all we need.”
His statement barely registered, and I’d gone into a mini tirade.
“No. Absolutely not. You’re going through something right now.
I get it. But we are not about to complicate everything because you’re feeling some type of way.
No.” I pushed at his hips. “Now, if you don’t pull out of me right now and put on a condom, I’m leaving. ”
“You’re right. Sorry. I just….” Air whooshed from his lungs in frustration. “Sorry,” he repeated, pulling out of me. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
Once he put on the condom, he moved back to take his position, but I rolled onto my stomach and raised my ass in the air.
“How about you take me this way.” I glanced at him over my shoulder. “Use me however you want, Jax.”
His eyes widened, and he swallowed hard, his breathing growing heavier as he pushed back inside me. A shiver of excitement tingled through me with the angle, the sounds of our bodies colliding heightening the pleasure.
With his one hand gripping my waist, he reached between my legs with his other and toyed with my clit. He worked me over with his fingers as I milked his pleasure from him.
As we succumbed to ecstasy together, I was thankful I could be there for him in a way no one else could. He lost himself to me, and I prayed he found the solace he needed to recover from what happened earlier.