Chapter 11
ELEVEN
Iopen the door to the locker room Nikko ran into and slip in silently, leaving Julies to talk to Charlie.
They were so focused on business, they didn’t even see me leave.
Rows of sticker-covered lockers span the left wall.
To the right are shower cubicles split by curtains and sinks with mirrors above them, and there are stalls on the back wall for toilets.
It’s small but cute.
In the middle of it all, with his face pressed against a locker door, is Nikko. I can’t help but smile as he groans and softly smacks his head into it repeatedly. “Stupid, stupid, stupid.”
Walking over, I slide my hand between his head and the metal the next time he lifts it, and he freezes when his forehead hits my skin. “What—” He recoils, his eyes wide, and when he sees me, he quite literally falls back into the other lockers, holding his hands out as if to ward me off.
I just saw him knock a huge motherfucker out in one punch, but he is scared of me?
Adorable.
When I found out Julies was coming, I tagged along.
Apparently, he’d already planned it for a day when I was free in hopes I would join.
I don’t know why, maybe to rub the bet in, but I don’t care.
I get to see Nikko, something I crave, especially when his face is red and he’s tripping over himself like this.
He’s so in control, fierce, strong, and fucking sexy in the ring, but he’s fucking cute when he’s like this.
The two sides of him constantly keep me on my toes.
I never know what he will do or say next, and I love it.
He makes me laugh in a way I haven’t in a long time.
There’s this bumbling innocence to him mixed with that strong, confident boxer that is so endearing.
I both want to protect him and also fuck the shit out of him as he batters me like he did that man.
“You were too humble that night. You’re better than good. I’m glad I bet on you,” I remark as I sit on the bench and stretch out. His eyes run over me before snapping up to the ceiling, and my smile widens. “Something interesting up there?”
His eyes snap down to me again, locking on my face as my eyebrow arches.
“Why did you?” Nikko asks. Something in his gaze changes, and I don’t like it. Is he worried I did it because I pitied him? Foolish, perfect man.
“It wasn’t a favor, so don’t look at me like that.
I did it because I know a good investment when I see one.
” I run my eyes down his frame. The shorts he wears leave little to the imagination, and I drink my fill of his thick, muscular thighs and those steel-cut abs and pecs.
His hands come out, covering his crotch as I smirk and look at his blushing face. “How have you been?”
“Fine,” he says. “You broke up with him.”
See? I never know what he’s going to say.
Most people would make small talk and ask how I am, but not Nikko.
He’s direct, and I love it. No games, no guessing, no word play to cause pain or make me feel insignificant, just the truth.
I know it has an edge and could hurt as much as help, but I appreciate that over lies.
“I did.” I nod. “You were right. I deserved better. I broke up with him that day.”
“When we saw you at the office, Mr. Landry mentioned he was messing with you,” he grumbles, still covering his crotch.
“He was. He thinks it will get my attention, but he’s wrong,” I reply. “I’m over him. Maybe I have been for a long time. I had one foot out the door even while my hand clung to him in habit. Not anymore.”
“You look . . . different,” he hedges.
“Different how?” I look down. “Good or bad?” I murmur as I glance up through my lashes.
“Good,” he blurts. “Really fucking good.” His cheeks heat as my smile grows, and he looks away. “I just mean you look happier.”
“I am. I allowed myself to grieve and then move on. I’m focusing on rebuilding my life, which is why I didn’t reach out, Nikko.
” Well, one of the reasons. I didn’t know if he would want me to, and I didn’t want to trouble his life with my messy one.
Nothing has changed, but I don’t care. “I needed to focus on me, move on, and make myself happy before I let anyone else in.”
He nods, and we lapse into silence. I allow my eyes to sweep down his body greedily like I did when he was fighting.
He’s a machine, and every inch of him is muscular.
He has abs that make me yearn to taste every dip and edge, massive thighs I want to grip while I ride him, and arms wide enough to choke me out.
He’s fucking perfect. How did I not see before how goddamn hot Nikko is?
I was blinded by Faiz and feeling guilty for looking, but I don’t now, and I refuse to as I run my eyes over his impressive pecs. I have the insane urge to lean forward and bite them so everyone knows he’s mine.
Even though he’s not.
He swallows, and I watch the movement of his Adam’s apple, but he doesn’t seem to know how to react to my blatant ogling. “Most people look away when they get caught.”
“And most people don’t directly ask if they are fucking their friend,” I retort, meeting him head-on.
He’s quiet again, and I love the blush that stains his cheeks. I wonder how red I could make them. Fuck, the idea of those red cheeks blazing while I tease him makes me hard. I’ve never wanted to play with someone as badly as I do Nikko.
He’s the total opposite of my usual type.
He’s rough, brutal, and huge, but fuck me, I’m rethinking everything I’ve ever thought before.
It’s clear he wants me too. I don’t know if he realizes how he watches me, but the way he asked that question earlier only made me understand it all much more clearly—he was jealous, and I loved it.
“You won today . . . . What do you want for your winnings?” I ask, my voice husky.
“What?” he blurts.
“I said, what do you want, Nikko?” I drag out his name.
His eyes drop down my body, and I know Nikko wants me.
He watches me the same way he did the night we met, but neither of us were in a good place to act on it.
Maybe I’m still not, but the way this man looks at me is addictive, and it gives me back the confidence I lost, making me want to play with him.
It might not last or be serious, but I want some fun right now.
“You just won your match, right? That means Julies owes me five thousand—”
“You bet on it?” he mutters.
“Sure did. You made me a winner, and that means we’re accomplices, so what do you want for your prize?”
“I can have anything?” he asks softly, as if he can’t believe he’s asking.
“Anything,” I drawl, hoping like hell he takes me up on my offer. I long to lick up his sweat. If he asked, I would drop to my knees right here and find out what’s hidden in those fucking shorts. “Well, Nikko? What do you want?” I challenge, hoping he won’t back down.
He’s pulling away, though, I see it in his face, so I stand and step closer, prowling toward him as he backs up and hits the locker behind him.
“Don’t tell me the infamous Nikko is scared,” I taunt, pushing him. “Scared to say what you want. Scared to take it. How disappointing . . .”
His chest rises in a sudden breath as he meets my gaze, and something in his eyes turns darker.
“Fuck it,” he mutters, and my eyes widen as his hands slide around my waist, around the corset, and meet at the back. He pulls me close, and I press against his sweaty chest, my eyes wide as I look up at him.
“This is what you want?” I ask.
“Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I had to know.” His voice is thick as he looks down at me hungrily, his hands tightening on my waist.
“Know what?” I ask, unable to help myself. I feel so fucking small in his arms. He manhandles me like I’m not the heir to the richest and most powerful family in this fucking city, and I love it.
“Know what your waist feels like in this. It’s all I could think about,” he admits, squeezing me as I stare at him.
“And what does it feel like?” I flirt.
“Tight, perfect,” he says, gripping me tighter before he seems to come back to his senses, and I feel him pulling away again. The two sides of him fight for dominance, but I don’t want him to think. Not now, not when I can’t with him pressed against me.
The fighter and the prince.
It’s like a fucking love story, but I don’t believe in love anymore. Pleasure?
I sure as fuck do believe in that, and I want it.
I want to taste it on his perfect body.
I want to know if he’s as brutal in bed as he is in the ring.
Grinning, I slip my hands up and drape them around his neck. “I know you want me, Nikko.”
He stutters and spits as he tries to pull back, but I hold him in place, tugging him close as I press up on my tiptoes, leaning into him as I do.
He watches me, his eyes widening as I stop inches away from his lips.
“I wonder if you’ll act on the desire I see in your eyes.
I wonder how much it would take to break you into nothing but a beast who slams me into the lockers and fucks me. ”
I feel his heart thundering then skip a beat.
He pants against me, glancing at my lips, then his hands slide farther down until they grip my ass. I love the way his fingertips press in like it’s his to own.
There’s a creak, and we both turn our heads to see the door opening. One of the other boxers freezes there, holding a towel in his hand.
I raise my eyebrows at him, even as Nikko releases me and steps back.
I don’t see shame in his eyes, though, only embarrassment, but I can work with that.
I will not ever tolerate someone who is ashamed to be with me.
I deserve better. I don’t think this is that, though. I just think he’s a private person.
The fighter at the door gapes at us, his jaw almost on the floor, while Nikko looks like he’s about to pass out or run away.
It’s so much fun to tease him. No one in my world acts like this.
Every reaction is a calculated move, but not his.
They are so raw and real. I crave the simplicity and truth.
“I’ll come watch you practice more. These shorts make it all worthwhile,” I tell Nikko, then I smack his ass. He squeaks, looking shell-shocked and terrified, as I turn and prowl to the door, grinning at the fighter as I move past him.
I’m still grinning as I walk out. Julies sees me coming and arches an eyebrow, a knowing look on his face as he glances at the locker room behind me. “I take it we’ll be coming back here more often?” he asks. It’s his way of trying to find out what I’m doing.
I glance back at the locker room, unable to contain my smile. “Maybe, but that’s up to him.” I nod at Charlie and Nikko’s dad and then turn away. “I’ll meet you at the car. Don’t keep me waiting.”
The last remark is aimed at Nikko, even if he isn’t in earshot.
The ball is in his court now. I’m curious to see what he will do.