CHAPTER 47
Acacophony of popped champagne bottles and jubilant yells filled the air in Mo’s dressing room. Although he was battered and bruised, Mo’s smile was wide as the Grand Canyon. He held up a bottle of Moet, champagne running down his arm as he took a large sip before speaking.
“They counted me out! But the champ has spoken! It wasn’t easy, but we did it,” Mo beamed.
After ten bloody and brutal rounds, Mo came out the victor.
Jackie had never seen so much blood in a boxing match.
At one point, she thought the ref would call it, but Mo was determined to finish.
His cut man bandaged him up, controlling the gash above his eye as best he could.
When he was on the ropes in the ninth, she’d thought that would be it.
But Mo had pulled from somewhere deep. She’d watched as he sat in his corner, eyes closed, deeply breathing, going into the zone.
And by the middle of the tenth round, Mo had rocked Ramón three times.
On the last uppercut, Ramón fell against the ropes, and the ref finally stopped the fight.
Mo had done it. He’d won. Across the ring, Jackie caught Manny’s gaze, who gave her a smirk and a head shake.
He wasn’t too happy. But they’d underestimated Mo.
They’d underestimated her. Lesson learned.
“My team really had my back,” Mo continued.
“Especially Terrell, my cut man who got me right so I could finish the fight. But this win isn’t just for me; it’s for y’all.
” He wiped his face, clearly masking the tears in his eyes.
“Special love definitely goes to the one person I would have never thought woulda been in my corner. They should have been in my corner a while ago.”
Mo got down from the chair he was standing on and grabbed the gloves he’d just worn.
Beaten and cracked, they’d gone through hell during the bout.
He walked over to Jackie. “These are for you, Lil’ Bit.
You earned it. You was fighting for me the whole time.
Riding for me. I couldn’t have done this without you, shorty. ”
Jackie never thought she’d be getting misty at a boxing match, but she was. “Thanks, Mo. I’ll ride for you always. Manny’s already talking rematch.”
Mo grinned, then placed a swollen hand over his eyes. “Let me heal up first, Lil’ Bit. Then we’ll talk rematch.”
Jackie let out a breath. It was either now or never. “I do want to tell you, Mo, I’m leaving AMW-Elite. I’m going solo. So, listen, if you don’t want to—”
Mo shook his head. “Stop talking crazy, Lil’ Bit. I’m rocking with you. No matter where you go or what you do.”
Jackie felt her shoulders fully relax. “Thanks, Mo. I appreciate that.”
Jackie looked up to see her friends beaming at her, and she couldn’t think this night could be any better.
She scanned the crowd for Antonio but couldn’t find him.
Her heart sank. Tanika gave her a look, silently signaling her not to worry.
But Jackie couldn’t help it. She understood if he wanted to bounce.
It was probably a lot to meet her family and friends all at once.
If she’d been in his shoes, Jackie probably wouldn’t have shown up. She was grateful that he had.
Tanika, Bronwyn, and Mya came over, admiring the gloves in her hand.
“I got a feeling your phone is about to be ringing off the hook with new clients,” Tanika said.
“I hope so,” Jackie said. “I feel like I can do this with so many more athletes, across many sports. Not just boxing.”
Mya admired the gloves. “I bet they still have his sweat on them! And blood! That’s so cool!”
Jackie turned up her nose, holding the gloves in her hand. “Yeah, I probably should sanitize these before I put them in on display.”
As Jackie laughed with her girls, she felt the warmth of minty breath on her neck, and the familiar smell of a certain cologne surrounded her. “You’re the last person who needs a pair of gloves, ma,” the deep voice said in her ear. “Heard you’re much better with a bat.”
Jackie turned around and couldn’t even hide the grin on her face. “I thought you had bounced.”
Antonio squinted at her. “Why would I bounce on one of the biggest nights of your career as an agent? Besides, I wouldn’t be able to see your face when I give you another bit of good news.”
“What news?”
“I just got off the phone with PJ. He just got word that he’s on the list of nominees for Rookie of the Year.”
Jackie’s eyes widened. “Are you serious! Oh my God!” She clutched the gloves to her chest, ignoring the previous concerns about blood and sweat, trying her best not to squeal in delight.
“You’re cute when you get excited,” Antonio teased.
Jackie playfully punched Antonio in his arm. “Grown women don’t want to be called cute. Cute is for babies and puppies.”
“What do you want to be called, Jackie?” Antonio stepped closer to Jackie, licking his lips. The action made Jackie’s breath hitch.
“Sexy. Beautiful. Intoxicating,” Jackie said flirtatiously. “A force to be reckoned with.”
“Say less, I’ll remember next time. By the way, PJ told me to tell you congrats on striking out on your own. He said ‘about damn time.’” Antonio leaned in, placing a kiss on her forehead. “You are about to shake shit up. I’m so proud of you.”
“Uhm, if you two are done flirting,” Mya interrupted. “Mo’s team invited us to an afterparty. You all trying to roll? Bronwyn is highly interested in Mo’s meditation techniques.”
Bronwyn nodded. “He is a case study in how deep visualization really works! What he did when he was in his corner really fascinated me!”
“Or you all could hit the casinos with me and Tanika,” Gideon said as he came behind Tanika, holding her around the waist. “We are feeling kinda lucky tonight.”
“Wassup, Jackie?” asked Antonio. “You feeling lucky?”
Jackie looked at Antonio, biting her glossy, cocoa lips. “Absolutely.”
JACKIE AND ANTONIO DID NOT, IN FACT, MAKE IT TO CASINO.
As soon as they entered the elevator to her suite, Antonio had picked her up, pinned her in the corner, and begun kissing her. Her dress was riding up her thighs as her legs wrapped around his waist.
Antonio’s lips were nestled in the curve of her neck as he applied gentle bites. “You’re so damn sexy, Lucky. Fuck.”
Jackie moaned. “I told you I’m not cute.”
“Nah, never that,” Antonio chuckled as he licked the sting from his bite away.
The elevator opened on several floors before they got to hers. Jackie heard guests on the twelfth floor saying, “Oh my,” before letting the doors close again.
“Ant,” Jackie panted. “We are giving these people a show.”
“I don’t care,” Antonio said, kissing along Jackie’s jawline. “Let them watch us, Lucky.”
Jackie could feel her thong sticking to her skin, her whole body feeling hot. She was going to come right then and there if this man didn’t put her down. But she couldn’t will her legs to let go of Antonio. It was the ride of her life, and she was going to hold on for as long as she could.
When the elevator finally announced her floor, Antonio put her down. “Enjoy the ride?” he asked.
Jackie quirked a brow, adjusting the hem of her dress. “Is it over?”
“Hell no,” Antonio declared. “We are just getting started.”
Jackie hit the keycard to her two-bedroom suite, pulling Antonio inside. He spun her around, kissing her as they moved backward into the space.
“You know,” he said, breaking their kiss. “I’m starting to think we’re only going to have sex in hotel rooms.”
Jackie laughed. “Next time, we can try your bed. Or mine.”
“I’d like that. If you’re really good, maybe I’ll cook for you afterward,” Antonio said as he kissed her, palming her curves as he did so.
Jackie moaned into his mouth. She had missed the feel of his hands against her body. “Aren’t I always good?”
Antonio lifted her chin, staring into her eyes. “Lately, you’ve been a pain in my ass, Lucky.”
Jackie’s eyes softened as she stared back at him. “I’m sorry.”
“Me too,” Antonio said. “Because I should have told you that you and me keeping it ‘friendly’ was a bad idea.”
Jackie snorted. “Damn, tell me how you really feel.”
Antonio rubbed his thumb across her cheek. “We can’t stop the inevitable, Jackie. I’m tired of fighting this; aren’t you?”
“I am. Whatever this is….”
Antonio frowned. “What do you mean ‘whatever this is’? You’re mine, Lucky. I’m yours. Do I need to spell shit out for you?”
“Yes, you need to spell it out.”
“Do I now?” Antonio gave her a devilish grin. She loved the fact that he always understood whatever it was that she was putting down.
He picked her up and walked her to the dining table in the suite, placing her on it.
“You sure do love a table,” Jackie remarked. She felt his warm hands slide under her dress, tugging at the sides of her thong.
“Where else am I going to eat my meal?” Antonio asked as he slid her thong down her legs.
She watched as he sniffed the seat, tucking them into the pockets of his pants.
She’d lost count of how many pairs of her panties he’d pilfered.
She knew she wasn’t going to get those back, so she wasn’t even going to ask.
Antonio gripped her by the thighs, spreading her legs apart. “You said you need me to spell it out, right?”
“Yes. I do.”
She watched as Antonio’s head slid between her legs.
When his tongue licked the juncture of her thighs, Jackie let out a low groan so unrecognizable, she wasn’t sure it was from her.
Antonio moved to her heated center, licking and tasting her like his life depended on it.
Jackie held on to the table, thanking God that it was marble.
Antonio lifted his head, his facial hair wet and glistening. “Did you understand that? The words I spelled?”
“Uhm no? What did you spell?” asked Jackie, breathlessly.
“‘This pussy is mine.’”
“Is it?” Jackie questioned. Why the hell did she do that? The look in Antonio’s eyes went damn-near feral.