Chapter 12 #3
“Hell no,” I huffed. “Learned my lesson with that one. But Columbus has got eyes on you. Negotiated a better travel and hotel budget. That means no interrupted sleep with all that damn snoring—”
“Shut up!” as she pushed me away. Had to limit the times waking up to her pleasing herself. I tried hard to forget it, but damn, a man could only push it to the back of his mind for so long.
“?Divertiédote*?” Laz approached.
“Wow, genial este lugar.*”
“?Vas a la festividad de barrio*?”
“?Festividad de barrio*?” Asking for clarification since it had been so long since I'd been to one. Once confirmed, I took my wallet out to pay, Sierra curious to know where our conversation went.
“Nah, he just said there was a block party in walking distance. For all that I ate, I feel like sweating this shit off, you down?”
“Why not? Even if it’s just for a little bit,” she agreed, as I took care of the check and met her outside.
The walk there had been nothing short of honking cars, and dudes slowing down to ask “that you?”, that it was a relief to finally hear the familiar music in the distance.
I was originally from the neighborhood, so it stood within reason that even if I didn’t recognize faces, people recognized me but it was a lot more relaxed than an event or red-carpet setting.
In my old neighborhood, I didn’t turn down selfie offers but I was grateful it didn’t happen a lot because that shit was exhausting.
“Hey, is that La Loba*?” a group of teenagers crowded over Sierra, as she was inviting, but vastly unprepared for people recognizing her, putting a smile on her face with her howling crowd cheer.
“That your girl?” A stranger asked, as I quickly corrected them by dismissing that she was my fighter, and that she was high off a win.
“Girl’s in a celebrating mood, so let’s show her how it’s done in Jersey.” When the crowd finally let her go, I treated her to piraguas*, watching her face distort as she sampled my parcha* flavored one.
Once we got closer to heavy music playing, it was hard not to lose yourself to the rhythm.
I didn’t fight it when Sierra pulled me in, reminding me of a time when I’d been mesmerized by those curves.
This woman’s hips did not lie, swaying and circling to the sounds of Mr. Vegas, Notch, Bad Bunny and a whole lot of other classics from my era.
I was humbled that she adapted so well, because she wasn’t even as old as some of these songs. But she was getting me worked up and last thing I needed was evidence that her body did something to me.
“Easy, mami,” taking control of her hips, so she would slow down.
“Cógelo suave*.” Following my lead, I took control of her hips to slow her down.
I’d never let myself get carried away like this, but it was hard, because she was willingly grinding up against me, practically fucking me on the dance floor.
It was almost a bit of relief when we decided to call it and head back to the car, having had our fun. “Thank you for tonight,” she beamed from the passenger seat.
“Don’t mention it,” I made the mistake of squeezing her thigh.
It hadn’t seemed to bother her, but I made a mental note to keep my hands to myself for the rest of the car ride back.
Opening her car door for her, she galloped up the stairs, forcing me to look away so I didn’t have the image of her perfect ass etched into my memory.
A random thought popped into my head, and it gave me a moment to refocus, as I thought twice about whether to share it or not. Hanging my jacket on the corner of the couch, without much context, I admitted “Ahh Real Monsters.”
“What?” she asked, rightfully confused.
“A cartoon I could binge all day is Ahh Real Monsters. Came out when I was a kid. Around the time that I…” as admitting that truth from my childhood had felt like a one-time deal. It didn’t even seem worth repeating it again, so I choose not to.
“I just like Ahh Real Monsters. And if you expect me to repeat it, I'll fucking deny it. So, don't ask me again,” I asserted, as with very little warning, she pulled me down to her height and kissed me.
A slave to my desire, I didn’t push her away, because she smelled just as good, tasted just as good, felt just as good as I imagined she would.
With kisses sweet as honey, I devoured her lips with a hunger that wouldn’t be satiated until I mounted her on this couch and took my time getting her to make those sounds I couldn’t get out my head.
She was here, she was mine, ripe for the taking.
But…I just couldn’t. Lines would blur to the point neither one of us would think clearly.
More than anything, I wanted to tattoo my name all over her body, with kisses, with pleasure, that she wouldn’t be able to think straight, or even consider anyone after me.
But that was my dick talking. She was my fighter.
My mentee. We were high on the lust of each other, but she was vulnerable in this moment.
If we crossed this line, we couldn’t be able to take it back.
We had come so far, worked so hard, that if I gave in, even though I really wanted to, it might affect our working relationship forever, and I didn’t need post-nut clarity to see that.
Even though it sucked, I had to be the one to hold back. “Ma—”
As my attempt to pull away only made her pull me in closer, and I’m ashamed to admit I indulged once more, before I peeled myself away. “We gotta stop, mami.” Nothing killed the mood more than being responsible.
“Mmm…what?” her reaction time not recovering nearly as swift.
“I just…I don’t want to take advantage of you—”
“You wouldn’t be taking advantage of me, I really want to,” her counter argument. I was really going to have to stand on business with this one. Knowing I’d regret it, I still choose to stand, creating the distance necessary to keep us from doing anything stupid.
“I’m sorry, Sierra. It’s not…I just…fuck!” suddenly stripped of the right words to say. But I didn’t need the right words. I needed the right actions. And I didn’t get this far by over explaining myself. She didn’t need a million reasons. She just needed to know, this wasn’t happening.
“Medina, we got a good thing going—”
“Josue—”
“Training starts in two days,” I dismissed, as I made a silent exit toward my room.
* What’s up-mainly used by Cubans
* Literal translation: Here in the wrestling match; like saying “I’m trying to get on with life”
* Is this your girlfriend?
* Slow roasted pork, most popular in Puerto Rico
* With rope vieja or nothing
* Fuck, what is it they threw in this?
* Pastry popular with both Cubans and Puerto Ricans
* Pastry popular with both Cubans and Puerto Ricans
* Cabun sandwich
* Oh, God!
* Having fun?
* Yeah, this place doesn’t suck
* You going to the neighborhood festival/block party?
* Block party
* She wolf
* Puerto Rican shaved ice
* Passionfruit
* Take it easy