Banging Reaper (5 page)

The day after every fight is always the worst.

For every good fight I compete in, the next day, whether I won or lost, is almost always fucking painful. Normally I don't do much beyond very light stretching and a short run, and if I am not too sore, a long walk around the lake near my house later in the evening.

This morning isn't what I’m used to. It started with me not being able to fall asleep after I got home from dropping Avery off. I must have thought of a hundred different things to say to keep her from shutting that door and maybe being invited in. I certainly didn't want to leave.

Groaning loudly as I roll out of my king-size bed, I stretch out my arms and wince at my left hand. It still hurts, but not nearly as bad as it did last night. My right thigh though is showing a giant fucking bruise. Ethan’s kicks last night left me a painful reminder. It's 6 am and I can't help but want to go back to sleep and I would, if only I could stop thinking of her.

All I can think of is Avery.

Standing isn't fun either but I know better than to just lie around in bed, vegging out. It may be all I want to do, but I need to get moving. When you get battered around like I did last night, you have to work your body out to help relax the tight muscles.

I wince slightly as I brush my teeth. My jaws is tight and swollen from last night’s punches.

Looking into the mirror, I see a man much closer to thirty than twenty with closely cropped dark brown hair and muddy brown eyes.
The thick goatee around my mouth needs to go
, I think. And the black eyes also make me look nice and fucked up.

It’s no wonder Avery looked so terrified when I was leaving the ring. I must have been bloody and swollen when I grinned at her.

Walking down the hall then down the stairs, I enter my living room and gaze out the front windows. Dale's car is gone so he must have got it some time after I got home.

Hopefully he asked Doc Miles out. He's been sniffing around her since she came to town and started working at the fights.

I walk into the kitchen and grab a bottle of water from the fridge, chugging it down as I go out the back door. I sit down on the stoop and tie on my shoes. It's time for my run. I may feel like shit but this is going to help.

***

Dammit, I think to myself as I look in the fridge. It’s the third time I’ve done so in the last five minutes. The fridge is full but I don't want anything in it.

I want Avery and donuts I have to admit to myself.

I’m not the biggest health nut of all the fighters I know, but I try to keep a good diet in place. Donuts though... Yeah they are one of those weaknesses I try to ignore.

I get dressed and head out of the house, walking into the garage. I look at my two vehicles. It’s either the Impala or my Jeep. With where I am about to go, I don't want to put my baby in too much danger. I get into the Jeep and pull out, heading for the closest donut place I can get to. They know me all too well there.

I'm surprised when I’m pulling in front of Avery's apartment when I swear I was intending to head straight home. But then again, two coffees, a bag of bagels and a bag of donuts might mean I had no intention of going home.

She has my head pretty wrapped up in those legs of hers. Holy shit, they’re fantastic looking.

I knock quietly a couple of times. Who the hell is Sebastian? I don't hear anyone moving inside her apartment.

A quiet meow echoes on the other side of the door though, and I can't help thinking the cat is calling out for help. I left Avery here in the slums and someone murdered her in the middle of the night. The cat is calling out for me to help his poor dead owner.

I have to shake my head at the absurd visual but that doesn't stop me from knocking a bit harder on the door than I intended. Okay, maybe I knocked hard more than a couple of times. I seriously consider either kicking the door down or walking away as I realize I need to get a grip.

“Seriously! I’m coming, just a second!” I hear her yell through the door.

I start to lower my hand as the door flies open.

There, standing in front of me is one of the sexiest women I have ever seen in my life.

Avery’s jet black hair is all over the place. Her eyes look like raccoon eyes from the makeup she must have slept in. I look down at her magnificent body and see her pale skin in contrast to the black cotton boyshort panties and the lacy black bra. My god, she is sexy. I just wish I was the cause of her waking up in such a state.

“It's you?!” she says before slamming the door back into my face.

I stand there for a moment not exactly sure if she is coming back. I bend down and pick up the coffee and bag of food. Standing up, I wait for a few more seconds and frown. Should I knock again? I hope she’s coming back.

The door swings open.

“Hi,” she pants as if she was just running.

My mind tries to slide into the gutter but her asking “What’s up?” brings me out of it pretty quickly, just in time for me to notice her blanket falling off of her shoulder and revealing a black lace covered orb.

It looks full and heavy like it could fill my hand.

I drag my eyes away, lifting the food and coffee to show her. “Breakfast?”

“Oh my god!” she gasps as she grabs the coffee from my hands. “This is exactly what I need.”

She shuffles away from the door. I wasn't exactly invited in but I step over the threshold anyway. Shutting the door behind me, I watch her shuffle into the kitchen before she slumps down into one of two old but sturdy kitchen chairs.

“Mmm,” she hums. She must like the hot steaming liquid in the cup because her face looks almost happy. “Why are you here?” she asks quietly around the lip of the cup.

Her eyes look up to stare into mine.

“Well, I wanted to make sure you were alright from last night,” I say as I walk into the kitchen and sit down across from her.

In for a penny in for a fucking pound.

I look around the apartment quickly to see if I can spot anything that might belong to this Sebastian person. The only thing I see is a black cat slinking up to my legs and wrapping himself into a figure eight as he tries to rub himself all over my legs.

“Sebby, you don't even know him!” she remarks as her foot snakes out from under her blanket and she tries to pull him over to her.

“It’s alright,” I say reaching down and rubbing the cats head. “Is this your protector?” I ask while once again looking around the apartment, taking the shabby place in.

Nodding, she takes another sip then opens her mouth about to say something else only to be cut off when some jackass starts banging loudly on her front door.

A male voice sounding suspiciously like Ethan’s calls out, “Hey Avery, open up!”

Fucker sounds like he's slurring.

I take a sip of my coffee while watching Chase’s fingers stroke through Sebastian’s fur. I stare at those fingers a little too long, imagining what it would feel like if he stroked me.

I bet he could make me purr.

Pulling myself out of my thoughts, I’m just about to tell Chase that Sebastian is usually not so friendly with strangers when Ethan bangs on my door.

Shit. Ethan always has the worse timing.

I take another quick sip of my coffee and bite back the moan rising in my throat. It’s my favorite, though I don’t think Chase had any way of knowing it. It usually costs around three bucks a cup so it’s been a month or so since I’ve treated myself. Regretfully, I force myself to set the steaming cup down on the table and stand up.

“Want me to get rid of him?” Chase asks.

For a split second I’m honestly tempted. Especially since I know Chase is more than capable of getting rid of Ethan. Chase could probably kick Ethan’s ass right out the front door.

But seriously, the last thing I need is for a fight to break out here. My landlord would most likely kick me out and then where would I go?

I’m only here because it’s one of the nicer places I can afford.

“No,” I shake my head. “I should probably see what he wants.”

Ethan is my problem and I should handle him.

“Do you want me to go?” Chase asks, standing up. God, he’s tall. He looms over me. The expression on his face hardens, becoming something unreadable. I swear he looks just like he did last night when we passed in the hallway, but even worse now that he’s black and blue all over.

“No,” I say right away. I don’t want Chase to go. Now that he’s here, with breakfast, I want to hang out with him. I want to get to know this avenging angel who rescued me. “No, please don’t go. Just give me a minute to get him out of here.”

Chase stands there, large and intimidating, blocking my way. For a moment I get the impression he’s not going to let me walk around him. Then he gives a sharp nod of his head and steps to the side, as if he’s giving me permission to answer the door.

I don’t know why that little power play doesn’t piss me off. I should be mad that he would even think of trying to stop me, but for some reason I’m not mad at all. In fact, I feel rather excited. My heart is beating a little faster and my cheeks feel warm.

Sebastian purrs all the louder and rubs himself through Chase’s legs.

I take a deep breath, willing my heart to slow then I wrap my blanket tighter around me and shuffle over to the door.

Now this is really awkward and embarrassing. I was just waiting for the right moment to excuse myself to my bedroom so I could put some clothes on, but now Ethan is here and I have to answer the door again without flashing my underwear.

I reach out and the blanket slips off my shoulder as I pull the door open a crack. Stupid blanket. Cursing, I yank it back up.

“Avery?” Ethan asks and his blue eyes peek through the small gap I’ve created between the wall and the door. A strong smell of alcohol wafts through the gap. I guess he spent all night drinking.

“Ethan,” I say. “It’s really early. What are you doing here?”

“I came over to apologize. I need to tell you I’m sorry about last night.” He moves forward, trying to nudge the door open more.

I block it with my toe. “You smell like you’ve been drinking. Have you been drinking?”

“Yeah,” he admits, slurring.

“I don’t think you coming in is a good idea.”

I sense Chase moving behind me and I wonder if I would have invited Ethan in if Chase wasn’t here. I don’t like the answer I come to one bit because the answer is: probably. If Chase wasn’t here, I’d probably invite Ethan in. I’d probably let Ethan apologize to me. And I’d probably even forgive him.

But with Chase at my back, I can feel how big of a mistake that would be. Ethan has changed and we need to have a serious talk. When he’s sober. I don’t know who he is anymore. This regretful drunk at my door is not the friend I know and love.

Perhaps that friend is gone for good.

“Please Avery,” Ethan pleads and I close my eyes. Not only because it sucks that we’re in this position, this awful shitty position, but because his breath reeks. It’s super strong of alcohol.

“We’ll talk later,” I tell Ethan. When I’ve had some time to think about all of this.

“I’m busy later,” Ethan says, his voice bordering on a whine. “Let’s talk now.”

“No,” I say, unable to keep my irritation from leaking into my voice. “I’m not ready to talk about it, it’s too fresh.”

Ethan is quiet, and he’s not normally quiet.

I soften my voice as I say, “I’m sorry Ethan. I’m just not ready to forgive you yet.”

“Okay Avery, I understand,” Ethan says, and I feel utterly relieved. Too relieved.

I was afraid he was going to continue to press the issue. Sometimes it can be very hard for Ethan to accept not getting his way. And right now, he’s definitely not getting his way. There’s no way I’m talking to him. There’s no way he’s coming in here.

“Call me later?” he asks. “When you’re ready to talk?”

“I will,” I assure him and start closing the door.

His own foot darts out to stop it. “And don’t worry about showing up at the store until you feel better. Take a couple of days off.”

If only I could.

I nod my head though. “Okay.”

“I hope you feel better Avery,” he says.

I force a smile. “Me too.”

Just as I think Ethan is leaving, he suddenly asks, “That Reaper fuck didn’t try anything with you, did he?”

“What?” I gasp and I sense Chase stiffening behind me. “Try what? He just gave me a ride home.”

“He’s fucking notorious. He’s fucked every ring girl that’s come through that arena. Did he try to fuck with you?”

“No!” I immediately blurt out. “You know I’m not that kind of girl.”

My cheeks are flaming. I can still sense Chase behind me. I need to get Ethan out of here before I die of embarrassment.

“I know you’re not that type of girl,” Ethan says quietly. Then his voice rises in slurred anger. “I just want to know if that fucking fuck tried to mess with you. I saw the way he was looking at you last night.”

“Go home, Ethan,” I groan. “You’re drunk. I’ll call you later.”

“But, Avery,” he whines.

“Go!” I snap, losing my patience.

Ethan slowly backs away from the door as if he doesn’t really want to. I give him a couple of seconds before I close the door so it doesn’t seem like I’m slamming it in his face.

I lean forward and listen to his footsteps as he leaves. I don’t even sense Chase coming up behind me, I’m so focused on making sure Ethan is gone.

I turn around and Chase is just there, filling up my personal space.

For some reason, I’m so surprised, so overwhelmed by having him so close that I gasp and my fingers betray me. These treacherous digits of mine let go of the blanket and it falls in a heap to the floor.