Paradise Fought (Abel) (29 page)

“You were so eager to have it over,” I panted.

“I was not,” she sighed with a moan as I stretched her with another eager pump. I released her wrists to hold her thighs, lifting her higher as I continued my assault into her. Her arms encircled my neck as she clutched onto me.

“You want it over, Elma?” I grunted again. I drove into her one final time as her arms clung around my neck, her legs circled my waist, and her warm breath filled my ear.

“It’s over now, Elma.” I stilled as I came the hardest I ever had. Elma was completely supported by me, as we were joined by me buried deep inside her. I pulled out so quickly; I nearly dropped her. Her legs fell to the sides and she tipped back against the door for support. I bent forward to pull up my pants and hastily cover myself. I noticed a large drip of my seed roll down the inside of her leg. Standing upward, I stepped back while Elma panted against the door. Her expression had changed. Back was the Elma who looked at me like I didn’t own her. I
didn’t
own her. Dammit, she owned me, and I hated her for it.

“I paid for sex,” I lied. I’d never
not
paid for sex I realized. I was a fool to think Elma was any different.

“You owe me nothing.” I stepped back and waited for Elma to leave my room.

“
You’re
done with
me
?” I snapped. “Well, I’m not done with you.” I lunged for him, and to my surprise, he caught me. My legs circled his waist and the impact forced us backward. Similar to the other night, we fell onto the bed, only this time there was no laughter. I held his face and forced him to kiss me. His lips were eager; his tongue aggressive. Betta had entered this ring and was ready to continue the fight.

Our tongues sparred and jabbed. One tried to take control of the other before slowly melting into a rhythm together. Abel would not win this round. It was my turn. I released his mouth and his head fell back on the bed. I dragged myself slowly down his body, eventually taking his pants with me. He wore some kind of pajama bottom and it slid off easily. The second he was free, my mouth imprisoned him. He would not fight what the warmth of my lips could do to him. I sucked him hard, drawing him deep into my throat. He wasn’t completely ready at first, but stiffened quickly. I was unsatisfied with our previous act. I would get my relief.

His hips jutted in a steady pace with my beat. His hands came over my hair, holding my head down over him. I’d do to him what he did to me. He was getting close. I could tell by the shake to his leg. That’s when I yanked my mouth free. Blue eyes met mine and sparked between desire and damage. He’d hurt me if I teased him like this. Not literally, but the edge to Abel was present. He was his father’s son, even if he didn’t portray his family in any visible manner.

I stood briefly to remove the rag he’d made of my dress. Then removed my underwear. He watched my display, not moving from his position on his back. His erection stood tall and ready for another round. I climbed over him and practically impaled myself on him. Surrounding him to the hilt, I let out a sharp whimper. The intrusion was deep and different. I stilled to catch my breath. When his hands came to my hips, I sensed he’d flip us for control, so I placed a hand on his chest and sat back to move. Rolling forward, I rocked my hips in a steady riding motion. Abel’s hands relaxed and I took the reins.

The friction was too much. My motions sped out of control. I couldn’t move fast enough over him. The unworldly sensation, as I rocked forward and back, increased the feeling. The anticipation was climbing through me, fluttering within. I sat up, as best I could, over him and arched my back as I came hard above him. I clenched and squeezed, feeling the thick shaft inside me as he pulsed upward. My heart raced. My breaths came in sharp pants. My body, however, was languid and finished.

I wanted to fall on him and let him hold me, but I sensed Abel wouldn’t want that. This wasn’t about comfort. This was about control. I was raising my hips to release him when he flipped us. Only semi-hard, he remained inside me. His arms looped underneath mine and a knee came under my thigh. We were in a strange type of embrace, with Abel still attached to me.

“Did I hurt you?” he breathed into my neck. He was careful to keep his lips off my skin.

“No,” I whispered. He covered me, but the weight wasn’t too much. Over time, he grew heavy and his breathing leveled out. He slid out of me, but still held me trapped, with his arms locked underneath mine, and his knee pinned under my thigh. It was almost like a wrestling hold, and the dead weight of Abel was assurance to keep me down for the count. While he drifted off to sleep, I lay awake, wired from our wild encounter. Abel had turned bitter toward me. My heart saddened to realize all the fighting I wanted resolved in the ring, didn’t measure up to the pain I suddenly felt outside it. I’d been fighting the wrong fight. Without realizing it, the thing I needed to fight for wasn’t in the ring. It was in my heart. It was Abel.

I woke alone. The pale light of morning filled my room. Sunshine brightened what looked like a storm from the night before. The ripped dress remained, as did Elma’s underwear. My pajama bottoms were sprawled on the floor. The sheets were disheveled, but there was no sign of her. I had a clear shot of the open door to my bathroom. Elma was gone: naked and gone.

I rose slowly; my body strangely sore from the fight with her. I took her with force, wanting to feel her and forget her. Then she came for me, and I gave in to her again: her warm mouth over me, the temptation of her tongue, the suction of her latched onto me. Elma didn’t fight fair. She’d come prepared to fight, and I definitely felt like the loser, waking alone, knowing she’d returned to Cain’s room. I would remain the loser as I needed to let Elma go. I couldn’t have a girl who wanted my brother. They always did once he was finished with them. Women wanted a repeat performance with the Cobra. One sting wasn’t enough.

I cursed myself for being rough with her. My head took over to block my heart. My body wanted to harm and heal. I didn’t feel either. It was my heart that ached. I dressed methodically, finding another pair of sweats and a t-shirt. I picked up Elma’s dress and ran the cool material over my face. It smelled like us. Tossing it on the bed, I went to exit my room. Barefoot, I walked down the hall toward Cain’s. Elma exited just as I drew close, but then so did Cain. He reached out for her and her arms came around his neck, much like when she clutched me. She pulled back and laid her hands flat on his chest, while Cain bent forward to kiss her forehead. The image was too sweet for Cain; the energy in me too hot.

Cain separated from her at my approach. The words, “Happy Birthday, Little Brother,” had just crossed his lips when I reached the doorway. In one broad step, I clocked him on the side of the head. Elma screamed and stepped back as Cain staggered then faced me. Fist raised, he glared at me with flaring nostrils.

“Do it!” I growled. “You know you want to.” Cain stared, panting with the struggle to calm himself. He’d never hit me. He might have insulted me. He might have pushed me out of his way, but he’d never struck out at me.

“Fight on, Little Brother,” he exhaled, lowering his fist. “In the ring.”

“Challenge accepted.” I brushed between him and Elma, purposely bumping into him like a punk, and ignoring Elma, despite her plea with my name. I had nothing left with her. I considered her debt paid. I would cover the actual finances with my father. As for my brother and Elma, once the Cobra struck, the Betta was left behind to flounder in his small confines. But that morning, I took a leap for escape and walked away.

Mr. Jacobson agreed to manage the fight from my side. My father would not take all the glory from me. Arranging the fight on his terms, his turf, put me at a disadvantage. Genesis Gym had the top of the line equipment, thanks to Cain and his sponsors. They also had amazing connections within Vegas. I would be returning to Highlands Gym in the Valley. Within a week, we had a date. The fight was set for the middle of May. The initial excitement over the potential of two brothers fighting, the Callahan brothers fighting one another, caused the venue to be moved from the Heston Towers to The Belfast Casino. I heard through Creed that Lindee’s family owned that resort.

“Dude, you do realize this is insane, right?” Creed asked one night as we sat drinking beer, two weeks after spring break.

I didn’t respond. We’d had this conversation numerous times. Each time the promo posted on social media or flashed across the cable station, Creed would say the same thing. There was a hint of excitement in his tone, growing higher and more enthusiastic with the increase of advertisements.

“I mean. You and your brother. Betta against Cobra. Abel against Cain. It’s…it’s biblical,” he laughed. I could only smirk. It wasn’t like we had never heard comments before, regarding our names. It seemed to be destiny we would fight. I could only hope my brother didn’t kill me in the end as history dictated. I’d been training hard, increasing my workout and rotations. My schoolwork was suffering, as I couldn’t concentrate. I was a bundle of nervous energy, constantly in need of motion. Sitting still made me a dead fish. Being near Elma stank like one.

I avoided her as much as possible. It wasn’t hard. We didn’t cross paths before I paid for her. We could easily slip back into our roles of never encountering one another. Unfortunately, I was much more popular on campus than I’d previously been. Not only had my name gotten out of the underground, but with the addition of this national campaign to promote the fight, I was recognized and acknowledged everywhere.

I’d heard rumors that Elma and I had been an item. I was too good for her, the girl sharing the gossip whispered loudly behind me in human anatomy. A second female voice answered with her version of the tale, saying she’d heard I was a one-time lover.

“Wonder if he’s as sexy as his brother?” she giggled. Their teasing banter sent mixed emotions inside me. I smiled internally as they tried to gain my attention, but my annoyance at the comparison to my brother stopped any laughter within. When I saw Elma enter the auditorium, my heart sank. I didn’t want people thinking Elma and I had simply banged, and then I threw her away like day old fish. Despite our last encounter, which was raw and rough, being with Elma had been more than a fuck for me. I felt complete with her. I wanted to care for her. I wanted to love her. But she hadn’t let me. She used me.