The Champ: Bad Boys Book 5 (The Bad Boys) (5 page)

“Ma, we’re not gonna be back until tomorrow afternoon and we’re gonna have company.” My eyes were glued to her ass again in that damn dress that I was gonna be sure to burn as soon as I convinced her that I wasn’t crazy.

“What what’re you talking about?” The other woman in my life screeched on the other line. Ma takes her holidays very seriously so I knew there was only one way to calm her down before she set my dad on my ass and this shit turned into a circus.

“I think I met the mother of your grandchildren tonight.” What do you know? That shit didn’t burn a hole in my tongue.

“You what where is she who is she?” She rattled off questions faster than I could keep up with and I waited for her to wind down. “When can I meet her?” I was scared as fuck after those words sunk in, what had I just done?

I’d just told the fucking grandbaby monster that I might have a direct line to what she wanted most in life. One more reason to kick Chad’s ass. It was his fault that I was standing in a parking lot the night before Thanksgiving having this fucked up conversation about a woman that I hardly knew.

But even as I was about to panic at the thought of my freedom going out the window, the memory of her feel, her scent, made me smile. This was right, it felt right, like every time I got into the ring and knew I was gonna be a winner. So what if she was gonna make me work for it? I’m tough I can take one pint size little girl. What an ass.

Ma was still cackling away in my ear about meeting my Traci. “I’m working on that ma. Ma she blushes, and she’s shy and sweet and she has the greatest a-I mean uh she’s pretty ma.” Damn you idiot, you can’t tell your mother that you’re jonesing for this girl’s ass.

“Huh, nice save son, you’re just like your dad.”

“Too much information ma really.” At least I’d taken her mind off the fact that I wouldn’t be home when I knew she was expecting me there in the morning for her famous Thanksgiving breakfast. Or maybe…

Suddenly, I couldn’t wait to see Traci there in my family home around the breakfast table, in the little nook where my family and I had made some of our best memories. Thinking of that made me wonder about her own family life, what was it like? Did she have plans for tomorrow? Fuck that she’s coming home with me. She seemed like she could do with some of ma’s special brand of nosy.

“ We’ll be there for breakfast ma, but ma, she has a little baggage that we need to take care of.”

“What kind of baggage son are you in trouble?” I knew I could talk to ma about this stuff. Somehow I knew instinctively that my girl might need a woman like ma in her corner. A strong no nonsense woman who didn’t take shit from anyone and wouldn’t let her future daughter in law either. Her daughter in law, this shit was really happening.

I’d just met this girl and already I was mapping out her life for her. Poor thing she has no idea what she did when she shook her ass at me. And I have no doubt that that little dance show was all for yours truly, it better the fuck have been. I had to reign my shit in and get back to ma.

“No ma, don’t start worrying, everyone’s safe. I’ll tell you all when I see you tomorrow.”

“What about your brother where is he?”

“He’s here and so are the others but you know them, they’re gonna be stuck to my ass like leeches.” I didn’t even have to ask to know that they weren’t going anywhere if I wasn’t. Two fights in one night didn’t sit well with any of us.

I finally caught up with the others by following their voices after ma let me loose from her million and one questions. I’d finally got rid of her by telling her she wasn’t gonna get those grandkids anytime soon if she didn’t let me get on with it.

“That prick know where you live?” I cornered her against the wall out of earshot of the others. She seemed a little more at ease here on her turf. As she looked up at me under the light I saw that she was even more beautiful than I first thought in the dimly lit bar or the confines of the truck. Damn! I never stood a chance.

“He found out somehow.” Fuck, stalking ass.

“Who is he, what’s his name?” I couldn’t resist running my hand down her cheek as we talked. It seemed like I needed to have some kind of contact with her at all times.  “Your skin is so soft.” There goes that blush again and my cock was on the rise.

“His name is Carl Brennan. I met him months ago when I was out for my morning run. He started showing up every morning after that and seemed nice at first. I agreed to go out with him once just to get him to stop asking I guess. But when I told him I wasn’t interested in a relationship he got strange. I didn’t think anything of it at first, I was too busy with finals and stuff, but then he started showing up places where I’d be, making a nuisance of himself and then the phone calls started.”

“You call the cops?” I could feel my blood starting that slow boil and was once again regretting not kicking his ass. I stashed the name for later and let her carry on with her tale, but there was no doubt I’d be visiting old Carl soon.

“No I didn’t I didn’t think it was that serious at first. Then he got kinda grabby once, won’t let go. Pushed me around a little and I thought he was going to hit me, he got so mad. My friends ran him off that time so again I didn’t do anything but it scared me enough that I got careful after that. ” She seemed genuinely surprised that anyone would lose their head over her. I could tell her that I was suffering the same issue, only I wasn’t fucked in the head like the asshole.

I looked over her head to my brother as I made up my mind. “Go with your girls give me a minute.”

Traci

***

“Trace I have a good feeling about this one.”

“You’re just saying that because he’s pretty Cris.”

“No she’s right Trace, we did a run on him in the car over here, this guy is the real deal.” Melissa, one of our more levelheaded friends was finally heard from. The truth is, I was already feeling more than a little comfortable with him, but having their stamp of approval made a world of difference because I trusted them not to steer me wrong. Still, I had to be careful. I couldn’t forget that he was a pretty boy who probably had women lined up around the block.

“I don’t know, it just seems too out of the realm of reality for me, I mean look at him.” We all turned to look at him and his friends, as they seemed to be having some kind of powwow down the other end of the hallway. “If he’s who they say he is, he can have anyone he wants, so why me?”

“Would you stop? How many times do we have to tell you, you’re gorgeous? Why wouldn’t he fall for you? And trust me, the way he’s been looking at you all night, he’s got it bad girlfriend.” Cassie isn’t as discerning as Mel, but she’s no flake either.

“I don’t know guys…” I couldn’t fool myself that I wasn’t interested, but I wasn’t sure. I didn’t sense the same danger as with Carl, but he posed a whole other kind of danger for me. This one, I could lose my head over in a hurry, but then what? I’m nowhere near equipped to deal with someone of his caliber.

“Look, you can’t compare him to that crazy asshole, it’s like apples and oranges, look.” Cris showed me her phone where she’d downloaded the information on Wyatt, and there he was in Technicolor.

There were thousands of pictures of him and everything you’d ever want to know about his fighting career. Even with a black eye and a busted lip he was hot, and that grin, it hit me in the gut even through the filter of the screen.

Everything in me wanted to say to hell with it and jump in with both feet, but after the last few months there was still that niggling doubt in the back of my mind. “And look here, here’s his last interview.”

I speed read the screen at his words and felt myself melting even harder. “Aww, he loves his mom. But what if it’s all, just for show? What if beneath all that he’s as ugly as Carl?” I didn’t believe it for a second but it needed to be said.

“Look, every guy you meet from now on you’re gonna ask yourself that question. The choice is yours, you gonna give this guy a chance, or are you going to let the actions of one asshole cloud your judgment on what could be your future? From what I’ve seen so far he seems like a good bet.” After Cris put in her two cents Melissa turned me to face her.

“We’re not telling you to marry the guy or to jump into bed with him, just give him a chance. We want you to be happy and my gut tells me he’d make you very happy. But forget all that, how do you feel about him?”

“Don’t ask me that, I don’t have the best judgment when it comes to men as I have proven.” That nasty feeling in my gut whenever I thought of Carl was back. I guess I had been stupid in thinking I could make it go away on my own. I thought the phone calls and the annoying persistence would fade eventually, but tonight had proven that I’d just been fooling myself.

“Fine, take your time but don’t just blow him off okay.” Melissa squeezed my hand in sympathy.

“Shit if she don’t want him I’ll take him.”

“Shut up Cris.”

“Oh-ho a little territorial are we?” I knew she was just trying to get my goat but the thought of her or anyone else having him didn’t sit well with me. I guess that should tell me something, but as much as I wanted to just give in it was hard.

I hadn’t always been like this; I was once like every average twenty something. Outgoing without a care in the world. With my future mapped out in front of me and things going as well as they could, I didn’t think that the horror stories you read about in the paper or see on the evening news could ever be part of my existence. Little did I know!

Carl, like I’d told Wyatt was just someone I’d met by chance one day. He’d seemed harmless enough, never pushy, never even a hint of interest in anything other than a casual friendship. Until he made a move and I knocked him back as gently as I could, then all hell broke loose.

I’d been too ashamed and embarrassed at first to say anything to anyone. What if they, like him, believed that I’d led him on? What if they saw what he saw and believed that I’d used my whore’s body to entice him, only to rebuff him in the end?

I’d convinced myself that I had the situation under control, even after he’d pushed me around that one time, using his much larger frame to overpower me. It had seemed like he’d gone away after I’d threatened to call the cops, so I’d thought it was all over, just a lesson learned and never to be repeated; and now this.

Tonight though had been a little too close for comfort. If Wyatt hadn’t been there I don’t know what I would’ve done and just the thought of it left me cold. I looked over to where he stood and tried to imagine a life with someone like him, what would that be like?

He’s so perfectly handsome, so sure of himself and confident in a way I never could be. And he did seem genuinely interested. But how could I trust that? How could I accept that someone like him could ever love someone like me? And for me that’s what it would have to be. I’m an all or nothing girl, always have been. But a guy who looks like that, no way I can hold his interest.

It’s not like I’m a complete dog, but I know that he could have anyone else if he wanted. In some of those pictures on the net he’d been coupled with starlets and supermodel types, so again, why me?

The others were still trying to convince me, and I have to admit, they made it sound so simple. Just close my eyes and jump right in. The thought made my heart race with excitement and my skin tingled in all the places he’d touched. What would it be like to have all that fire in his eyes directed at me, only me?

***

Wyatt

***

I couldn’t hear what was going on over there but from the looks of it-it was pretty serious. Now she was giving me a look that I read all too easily from across the room. I could see the indecision coming off her in waves but was no longer worried about it. My mind was set, that, all that; was going to be mine. I’ll just have to work real hard at convincing her while taking care of this shit.

“I’m not leaving her here alone, I don’t trust that guy. Jace I need you to do a complete run on this skel.” I’m not sure if she knew that Jace was a detective with the Salem police. I don’t recall it coming up in conversation earlier but whatever. If I was going to be here and I’m fucked if I ain’t then I’m taking over the situation. How can I not?

“Already on it brother. So we’re hanging here for the rest of the night?” I knew he would say that, that they would all take that stand. Not because they didn’t think I could handle things on my own, but because they always have my back. “You guys don’t have to stay.” I knew that was blowing into the wind too but thought I at least had to say it. They all had lives after all.

The girls finally made their way back to us and mine was back to being shy and sweet. “Okay ladies you can go on in after I look around and make sure there’re no unwanted guests. Give me your keys.” Her girl Cris got this dreamy look on her face before bumping her with her shoulder. What was that about?

She hesitated a little before opening her purse and passing me her key ring. “How can you find anything in there?” Like a typical female she had half her condo in her purse. What if someone was following her and she had to get to her keys? She’d be dead in ten seconds flat fucking around in that sack.

I heard the cell door clang shut and lock behind my ass when I started thinking of my dad and the way he protects my mom, always getting after her about shit like that. Later I’ll have to tell her about making sure she cleaned her purse out so that she could get to her keys and the pepper spray I was going to buy her.

I opened the door and hit the light switch on the wall, all the while chronicling all the things I was going to have to teach her to keep her safe. Like keeping a nightlight on when she planned on returning home after dark. The place was neat and cute with lots of color and not a thing out of place. Kind of like her.

I gave the rooms a complete walkthrough, checking under the beds and in closets and any place that looked like it could hide a body. I picked up the wisp of silk she’d thrown over a chair in her bedroom and lifted it to my nose. Her scent went through me like a knife and headed straight for my cock.

My eyes went to the bed and I tried to imagine us rolling around there. I’d break that shit if I did half the things I wanted to do to her on it. No, better save that shit for home; my bed can withstand that shit. Everything looked fine so I went back to her.

“We’re clear.” I held the door open to let them in as my boys stayed in the hallway looking in. “We’ll stay out here tonight and keep watch.” I took a seat outside her door while my brother and our friends took up spots against the opposite wall.

“Are you insane, you can’t stay out here all night.” She sure likes to get huffy.

“Why not? It’s nice and warm in the hallway and like you said, I’m a stranger…for now, so it wouldn’t make sense for you to invite us in considering the circumstances. The only option is for us to stay outside your door and make sure no one gets to you.”

“But…why?” She really didn’t get it. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the deal with the asshole or if she was just that blind, either way I thought it was time to set her straight about just what the fuck was going on here. I got back to my feet and headed inside. “Give us a minute.” Her girls and my boys the nosy fucks were knee deep in our conversation. I took her hand and led her away.

“Listen, first let me apologize for the fact that we don’t have a lot of time to do the usual getting to know you song and dance. My career takes me away a lot and I’m going to be gone again soon. I wasn’t looking for you no more than you were looking for me, but here we are.”

“I’ve never done this shit before so I’m bound to make a few mistakes along the way…and I’m fucking this up. Look, the long and short is, I want you, I took one look at you tonight and my whole world shifted. I might not have been here before but I know enough to listen to my gut and right now that shit’s singing the Hallelujah chorus.” She wasn’t saying a word but she was taking it all in and that was good enough for me for now.

“What I’m trying to say is that there’s something going on here that I think we need to explore. Something that if given a chance I know can grow into something beautiful.” I sound like a bitch.

“How can you know, what makes you so sure?” When she finally spoke her voice was small with a hint of fear. I guess I can’t fault her for playing it safe, as long as she understood that nothing was going to stand in my way of having her.

“How? Because you make me feel in a way I never have and that’s not something I’m willing to walk away from.” She looked so fucking scared as she looked up at me, but there was nothing I could do short of proving myself to her over time, and for that she’s gonna have to let me in.

“I don’t know Wyatt, this is all moving so fast, we only just met and you’re already talking like we’re a done deal, I…” I held my finger up to her lips to silence the rest of whatever she was about to say because it wasn’t going to make a difference.

“I’ll be honest with you, there’s nothing you can do to keep me from having you. The fact that it’s not going to be tonight like I want is minor. So to answer your question as to why I’m staying here tonight to watch over you, it’s simple, I’m on your scent and no one else is getting near you.”

“On my scent, what does that mean?” Pulling her towards me, I wrapped my arms around her and lowered my lips to her ear.

“It means before long you’re going to be under me.” That got her attention and she pulled back as her eyes grew wide.

“Don’t worry about it tonight baby, you need your rest. By the way, you look fucking amazing in that dress, but you can’t leave the house in it again.” Maybe not the wisest thing to say at this junction with one asshole already in her life, but better she know what she was getting herself into with me.

I didn’t give her a chance for rebuttal, just took her hand to head back to the others and then… “One more.” I took her lips with mine and all but inhaled her as I pulled her soft curves into me one last time before the night was done. She melted in my arms and made the sexiest fucking sound I’ve ever heard as I sucked softly on her tongue.

I let my hands rest on her ass but was gentleman enough not to do the rub and squeeze I was dying to, even though my dick was weeping in my jeans. I satisfied myself with just the feel of her pressed against me. Besides, we had an audience and I was sure they were taking it all in.

“Oh yeah, all mine.” I had to steady her as her knees almost gave out under her. “I know how you feel.” My boy almost whimpered when I cut things off there. We headed for the door where I could hear the others speaking in hushed tones. I didn’t say anything about the sudden silence once we returned, just lifted my brow at my brother the ass who grinned at me.