Jag
“Want your ass kicked by me now or later?” Boss holds the door open for me.
“Probably too late for a senior citizen to be kicking anyone’s ass.” I step through the door.
Boss’ hand connects with the back of my head as he growls.
“What in the hell were you thinking?” We walk side by side down the sidewalk toward our car.
Boss, much like me, drove his rig tonight, bypassing the fancy limo.
“Our backs were against the wall. A wise old man once taught me to battle back. That’s what I did.”
“You’re playing with fire, boy.” He doesn’t look at me as we eat up the sidewalk.
“I know.” I stop walking and look over to Boss. He does the same. “Here’s the gig. They weren’t going to stop pushing us. The trash talking would eat me alive, and you know that. It’s a sanctioned fight. How they did that, I have no idea, and it’s in a gym that’s on common ground.”
Boss opens his mouth for a rebuttal, but I’m not finished.
“And once I kick his mouthy ass, Titan’s Tribe will have nothing to hold over our heads in Vegas. That’s it.”
Boss grips the back of his neck and shakes his head. The stress of the past few years has taken a toll on the man who holds all of us together. You’d never know it by his actions. It would take someone who’s close to him to recognize it.
“We’ve got this. Those bricks won’t hurt us. We have what they don’t.” I slap his shoulder. “Heart, fire, and desire, and also one sexy ass beast of a coach.”
He smirks, struggling to hold on to his laughter. It doesn’t last long before he bursts out, then smacks the back of my head, all the time muttering how big of a dumbass I am. It’s at this moment I know everything will be okay.
Metallica blares on the way home. The streetlights glare past, and all I have on my mind is one hot little bundle of sunshine. The apartment is quiet when I enter. It takes everything inside of me to keep my mouth snapped shut and creep my way to the bedroom.
I find Sunni curled up in a ball in the center of the bed. Her waves of curls cascade all around her like a halo. Her creamy skin is exposed from the waist up. The streetlight streaming through the curtains highlights her perfect nipples.
“Down, boy,” I whisper to myself and squeeze my hardening dick.
I kick off my boots, slip out of the rest of the damn stiff clothes, and walk to the edge of the bed. I take a moment to soak this woman in. Never knew a person would come by and knock me on my ass. I’d have called anyone a liar if they told me any different. Sunni Brown has proven me wrong time after time.
Her phone rests on the pillow next to her. I snag it and look around for a charger. It slips from my hand, crashing on the hardwood floor. The sound echoes around the room, sounding like a damn grenade.
“Shit,” I hiss, bending over to pick it up.
The screen lights up when I do. What I see on the screen has my blood running cold. My jaw cramps and my spine stiffen when I stare at the picture taunting me.
“Fuck.”
The high definition picture of me up on stage with two ring girls dangling off me with their lips sealed on each of my cheeks glints back at me. I glance back to Sunni, checking for evidence of tears or at least a tear-stained pillow, to find nothing.
Did she not cry herself to sleep? Why isn’t she awake, brewing, and angry as hell? Something is off. I push it to the back of mind and crawl into bed. I place her phone face down on the nightstand. Sunni rustles around in the bed when I pull her to me.
“Jag.” My name falls from her lips in a sleepy, heavy haze.
“Yeah, baby, I’m home.” I kiss her forehead.
Sunni nuzzles into my chest while wrapping her arm around me. She takes a deep inhale and sighs.
“How was the rest of the night?” she mumbles.
Is she baiting me? Fuck, I’ve played this game with women for years now. Her body is lax and not tense at all. She’s melted in my arms and content. Not a single factor of her being pissed.
I run my fingers through her loose curls. “It turned into a shit show after Landon Chandler showed his face.”
“Are you okay?” Her head pops up, concern covering her features.
I kiss her lips before answering. “I’m fine, baby girl. Are you okay?”
“I am now.” She smirks.
“I saw your phone.” I rip the Band-Aid right off the seeping wound. I refuse to let misunderstandings ruin us.
She tilts her head, still relaxed, not growing pissed off.
“The picture of the women kissing me.” I help her out, cutting through all the bullshit.
She sits up, her palm planted on my chest. Her naked skin is exposed to me. “Are you mad at me?”
“For what?” My brain spins in confusion. I’m so lost right now. She’s the one who should be livid at me.
“Googling your name.” Sunni throws her leg over me into a straddling position. “I searched your name because I wanted you by me. I looked at the images, loving your younger ones. When I refreshed, that picture popped up.”
“And?” I cock an eyebrow up and palm her ass.
“I saw that picture then read the article.” She nibbles on her lower lip. “Are you excited for the match?”
I sit up until I’m inches from her face. “Are you not pissed off about the pictures?”
She shrugs.
“None of that shit.” I tilt my forehead to hers. “Hit me with the truth. This is our space, and you need to drop the façade.”
Her lower lip trembles. “I didn’t enjoy seeing it nor will I ever. Other women on your arm will never be something I enjoy. It took me a few moments to realize it’s all a part of your career. I took a deep breath and remembered how much you love me. It grounded me, then I fell asleep.”
“That’s it?” I ask.
“That’s it, Jag. Don’t get me wrong, it will take me time to get used to your world, but I will because of you.”
“It was all a publicity stunt. Honestly, I was more focused on the shit going down than the tramps on my arms. Once their lips landed on my cheek, I flipped. The reporter must have had a quick trigger finger.”
“Don’t.” Her hands roam up the back of my neck. “Don’t talk about it. That’s too much. As long as you let everyone know you’re mine, I’m good. I trust you, Jag.”
Sunni inhales sharply, letting me know those words weren’t comfortable for her to speak. They aren’t anywhere near simple for me to digest either. I was armed and guarded for a battle followed by a screaming shouting match. Shit, it’s the only way I know these things work.
“Thank you. I’m not saying those two words because you aren’t pissed over the picture, but you were honest, and that means everything to me, Sunni.”
This time her lips drop, sadness dances in her eyes, and it guts me.
“When you’re ready.” I lean down and kiss her collarbone. “When you’re ready, baby girl.”