I have had a total of five matches now, and I’ve won every one of them by a landslide. It’s starting to get people’s attention. The money is not great, but between the matches and my job at the gym I’ve managed to put a little bit aside. I’ve decided that it’s high time I get out of Tyler’s apartment.

Today is one of those lazy Sunday afternoons, so I’m hanging out at Laurels apartment reading through the classified section of the paper, circling a few possibilities in apartment rentals. I cringe slightly at what I learn. “Dang,” I say under my breath as she puts a plate in front of me on the coffee table. She had been kind enough to make lunch, and I see that we are having turkey sandwiches. Not bad.

“What’s wrong?” she asks as she takes a bite of her meal.

“I didn’t realize how expensive apartments are around here,” I say. “I mean, I’ve always had plenty of money. I lived in a mansion. Now that I’m pinching pennies, well, it doesn’t look like I’m going to be able to afford anything better than where I’m at now.”

“Sorry, but I’m not letting you get a place with a toilet in the kitchen,” Laurel says, taking another bite and then a long sip of soda.

“I don’t want that either, trust me,” I say, “But I don’t make a lot right now. I’m going to be stuck in a worse situation than I am now. And Brandi is going to use that against me, I’m sure. She was really pissed the last time I talked to her. I’m never going to be able to see my kid if I’m living in a hell hole.”

Laurel puts her hand out, “Let me see that paper.”

I pass it to her and she skims through it. ‘You know, they have apps for stuff like this now. Didn’t know you were so old school.”

“Cut me some slack, would you?” I say.

“Sorry,” she skims through the newspaper for a minute. “You’re right. All the ones in your price range are in some pretty sketchy neighborhoods.”

“Not much sketchier than where I’m at now,” I grumble.

“Well,” she pauses for a moment to fold the newspaper up and lay it on the coffee table. “Maybe… maybe you could move in here.” She looks down when she says this as though she’s too afraid to see my fascial reaction.

“Laurel, are you serious?” I ask.

She glances up, suddenly acting a bit shy –not at all like the Laurel I’m used to. “Yeah, well,” she fiddles with a lock of hair for a moment, “you’re pretty much here all the time anyway. You’ve already taken over my spare closet. I mean, if you want to, I’d like to have you here with me.”

I smile at her, and she grins back at me –still waiting on a response. “Laurel, I’d love to move in with you… I just, I don’t want you to feel like I’m taking advantage of you. I don’t know if I can pull my own weight money wise, so I’d hate to-”

“It’s the twenty-first century, Jonathan,” she coos slightly, “No one cares if we’re not splitting the bills fifty-fifty.”

“You’re amazing, you know that?” I say, and I stand up.

“What are you doing?” she asks wryly.

I pull her up out of her chair, and she laughs at me. I wrapped my arms around her waist and kiss her long and hard. Laurel drapes her arms around my neck as we kiss. After a moment she pulls away, “so are we moving in together or…?”

“Yes, of course,” I say, and I pick her up off her feet. She laughs, and I carry her back to her bedroom and throw her down on the bed.

“Easy, Jonathan,” she says when I toss her.

I jump onto the bed and hover over her, staring down at those beautiful blue eyes of hers. I take my time, kissing her slowly while I coax her out of her t-shirt and shorts. She hadn’t been wearing a bra, I see, and it makes me grin. “Hello, gorgeous,” I say, and she giggles. For such a rough and tough woman, she has the girliest little giggle. I love it. I lick her nipples and trace my fingers around the contours of her body. Slowly, I move my way down her stomach –my tongue leading the way –until my head is between her legs.

“Oh, God!” I hear her squeal, and from the corner of my eye I can see her gripping the sheets. She bends her knees and arches her back slightly as I work my magic. She moans and cries out several times. I’m not sure how long I’m down there, but soon her cries become more vocalized. “Oh! I’m cumming!”

I drop my pants and jump up on top of her, unable to wait any longer. Listening to her pleasurable cries like that really does it for me. “Oh, God, don’t stop! Don’t stop!” she screams and pulls me in further with her legs.

I hold out as long as I can. “God, I love you,” I say, and I cum into her.

I feel a nervousness inside me after letting those words slip, but she wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me in for a long, drawn-out kiss. When our lips part she smiles up at me. “I love you too, Jonathan.”

I rest my head on her chest, a sense of relief floods through me. I cannot believe I’ve found someone like her. I cannot believe I am able to feel this happy again.