A Taboo Collection

“Yeah, why?”

“You’ve not been by to see me. It’s strange not having you around the gym,” he said.

“I’ve been busy with work, and college, and stuff.” I didn’t go out of state to college. I stuck close to home. Unlike a lot of young people, I enjoyed spending time with my parents. Dad was a pain in the ass about protecting me, but he was a good guy, fair.

Besides, I couldn’t complain, because things could be a lot worse, even if the Rowdy thing hadn’t gone down.

“Some of the guys have been asking after you,” he said.

Even as I hated it, my heart sped up. Had Rowdy been asking? “Like who?” I didn’t want to think Rowdy could have been asking. “Was it Rowdy?”

“No, why?” he said.

I just shook my head. I wasn’t going to go back. I’d slept with Rowdy, and I wasn’t going to be hurt anymore.

“I like Rowdy. Boy has real talent and the potential to do good things. It’s why I’ve made sure to nurture him to where he is today.”

I knew my father adored Rowdy, everyone did. The biggest problem I had was that I loved him too much.

This was my fault for letting my heart get in the way, of thinking I was strong enough to just walk away from him after it was done. I’d hoped we had a connection, something special.

Clearly it had only been one way.

The truth was, we had nothing.

After dinner, I left my folks’ place to go to a movie with a few friends. I didn’t talk much, and the horror film was so lame that I left early. I was leaving the movie theater when I spotted Rowdy entering with a bunch of guys from the gym. I noticed the women with them as well, scantily clad. I was wearing a pair of jeans and a loose shirt.

I looked like gum on the bottom of a shoe compared to them.

I had hoped to go straight past, but Rowdy spotted me. He left the group to walk over to me.

“Hey,” he said with a cautious tone.

“Hi,” I said in a clipped one. I was humiliated over what had happened.

“You’ve not been around the gym.”

“I’m not going to be either. You’ve got nothing to worry about. I’m going to leave you completely alone.”

This guy I loved. I’d saved myself for him, and he’d called me a mistake. What was I supposed to do with that? I felt broken.

Before he could say anything I walked past him. It was better this way; at least that was what I told myself. I tried to ignore my shattered heart.

Rowdy grabbed me before I could go any farther and pulled me down a darkened alley.

“What the hell are you doing?” I asked.

“It has been three weeks since you left, and I fucked up. I didn’t mean to say you were a mistake, but since you haven’t been to the gym, and I figured you’d want space, I didn’t bother you.”

I stared at him, a little shocked.

“It’s been three weeks of watching the door at the gym, hoping to catch a glimpse of you. It’s been hard as fuck staying away, Cassandra.”

I could see my friends looking worried, but I waved them off. I turned and looked back up at him, but before I could say anything he had his lips slammed down on mine.

He kissed me deeply, sinking his fingers into my hair and holding me close. I should have pushed him away, but I was a fool who was in love. My body recognized him, and I wanted him to be closer, to feel him tightly against me.

“I shouldn’t be doing this,” I said.

“Why?”

I couldn’t even answer him.

“I’m the one that shouldn’t be doing this. Your father. He wouldn’t want a guy like me with you.”

I released him and tried to pull away. “Let me go.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Rowdy, I gave you my virginity, and I can’t get that back. You called me a mistake. I can’t live with this push and pull. I won’t. Either you want me, or you don’t.” He didn’t answer for a second, maybe surprised by my outburst. I sure as hell was. “I’m not one of the girls that hangs around the gym waiting for a fighter to run after me.”

“I know, and that makes me want you more.” He took a step closer.

God, I could get lost in my feelings, but that was a dangerous road to go down.

7

Rowdy

I was playing with fire, that I knew for fucking sure. But God, I couldn’t help myself where Cassandra was concerned. I’d given her three fucking weeks to herself, stayed away, even though I’d wanted nothing ore than to go to her. Yeah, I knew where she loved because I’d been training with Eric for so long, but I hadn’t wanted to press her.