I give it a few more kicks before Rico starts complaining again and Coach tells me to take a water break. I go over to the edge of the ring where Pepper is standing and holding my water bottle and a towel.
“I could get used to this,” I say, and she bites her lip. I lean down and steal a quick kiss before I take a drink. “Are you bored to death yet?”
“Not yet,” she teases. “I’ve been sending pics of you and Rico to Tasha. I didn’t know she was going out with him.”
“Must be in the air.” I dip my head and kiss her neck, and she laughs as I rub my sweaty face on her.
“You know some people might find that really gross.”
“Did you?” I ask, taking another drink.
She bites her lip again and shakes her head. I rest my elbows on the rope so we’re eye level and she leans forward to kiss me. It’s soft and slow as her hands come up to my neck and hold me there. God, I love kissing her.
“Practice is over,” Coach calls, and I turn around to see him grabbing his equipment.
“Really?” I ask when he walks past me.
“Young love is a thing of beauty. Take the rest of the day off. You earned it.”
“Hell yeah,” I say, holding my hand up for Pepper to high five it. “Does this mean I get a cheat day?”
“Hell no,” Rico says as he texts on his phone. “You already had your cheat day at breakfast. I’ll see your ass in here tomorrow early for drills. Someone has to keep you bikini season ready.” He saves his goodbyes to Pepper and me and rushes out of the gym.
“I think he’s going to meet Tasha,” Pepper says, smiling at me excitedly. “I’m happy for her. He’s a good guy. Right?”
“The best,” I agree and get out of the ring to join her. “I want to show you something before we leave,” I say, taking her hand and leading her to the other end of the gym.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise,” I say and kiss her knuckles.
The gym is an old warehouse that was converted back in the fifties. A lot of famous fighters have come through here, and it was the reason I came here when I was a kid. I spent every spring break, summer vacation, and snow day up here, so I know this place like the back of my hand. If I had to tell someone where I grew up, it would be between these walls.
We walk down a long corridor where there’s a glass case at the end. The case is huge with tons of trophies and framed photos inside. I walk over to the right side and point to a big picture that’s positioned in a place of pride.
“Oh my god, that’s my father,” she says, stepping closer. “And my mother.” She puts her hand over her mouth as she scans the picture.
It’s a photo taken at a championship match and has his name at the bottom. I always felt like Pepper looked familiar to me, and then I realized why when she told me who her father was. She looks like him, but she also looks like her mother. Her mom is in a sequin dress holding up a big sign with a three on it, indicating what round they were on. He looks busted up, but he’s smiling at the camera and she’s smiling over at him. It’s actually kind of sweet now that I know their story.
“If you want the picture, I can get it for you,” I say.
“No, that’s okay. I kind of like it here where people can see it. It’s his legacy, and it’s part of the history here.” She smiles at me like I’ve given her a puppy on Christmas morning. “Thank you so much, Bear. This is really beautiful.”
And just like that, I’ve fallen completely in love with her.
“Doll face,” I say, pulling her close to me. “You can’t look at me like that.”
“Why?” she asks, confused.
“Because it makes me want you so bad I can’t control myself.”
“Maybe control is overrated?”
Her hands are bold as they move down my chest and to the front of my shorts. Her delicate fingers trace the edge of the elastic and my knees feel like they’re going to buckle.
Glancing around, I see there’s a linen closet next to us and I pick her up and carry her into it. She squeals in surprise when I close the door behind us and set her down on her feet.
“You make me lose all my senses,” I say as my hands cup her breasts over her shirt. “I’m going crazy for you.”
“I’m already there,” she says, her hands almost as frantic as mine.
I move my hand down to cup her pussy over her shorts and feel her heat. I rub her there, and she moans, so I keep doing it. My cock is so hard we could use it to wedge the door shut, but instead I rub it against her hip. My lips find hers in the dark and we kiss and kiss until I’m so dizzy I think I might pass out. It could be that all the blood in my body has moved to my dick because I can feel my heartbeat between my legs.