Page 51 of Sealed in Ink

I cut her off with a kiss, sliding my hand higher up her leg, moving it toward her sex. She grabs my wrist, breaks off the kiss, and looks around. We’re in complete darkness, parked in the shadow of a large warehouse-type building, but that doesn’t mean somebody might not happen to walk by here.

“You said youwoulddo right by me,” she whispers.

I sigh darkly and lean back.

“Why did you ask me to meet tonight?”

Running a hand through my hair, I try to remember what it’s like to be cold, not to care, to be able to easily distance myself from my feelings, if there ever were any there, to begin with.

“Because I need to ask you a favor. It’s going to be tough for both of us.”

“Okay…”

“We need to bury this until after the fight. The only thing I can afford to think about is the fight. It’s the championship. That means more money. That means, when our baby arrives, their life—their future, college, whatever they choose—will be much easier.”

“But what about Brad?” she whispers, holding my hand.

“I don’t know,” I snap. “I can’t think about that. Every second I spend distracted is a second Cain is getting better than me. This is the best move for the family.”

“But if we don’t sort the Brad problem, there won’t be a family,” she sighs. “Listen to me. The Bradproblem.”

“I know it’s not ideal,” I tell her, “but this is what I need from you, my woman. This is the sacrifice I need. Think of it as doing this for our baby.”

“So you are happy about the baby?” she asks.

“You know I am. I think that’s the first time I’ve cheered in my life.”

She laughs adorably, smoothing her hands on my shoulders and pulling me against her. I wrap my arms around her and hold her close, kissing the top of her head.

“Chrissy said I needed to be sure you wanted to be together.”

“You told Chrissy?” I ask.

“I thought you’d be mad.”

I sigh. “Well, Marquis knows. He guessed. Then I told him.”

She nods, not seeming surprised or angry. “It’s difficult to keep everything locked inside, right?”

“I hate dishonesty,” I tell her. “Always have. Well, maybe nothate, but the world never seems in order when I’m holding onto a lie. My life has been so simple. Train, eat, sleep, fight, train…”

“I thought you were Mr. Experienced, hmm?”

“I think you’ve got a future as a therapist,” I tell her, “and I’mnotjoking. You hit it right on the head there. This isn’t about your age. Hell, you’re more mature than me in many ways. You’re right.”

“Let’s say Brad somehow thought this was okay. Would you care what people thought?”

I squeeze her hips, almost mauling her with the passion that instantly flares in me. Leaning back, I look down into her eyes. “Would you?”

“Nah-uh, I asked first.”

I smirk. “Let’s answer at the same time.”

“Okay, three, two, one…”

“No,” I say.

She laughs. “Hellno.”

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