Page 82 of Beyond the Cage
She sighs, crossing her arms. “Cam was really skinny as a kid, got picked on a lot. Regardless, he was a happy kid. He shot up a few inches in high school, joined the wrestling team, and started weight training. Then, he joined the Marines. When he was discharged, he left for Japan. That’s when the silence began. At first, we thought it was PTSD, but he assured us it wasn’t.”
“I haven’t seen anything to indicate PTSD. It seems more like a choice to me than anything else. But why would he choose tonotspeak?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.” She shrugs.
Chewing on my bottom lip, I turn away from her.That rules out the traumatic childhood theory. I also highly doubt it’s PTSD. What in the world could it be? What the hell happened in Japan?
“Jasmine…I’m sorry for earlier. I’m extremely protective of my brothers and can be a real bitch when it comes to them and my kids. I misjudged you, and I’m sorry.”
“You were pretty harsh.”
“I’m sorry for calling you a gold-digging tramp. Truce?”
I stare at her outstretched hand before finally taking it. “Apology accepted.”
With that resolved, we head back to the table. It’s been cleaned, and appetizers served. Cameron’s worried expression relaxes, and he raises a questioning brow. Placing my palm to his cheek, I give him a reassuring smile.
“Everything’s fine.”
The rest of the evening is uneventful. Once Nora got past her prejudice, she relaxed, and we all had a lovely time. After dinner, we head back to the hotel, but he only allows me to change out of my wine-stained dress before we leave again.
“Where are we going?” I get the customary mysterious smile. I should know better by now.
There’s no chauffeur this time, only me and him – just the way I like it. As usual, I fill the silence as much as I can, talking about dinner, his family. He nods and occasionally squeezes my fingers. Giving up, I stare out the window as he drives. When we arrive at Grant Park, I begin to get excited.
“Are we going to the fountain?” I bounce in my seat. I’ve lived in Illinois for years but still haven’t been to the Buckingham Fountain. Chels and I have been planning a trip but haven’t made it yet.
After helping me out of the car, we make our way to the fountain. It’s almost ten, so the last show of the night is about to start. He finds a prime spot, engulfing me in his arms while we wait. I lay my head on his chest, watching the other patrons gathering. After a while, the music begins, and the fountain comes alive with lights synchronized to the playing tune. The jets shoot up into the air as different sections light up in shades of red, blue, and yellow. The “oohs” and “ahhs” from the crowd mix in with childlike laughter and whispered appreciation for the beauty being beheld. Pulling out my phone, I record a few minutes to show to Chels. She’s going to be so jealous! After my video, I have Cameron take a picture of me standing in front of the fountain then ask him to take one with me. He doesn’t shy away or hesitate this time, even taking it himself.
“Thanks, babe!”
He pulls me back into his arms, holding me until the end of the show. I turn to face him, watching the fading lights play on his features. I can’t believe how much I’ve come to love him in such a short period of time. If only he would tell me how he feels…
Leaning in, he takes my lips in a tender kiss. He palms the back of my neck, massaging it as his kiss increases in intensity. What does that old song say? If you want to know if he loves you, it’s in his kiss? If I’m to judge from this one then I’d say he’s head over heels. Too bad I need the words.
He breaks our kiss, stroking my cheek with his thumb as he pulls away. His hooded eyes are wandering over my face, doing unspeakably wonderful things to my heart. There’s no doubt about it. He’s the one. Pulling his face to mine, I whisper in his ear, “Let’s go home.”
CHAPTER 21
Truth is universal. Perception of truth is not. – Unknown
A gentle wind comes in from the Pacific Ocean, caressing my body as I stand on the balcony of our hotel room. The last four days being in California for The Ultimate Warrior competition, flash through my mind. Cameron breezed through the preliminaries and quarter-finals, heading into tonight’s semi-finals as the top seed. Whoever wins tonight goes on to fight in the finals on Saturday. One hundred men started, and now they’re down to four.
He’s been training non-stop so he hasn’t had much time for me. I wish Sparty was here to keep me company but we left him back in Evanston with Josie. Chels and Damon are here, too so she and I hang out whenever we can, but mostly I spend my days with Cameron in the gym. I’ve become pretty good at differentiating the styles he uses when fighting, my favorite being Capoeira. Between my own research and what his trainers have taught me, I’ve learned a lot. I tell you, my panties get wet when he does the aú giro sem mao. Then again, I get wet just thinking about him, so that doesn’t say much. The art incorporates acrobatics, music, and dance, so I guess this is the only way I’ll get to see him dance. He won’t do it in the club with his girlfriend, but he’ll do it in the cage with another dude. I told him as much, and he had quite a laughing fit at my expense. He and Damon have also become friends, and they’ve been in the gym together every day. After only a few weeks, I can already see the changes in Damon’s body. That, of course, has only made Chels hotter for him.
I look out over the ocean, watching as the sun slowly slips away, seemingly to the watery depths. I imagine that, standing here, I look like a heroine in a movie scene – hair blowing in the wind, my maxi dress billowing around my body. Closing my eyes, I envision my leading man walking up behind me, sliding his hands around my waist and pulling me close.
Holy shit!I need to try this envisioning thing more often. I think of him andvoilà…here he is! I lean in to him as he wraps his arms around my shoulders, letting my head loll back on his chest when he plants a gentle kiss on my neck. Taking a deep breath, I turn in his arms. We’ve only been together five months, but they’ve been the happiest of my life.
“Hi.”
He gives me a lazy smile and, as he leans in for a kiss, I slide my palms up his arms, to his nape. After a succession of soft kisses, he pulls back with a groan. He’s had fights every night, so that means there’s been no sex. It’s been hard,reallyhard, especially since we’ve been sleeping in the same bed. I suggested separate rooms, but he wouldn’t hear it.
“Hungry?”
I’ve also been getting my June Cleaver on, making him three squares a day. I have a feeling that’s the reason he got us a room with a full kitchen. I don’t mind, though; I enjoy taking care of him. He bites his bottom lip and his eyes tell me exactly what he’s hungry for.
“Don’t go starting what you know you can’t finish,” I warn him.
