He pulled back a little, eyes barely open as he said roughly, “We do have to keep this on the down low. At least in the basement. It's got cameras. And if one of my opponents found out—”
“I’d be an easy target,” I breathed, nodding slowly, eyes still on his mouth. “What about Antonio’s other fighters?”
There was a protective spark in his eyes as he smoothed his thumb along my jaw. He tracked the movement as he said, “They know not to touch what’s mine.”
“Yours?” My throat bobbed.
A subtle look of clarity washed over his face. “If you’ll have me.”
I let the words, the way he voiced them, settle into my skin, and melt into my brain. I knew the dangers of being with Dean but found myself wanting more of it instead of flinching away. It was too late anyway. There was no denying that I was already falling long before the kiss happened.
“Yes,” I whispered.
We moved at the same time, mouths melding together on a slant. He brought a hand to my cheek this time, kissing deeper like he couldn’t get enough. I couldn’t get enough, evident in the way my fingertips curled against his shirt. Inhaling his scent of tobacco, sandalwood, and leather, I drew out the kiss just a little longer before reluctantly and slowly pulling back.
“I need to get back to work.”
He smiled, lightly dragging his thumb along my kiss-swollen bottom lip. “Should I leave first or you?”
“I will.”
I breathed in, dragging my eyes from his to look through the vent.
Candice and Mom were gone, and the foyer was quiet apart from the low volume of the mounted wall TV. Unable to turn around in the small space, I twisted the door handle slowly and back out of the closet. Apprehensively approaching the entrance of the hallway and tidying my clothes as I did, I peeped around the corner.
Empty.
I waved my hand quickly, motioning for Dean to come out while everyone was in their offices. With my eyes fixed on the hallway, he brushed past me. But not before pressing a quick kiss to my cheek.
As I watched him leave, I held my hand against my face, trying to savor the feeling while I smiled to myself.
Seb danced out of reach of the punch aimed at his face, laughing just to spite his opponent as the crowd roared in his favor. He was good, better than good, and never missed an opening. Striking with hard and fast precision each time or twisting and ducking aside whenever he needed to dodge another hit. Somehow, he kept a smile on his face for most of his fights.
I stood by the fight pit’s long entrance, watching as Seb practically skipped around his opponent, and then gave the man a wedgie just to make the crowd laugh. While Seb was known for his knockout punches, earning him the nickname K.O., he liked to have a bit of fun before he finished.
I looked back over my shoulder for the umpteenth time that night.
Dean wasn't here yet, but it was still too early in the evening to make any conclusions about his whereabouts. I couldn’t blame myself for wondering though. All I knew from what Seb told me earlier, was that Antonio had given him another night off. When I asked why, Seb hinted that it was because of a job and that he wanted Dean to take a little break. It was a job that happened the following night of the cocktail party and apparently hadn’t worked in Antonio’s favor.
For a moment, as I slipped into my thoughts, drowning out the noise of the crowd, I wondered if that was why Dean had scratches on his arms, but then I became aware of a familiar presence behind me.
"Hi," Dean murmured from over my shoulder, followed by the soft caress of his fingertips trailing with a featherlight touch down the back of my arm.
I shuddered, imagining how that touch might feel elsewhere until the crowd roared and the bell rang out.
Dean dropped his hand and stepped in beside me, standing in the doorway of the entrance with his eyes on the pit. Chewing gum and smiling a little to himself, he was wearing a navy blue T-shirt that brought out the color in his eyes, even in this dimly lit part of the basement.
He didn’t have to be here, but he was.
I followed his gaze, smiling a little to myself too as I played with the hem of my shirt. “Are you going to Xavier’s housewarming party this weekend?”
“Depends.” His eyes dropped to me, and the corner of his mouth curved up a little. “Are you going?”
My heart fluttered. “I am.”
He nodded in consideration. “I’ll think about it.”
I found it harder to focus on even simple tasks. Like returning the equipment back to its rightful place in my little medical supply cabinet. I kept fumbling or dropping things whenever my mind wandered to the way he held me, spoke to me, and even looked at me. I felt like I was going crazy, but in a good way, and had to keep reminding myself this was very new.
