Macio inhaled deeply as if he either didn’t want to talk or feared what would be said. If we were really going to make a relationship work between us, we needed to communicate openly or we were destined to repeat our breakup. I, for one, doubted my ability to recover if that happened again.
Clean up time turned into playtime, which resulted in earth shattering blow jobs that left us both leaning against the shower wall, gasping for air. “Too much for the champ?” I asked teasingly. I knew he had to be running on fumes by that point after a fight and two powerful orgasms.
“I got your champ right here,” he said, cupping his cock and balls.
We got back in his bed once we had toweled off, and laid down, facing one another on our pillows. I fought sleep because I was sure that he wouldn’t be there when I woke, that everything that had transpired was a cruel visage of things I wanted to happen, not the life I would truly have. Macio’s eyes softened with understanding as he brushed the back of his fingers over my cheek.
“I’ll be here,” he promised, “and we can talk in the morning.”
“I have a flight to catch in like… two hours,” I told him after a huge yawn.
“You’ll just have to catch a later one, because I’m not ready to turn loose of you yet. I… can’t. I need more time.”
“Okay.” I snuggled tighter against him and let the heat of his body and the solid rhythm of his heartbeat lull me to sleep.
Sunlight streamed through the windows when I next opened my eyes. I was a bit disoriented at first and confused when I woke up in a hotel room that clearly wasn’t mine because my accommodations weren’t nearly as luxurious. Then I recalled every second of my reunion with Macio when it played through my mind like it was a movie. I was disappointed that he wasn’t sleeping beside me and a bit annoyed because he promised to be there. Then again, he didn’t necessarily promise to be in the bed, just that he wouldn’t disappear.
I heard a familiar voice coming from the living area of the penthouse suite and I whipped back the covers in furious indignation. Dread didn’t begin to describe the feeling in the pit of my stomach as I yanked open the bedroom door and locked my gaze on Rupert, who raked his eyes up and down my nude body. I had been too fucking pissed at his presence to bother with putting on clothes or a robe.
“You again,” we both said accusingly, at the same time.
Ihadn’t been this happy since that night in Vegas when I last held Aiden in my arms. I couldn’t believe I let him walk out of my life four months ago. I’d done some pretty stupid shit in my lifetime but that was the dumbest. All that seemed to be behind me now, because I had him in my arms once again. This time, I wasn’t going to give him up. I nuzzled my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his natural scent along with the refreshing smell of soap. Aiden stirred with a soft moan and I smiled as I pulled back a little, not wanting to wake him up.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I looked up and saw him standing on the other side of the glass wall of the gym. In that moment, I knew for sure there was a God, because he was giving me the opportunity for a second chance. And when Aiden came to me, I saw the look of longing in his eyes. He missed me just as much as I had been missing him. The moment I touched him, my heart swelled so much inside my chest, I thought it might explode. Then, when we kissed… it was like we were never apart. I’ve never loved anyone as much as I loved Aiden.
I was just about to tighten my grip around Aiden and go back to sleep when I heard a knock on my hotel door. With an agitated groan, I released Aiden, then climbed out of bed. I quickly donned a bathrobe and made my way to the door, opening it once I saw it was Rupert.
He took one look at me, eyes traveling down my body as if he was drinking me in. I thought about the last time he’d had that look in his eyes and what almost happened between us and decided to close my robe just a little bit more to hide what skin I could. When he saw me adjust my robe, he seemed to come out of a trance.
He gave me a quick smile. “You’re still in bed? That’s not like you.”
“I had a late night. What’s up?” I replied, wanting him to get to the fucking point of why he was here.
“Your fight last night was amazing, Macio. So much so, I was able to get you a meeting with another possible endorsement.” Rupert gestured towards my hotel room. “Mind if I come in and go over the details?”
“Now is not really a good time,” I said.
“It will only take me a few minutes. They want to meet with you in two hours, I just want to go over a few things.”
Shit… I didn’t need this right now, but since it was business, I let him in. “Fine.” I stepped to the side and he walked into my penthouse and took a seat on the sofa. I took a seat far opposite him. I knew I could defend myself if he somehow lost his mind and tried to make any moves on me, but I felt it was best to keep our distance.
“All right, I know you’ve heard of OnyxTime,” he began.
Oh yeah, I’d heard of them. They had some of the hottest sport watches on the market. Stylish and functional. “Yeah.”
“Well, with your winning streak and marketability, they are looking for you to be their spokesman. They want to see their watches on your wrist and are willing to offer you a substantial amount of green for the privilege,” Rupert said.
“Well, shit… that is amazing. I love their watches, so this is actually an endorsement I can get down with,” I said, feeling a little excited about this one. I had turned down one two months ago, after my last fight, because the company was known to be anti-LGBT. No amount of money would make me sell my soul anymore. When Aiden left me because I was afraid of losing my career, I felt like a total loser despite my winning streak. I had lost more than my integrity that day. I’d lost half of my heart and soul. I’d lost my partner and the love of my life. Never. Fucking. Again.
I had done a lot of growing up in the last four months, that was for sure.
“So, I’ll set up the meeting. We should have it in your hotel room, keep it all private,” Rupert said, which brought me back to the present.
I nodded. “Yeah, um, that works. You said in two hours, right?”
“Yes… one o’clock. Make sure you’re dressed, though,” he joked.
I could tell he was making the effort not to look at my body… much. I’d caught a few glances at my legs here and there while he was talking. I really couldn’t help but wonder if his wife knew about his sexual orientation. Part of me wanted to ask her, but it was best that I stayed out of it. I turned when I heard my bedroom door open and saw Aiden stepping out. Shit, I was hoping to avoid these two meeting. Not because I was trying to hide Aiden… those days were behind me. Nope, it was because whenever Aiden and Rupert were in the same room together, the temperature went up. It was evident they really disliked one another.
