“Baby, we both know you like me sweaty,” I tease, and his laughter makes my smile grow.
“Get a room!” someone shouts with a laugh. The others here have started to include Zia in their ribbing and jokes. At first, they were hesitant because of the social divide between us, but he’s just one of us now, and I know he appreciates it.
“I have one upstairs!” Zia calls back without lifting his head, but he wiggles his eyebrows at me. “Want to go use it?”
“No hanky-panky, he needs to train,” my dad barks as he stops above us.
“Hanky-panky, old man, really?” Zia teases as he looks up at my dad.
“Yes, hanky-panky. Boy, get back to work. The match is drawing closer, and you need to be ready. You, kid, are with me. You look skinny as hell. You haven’t been eating right. I ordered you dinner, and you are going to eat every bite while I watch,” he tells Zia, pointing in his face. My dad’s anger is how he shows he cares, and the fact that it extends to Zia warms my heart.
“I am eating,” Zia protests.
“I don’t want to hear it. Office, now.” He looks at me. “What are you waiting for, a hand up? Get moving!”
Zia looks at me as if he’s asking me to save him, but I just give him a swift kiss. “Do as you’re told.”
“I’m a grown man,” he grumbles, but he gets to his feet with my help and, under my father’s stern glare, ambles to the office. I stand and wink at my dad as he turns to the door where Yuki lingers.
“You too!” my dad adds. “You never eat. Get your ass in there.”
“Oh, I’m working,” Yuki hedges.
“Well, you can work and eat. Move it!” he orders like a drill sergeant, and with wide eyes, Yuki follows after his boss, making me chuckle. Wrapping up my hands, I duck back into the ring as Trent wiggles his eyebrows at me.
“I guess I was wrong about you being his type,” he says as he bounces at the other end, since he’s my sparring partner this time. They are all taking turns, everyone focused on getting me ready, which I really appreciate. “You look happy.”
I move closer, and we touch fists before I throw the first punch. He ducks under it, and I jump back to avoid his swing. “I am,” I reply, trying to carry on the conversation while practicing. I don’t want to deal with my father’s ire, after all.
“We are all behind you, you know that, right?” He groans as I hit his chest, smacking back into the ropes as I dance away, waiting for him to recover.
“I know, and I appreciate it.” They’ve never once made me or Zia feel less than welcome. In fact, they are all very protective of us and our relationship. It’s circulating on social media, and there was even a hate video aimed at Zia, saying being gay is wrong and all this stupid shit. You bet every single fighter in this gym instantly blocked the person and had their own responses. It doesn’t matter if they are straight. They were ready to ride at dawn to defend us.
I had a family right here all along, and I never let myself understand that before Zia. I’ve grown closer to them since he’s come into my life, and it’s another thing I owe him for.
“You’ve got this, Nikko. Win that fight and lock down that sexy as hell man before one of us steals him,” he jokes, and I might hit him harder than I need to. He staggers back under the blow, a mischievous grin curling his lips.
“I’d like to see one of you horny fuckers try,” I snap. “I’m a better fighter than all of you. I’ll kick your ass.”
“Remember that during your fight.” Trent laughs as he comes at meagain. For a bit, we don’t talk as we spar. “We’ll all be there, supporting you. Maybe to make sure you win, I’ll sit by your boy and flirt.”
“I will break your face,” I warn as I drop my hands. “He’s mine.”
“Oh, possessive, are you? Come on then, big guy, try,” he taunts. I know why he’s doing it, and it fucking works.
I dive at him, attacking until he’s on the ropes protecting his face. My hits are harder than ever, and when I’m finally pulled off him, the crowd that gathered is laughing.
“Well, I guess we know now how to get you to win.” Charlie laughs at my side after he pulls me away. I glance around, seeing everyone smiling, and I roll my eyes until they land on Zia, who is watching.
“Hey, Z, are you taking applications for backup boyfriends?” Trent begins, and I swing my gaze to him, glaring.
“Fuck this.” I point at Charlie. “I’m taking a dinner break.” I duck under the ropes and advance on Zia, who sees me coming. His eyes widen at the feral expression on my face. I bend as I reach him, scooping him up and throwing him over my shoulder, then I head out of the gym to their cheers behind me.
Taking two steps at a time, I rip open my apartment door, letting it bang shut behind us before I slam him against it. I shove my hand into his pants as my mouth meets his. My hands are still wrapped as I grip his cock and stroke as he gasps into my mouth. I don’t relent, deepening the kiss and tightening my hold until he thrusts into my fist. His tongue tangles with mine until we are both heaving and struggling to breathe.
“Baby, baby—” He tries to turn his face away. “You need to practice—” His words end in a moan as I take my hand away long enough to shove his pants down and spin him. His cheek hits the door, but I don’t care as I struggle with my own shorts. I grab my rock-hard length and line up with his pretty ass before thrusting into him.
“I’ll go back. First, I need to remind them you belong to me,” I snarl into his ear as he tries to get away as he cries out in pain andpleasure. I should be gentle and slow down, but the thought of someone trying to take him away from me . . . I hammer into his tight ass until he’s scoring his nails down my door and pushing back to take me.
