ELEVEN
Iopen the door to the locker room Nikko ran into and slip in silently, leaving Julies to talk to Charlie. They were so focused on business, they didn’t even see me leave. Rows of sticker-covered lockers span the left wall. To the right are shower cubicles split by curtains and sinks with mirrors above them, and there are stalls on the back wall for toilets.
It’s small but cute.
In the middle of it all, with his face pressed against a locker door, is Nikko. I can’t help but smile as he groans and softly smacks his head into it repeatedly. “Stupid, stupid, stupid.”
Walking over, I slide my hand between his head and the metal the next time he lifts it, and he freezes when his forehead hits my skin. “What—” He recoils, his eyes wide, and when he sees me, he quite literally falls back into the other lockers, holding his hands out as if to ward me off.
I just saw him knock a huge motherfucker out in one punch, but he is scared of me?
Adorable.
When I found out Julies was coming, I tagged along. Apparently, he’d already planned it for a day when I was free in hopes I would join.I don’t know why, maybe to rub the bet in, but I don’t care. I get to see Nikko, something I crave, especially when his face is red and he’s tripping over himself like this.
He’s so in control, fierce, strong, and fucking sexy in the ring, but he’s fucking cute when he’s like this. The two sides of him constantly keep me on my toes. I never know what he will do or say next, and I love it. He makes me laugh in a way I haven’t in a long time. There’s this bumbling innocence to him mixed with that strong, confident boxer that is so endearing. I both want to protect him and also fuck the shit out of him as he batters me like he did that man.
“You were too humble that night. You’re better than good. I’m glad I bet on you,” I remark as I sit on the bench and stretch out. His eyes run over me before snapping up to the ceiling, and my smile widens. “Something interesting up there?”
His eyes snap down to me again, locking on my face as my eyebrow arches.
“Why did you?” Nikko asks. Something in his gaze changes, and I don’t like it. Is he worried I did it because I pitied him? Foolish, perfect man.
“It wasn’t a favor, so don’t look at me like that. I did it because I know a good investment when I see one.” I run my eyes down his frame. The shorts he wears leave little to the imagination, and I drink my fill of his thick, muscular thighs and those steel-cut abs and pecs. His hands come out, covering his crotch as I smirk and look at his blushing face. “How have you been?”
“Fine,” he says. “You broke up with him.”
See? I never know what he’s going to say. Most people would make small talk and ask how I am, but not Nikko. He’s direct, and I love it. No games, no guessing, no word play to cause pain or make me feel insignificant, just the truth. I know it has an edge and could hurt as much as help, but I appreciate that over lies.
“I did.” I nod. “You were right. I deserved better. I broke up with him that day.”
“When we saw you at the office, Mr. Landry mentioned he was messing with you,” he grumbles, still covering his crotch.
“He was. He thinks it will get my attention, but he’s wrong,” I reply. “I’m over him. Maybe I have been for a long time. I had one foot out the door even while my hand clung to him in habit. Not anymore.”
“You look . . . different,” he hedges.
“Different how?” I look down. “Good or bad?” I murmur as I glance up through my lashes.
“Good,” he blurts. “Really fucking good.” His cheeks heat as my smile grows, and he looks away. “I just mean you look happier.”
“I am. I allowed myself to grieve and then move on. I’m focusing on rebuilding my life, which is why I didn’t reach out, Nikko.” Well, one of the reasons. I didn’t know if he would want me to, and I didn’t want to trouble his life with my messy one. Nothing has changed, but I don’t care. “I needed to focus on me, move on, and make myself happy before I let anyone else in.”
He nods, and we lapse into silence. I allow my eyes to sweep down his body greedily like I did when he was fighting. He’s a machine, and every inch of him is muscular. He has abs that make me yearn to taste every dip and edge, massive thighs I want to grip while I ride him, and arms wide enough to choke me out. He’s fucking perfect. How did I not see before how goddamn hot Nikko is?
I was blinded by Faiz and feeling guilty for looking, but I don’t now, and I refuse to as I run my eyes over his impressive pecs. I have the insane urge to lean forward and bite them so everyone knows he’s mine.
Even though he’s not.
He swallows, and I watch the movement of his Adam’s apple, but he doesn’t seem to know how to react to my blatant ogling. “Most people look away when they get caught.”
“And most people don’t directly ask if they are fucking their friend,” I retort, meeting him head-on.
He’s quiet again, and I love the blush that stains his cheeks. I wonder how red I could make them. Fuck, the idea of those red cheeks blazing while I tease him makes me hard. I’ve never wanted to play with someone as badly as I do Nikko.
He’s the total opposite of my usual type. He’s rough, brutal, andhuge, but fuck me, I’m rethinking everything I’ve ever thought before. It’s clear he wants me too. I don’t know if he realizes how he watches me, but the way he asked that question earlier only made me understand it all much more clearly—he was jealous, and I loved it.
“You won today . . . . What do you want for your winnings?” I ask, my voice husky.
