Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64366 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64366 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Instead, I ducked beneath his arm and escaped, stuttering unintelligibly. I needed to do something to wipe that look of stunned confusion off of my friends’ faces. Even Layla looked shocked, because knowing Kage and I were lovers and seeing him flaunting it in front of my roommates were two entirely different things.
I laughed nervously and addressed my friends. “He loves to kid around. A side effect of being the most aggressive, testosterone-overloaded male on the planet.” I held up the wadded t-shirt. “I’m going to go find a shirt that fits him better. Can’t have him cruising around here shirtless and putting the rest of us to shame.”
I didn’t look back at Kage. I hoped he would follow me so we could have a powwow in the bedroom, but he didn’t. I rummaged through my drawers and closets for ten minutes, and all I could find was a dark blue Nike t-shirt our basketball coach had passed out to the team the previous year. Everyone knew I liked my t-shirts tight, but I’d received a size large instead of my usual medium, so I’d shoved the thing into the bottom drawer. I cursed the suggestive slogan written across the front in neon yellow, knowing I had no choice but to give it to him, and hurried back to the kitchen with it clutched in my hand. Fortunately my dick had calmed down during the search, so at least that was one thing I didn’t have to be embarrassed about.
When I returned, Kage was leaning on the counter as if nothing unusual had just happened. He and Braden were engaged in a heated discussion about which was the better discipline for MMA, grappling or striking. My friends were making quick work of the food I’d cooked, but that was okay with me. The events of the morning had effectively demolished my appetite for food.
I tossed Kage the t-shirt, and he pulled it over his head while continuing to talk to Braden. Fortunately the length of it covered most of his commando crotch. He glanced absently down at the front of the shirt as he attempted to smooth out the wrinkles, but then he caught sight of the slogan: Skilled in Every Position.
He cocked an eyebrow at me. “You trying to tell me something?”
My face burned red. “It’s a basketball thing.” I turned away and moved to the opposite side of the room, trying not to think about the night before and how Kage had proved for the first time that he was indeed skilled in every position.
Braden, oblivious to our volley of innuendo, continued pleading his case to Kage. “I was always under the impression that wrestling was the best base training. So many wrestlers become MMA fighters, and it seems like most fights eventually go to the ground. Maybe not in the Heavyweight Division, but in the others. You’re in Welterweight, and those guys spend a lot of time on the ground.”
Kage nodded. “There’s some truth to that, but I think it’s more important to be able to stand and bang. In most instances, a great fighter can avoid being taken down simply by keeping out of the clinch or by sprawling effectively, which makes a good ground game secondary. Against most opponents, I can keep my distance, get in and out, and do a shitload of damage with my punches and kicks. There are plenty of talented fighters who focus on their ground game, but I think knockout power and striking accuracy are two of my most important assets in the octagon.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” Braden continued. “You have an amazing ground game, too. You’re such a technical fighter, even in your submission attempts. So deliberate and calculating. What about those guys who have almost no ground game? Let somebody shoot their legs and then lay on them for four minutes, and they’re toast.”
“I see you’ve been paying attention,” Kage said appreciatively. “I’ve only had two UFC fights, and you’ve picked up a lot about how I work.”
“Dude, I know my shit when it comes to MMA. And you only have to see a world-class fighter dominate the octagon one time to know. You don’t flail or second-guess, and there’s no doubt in your face, even when you get tagged. But can I just say that it scared the shit out of me when you started taunting Diaz last night? I wish you wouldn’t do that. It has the potential to turn ugly. Just look at Weidman vs. Silva if you don’t believe me. Silva was fucking around and taunting Weidman, and then Bam! K.O. Bye-bye belt.”
Kage chuckled, but I could see the darkness lurking behind his eyes.
“Kage won’t ever stop doing that.” My own voice surprised me. I hadn’t meant to join in on the conversation.