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)
“I get to come out to Vegas again?” I asked Kage over the phone, not even trying to keep the excitement out of my voice.
“Yeah, I’m not going to Jason’s fight. The UFC is having this press conference thing here in Vegas, and a bunch of us fighters are gonna be answering questions. They said to be prepared for lots of smack talk, and to not hold back. They’re trying to really hype this shit hard— get some of that pro-wrestling drama into it while still keeping it real.”
“Do you know who you’re going to be fighting next?”
“Not exactly, but I’ve been talking to some people in the organization, and they basically let me know that they’re grooming me, if you know what I mean. They know I’m a badass and can put any of these fighters down, so they’re planning to capitalize on that— on the Machine thing.”
“They must really like you.”
“It’s all about selling fights, getting new viewers, stuff like that. They think I’m good main-card material.”
I gasped. “You think they’ll give you a title shot?”
“Probably not this soon. But I have a feeling it won’t be long, and that’s gonna piss off a lot of people.”
“Really? That would piss people off?”
“You’d better believe it.” The sound of voices got louder in the background, presumably the guys in Jason Kinney’s fight camp. Kage dropped his voice a notch. “Hey, Jamie?”
“Yes?”
“I can’t wait to see you again. Being alone is… well, it sucks. It’s getting harder for me.”
Silence stretched between us, but I couldn’t think of anything to say. It wasn’t that I didn’t feel the same; I did. It was just that he’d thrown me for a loop. The rare glimpses of his vulnerability always shocked me, because he seemed so confident and strong. It was easy to forget he was just a man— with feelings, and a heart, and weaknesses. The fact that I was a source of weakness for him was especially humbling.
When he figured out I wasn’t going to respond, he asked, “How are things going for you?”
“Maybe I can quit school,” I blurted. “I mean, if you need some company or something.”
“Hell, no. I’m a big boy, Jamie. You’re not about to give up your dreams to babysit me. I just miss you, that’s all.”
“I miss you, too. Believe me. If I wasn’t sitting in class waiting for Dr. Washburn to show up, I’d tell you just how much.”
He laughed. “Tell me anyway.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Tell me. Anyway.” The rough, commanding quality was so damn sexy, I had no choice but to obey.
“I think about you constantly. I can’t even pay attention in class because I’m so horny for you. I fantasize a lot.”
“What do you fantasize about?”
“Um…” I glanced around to make sure no one was listening, thankful it was an upper level class with enough empty seats that no one was right next to me. Then I gave a hesitant answer. “You.”
“Be specific, Jamie. I want to hear some nasty stuff coming out of your mouth. Stuff I can use tonight when I’m lying in bed wishing you were here. Tell me exactly what you want me to do to you when I see you this weekend. Do you want me to make love to you slow and easy?”
“No. I want you to ruin me. Make me unfit for anyone else.”
“How sweet.” His quiet laugh was barely audible. “You don’t want me to get all romantic? Light some candles and recite poetry about how much you mean to me?”
I looked around again before replying, “I want you to call me your little slut.”
“Is that what you are? My little slut?”
“Yes.”
“What do you think I should do with a dirty little slut like you? Push you down? Make you beg for my big cock?”
“Yes. Anything. I’ll do anything to get you off.” I sank down in the desk and dropped my voice even lower, slipping completely into the fantasy. “Do you want to hurt me, Kage?”
There was a loud noise at the front of the room, the sound of a heavy book being dropped flat onto a desk, and I shot upright in my seat.
“He’s here. Gotta go,” I whispered before fumbling my phone onto the floor. It flew apart into three pieces— front, back, and battery— effectively ending my call. My heart was racing, my breath coming twice as fast as it should have been.
The girl nearest to me retrieved the pieces of my phone and put them on my desk. “Thanks,” I whispered.
The source of the noise had been Dr. Washburn, horsing around to get my attention. Ever since I’d made him late that one time, he’d made sort of a habit of being late at least once a week. It was like I’d loosened up some knot in him, and now he didn’t seem quite so uptight. The new, more easygoing Dr. Washburn seemed a lot happier. And I couldn’t be positive, but I was pretty sure he’d found a boyfriend. I’d seen him around with a student teacher who was even more of a hipster than Dr. Washburn, and the way they looked at each other was definitely not what you’d call professional.