Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 75195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
I smirked.
Getting into his pre-fight rituals, Dominic bobbed and weaved.
“Can we start already?”
“You are just begging for this whipping.”
We circled around each other with our hands raised.
“You went out last night?” Dominic came at me with a right hook.
I dodged it with ease. “Yeah. I met someone at the showing.”
“Someone to take to the Masquerade?”
“I think so.”
“That was fast.”
“Not as fast as this.” I jabbed, hitting him in the ribs.
Dominic grunted, but didn’t falter. “Is she like your usuals?”
I grinned and stepped back. “And what do you think are my usuals?”
“Nice body. Pretty face. Average mind. Down for everything and more in the bedroom.”
Shock hit me. “Average mind?”
“Not dumb, but simply unable to hold a conversation for longer than ten minutes.”
“That can’t be true.”
“It is.”
“Yours aren’t that smart either.”
“Because I like my women dumber than a doorknob, but for you. . .I hate when you are pouting at the Masquerade, completely bored.”
I chuckled. “Then, you will be happy to hear that this one is very smart.”
“Fascinating. And will I be meeting this one?”
“I doubt it.” I stepped back and shifted my weight from one foot to another.
“Come on. We could double date. I’m messing with Geneva again.”
I grimaced. “Why would you go back to Geneva?”
“I blame it on love.”
“She has been nothing but problems since you met her.”
“The heart sees only love, Tristan.”
“Disgusting.”
He laughed.
We returned to sparring, trading blows and dodging each other’s moves.
For every punch Dominic threw, I had an answer. My quick reflexes and agility kept me out of harm’s way for the most part until he managed to land a solid hit on my shoulder.
“Fuck!” I stumbled back. The force of it sent a sharp pain up my arm. “When did you start hitting so hard?”
“I have the power of love on my side.”
I laughed. “Love is nothing more than a biological trick to ensure the continuation of the species.”
“Biological trick?” Dominic threw a wild uppercut.
I stepped back before his fist made contact with my jaw. “Love is fleeting and unreliable. Why would anyone want to shackle themselves to such an uncertain concept?”
Dominic spun around and smacked me with an elbow strike.
Cheater.
Growling, I lunged forward, throwing punch after punch in a fast blur of movement. My muscles strained and twitched.
He countered with quick jabs that matched me blow for blow.
My senses sharpened.
For a while, we circled around each other, exchanging blows and taunts. The sounds of gloves striking echoed through the gym. Sweat dripped down our faces.
We continued to trade punches.
I lunged.
He blocked.
I dodged.
He attacked.
Our bodies moved in perfect synchronization just like the old days. Harmonized footwork and familiar rhythm.
Energy sparked through the air.
The space heated up.
This was my therapy, my way of forgetting the past and focusing on the present. Adrenaline pulsed through my body, making me feel alive.
I stepped back with an exhausted chuckle. “Not bad.”
Dominic wiped the sweat off his forehead. “Have you ever considered that love is the very thing that elevates us above mere animals?”
Not this again.
I caught my breath. “You think love makes us human?”
“I would argue that.”
“No, Dom. We are creatures of instinct, driven by our primal desires.” I held up my fists. “Commitment and monogamy? It’s all just societal bullshit designed to control our natural urges.”
“Or you get someone who can deal with those urges—”
“Perhaps, your urges are calmer than mine.” I laughed.
“Perhaps. Or maybe you will finally meet someone that matches your urges.”
Could that be true? No. I doubt it.
I gave him a skeptical look. “And are you taking Geneva to the Masquerade?”
“Fuck no. She can’t handle it.”
“So, you’re taking someone else?”
“Of course.”
“Whoa.” I did a dramatic touch to my heart. “You are a powerful example of love.”
“Forget about me.” Dominic laughed. “We are on you.”
“Oh, I bet we are.”
“Maybe, this woman that you just met could be the one.” Dominic charged forward.
I ducked, then brought a hard fist up into his gut, making him grunt in pain. “I will never cling to some stupid idea of a soulmate. I would be searching all my life—”
“The searching can be fun.”
“I would rather have relationships with no attachments.” Sweat dripped down my brow as I danced around the ring, fists raised and ready.
“This woman that you met?”
“Yes.”
“Does she have you excited?”
“I wouldn’t be talking to her, if she didn’t have me excited.” I lunged forward, throwing a quick combination of jabs and hooks that Dominic effortlessly dodged.
I’ll get him today.
And then, without warning, the image of Nova’s face flashed before my eyes. The way her brown skin glowed under the restaurant’s dim lighting, the warmth of her smile, the depth of her gaze, the sexy scent of her pussy—it all hit me like a sucker punch.
Nova.
My focus faltered.
Then, I was thinking about her on my screen, masturbating with my tie.
Goddamn it.
Dominic seized the opportunity and struck, landing a quick jab to my left cheek, followed by a powerful cross to my chest that sent me stumbling backward.