Page 4 of Dali: The Demolisher

“Yeah. I’ve been keeping busy. Not being in the ring has made life boring as hell.”

Her posture relaxed as she crossed her arms over her chest with a smile. “If you miss it that much, why don’t you go back?”

I asked myself that same question every fucking day. “I achieved everything I wanted to achieve. The money, the sponsorships that still roll in, the championship belts. I literally got to live my childhood dream.” Pausing, I closed the space between us. Licking my lips, I had to keep my dick from hardening at the sight of her chest rising as she pulled in a deep breath and held it. Her nipples hardened, and knowing her body reacted to me led me to believe there was hope for us yet. “I have… different goals for my life now.”

“What’s at the top of the list?”

I wanted to tell her it was getting her, but before I could, Siri was grabbing her arm and pulling her into the kitchen. My eyes stayed locked on Kassadee until she was no longer in view. I loved everything about her physically—the curvy, stacked frame, ginger hair, pouty bowtie-shaped lips, almond-shaped eyes, honey brown skin. Every time I saw her, I wanted to pickher thick ass up and bury my face in her curves and rolls. Bury my face in her pussy. Slide my dick between her fat ass titties.

Shaking the visual from my head, I cleared my throat and tried to force myself to look away. She turned back, staring at me with those coffee-brown eyes. A hint of a smile lifted the corners of her mouth before she turned around, and only then did I have the strength to look away.

Squeezing the back of my neck, I sighed and plopped down on the couch. Kassadee had no idea how much I wanted her. I’d trade in half my time on this earth for just one night with her. Unfortunately, choices made over the years while we were younger put a wedge between us. Even though I was retired from boxing, I wasn’t sure she’d ever take a relationship with me seriously. Maybe it was pride or fear, or a mix of both that kept me from straight up asking her—and that was proof of just how distant we’d become. There was a time when Kas and I could talk about everything. Now, we barely talked about anything.

“You talked to your cousin?” Kennessy asked as he sat in the recliner on the right side of the leather sectional.

“Who Germany?” I asked as Dynasty came and sat next to me.

“Yeah. What ended up happening last night?”

“Twila didn’t fully believe the story, but since I was in his car and had the phone, she let it go,” Dynasty answered.

Kennessy chuckled as he kicked his shoes off and leaned back in the recliner. “He better quit playing with that girl, man. She gon’ fuck around and be on the next episode ofSnapped.”

“Man, say,” I replied, nodding in agreement. “After last night, I ain’t fucking with that nigga. He playing a dangerous game. Plus, he know I don’t respect that cheating shit.”

“I’m still tryna figure out why he’s even going through with the marriage,” Dynasty said. “I mean… I know he asked her to keep her from leaving the last time he cheated but damn. If he sounsatisfied that he has to be with other women, that’s clearly an indication that she ain’t the one for him.”

“It ain’t even about him not being satisfied,” I countered. “Twila won’t ever be enough for him because he’s unhappy with himself. Until he gets his shit together, he’s not going to be faithful to her or anyone else. I really hope he calls the wedding off. Twila is crazy and even crazier for staying with him, but she doesn’t deserve the type of time that mane been on these days.”

As if he felt us talking about him, Germany called me. “Speak of the devil,” I said as I stood to accept the call.

My eyes shifted toward the kitchen, instantly landing on Kassadee as I accepted the call. She looked away quickly, and all I could do was chuckle as I shook my head. It was crazy how in one season a person could be your comfort and the next… someone that made you feel awkward as hell.

2

Dali

The Past

The Dare

The music wasloud but not so loud they couldn’t hear each other. What started as a typical sleepover for Dali, Dynasty, Kennessy, and Everett had turned into an exciting and dangerous game of Truth or Dare. Dangerous because, at thirteen, the young hoodlums were more prone to accepting dares than revealing embarrassing truths.

Up until that point, Everett had been dared to bite the head off a lizard, Dynasty had to run down the street naked, and Kennessy had to steal his father’s unopened bottle of whiskey and take a large swig. Dali’s leg bounced as he waited anxiously to hear what he would have to do. Since he’d dared Everett to bite the lizard, he was sure Everett was going to take that moment to get even. When Everett looked between him and Kennessy, Dali’s head flung back.

“I dare you to go and kiss Kas.”

Dali’s head snapped back as Kennessy groaned.

“Leave my sister out of this, idiot.”

“Nah. He’s always talking about how he has a way with the girls. I want to see. Besides, he acts like she’s his little girlfriend anyways.”

Dynasty scoffed before nudging Dali’s shoulder playfully. “Don’t do it, bro. He’s only daring you because he likes Kas and knows she doesn’t like him.”

“Agreed,” Kennessy said. “She’s going to beat your ass if you kiss her. Don’t do it.”

While Dali couldn’t quite process what he felt for Kassadee, he wouldn’t shy away from it either. He didn’t want to be with her, but Dali wouldn’t deny her power to make his stomach flutter and make his arms cover with chill bumps. At thirteen, he’d had several crushes that led to relationships that faded over the course of a couple of weeks. However, what he felt for Kas was lasting longer.

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