Page 45 of Tandem

Feeling her pussy clench and pulse around me made me slam deep inside her one final time, and with a groan, I released all of the pent-up emotions I had from the day. I lowered her back onto my body as she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and panted, regaining her energy and breath after the fun we just had. After a few more moments, I gently helped her back to her seat and started to get dressed.

We straightened our clothes and finished catching our breaths. Then, with a smirk, I gently pulled her back onto my lap. Her body settled perfectly against mine. “Stay right here, Rosalie,” I whispered, my voice low and filled with desire. “You look so good in my lap, baby girl.”

Her eyes met mine, a mixture of surprise and excitement as her cheeks turned bright red. Her lips were just inches from mine, so I went the distance. I couldn’t resist leaning in tocapture her lips in another lingering kiss. I turned on the car and started to drive.

Driving with her on my lap was a thrilling sensation. The warmth of her body pressed against mine, our mouths locked in and out of an intense make-out session as we cruised. The car’s engine purred beneath us, a subtle reminder of the power at my fingertips. As we kissed, the neon lights of the city streaked past us, the night air filled with the charge of our connection.

Then all too fucking soon, the warehouse where the drift races were held loomed ahead. I pulled the car over on the street around the block. Rosalie’s fingers gently traced my cheek, a wistful smile on her lips.

“AJ, thanks for the ride, in more ways than one.” I chuckled. She was even cuter when she tried to be sexy and witty.

“Anytime, Rosalie.” Rosalie leaned in for one last lingering kiss before she opened the driver’s door and slid out. I watched as she waved bye in the rearview mirror as I drove away, straight to the neighborhood where Pops had his chop shop.

As I pulled into the dimly lit alley behind Pops’s shop, the familiar scent of grease and oil filled the air. Pops himself emerged from the shadows, a grizzled figure in a grease-stained jumpsuit. He took one look at the Evo, his eyes narrowing in appraisal. “What do you got for me, AJ?” I exited the car, a sense of business settling over me.

“A Mitsubishi Evo. Low mileage, in great condition.” Pops circled the car, his experienced eye picking out every detail. He knew the value of these machines, even if they came with a questionable history. After a moment of consideration, he nodded.

“I'll give you a decent price for it.” As always, we haggled for a bit before coming to an agreement. The cash exchanged hands, and I watched as Pops drove the Evo into his garage. As I walkedaway from Pops’s chop shop, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

The night started with danger and ended with making money and having my girl, and it was perfect—well, except for fight nights. That would have been the best way to end the night.

CHAPTER 26

AJ

As time went on,I won all of my matches and was waiting for the final fight before the championship match. I was thinking it would be this week since it’d been a while since my last match, and T didn't normally make us wait this long between fights. But then again, a circuit didn’t normally last a year but this one was. He was really milking this rematch deal.

As the morning light peeked over the hills to the east, I was taking the morning to walk down a familiar path. This was the neighborhood I grew up in. And after all of the energy I spent last night boosting and fucking my girl good, I wanted to limber up. And parkour had a way of doing that.

I hit the pavement of the old basketball court in the Jim Gilliam Recreation Center. I was never into basic sports, but feeling my sneakers against the familiar concrete was good. I shifted my rucksack that was secured on my back, and the rattle cans knocked together slightly. Street art was also part of my roots, and I was going to tap into both of them today.

I took a deep breath, and after a couple of quick stretches, I sprang into action. My sneakers pounded the ground as I leaped effortlessly over a rusty bench, my muscles contracting and releasing with perfect precision. I flowed through the city’surban landscape, using walls and rails as my pathways. Each movement reminded me of where I came from and how far I had gone from being just another kid in the ghetto.

As I made my way toward the LA River, I couldn’t help smiling. This place held countless memories of my childhood, from illicit adventures to moments of quiet. The concrete channel of the riverbed stretched out before me, an industrial artery winding its way through the heart of the city. With practiced ease, I descended the steep embankment and landed on the dry riverbed floor.

The graffiti-covered walls that lined the channel told stories of countless artists who had come before me. I rummaged in my rucksack and pulled out a few cans of spray paint. With a quick shake, I began to create. Colors danced across the rough surface as I brought my vision to life. The image in my mind took shape—a vibrant, abstract representation of the city itself, reflecting the diversity, chaos, and beauty that defined LA. And maybe I added the EVO I had stolen last night, with a small rose sprayed on the side.

As I sprayed, I lost myself in the rhythm of the can, the hiss of paint on my canvas, and the scent of fresh color in the air. The world around me faded away, and for a moment, it was just me and the river. When I stepped back to check my work, I felt a sense of accomplishment different from anything I experienced when in the ring or on the streets.

This was my way of leaving a mark, of telling my story in a place that had once defined me. As the sun continued its ascent, casting long shadows across the riverbed, I gathered my gear and made my way back up the riverbank. But fuck if a workout and spraying for a couple hours didn’t make a man hungry.

I made my way to a local fried chicken place. Grabbing my order, I sat down and just started to eat when the door chimed asit opened. I glanced over at it and saw Jabari and a group of his guys walk in like they owned the place.

One of Jabari’s buddies elbowed him and jerked his head in my direction. Jabari smirked and made his way over to my table uninvited, taking a seat across from me. “What’s up, AJ?” he said, his tone dripping with arrogance. “Enjoying your chicken, I see.”

I set my piece down and glanced up at him, my expression steady. Fuck, now my food was going to get cold. “Jabari,” I acknowledged calmly, not rising to his taunts. “What brings you here?”

Jabari leaned in, his eyes locked onto mine. “Word on the street is there's gonna be a fight tonight,” he said, a sly grin playing on his lips.

I raised an eyebrow. “Yeah? And?”

He chuckled, his voice low and menacing. “And you know what, AJ? I’ve got a little bet going with my crew. They think you’re gonna take home the prize tonight. But I told ’em, you ain’t all that.”

I sat there waiting for him to get to the goddamn point. I hated it when people like him tried to beat around the bush.

His grin widened, and he leaned even closer, lowering his voice. “You see, AJ, I got a little birdie who told me you’ve been training hard for tonight. You think you’re ready for this fight?”

I couldn’t help but smirk in response. “Jabari, I’m always ready.”

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