Page 32 of Choices

Rico holds me back, though. A chuckle vibrates from his chest through my back.

Then, Santiago does this crazy cool move where he cartwheels his legs up underneath his opponent's shoulders and chest, pushes him off of him, and reverses the positions. Now Santiago's on top, pummeling his opponent.

I can't help but shout my encouragement, garnering the attention of a handful of men around us. That's when I realize I'm the only woman here.

I'm vaguely aware of it, but the rest of my attention is on Santiago and if he's okay. The refs pull him off of his opponent and raise his fist in victory. His eyes find mine again. He's sweaty, bleeding from his eyebrow, shirtless, and fuck if I've never been so turned on. The pure and raw masculinity of it all has me vibrating with need.

Santiago and his opponent shake hands and exit the arena, but are caught in a sea of admiring patrons.

Rico cages me in, pressing me against the wall until all I can see, feel, and smell are him.

"Bare-knuckle boxing too much for your suburban domesticity?"

I know it's a challenge. He's seeing if or when I could fit into his life.

"Are you kidding? That's hot as fuck. You could make a killing charging women a premium to watch hot men pummel each other."

Unfortunately, my taunt hits its mark. His hand shoots to my neck and he holds it gently, pinning me to the wall. The feeling of being so completely and utterly at his mercy has heat flooding to my core. Without thinking, my eyes flutter shut and I bite my lip to suppress a moan. He could breathe on me and I'd combust. But this is wrong. I'm still married, even if it is to a lying, cheating piece of shit.

Rico leans forward and I'm afraid he's going to kiss me.

"Rico," I whisper as a warning, my eyes wide and fearful. If hekisses me, I won't stop him. I won't stop him, but I'll hate myself for it afterward.

Instead, he leans forward and whispers into the shell of my ear, "My little soccer mom's not so vanilla, is she? You like me choking you. If I were to reach into your panties right now, how wet for me would you be?"

A shiver rolls through my body and I whimper.

"I...I can't. I'm still married. I'm not a cheater."

"Leave him."

"You know I can't."

He leans back, releasing my neck, right as Santiago finally joins us. He's still shirtless and I can't help but ogle every inch of sweaty muscle. He's built, with deep valleys lining large, hard muscles.

I lick my lips, and pinch my thighs together, hopelessly turned on, which earns a growl from Rico.

I shake my head.

"I know!" I shout, excited about the possibilities.

"Give me a job at your club! I can bartend. I mean, it won't be a lot of money after I pay for a sitter, but it would be mine."

"No." He growls, glaring at me through narrowed eyes.

"Please?” I asked sweetly, in a singsong voice, sliding up next to him and running my hand up and down his chest.

“My woman is not going to be a bartender. I don’t need men ogling you all night. You’re mine. My woman doesn’t need to work for tips. What kind of man would that make me?” He was serious now, he grabs my hand to stop it.

"Your woman?" My saliva catches in my throat and I'm suddenlynervous.

He ignores me.

I'm disappointed. I can’t argue with him, though. It's Matty's club and Rico's mafia business. They can hire or fire whoever they want to, and he did have a point. It would look like a weakness to others if I was his girl. But am I his girl?

"Oh! But what if we did ladies' nights and brought in the female population to watch the fights? Could your bouncer maybe keep a tally of the women that come in? That way we would know how much money the women bring in. If I have an income, I can finally leave Alan!" I plead with him with my eyes, hoping he can see the sincerity in them.

I know it's foolish to be so hopeful, but I can't help myself. I'd resigned myself to being trapped by that asshole for the rest of my life. I had my kids and my home and we were provided for, but his presence in our lives is toxic. After years, I'd just accepted that this was going to be my life until the kids moved out.

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