Page 119 of A Dark Duet

She smiles, her eyes shining bright as she wraps her arms around my neck and says, “Thank you.”

It is the best feeling in the world to see her smiling and happy. My new goal is to make that happen every day. To always make her feel warm and safe.

Briana

It is fight night. The past three days have been a dream. Jaden has slept with me in the bed and has abstained from having sex. He told me he doesn’t have sex a week before a fight. Ethan has been a ghost since the last text I sent reminding him that he is in fact in love with his wife. He hasn’t contacted me, and I haven’t contacted him. I am grateful, to be honest. He must be feeling guilty over his dead wife. It was a mistake for me to have asked that of him but in that exact moment, I didn’t care, and I wanted to take control. I wanted to let him know there is nothing between us. He, of all people, could understand that.

The black Escalade shows up outside the gate of Jaden’s home. Only Nate is allowed to approach the iron gate in one of the SUVs. Brian is driving and Giselle is in the back, waiting for me and Jaden to slide in.

“How are you feeling?” Giselle asks Jaden.

“I’m great. Briana has worked her magic. No pain. I know it is temporary, but I hope she will accept my offer for her to work at the gym and be part of the team.”

Giselle looks at me and we both share a silent message that neither Nate nor Jaden understand. They share a bond just like me and Giselle. Nate hands me a hoodie, I thank him and my gaze finds Jaden’s with a smile.

“In case you get cold, I had it made just for you. It is white instead of black, now that I know your favorite color is white.”

Giselle gives me a grin and then smiles warmly at Jaden. She knows he is trying and so do I. He ordered takeout for me to the house these past three days and we have relaxed and watched movies. He knows I love Marylin Monroe, and my favorite food is barbecue chicken. His favorite color is black, but I didn’t want to make him feel bad and tell him I already knew that. There is nothing I don’t know about Jaden except his past. I don’t know what his demons are, but he doesn’t know what mine are either. In time, I might be able to tell him, but I am still guarded. I’m afraid to bare my innermost secrets, afraid he will look at me with disgust.

When we reach the venue, it is at capacity. There are flashes of cameras and paparazzi asking questions. I’m wearing a tank top dress and designer sneakers Jaden insisted I wear. He ordered new clothes from the boutique of one of the Las Vegas hotels three days ago, including the one I’m currently wearing for the event tonight. When some of the paparazzi recognize me, they ask about my relationship with Ethan and how I am involved with Jaden. He ignores the comments and questions about our relationship and I’m grateful. He just tells them to watch the fight. The media has dubbed me the powerful mystery woman who has the most eligible bachelors under her spell.

There is so much attention on Jaden and me that they found out my name and they are chanting it next to “The Destroyer,” Jaden’s cage name. We take our seats, Giselle is sitting to my right while Nate, Brian, and Jaden are in the holding room waiting to make their entrance. I’m nervous and cold and thankful for the hoodie I have on my lap. I want to put the hoodie on but don’t want to miss Jaden making his debut entrance to the cage.

He’s in the zone, his body is in great shape compared to the other fighter. According to the stats on the prompter, Jaden has a longer reach and is an inch taller. Jaden is also massive in size compared to his opponent.

The lights dim as Jaden is introduced to the cage with his intro song “Gatti” by JACKBOYS and Pop Smoke blaring from the speakers. The crowd goes wild as their favorite heavyweight MMA fighter makes his entrance. After being cleared by the doctor, I shiver nervously as he prepares mentally to fight in the cage.

The crowd screams and shouts, and Giselle is squeezing my hand, reassuring me because she knows I’m nervous for Jaden. Jaden looks over and makes his way over to where we are seated, and my eyes widen. His mouthpiece is in his mouth so he can’t talk. He motions for me to put the hoodie on, and I do, pulling it over my head as I stand. I can see him smiling when my head slides through the hoodie. When I look at the mouthpiece, it reads, Coco, my stage name. He looks at the hoodie and points so the camera can showcase our exchange when I look at the screen. His hand caresses my face, and the back of the hoodie reads in bold black lettering: Property of The Destroyer. He gives me a wink and walks to enter the cage.

The crowd goes wild at his claim. He is claiming me in front of the world. Goose bumps appear on my flesh under the hoodie. It is then I make my decision to accept his offer to be on his team and the woman he fucks after his fights. Butterflies swarm in my stomach from both the fear of Jaden being hit or injuring his shoulder and then after, when he claims me in the locker room after the fight.

The ding of the bell signals the beginning of the first round. Jaden wastes no time landing blow after blow. He is impressive and a total athlete. In the second round, he sends a kick to his opponent’s face. The expressions on the judge’s faces are of shock when Jaden’s kick lands on his opponent, clean in the face, knocking him out cold. Jaden steps back and jumps over the fence of the cage. My hands cover my mouth as they try to get the guy to sit up.

Jaden is like an animal locked in a cage, making silent hand gestures across his neck. He finds my gaze and he grins with his left eye swollen from a blow to the face. He removes his mouthpiece before he is interviewed and officially announced the winner by knockout. He motions for me and Giselle to come inside the cage.

“Briana!” he calls out.

I get up and make my way inside the cage with Giselle in tow. He jumps down and he motions for me to stand next to him. The commentator holds the mic in front of him and says through the mic echoing in the arena, “Jaden ‘The Destroyer’ Cyprus, how does it feel to remain undefeated? Who is the lovely lady everyone is talking about? What is the secret to your success?”

Jaden grabs my hand and squeezes when he leans to answer the commentator. “It feels great. I owe it to my brother and best friend Nate ‘The Reaper’ Phoenix, his fiancée Giselle, and my boys in the gym, they know who they are. They train with me day in and day out. My secret is family, determination, and surrounding yourself with people who love and support you. The lovely lady is none other than my secret weapon. The only woman who has my attention and is part of my family, Dr. Briana Jameson.” He turns his head and looks at me while he speaks through the mic. “Thank you for everything, baby. This victory happened because of your talent and you always believing in me, and for that, I’m devoted to you.”

“There you have it, and by way of TKO, now the still undefeated heavyweight champion, Jaden ‘The Destroyer’ Cyprus!”

The crowd goes wild, Jaden, Nate, Giselle, and Briana walk ahead, and I follow behind Jaden toward the doctor. I walk ahead toward the back and head to Jaden’s personal holding room while the doctor clears him to leave. He doesn’t notice me walking ahead because the doctor is shining the light in his eyes.

Once inside the room, I strip but leave my sneakers and black lace thong on. I hold on to the exam table in the middle of the room, knowing Jaden is the only one that will come through the closed door. My long hair slides to the side over my shoulder and I wait like a submissive. My ass is in the air with my legs spread wide, bent over, waiting for him.

I suck in a deep breath as I hear the door handle turning and pray that it is Jaden and not someone else. When I turn my head to look behind me, Jaden stands frozen in place with the closed door behind him. His eyes find mine and the look of lust mixed with need bleeds off him in waves, causing my pussy to clench and drip with anticipation for what is about to happen.

Jaden slides his hands across my waist, holding me in place. His finger hooks my panties and tears them in one swift tug. The tear of the fabric can be heard as he moves them out of his way. His finger slides from my clit up to my ass.

“Jesus, you are drenched. Are you sure, Briana?”

I nod, but he shakes his head. “I need your words, baby. Do you want me to slide my cock in your pussy, take you my way?”

“Yes,” I croak.

I want him to fuck me. I need him to claim me. The need to feel his impressive cock inside my pussy is overwhelming. It has been too long since I felt him inside me, and I crave it.

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