Page 58 of A Dark Duet

We fall asleep, and tonight the nightmares don’t come. It’s being in The Reaper’s arms, having him hold me, because, without him, I am a lost soul, dying alone, wishing for his love.

Giselle

We arrive at the hotel where the fight event is being held in Vegas. The crowd is loud, with wild, screaming fans holding signs cheering for their fighter.

Pictures of the Grim Reaper and a ballerina are everywhere. The fans sell out every seat for the expecting match between Maverick De Leon and Nate “The Reaper” Phoenix.

I scan the excited crowd and see flashing lights from their camera phones looking at the commentators, with the judges reporting the fighters’ stats on who is expected to win. I can even see the drawings from Nate’s fans with my name written in glitter.

I stand back, waiting for the door to open and Brie to come through. Jaden and Nate are inside with the doctors, clearing him before the fight. The door opens and the doctor nods on his way out for us to enter.

Nate is standing ready, with a dark, hooded cloak like the Grim Reaper. A direct contrast to my white tank top with my name glittered in pink, feminine and delicate. I’m wearing my low-cut skinny jeans and my boots, ready to walk by the Reaper’s side toward the cage to deal with his pain, and feed his demons.

Jaden and Brie will walk behind with the rest of his team as one unit. We are all anxiously waiting for security to walk us through for his introduction to the fight. I am nervous about him fighting. What if he gets seriously hurt? I know this is who he is, but if something happens to him in there with Maverick, I wouldn’t be able to bear it. Maverick wants to take his title, the look of him in the cage, walking around it like a caged animal, screaming, baring his teeth while the crowd cheers and boos.

I look over and the security gives us the signal to move forward and enter.Invincible,by Pop Smoke plays in the background as Nate’s intro song as we walk toward the cage.

The crowd goes wild, screaming his name, and trying to grab us. Security stops rowdy fans from trying to put their hands on us, shoving them back further and my steps falter. Nate slows down and grabs my hand as he removes his hooded cloak, giving it to Jaden. He looks down, his face inches closer, and kisses me on my lips.

His hands are in my hair, the fans scream in the background, cheering him on. He breaks the kiss, leaving me to walk with Brie to the front seats reserved with security.

He gets inside the cage with his shorts bearing the signature Grim Reaper logo with all his hard muscles on display. The referee brings them together to read them the rules.

Suddenly, Maverick turns to where I’m sitting, blows me a kiss, and gives me a wink. Nate lunges forward, baring his teeth containing his mouthpiece. Jaden runs inside the cage to hold him back. I get up from my seat and Nate looks at me through the cage. The crowd and cameras look my way. I blow him a kiss with my hand, and mouth ‘always.’

The commentator above, showcasing the fight speaks through the mic, “Did she mouth ‘always?’ Well, whatever she said seemed to calm Nate ‘The Reaper’ as he is back to his corner, ready to begin the fight.”

I sit back down in my seat, holding Brie’s hand, hoping for the best with my nerves on edge. The bell dings and Nate springs forward, forcefully kicking Maverick in the stomach. Maverick flies back with force against the cage, stunned.

Nate goes after him, and reins blow after blow on Maverick’s face with pent up rage. Maverick’s, whose face is swelling up like a balloon, catches his balance, grabs Nate by the waist, and straddles him to the ground. My stomach drops, my heart beating like a million galloping horses, and my adrenaline makes me shake on the edge of my seat.

Nate blocks the blows but some land on his beautiful face, splitting his lip, and brow. He smiles manically while the blood oozes down his face and his chest. Maverick looks confused and drops his arm for a split second. Nate sees the opportunity to elbow him on the side of his face. Maverick falls back and Nate gets up, looking like he was a victim of a massacre. He wipes the blood off as the bell rings, ending the first round.

In his corner, Jaden is there, talking to him and stopping the bleeding. He tells him something I can’t hear as the seconds count down to the start of the second round. My heart beat slows down to a mild tempo as Nate seems to be okay.

When the bell rings and he gets up, my heart speeds up all over again. Brie holds my hand as I stare, transfixed, at Nate’s movement in the cage. He switches between boxing, judo, using a combination of jujitsu, and Muay Thai. He goes for his legs, Maverick falters, his knee giving out, and the crowd goes wild.

Nate moves in with a series of blows, knocking Maverick out cold for the KO. Relieved, I stand up, cheering and excitedly hug Brie. I turn my head, looking in the direction if the cage and see the doctors rush to check on Maverick, while Nate hugs his team and remains undefeated.

He turns to me after the official acknowledges the win broadcasted live, jumping over the cage, straddling it, and calling us over. Security escorts us up and he jumps down. I rush into his arms, not caring that he’s full of blood and sweat. I look down, watching his blood stain my shirt in big, red, angry blotches, bleeding into my skin. He gives me a black hoodie with his logo on it and I put it on. I look at him, seeing his happiness at his win, but my eyes reflect the hurt I feel for the wounds on his face.

“I’m okay, baby. It’s okay. It looks worse than it feels.”

“Okay.” I smile, finding him beautiful even with his face swollen.

The doctor comes to look at Nate and checks him out. The doctor nods that he is okay and sends him to get stitches.

We get home and I help him shower as he sits on the teak bench. I remove my clothes, dropping them to the floor, and quickly get to work on washing the sweat and blood from his body. I can see the beginnings of bruises showing their black and blue hues through his skin. I carefully wash his face as he sits quietly, watching me care for him, the water from the shower masking the tears filling my eyes. I blink my tears away as they begin to fall for his pain.

“Don’t cry for me.”

“I will always cry when you’re hurt for fear that you will be gone one day.”

He tries for a smile but winces as the cut on his lips splits open, making blood ooze down his chin.

He spits on the shower floor, letting the blood flow like a river on the slate black tiles. I help him clean the wound and finish washing myself as he stands slowly. His hands touch my breasts and my nipples stand erect, aroused.

He continues lower, passing my belly to the apex of my thighs, dipping a finger between my folds. He slides his middle finger in my hot, wet pussy, ready for him, getting enough of my juice so he can taste it with his tongue.

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