Page 105 of Bourbon Truths
“Teasing will get you nowhere,” I warned.
“Doesn’t seem like you have the right to threaten. Pretty sure I have the upper hand at the moment.”
I hated that she was fucking right about that. “Just get dressed.”
“Don’t get pushy with me, Kace. The more you demand, the longer I will take.”
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” I asked while pulling on the back of my neck.
“Just a little.” She smirked.
Leaning against the wall of the locker room, I watched as she put her clothes on as slowly as possible. I didn’t know what was sexier, watching her put her clothes on or watching her take them off. Both had a deep yearning stirring at the base of my cock.
Once she was ready, she grabbed her purse then grabbed my hand and said, “Let’s go.”
I led her out the back of Kitten’s Castle to the car, where I opened the passenger door for her, trying to remember to be a gentleman. It’d been way too long.
We drove in silence to Woldenberg Park. We should have walked, but luckily, we found a parking spot along a side street.
I walked around to Lyla’s side and helped her out of the car, making sure to grab her hand. I brought her to a bench that overlooked the Mississippi River, grateful there weren’t many people milling about at night. Imitation gas lamps lit the sidewalks, casting a romantic setting for our walk.
The night sky was free of clouds, and looking up, I could faintly see stars. I chose to bring Lyla to the park because I wanted to start a new chapter, and bringing her to my room at Diego’s or going to her apartment to talk to her would just remind me of the life I was once living.
We sat on the bench, facing the river. I put my arms on the back of the bench and she snuggled close. I played with the strands of her hair as we enjoyed the cooler night air.
I knew she was waiting on me to talk, but I had no clue where to start. I’d never told anyone my story, ever, so to try to talk about it was going to be one of the hardest tasks I ever had to face. Her head rested on my shoulder and she caressed my thigh, letting me know she would wait for me, that she was patient. I kissed the side of her head. “I need to talk to you.”
“I gathered that,” she said with a slight laugh.
“Yeah, I’m not good at talking about things.”
“I gathered that as well.” She kissed my jaw. “I’m a good listener though, so take your time.”
Taking a deep breath, I leaned into her for support as I tried to get through my story. “You know about my boxing career.”
“I do. I wish I could have seen you box. I can only imagine how hot you looked.”
Chuckling, I said, “Yes, it was the hotness factor that made me so good.”
“I’m sure it was, but go on.”
“Jono was my trainer, he ruined my career—stole it from me, actually, by slipping me steroids without my knowledge.”
“Yes, I read about that. He’s been convicted since then though for doing it to other athletes. You’re not the only one. You could get your name…”
“That doesn’t matter now.” I kissed the side of her head and said, “But thank you for caring. That night I found out that I was banned from the circuit, I hit rock bottom. I went to a bar where I knew no one would bother me and drank my sorrows away. Jett was with me. He watched me take drink after drink, convincing me to take action, to fight back, but at that point there was no fight left in me. The one thing I had worked for my entire life for was stolen from me, so I gave up. It was over.”
“I’m so sorry,” Lyla said, kissing my jaw again.
I shut my eyes tightly and tried to even out my pulse that began to quicken. This was much harder than I thought.
Clearing my throat, I said, “There was a guy there that night. He found out who I was and took it upon himself to provoke me. He started physically attacking me.”
“What do you mean? Like he tried to pick a fight?”
“Yes.”
“Was he an idiot? Didn’t he know who he was against?”
