Worth the fight

into mine and I catch my breath enough to speak.  “I wanted to feel your arms wrapped around me tightly, too.”
    Nico smiles at my words and I turn to walk away.  I really don’t want to walk away, but I know if I don’t, I won’t be able to very soon.   I walk up the stairs feeling his eyes on my ass with every step and my hips put on a show as they sway with renewed enthusiasm.   I open the door and look back to find him watching me and not ashamed to let me know it.  I shut the door and lean against it.  What the hell am I doing?

Chapter 7
    Nico
    I’m up at f ive a.m. every morning.  Well, every morning except today.  I slept like shit, my body a mass of pent-up frustration.   I kept my word all night.  Even though all I wanted to do was pick her up, carry her into my bedroom, and ram myself into her to claim her as mine.   Then she kissed me.  I know I could have taken it further after that kiss.   But I don’t want one night with Elle.  I want more.  I have no idea why, but I do.  A lot fucking more.
    By the time I drove back home last night, I’d gotten myself under control.  I’d reasoned with my h ard-on until it finally saw my way.  Who knew you could reason with a fucking hard-on.  I guess I never tried. I just took care of it, did what it wanted me to.
    But then I walked into my loft and I smelled her.  And all reasoning went out the window.  I couldn’t sleep with a steel pipe in my pants, so I took a co ld shower.  It didn’t help.   Then I was wide awake with a hard-on.  I tossed and turned with a picture of Elle smiling at me in my head.   Taunting me for being such a sap. 
    The constant hum of the bell from downstairs reminds me how late I am.  It’s almost six.  I buzz the elevator up and lift the gate and find Vinny standing there.  I swear the kid grew overnight.  At thirteen he’s only a few inches shy of six foot already.  The kid’s going to be a force of nature sooner, rather than later.
    “What the fuck?”  The smartass kid has balls of steel to look at me and talk that way.  He reminds me of me at that age, and I force myself to cover the smile.  I can’t let him think it’s okay to show disrespect.
    “Language.”  I say sternly.
    He rolls his eyes and looks like a teenager again.  “What are you , my mom?”
    If I was his mom, I’d still be high from the night before.  Cracked up on whatever today’s loser brought with him.  A different loser every day, but it’s always the same story.  She fucks him to get her high for eight hours.  It could be bleach he hands her to shoot into her vein.  The last time I saw her she was so desperate, it might have been better if someone actually gave her bleach.   Put her out of her misery.  The kid might be better off in the long run.
    “No, I’m not your mom.  But I can kick your ass with one hand behind my back, so show me some respect you little shit.”
    “So you can curse, but I can’t?”
    “I’m an adult.”
    “Hypocrite.”
    I rub my hands across my face, losing my patience after my lack of sleep.  “Go downstairs and give me five miles on the treadmill.  If there is any time left before school we’ll train, big mouth.”
    Vinny groans , but quickly starts back toward the elevator.  When I started training with Preach, all I wanted to do was learn moves.  I hated cardio too, it was punishment to a kid who was in a room with a good trainer.
    I take my time making my protein shake and make one for Vinny before I head down to the gym.  I know there probably isn’t any food in his house.  Some of these kids only stay in school because they know they can get a free meal there. 
    Vinny is drenched in sweat as he runs full out on the treadmill.  I smirk as I pass him.  I would have done the same thing.  The faster you’re done with the cardio, the faster you get to the fighting.
    “Prea ch says you might fight Kravitz.”  Vinny gives me a quick left and I duck and easily sweep out his legs while he attempts to rebalance from his miss.
    “You’re leaving yourself exposed.  Lean into it.  Set up your legs.”  I extend my hand and pull Vinny back to his feet.
    “So is it tr ue?  Are you getting back in the cage?”
    “Stop gossiping like a little girl and take me down.”  The kid needs to focus.  Plus, I don’t have an answer to give him. 
    Vinny shoots in and tries for a double le g takedown.  The kid is definitely becoming more