Worth the fight

happy.  I was content with flatlining my way through life.  It was good enough.  Keeping out the highs and the lows was my favorite past time.  No emotions meant nothing ever got out of control, and keeping control was higher on my priority list than breathing.  Until I met him.  He makes my heart race and my breathing hitch, and that’s just when he walks in the room.  Don’t even get me started on what that face does to me.  Or those hands…especially when they’re moving all over my body like he can’t get enough of me. I can feel his need for me in his touch.  But his words, that’s what does me in.  They’re raw and honest and filled with emotions, and I can actually feel my heart swell as they’re spoken. 
    He wipes away my tears with concern on his face.  I’m sure he thinks I’ve lost my mind as I smile through my crying after listening to the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me.  I’m the one whose head is usually filled with words.  But right now I find myself at a loss for something beautiful to say in return.  So I say what I feel and hope it’s enough.  “I love you.” 
    He smiles, the worry leaving his face.  “Love you too, Babe.”
    And then I kiss him, the tears still falling, my mouth still smiling, and a sob escapes me as our tongues find each other.  I’m a mess, but it’s beautiful and real and I can’t get enough of him. Not now, not ever.  He’s right.  We’re two lost souls that found each other and became one.  And I’m the luckiest girl on the planet.
    ***
    There’s still hours before the fight, but I’m ready to go right now.  It’s a sold out championship fight, but Nico gave me four tickets of my own.  My stepbrother, of course, has texted me half a dozen times to make sure we’re still on for the day.  It’s a close race who is more exited, Max or Vinny.  Both probably didn’t sleep last night with anticipation pulsing through their veins.
    I’m excited I also got to invite Regina and Lawrence.  Regina because , well, she’s the best friend I have ever had...and I think she’s more excited about my relationship with Nico than I am, at times, if that’s even possible.  After all these years, she couldn’t wait to see me throw myself back into the land of the living.  And Lawrence, he’s more than my boss, he’s been like a dad to me the last few years.  Plus, it’s the first bit of excitement his wife has let him have since his heart surgery.  She’s afraid too much might give him a heart attack. 
    At first I’ve forgotten what I’m wearing when Nico catches sight of me, he hasn’t seen the t-shirt Vinny made for me.  I’m not sure if the kid did it on purpose, but it’s tight, very tight, hugging all my curves.  My shirt is different than the one Vinny wore last time.  It’s a full body shot with Nico facing forward.  He looks more like a model than a fighter. 
    Nico freezes in place for a minute, gracing me with a devilish smile.  “I like your shirt.”
    I feel my face heat and I know I’m turning a nice shad e of pink.  “It’s my new favorite shirt.  I can keep you pressed up against me all day, even in public.”  I respond coyly.
    Nico stalks to me.  “I’ll press the real thing up against you all day in public, Babe. You don’t have to ask twice.”  He’s smiling like he’s kidding, but I know he’s serious.  He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me tight against his warm, hard body.  He’s wearing only a pair of running shorts and my body responds to his rough touch, even though it’s been only hours since I’ve had him inside of me. 
    I’m flustered.  “Don’t you have a fight to get ready for?”  My voice comes out throatier than I had intended, but I just can’t help myself around him.
    Nico presses into me, I can feel his throbbing erection pushing against my stomach.  “They can’t start the fight without me.”  He grabs half my ass in one of his massive hands and squeezes hard.  His head lowers with intention to take my mouth, but the buzzer downstairs rings. 
    “Ignore it.”  I feel the words on my lips as he devours my mouth.  My body gives in almost immediately and a small moan escapes my lips as he lifts me underneath the knees and cradles me in his arms as he heads toward the bed. 
    The buzzer rings again and neither of us break the kiss, even though I’m certain he hears it too.  But then it buzzes again, this time more