Always Consumed by Skyla Madi
“I’ll make a deal with you,” my opponent announces, smirking. I hate him. He looks too much like Don-fucking-Russell for my liking. “I win, I get to take the girl home and if I win, I get to take the girl home.”
I hear Olivia call my name with warning, but I ignore it, refusing to take my eyes off the fuckface in front of me. What is it with my opponents wanting my wife? I’d use my dying breath to fight for Olivia. They’re out of their minds if they’d think I’d give her up for anything less than my life.
“Funny,” I say, kicking off my stupid shoes. “You forgot to mention what I receive when I kick your ass.”
He smiles, genuinely amused. “Not going to happen, pretty boy.”
I analyze him and can tell immediately that he’s never fought professionally. His stance is too sloppy. Judging by his previous fight, he’s a street fighter. Nothing more. I give him thirty seconds in the ring with me before I completely pulverize him.
And that’s pushing it.
Chapter Eight
Olivia
The way they look at each other makes my hair stand on its end. I don’t know what it is about Seth that makes other fighters so edgy, but the grin that graced his opponents face earlier is gone, replaced by malice.
I’m petrified.
Aroused.
Excited.
Sick…
I don’t know what to do or how to act. I clench Seth’s shirt tighter to my chest, seeking comfort in its smell, but it doesn’t work, not when I can see him in the ring. I can’t watch, but at the same time I can’t drag my eyes away. I have a lot of faith in Seth as a fighter. He’s tactical, fast, and strong, but he hasn’t exactly trained for a fight in a while, and his opponent…I shudder. Has he ever faced one so tall? I pull the shirt up to cover the bottom half of my face as they inch towards the center of the ring, their fists up and ready to fly. His opponent swings first, forcing my heart into my throat. I don’t miss this feeling. Worry and stress take over my body and I can’t stop it. Excitement won’t make an appearance until it knows Seth is going to win. Seth manages to dodge the punch and the two after. I can’t believe it. There’s a small smile on his lips as he ducks and dodges, weaves and sidesteps the giant in front of him. I look at his opponent. Frustration dominates his features. He grits his teeth and clenches his jaw. His brows almost touch and the veins in his neck threaten to burst. Though tall, the giant is slow.
He throws another debilitating punch and Seth evades it with a smart duck. Not missing the opportunity, he pops back up with a full swing that connects and knocks the giant’s face to the side.
People swarm to the ring, desperate to watch the action unfold. Judging by the looks on their faces, they can’t believe it. As Seth racks up more and more shots on the big guy, the crowd becomes enthralled. I notice, as fists smash into flesh, I’m the only one who flinches at the awful cracking sound that fills the air.
Seth forces the brute to back step and that’s all he needs. Once they retreat, he knows he has them. Before the giant realizes what’s happening, Seth delivers two quick, successful jabs to his face. His opponent tries to bring his guard up, but it’s too late. The incoming fists are too quick for him to catch. I snag a small section of Seth’s fabric between my teeth and bite down. My body starts to go crazy. A frenzy builds, a frenzy so hard-core there’s no way I’m going to be able to wear these panties much longer. They’ve absorbed all the moisture they can handle.
Finally, Seth drops low and slams his hard fists into the guy’s ribs. Air is forced from his lungs and he draws a knee to his chest, like a frightened child. Seth pauses, and all it takes is a curious glance from the giant, which exposes his face, and Seth ends it. With a powerful, crushing strike, Seth’s fist connects with his opponent’s face for the last time.
The warehouse falls silent and soon, the only sound is the echoing crash of a large body hitting the canvas and the curse words of spectators, shocked by the outcome.
He knocked the giant out.
He won!
The crowd roars, causing the concrete below my feet to vibrate. Their excitement travels up my legs and between my thighs. It makes sure it tickles all of the right spots before it continues its ascent over my stomach and onto my nipples. They strain against my dress fabric and harden like diamonds. Eventually, the vibrations transform into sweat and it bubbles along my cleavage.
I’ve had just about all I can take here.
My gaze locks onto chocolate irises and my lips part involuntarily to let out a gasp. Can he be more sexual? I love the way his hair sits, all unruly and messy. I love the way he stands above his opponent and stares down at me like he did it all for me. His chest heaves as he flexes his fingers at his sides. Veins seem to tighten in his arms and his ripped stomach clenches. Sweet…fucking…hell…we need to get out of here.
Neglecting his shoes, he slips from the ring and approaches me. Party-goers slap his back and congratulate him, but they might as well not exist. I hold all of his attention. He stares at me like I was the one who knocked out a man twice my size.
“How’d you like that?” he asks, a ghost of a smile on his lips.
“I…I didn’t like it,” I tell him and it’s not a lie.
I don’t like watching people get hurt, I just can’t control the way my body reacts when I do. Our eyes remain locked even when I feel his thumb skim over my nipple, teasing it through the fabric. I drag an inhale in through gritted teeth. The touch is painful and delightful all at once.
“That fight wasn’t satisfying enough. I want to take you home now, Mrs. Marc.”
My cheeks flood with warmth. The way he says it, in his tone, the one that is so sinfully deep and sexy. Whenever he brings it out, I’m practically putty in his gorgeous hands.
“I’m not going to last in a taxi if you keep looking at me like that,” I tell him, my voice low and thick.
The corner of his lips twitch and he threads his fingers through mine. I hand him his shirt and he tosses it over his shoulder like rubbish.
“Seth! That’s a brand new shirt.”
He shrugs as he pulls me forward. “I won’t wear it again. I won’t wear the shoes, either.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s not us, O. The restaurant, the clothes, the fake personas…we don’t need it. We’re not stuck in a rut, we just needed a little time to go back to the beginning and experience the thrill all over again.”
“And that’s our problem. Time. We don’t have the time to do anything.”
Seth tugs me along beside him, not a care in the world. “We’ll talk about it, Olivia. We’ll figure it out.”
I hope so. I want to feel like this all of the time. I don’t want to feel neglected when I’m surrounded by so many people who love me. Work is important, but family should come first—and not just Chloe, either. As ridiculous as it sounds, maybe I want playtime with Seth before bed, too.
Exiting the warehouse, Seth holds me close. My heels shield the dirt from my feet, but Seth’s feet happily collect it. The air outside of the warehouse is surprisingly refreshing. It still makes my hair stick to my damp forehead, but the fresh breeze that blows occasionally is enough to stop me from overheating.
We walk for a long time and I have to fight Seth a million times not to carry me before we locate a taxi. When Seth spots its bright yellow exterior, my feet and ankles just about scream with delight, and I make a mental note to wear sneakers the next time Seth and I go out. Moving quickly, we flag down the taxi and climb in. Once my ass is parked comfortably on the back seat, I kick off my shoes and fling my legs over Seth’s. Instantly, his hands go to work on my calves. His thick, rough fingers pinch and push my muscle. From my knee down to my ankle, he works his magic and I’m in heaven. I’m pretty sure I almost fall asleep at one point, until I feel the pressure of two fingers dance teasingly along my inner thigh. I open my eyes and I’m met by chocolate irises.
“There’s a strict limit on sexual contact in this taxi,??
Kids? The sentiment makes me feel nineteen again. This whole night has made me feel nineteen again. We’re somebody’s parents. If the taxi driver knew, he’d be horrified. I glance at the driver and then back to Seth, who continues to ascend my thighs.
“A strict limit,” I remind him.
I attempt to squeeze my thighs shut, but he balls his hand into a fist, preventing me from closing them altogether.
“There are no limits on us, O. Not after tonight.”
I smile, appreciating the fact he wants us to change the way we are in our relationship. Still, I’m not about to be touched between the legs in a taxi in front of a stranger. I shift in my seat and attempt to pull my legs back, but Seth’s heavy hand clenches my thigh and he pulls me closer until my mouth grazes his. Our breath clashes together, then breaks through and warms my face.
“Strict. Limits,” the taxi driver announces again, but Seth doesn’t hear him.
I’m all he hears.
I’m all he sees.
Right now, I’m the only thing in his world and the thought swells my heart. Propelled, I swallow the distance between our lips and kiss him hard. Gliding my tongue along his bottom lip, he opens his mouth to me and I take full advantage of it. His strong hands push my dress up my thighs and expose my lace covered ass. On another day, Seth would never expose me to someone else and on another day, I’d be embarrassed, but tonight, it doesn’t matter.
All that matters is us.
***
Seth
Have you ever been stuck on someone? Have you ever found yourself so attached to another living, breathing human that the thought of living without them kills your very soul? Olivia is my person. Without her, I would wilt away and die. Perhaps that’s a tad dramatic…still, as her taste consumes me, being with her forever is all I can think about. I miss nights like this. I miss the spontaneity of it all—the recklessness, the stupidity. I also miss my daughter…and early bedtimes. I miss curling up on the couch and watching a movie with my wife. Nights like these are all well and good, but it’s not something we can sustain. We can’t go back to being too busy for each other, which I’ve realized. If it makes Olivia happy, I’ll cut sessions at the gym and have Darryl take some over—Jackson too, if he’s got time. If it’s not enough, I’ll hire more people and work half days. I’ll fucking sell the gym if I have to. They say don’t let anything interfere with your happiness. Well, she is my happiness—both my girls are. Everything else is just something to fill in the time.
“Right,” the driver growls and we jolt forward, then backwards as he slams his brakes. “Out. The both of you.”
Olivia giggles and covers her lips. “Are we seriously getting kicked out of a taxi for making out right now?”
I snort. “Seems like it.”
I peer around her and at the old, little man who sports a big, fluffy beard. His eyes, enlarged by his glasses, glare at me. “I said out. Now!”
I release Olivia and expose my palms to him. Olivia opens the door, laughing uncontrollably. I haven’t heard her laughter in such a long time and when she snorts, I can’t help myself. I laugh too until my chest burns and I don’t have the energy to pull myself from the taxi. With Olivia’s help, I manage eventually and when I shut the door, the taxi driver speeds off, leaving us behind.
“Oh, shit!” Olivia swears, her giggles subsiding.
She places a hand on her forehead.
“I left my shoes in the taxi.” She sighs. “Well, it’s a good thing I bought two pairs.”
I glance up and down the road. It seems familiar enough. I’d say our home is another twenty minutes’ walk. Thankfully, a smooth sidewalk runs under our feet, unlike the dirt and rocks that go on forever outside of the warehouse.
I hold out my hand and Olivia takes it. “My legs ache and I just want to go to bed. Let’s never do Valentine’s Day again. Ever.”
I laugh. “Deal.”
***
By the time we make it to our street, sweat pours off of us and I hate that I bought a house with no pool. I saw a commercial on children drowning and decided against it. Now, I wish I had one. I stop seven doors down from our house. From our bedroom window, we can see into everyone else’s yard. I turn to face the large black gates that protect a large, white house. If I recall correctly, this house has a pool—a big pool.
“Seth, please, we’re almost home. Can we keep moving?” Olivia complains, slumping her shoulders.
I peer at her from over my shoulder. “Wanna go for a swim?”
She frowns and it’s fucking adorable. “We don’t have a po—oh! No. We can’t do that. It’s against the law!”
Her voice, a husky whisper, is panicked and quick, but I’m not worried about being caught. The owners of this house haven’t been home in three days. “What are the odds of them coming home tonight? At this time?”
Excitement spreads through my body. I haven’t broken into someone’s yard to use their pool since I was seventeen. I didn’t get caught then. I’m not about to get caught now.
“Seth—”
“Olivia. Trust me. It’s our last Valentine’s Day. Let’s go out with a bang.”
Nervously, she glances up and down the road before finally nodding. “Fine, but if we get caught, we’re officially the world’s worst parents.”
“As long as Chloe is happy and healthy, that’s a title I can live with.” I flash her my palm. “Wait here.”
***
Olivia
“No, Seth!” I hold my breath to keep from shouting after him.
With a cocky smirk, he disappears over the brick wall a few feet down from the tall black gate. I chew my nails. I can’t believe we’re about to do this. My stomach churns. I’m going to throw up. This is breaking and entering. Can I go to jail? I can’t go to jail.
The clattering of the gates in front of me pull me from my paranoid thoughts. They pull open with a loud whiz and it sends my heart hammering into my ribs. When they’ve opened enough to let me squeeze in, they stop, and soon Seth’s proud face appears between the bars.
“You coming?”
I run to him and slip inside the front yard that doesn’t belong to me. It’s dark, but Seth’s hand finds my wrist and he tugs me along beside him. On a panel hidden behind a palm leaf, he presses a button and it closes the gate, locking us inside. Seth wastes no time. I’m barely able to keep up with him as he drags me around to the back yard. It’s dark. The only light we have is provided by the moon, but every now and then, it slips behind a cloud, darkening the yard entirely, and the only sound I hear is the whirr of the pools filter.
Seth releases my hand and I glance around the yard. I’ve seen it from my bedroom window a million times, but never from this angle. It feels so spacious and cozy, giving me ideas for my own yard. Maybe we can put a pool in? A hot tub, too?
I’m pulled from my thoughts yet again, but not by a sound this time. This time, I feel warm fingers at the back of my neck as they push my hair over my shoulder and clasp the zipper at the top of my dress. I don’t protest as he sensually drags the zipper down my back, occasionally grazing my spine. He pushes the fabric off my shoulders and plants a warm kiss on my shoulder blade. I tilt my head to the side to feel more of his warmth breath as it blows across the surface. In the warm air, my nipples still harden and this time they don’t have fabric to irritate them.
“Get in the pool,” he orders and I listen.
I need to wash this damp sweat off my body anyway. I step towards the pool. Dipping my toes in, I shiver. It’s cold, much colder than I was expecting, but I guess no one is home to turn on the heater. I place my foot on the top step and add another. The cold water laps at my ankles and then my shins. I step forward and peer over my shoulder to see Seth watching me, naked. He maintains eye contact with me, watching the water as it swallows me with every step. His eyes rake over my body and I relish in the feelings it provokes. The last time Seth and I were
Quickly and with absolute purpose, he makes his descent into the water. When he’s shoulder deep and a short distance away from me, the water is no longer cool. It’s warm and climbing in temperature by the second. I swim closer to him, until he’s close enough to touch and, with a kind smile, Seth lowers himself so he’s eye level with me. I drag my gaze over his jet black hair, dark eyes, and his full lips. I’m very lucky to have him in my life. I wrap my arms around his neck and he pulls me against him. Where would I be without him? Still working for Mason? Still dating Blade? Every choice we’ve made, however stupid, has led to this moment, and in this moment, I realize what’s truly important. My family is important. Unplanned moments are important. We shouldn’t have to schedule sex into our daily life. We should schedule our life around daily sex. Work is something that ‘can’ be done, not ‘should’ be done. You spend your entire week working yourself into the ground, and for what? A two day break—if you’re lucky? Where is space for living? When you die, do you think people are going to remember how hard of a worker you were or the carefree moments you spent with them? When you’re dead, people will cry over your coffin wishing they had more time with you, not commending you on your reliability or praising the long hours you worked.