Dark Horse (19 page)

Almost there, Henry. Almost there.

When I stepped out of the shower, Maxwell was sitting on the couch in the living room with his feet up on the table in front of him. He flipped through the channels on the television while I looked for something to drink before heading to bed early. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Maxwell and I looked at one another.

“
Were you expecting someone?” I asked him.

“
No,” he shook his head.

“
Are you sure?” I asked again. “Nobody knows we’re staying here. And you know I can’t have you inviting people over here when I need my sleep?”

“
Henry, I didn’t tell anybody. I swear.”

I walked over to the door and looked through the peephole. I wasn
’t sure if I was seeing her correctly but when I opened the door I remembered that I told someone else I was staying here.

“
Hello, Henry,” my ex said to me.

“
Hello, Nina. What are you doing here? Did you bring Elsa?”

“
She’s with Ryan right now. I just wanted to talk to you and see how you were doing.”

“
I’m doing good. Did you get the checks I sent you?”

“
Yeah, I got them. Can I come in?”

“
Sure.”

I moved back and let Nina walk into the apartment. When Maxwell saw her, he took his feet off of the table and stood up.

“Hey, Maxwell,” I said. “This is Nina, Elsa’s mother. Nina, this is Maxwell.”

“
Hello,” Maxwell said to her as he nodded his head.

Nina barely acknowledged him as she continued to look around the apartment.

“I’m gonna go take a walk,” Maxwell said as he shut off the television. “I’ve been sitting around too much lately.”

He brushed by the bo
th of us and left the apartment. I was suddenly standing alone with a woman I hadn’t seen in so long.

“
If you knew you were going to stop by, why didn’t you bring Elsa?” I asked. “I told you that this place was nicer than the old place.”

“
Yeah, it’s too nice, Henry. How can you afford this place?”

“
What does that matter?”

She whipped her head around and glared at me.

“
What does it matter?
It matters because you were barely making enough to pay your child support. Now you’re in a complex that’s practically empty in an apartment that’s more than double the size of the last place.”

“
I’m making money, Nina. This is a nice place. I’m making enough to keep it. Are you telling me this isn’t good enough for Elsa?”

“
What kind of job did you find? Are you a drug dealer now? Are you pimping out women on the streets?”

“
Nina…”

“
Well?”

She put her hands on her hips and continued to try and burn a hole through me. I remembered why I was so attracted to her and why I was glad she left me all at the same time. I put my hands
up to try and calm her down.

“
It’s nothing illegal,” I said. “A friend is loaning this place to me. Someone at work. Some of my paycheck goes to them. This apartment is just an accommodation for my hard work and my services.”

“
Was it that guy that just left? Are you and him hitmen or something?”

“
No, he doesn’t have anything to do with this apartment. Nina, you don’t have to worry about it. Everything will be taken care of.”

I was doing my best to assure her that nothing was wrong. Nina had every right to b
e suspicious. I just had to get her to calm down and make her leave without using Elsa against me.

She took a few steps toward me. The anger in her eyes was replaced with a look of disappointment. As she stared at me, I was trying my hardest not to glare b
ack at her.

“
I just want what’s best for our daughter,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how nice this place is if her father is mixed-up in something bad.”

“
I know,” I sighed. “You’ve got to believe me though. I’m working really hard and if I can keep this up, I’ll have enough money to support Elsa. Just trust me, Nina.”

“…
Okay.”

She nodded then turned to head out of the apartment. I stood in the doorway as she slowly walked away from me.

“Next time, call before you come here,” I said. “And bring Elsa with you.”

“
I’ll think about it.”

I leaned against the door frame as I watched the mother of my daughter disappear into her car. I let out a deep sigh of relief after she left. I wasn
’t sure how much longer I could keep this a secret.

As I turned around to head back into the apartment, I stopped myself and looked back into the street. There was a sole limousine parked just across the street from the complex. I thought I had seen it before just a few days earlier. I continued to stare a
t it, an uneasy feeling washing over me.

Why does that thing look so familiar?

The limo remained stationary. Deciding that I didn’t have the energy to examine it any closer, I shook my head and headed back into the apartment. I fell onto the couch and clicked on the television. Nina’s arrival was a reminder of just how important the fight was to me. I tried to get my mind off of everything that was happening and eventually fell asleep on the couch.

Chapter 20 - Lanea

I was wearing a loose white top with a black skirt and a matching pair of heels. While I sat in the back seat of the limo, I looked at my reflection in the mirror of my compact and applied my lipstick. The cherry red was a contrast to my porcelain skin. I smiled at the fact that it made my mouth look that much more inviting.

“
Are you sure about this?” I said.

“
I’m sure,” Octavio said to me. “He usually gets up really early in the morning for a jog then heads back to his apartment. After that, he and Maxwell head out. I don’t know where Maxwell goes but he eventually meets up with him at the gym. Then they go to some ratty little diner down the street. That’s it.”

“
So Henry doesn’t have any other
extracurricular
activities? He just trains and heads back home?”

“
He’s the only person staying at this complex. If he were sneaking out the back door, I would have noticed, Ms. Zara.”

“
Excellent job, Octavio.”

I closed the compact and smiled at my personal assistant. He had been following Henry for several days now. Henry w
as my fighter. I wanted to make sure he was monitored at all times.

“
What would you have us do now, Ms. Zara? It’s clear that he spends all of his time in his apartment if he’s not in the gym.”

“
I’m interested in the activity of my most important fighter to date. Is it so wrong that I keep tabs on him?”

“
No, of course not, Ms. Zara. But I think he’s beginning to grow suspicious. Your presence here isn’t necessary. He will know there’s a connection when—”

I glared at Octavio. He knew better than to question
my decision. He did have a point. There was no need for me to be here and see that Henry was in his apartment for myself. But that still didn’t stop me from this desire I had to be where I was right now.

“
I wanted to see it for myself,” I said. “Besides, this is a business trip. I’m here to make sure that Henry knows his place.”

“
Ms. Zara?”

“
Just shut up.”

Octavio knew his place and slouched in his seat.

We sat inside of the limo as it pulled up to the apartment complex I owned. It was late and there was no sign of Henry. Octavio said that Henry’s schedule was like clockwork so I had to assume that he was inside of the apartment.

“
Wait here,” I said. “I’m going in there to talk to him.”

“
Ms. Zara, I should point out that I’m not sure that he’ll be in there tonight.”

“
And why would tonight be any different?”

“
It wouldn’t. But he did have someone stop by yesterday. A woman.”

I hid the look of surprise on my face as I glared at him once again.

“And when were you planning on telling me this?” I asked.

“
I just remembered. I didn’t think it was important.”

“
Who is she?”

“
I don’t know, Ms. Zara. If you want me to follow—”

“
No. It’s not important. I’ll figure this out for myself. Just wait here.”

I couldn
’t take any more of Octavio’s incompetence. I stepped out of the limo and walked over to Henry’s apartment. I knocked on the door and waited for him to answer. The door opened slowly and Maxwell stood there looking just as cheap and tacky as he always did.

“
Lanea, what do you—”

“
Where is Henry? I’d like to speak to him.”

“
Uh, yeah…”

I pushed the door open and brushed my way past Maxwell. The apartment was in the same shape it had been when I had first given it to Henry. I looked around and waited for Henry while Maxwell stood behind me.

“Do you want something to—”

“
I don’t need anything, Maxwell. See yourself out. I’d like to speak with Henry.”

“
Is this important? I feel like I should be here for this.”

I turned and smiled at him. Maxwell looked at me with some skepticism on his face.

“Are you afraid I might do something to him?” I asked. “I’m not going to hurt the man.”

“
I’m not afraid of what you might do to him. It’s what you might say.”

I stared at Maxwell and continued to smile at him, hoping that it would ease whatever suspicions he might have.

“What’s going on?”

I turned and saw that Henry was finally here. His body was slightly wet as if he had just taken a shower, a towel the only thing covering his body.

“Ah, Henry,” I sighed. “It’s good to see you.”

“
What do you want, Lanea?”

“
I just wanted to talk to you,” I said. “Maxwell…”

I looked over at Henry
’s manager. Maxwell sighed then reluctantly made his way out of the apartment.

“
Man, ladies always coming over here and kicking me out,” he muttered as he left the apartment.

I stood alone with Henry. The wate
r from his shower dripped off of his hard body and onto the rug. He looked at me with some confusion on his face.

“
What are you doing here, Lanea?”

“
I just wanted to check in on you. I wanted to make sure that you’re ready and prepared for the fight.”

“
I’ll be ready. You don’t have to check in on me.”

“
Henry, Henry, Henry,” I sighed. “There’s no need for you to be so submissive. Do you want me to leave? This is
my
apartment you’re staying in.”

“
No, you don’t have to leave. You just don’t have to worry about me so much.”

“
Fine. I’m not worried any more. But I still wanted to see you.”

I leaned in close to him and kissed him on the lips. A light smile came across my face as he didn
’t resist me. When I pulled my lips away from him, I saw some of the red lipstick stains across his mouth.

“
I don’t know why you would want to stay here,” he said. “But it
is
your apartment. Just let me go put something on…”

He turned and started to walk away from me. I grabbed his hand before he could leave and he turned back to me.
I smiled at him as I held his hand in mine.

“
That won’t be necessary, Henry.”

I placed my hand upon his chest. I felt his hard and wet muscles underneath my palm. I could feel myself getting excited but did my best to hold back. I reached down with my oth
er hand and searched between his leg. I felt his length stiffen underneath the fabric of the towel. I grinned devilishly as I slowly backed him up.

“
There are benefits to fighting for me,” I whispered to him. “I just want you to know how special you are to me.”

Henry continued to stare at me with no emotion on his face. I pushed him onto the couch and he fell back into it. After falling onto my knees in front of him, I grabbed his thighs and slowly pushed his legs apart. The towel fell to his sides and his
full length stood erect before me. I gently massaged the inside of his thighs. My soft caress made him twitch right before me. I couldn’t help a short giggle that escaped from between my lips. Our eyes remained lock upon each other as I reached behind myself in search of the remote. I lowered the volume of the television that was blaring.

“
It’s not often I do this,” I said to him. “But you’re a special fighter, Henry. You’re a special man. And I want you to know how much I appreciate your efforts.”

I didn
’t remember the last time I had gone down on a man before Henry. It wasn’t an enjoyable experience. It was a loathsome task. Why would I take the time to pleasure someone when I’m the one who should be receiving the same pleasure?

But I swallowed my pride as
I prepared to swallow something else. Henry continued to stare hard at me as I teased him. I lowered my head and licked the inside of his thighs. He inhaled sharply to let me know that I was getting closer. I licked the water off of his body and worked my way closer to his length. I licked the underside of his balls and they tightened up against his body. Then I moved my tongue up slowly on the underside of his shaft.

With my hands resting gently on his knees, I looked up at him with wide and hungry eyes.
My tongue moved up his length before eventually reaching the tip. I swirled my tongue around the head and could taste some of his fluids already beginning to drip out. Henry let out another deep breath as he continued to stare at me, his eyes unblinking.

I
moved my head forward and opened my mouth. I took just the tip and sealed my lips around it. My cheeks caved in as I started to suck on him, lashing his tiny opening with my tongue. Henry’s eyes told me everything I needed to know. He was powerless to everything I was doing to him. And deep down inside, I was reluctantly enjoying the experience.

I lowered my head down on Henry and began to take him into my mouth. His cock was large and thick and I wasn
’t sure if I could fit it entirely. I did my best though and before I knew it, his tip was tickling the edge of my throat. I closed my lips around him and started to suck him off. The loud suction of my head being pulled off of his engorged flesh was loud. I pulled my mouth off of him with a loud smack and grinned at him.

Some of the red lipstick stained his cock but this was only the beginning. I wrapped my mouth back around him and proceeded to bob my head back and forth. Henry continued to sigh deep breaths as I pleasured him. My hair was tied-up over my hea
d. Henry reached down and gently massaged the back of my scalp as I continued to go down on him. I closed my eyes and focused on giving him pleasure. I was beginning to forget how much I disliked doing this.

I ramped up the speed with which I moved my head
. I worked my head back and forth. The loud sound of spit smacking against his length was now joined by the sound of gagging whenever I pulled off of him. I dug both of my hands into the couch as I pushed myself closer to him, my head now completely in his lap. Henry leaned in closer to me and began massaging the back of my head and neck. He was breathing louder and more frequently.

“
Lanea…”

He grunted my name and I felt the first splash of his semen against my mouth. I swallowed down the first line quickly
, the taste not as objectionable as it could’ve been. As Henry emptied himself into my mouth, I sucked down every drop. His hands were gripped tightly around my head and neck. My head was still upon him. I worked my tongue against the underside of his length and pushed every last drop out of him.

His muscles started to loosen. He freed me from his grip and collapsed back onto the couch. I slowly pulled myself off of his length. I watched as it became flaccid, glimmering with both of our fluids upon it. I lo
oked up at Henry and saw the content look on his face. He was satisfied but he still wasn’t smiling at me. I wiped my chin with the back of my hand and smirked at him.

“
Now that wasn’t so bad, was it?” I asked him.

Henry didn
’t say anything. He slowly worked his way up off of the couch. I stood up quickly and picked the towel up. I reached down and began to clean him off.

“
There are benefits to fighting for me,” I whispered. “I just want you to know that I’m grateful for everything you’re doing for me.”

“
You don’t have to do this.”

“
I know I don’t, Henry. Consider this a sign of my appreciation for you.”

I threw the soiled towel onto the couch. Then I leaned in close to him and kissed him upon the cheek. The light lipstick stain on his face almost matched some of the bruises and abrasions upon it. I put my hand up to his face and gently caressed his cheek.

Then Henry did something strange. He closed his eyes and almost leaned his head into my hand. It was as if he was enjoying the sensation of my hand against him more than anything I just did for him. I couldn’t help but smile at him. When he opened his eyes, I nodded to him.

“
You’re going to beat this guy,” I said to him. “And when you do, you’ll get everything you deserve.”

He nodded to me and escorted me out of the apartment. I listened to the sound of the door closing behind me and smiled as I headed bac
k to the limo. When I got inside, Octavio was still sitting there and waiting patiently for me.

“
Did you find what you were looking for, Ms. Zara?” he asked me.

“
Yes, I did. Henry’s under my control.”

“
And what was it you were doing, if I might ask?”

Octav
io leaned forward in his seat. I wouldn’t usually tell him the details about things like this but I was in such a good mood that I couldn’t help myself.