A Fight For Love (BWWM Interracial Romance) (5 page)

“
Wow, do all your friends have a thing for rebellion?” Cynthia asked as she looked at Tony who was pouring the wine.

“
I don’t really care. That is pretty hot of you ask me,” Rochelle said smiling. Desiree rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“
If we were royalty, you would be our undoing dear sister,” she said as she looked at Rochelle.

“
What? YOLO!” Rochelle said laughing.

“
She did not just do that,” Cynthia said frowning.

“
Yes, she did. Unfortunately for all of us, your sister has caught on with the YOLO trend, Dee. Welcome to my side of tiny hell,” Tony said as he handed a glass of wine to
Pete who was already engrossed in a deep, largely incomprehensible, conversation with Cynthia, and Desiree was once again left out. She took a sip of her wine and closed her eyes as she felt the rich flavor of the drink explode inside her mouth. “ Beautiful smoky finish, right?” Tony asked, causing her to awake from her private reverie.

“
I do not know the first thing about wine tasting but if that is what they call a smoky finish, then I must say that was exquisite,” Desiree said.

“
Did you just say exquisite? I guess having a British man with us is making us change our language too,” Rochelle said, causing Pete to frown at her patronizing misunderstanding.. Desiree smiled and took another sip just as she heard a knock on the door.

“
Don’t worry guys. I’ll get it,” Desiree said as she stood up from the table. She walked to the front door and looked through the peephole. She gasped at what she saw and took a minute to collect herself before she opened the door. Taylor had a bruised cheek and, when she looked at his hands, she noticed that his knuckles were bruised too. “Ericson…what…” she started to say before he hushed her by caressing her cheek with his index finger.

“
I’m okay,” he said in a low voice. Desiree looked at him, her heart weighing heavy with worry. “Really, Dee. I’m fine,” he said again.

“
What happened? Were you in a fight?” she asked in a whisper.

“
No. Well, yes…but I was not in any kind of trouble. I promise you,” he said. She shook her head and shrugged.

“
I don’t believe you,” she said.

“
Come on babe, we can talk about this later. Right now, I need to go in and give this to the birthday girl. It’s the Manolo Blahnic pumps that you asked me to get. I am sure she will love them,” he said. Desiree raised an eyebrow at his extravagance and shook her head.

“
Right now, those shoes are the farthest thing from my mind,” she said.

“
We will talk about this later, honey,” he said with a smile. “Just let us go and have dinner and then…” he never got a chance to finish his sentence. She took his hand and pulled him inside the house, right past the kitchen where everyone was.

“
Hey Taylor. How are you…” Rochelle said as they walked past the kitchen. “Guess we will just go on without them,” she said when she heard Desiree’s bedroom door slam shut.

“
Start talking,” Desiree snapped when they were in the safe confines of her room. Taylor took a long deep breath to prepare himself and shook his head.

“
Dee, there is nothing to worry about. I’m here. I’m fine,” he repeated awkwardly. Desiree shook her head.

“
What am I supposed to think when you show up with a busted lip and bruises? There is no way I can be fine with the words
I’m fine
,” she said. “So I need to know what is going on with you,” she said as she looked into his eyes.

“
Fine, but you have to promise not to freak out,” Taylor said.

“
Why? Is it…” she started saying, before he held her face in his powerful hands.

“
Promise me,” he said in a hoarse whisper. Desiree looked at him and nodded.

“
Okay I promise,” she whispered back. “Now tell me,” he said.

“
I have been looking for a new source of income, and I believe I have found the perfect one,” he started as he smiled. “Cage fighting,” he said smugly as she looked at him in horror.

“
Cage fighting,” Desiree said as she took a long sip of her coffee. It was the morning after Rochelle’s birthday and she was still feeling like she could happily strangle Taylor. After he broke the news to her, she had blanked out everything else he had said. She just walked back to the table and sat in silence. It was all she could do not to go crazy at him. When Taylor joined the rest of them at the table, she was not sure what story he had given them because she could see the genuine surprise on her sister and cousin’s faces when she told them about the cage fighting.

“
Cage fighting?” Rochelle asked as she looked at her sister.

“
Yeah, it sounds idiotic doesn’t it? And it is,” Desiree said angrily.

“
But he said he was in a rock and hard place kind of situation,” Cynthia said.

“
Of course he did,” Desiree said as she shook her head. “What the hell am I supposed to do? This is a, a dangerous thing, not to mention illegal,” she said.

“
Oh it’s legal alright,” Cynthia said.

“
What do you mean?” Desiree asked as she turned to look at Cynthia.

“
Well, in some states like New York it is illegal but amateur cage fighting is actually right by the books. Unethical yes, immoral even, but there is nothing actually ‘illegal’ in what he is doing as far as the law is concerned,” Cynthia said.

“
Well, that is not enough to convince me. I mean, why on earth would he want more money? I thought we were comfortable enough,” Desiree said shaking her head.

“
Well, maybe he has other plans. Maybe expansion of his business,” Rochelle said.

“
Well, if that is the case, he has over forty grand in the bank,” Desiree said before she took another sip. “This doesn’t make any sense,” she said.

“
Well, in all fairness, the bruises were not that bad,” Cynthia said. Desiree turned around and gave her a dirty look. “Not that I’m taking any sides or anything,” she added quickly.

“
I don’t want to live like this though, scared that something might happen to him,” Desiree said.

“
Sweetie, there is absolutely nothing wrong with what Taylor is doing. You are just being a bit too cautious that’s all,” Rochelle said.

“
Really? Would you be okay if Tony were the one fighting Neanderthals in some God- forsaken cage?” Desiree asked.

“
Of course not. But that is only because Tony’s hands are softer than veal. Taylor is an ex-marine. That is extremely different,” Rochelle said unconvincingly.

“
Either way, I am not okay with all this. Not at all,” Desiree said as she attempted to calm herself. Just then, Desiree’s phone rang interrupting her brief moment of serenity. She looked at the screen and then hit ignore before tossing the phone on the couch.

“
Are you not talking to him?” Cynthia asked.

“
What am I supposed to say to him? The only things going through my mind are just how much I hate the fool,” Desiree said.

“
Have you talked to him at all since yesterday?” Rochelle asked. Desiree shrugged and then shook her head.

“
I can’t…I just can’t,” she said. “I will, though, when I am ready,” she added quickly.

“
Really? When will this be?” Cynthia asked.

“
Soon. As soon as I can make any sense of this whole damn mess,” Desiree said as she stared despondently into the bitter dregs of her coffee.

“
But, like Rochelle said, Taylor can almost certainly handle himself quite well,” Cynthia said. Desiree gave her a sad smile and took another sip. Just then, she remembered the last time she and Taylor made love. He had been specifically careful not to let her touch him. At the time, she thought that maybe he was just being careful, romantic in his own twisted Christian Grey way. She suddenly took one last sip and then jumped up from the couch. She went to her bedroom and took a quick shower before she slipped into a sleeveless high low top and a pair of blue jeans. She added a pair of brown peep toe heels and a matching brown jacket before she grabbed her purse and she walked back into the living room. She would have wanted to straighten her hair but she decided to go with the natural look. Given her current state, she didn’t think she would do a good job anyway. She pinned the curls back from her face and then walked out into the living room.

“
Someone looks gorgeous,” Rochelle smiled when she saw her sister. Desiree touched a stray strand of her hair and beamed.

“
Really, you don’t think my hair looks…I don’t know, messy?” she asked. Rochelle looked at Cynthia and rolled her eyes.

“
Are you trying to get me to kill you? Your curls have always been the one thing that made me jealous of you,” she said.

And her ass,” Cynthia said, making Rochelle give her a dirty look.

“Really?” she asked.

“
Well, you have told me that a number of times Roch. Remember?” Cynthia said.

“
Hush now, never mind about that,” Rochelle said in an attempt to change the subject. “So, where are you off to looking all so beautiful anyway? I thought you would be staying in,” she said as she turned to look at her sister.

“
I’m off to Taylor’s. I think it’s time,” Desiree said.

“
What? I thought you were going to take some time to think it through,” Rochelle said.

“
Actually guys, I think I will go see him right now. There is a lot we have to talk about,” she said as she made her way to the door.

“
Really, I thought all you could think of right now was strangling him,” Cynthia said.

“
Oh believe me, I still do. But I need to have a few answers before I do,” Desiree said as she walked out of the apartment. She suddenly had the urge to have a long talk with Taylor. She had the format of the planned discussion neatly mapped out in her head as she rode in the cab, but, as soon as she got out, her mind went blank. She had no idea what she was supposed to say first. She opened the door slowly and saw Taylor sitting in the couch playing what looked like
Grand Theft Auto
or
Halo
…well, she never really got a handle on the which game was which. She stood there looking at him for a long time. She was thankful he had headphones on. That gave her enough time to collect her thoughts. She had hardly gotten her words out when Taylor suddenly turned and saw her.

“
Holy freaking shit! Dee, what the Hell? You scared the life out of me,” he said as he stood up.

“
I’m sorry…I’m…I was just…” her words trailed off as she to find appropriate words to diffuse the tension. “I am sorry,” she said again.

“
It’s okay,” he said as he put his headphones aside. “Can I get you something? Coffee? Tea?” he asked as he walked towards her. She shook her head and shrugged.

“
I just want to talk,” she said.

“
Sure, come on in,” he said as he looked at her walking towards him. “So, what’s up?” he asked. Desiree smiled and shook her head. “Dumb question huh?” he said.

“
Very dumb question,” she said.

“
Do you maybe want to sit down?” Taylor asked as he gestured tithe couch.

“
How is
Halo
going?” she asked as she sat down. Taylor frowned disapprovingly and then grinned.

“
Honey this is
Grand Theft Auto
,” he said.

“
Don’t blame me. Video games are more of Rochelle’s thing,” Desiree said shrugging.

“
Those two are totally different games, not forgetting that I have run through GTA with you, once or twice,” he said. She smiled in complicity and then shrugged. “Well, I am guessing we are not here to discuss video games,” he said.

“
Yeah we are not,” she said as they both sat down. The two sat in silence for a long time before she turned to look at him. “You know I’ve been thinking, this cage fighting thing is…it just doesn’t sit well with me. But I have one thing I need to know, and you have to promise to tell me the truth,” she said.

“
Okay,” he said.

“
The last time we had sex was…pretty intense,” she started.

“
That’s what you want to talk about? Sex?” he asked surprised.

“
Hold on, there is actually an ending to this,” she said as she put her hands up.

“
Okay. Go on,” he said as he looked at her.

“
That day, you were strangely…vigorous and you wouldn’t let me touch you. Not even in the bathroom. You insisted on being in control, being behind me, a position where I could not see you at all. And when I tried touching you, you pulled my hands away almost aggressively,” she explained.

“
Yes. But I am confused. I thought you had a thing for some bondage and submission,” he said.

“
I do, don’t get me wrong but that day, things were different,” she said. Taylor looked at her and shook her head.

“
I really don’t understand what is going on here,” he said.

“
That day, the way you handled me it was like you didn’t want me to touch you or even look at you,” she said.

“
Dee what are you...” Taylor started to say before she put her hands up, making him keep quiet.

“
Please don’t insult my intelligence, Taylor. I have been with you for a long time and I think we are past the point where we surprise each other with…stuff,” she said. “I need to know, had you already began fighting at the time?” she asked. Taylor looked into her eyes and sighed. “Oh my God, you had, hadn’t you?” she asked as she felt her heart breaking. “You hid the truth from me,” she said as she gave him a disappointed look.

“
Babe, I didn’t lie,” he said as he looked into her brown eyes.

“
Lying by omission is still lying,” she said.

“
I didn’t know how to tell you and I was already making good progress there. What happened yesterday is just bad luck. My opponent was a bit more…
formidable
. He lasted longer than others but I still emerged victorious,” Taylor said.

“
This is not…” Desiree shook her head as words failed her. “This is not what a relationship should be like. Why did you feel the need to hide this from me? We would have talked it over and maybe just maybe we would have reached an understanding,” she said as she looked at her. Taylor took her hands in his and took his time kissing the backs of her hands. She looked at him as she fought back tears. She had never felt so betrayed and, maybe to some, this would have seemed petty, but this, for her, for someone who she loved so much, for someone she would have gone to the ends of the world for, she felt like this was a wrong that could not be righted. “We never used to hide things from each other, ever. What changed, Ericson?” she asked as a tear rolled down her cheek. Taylor’s heart was breaking just by seeing her hurt. He brought his hand up and brushed off the tear before he held her face in his hands.

“
I am sorry, so sorry,” he said. “I am sorry to be this kind of man. You deserve better” he added as he looked into her eyes. She closed her eyes and put her hands on his..

“
I’m scared,” she said in a small voice.

“
What? Why?” he asked as he looked at her.

“
What if you always get people who are too strong for you? What if one day you get a beating so bad you cannot recover from?” she asked. Taylor smiled.

“
I am an ex-marine,” he said as he looked at her. “Whatever that cage throws at me I have already gone through, ten times worse, in fact,” he added.

“
I know that, but you are not indestructible you know,” she said sadly.

“
I never said I am but I do have a black belt. My karate training is one of the things that gives me an advantage over the rest of the fighters, and I do have very good reflexes,” Taylor said smiling. She nodded and pulled away from him.

“
I never knew you had karate training,” she said, surprised.

“
Stick around, Young. There is a lot of things you are yet to find out about me,” he said as he looked at her. The two sat in silence for a long time before he leaned in for a soft long kiss. “I am sorry I kept this from you, but this was a fast and easy way for me to make some extra money,” he said. She pulled away and looked at him.

“
Yeah, about that. I thought we were comfortably off. I am making a good salary at the store and your business is doing quite well, plus we have the investments. Why do you need some extra cash? Are you broke?” she asked. Taylor smiled and shook his head.