The Ugly Sister (8 page)

Chapter 20

Fearless

I spend the next day alternating between euphoria when I mentally replay my hot encounter with Rio and panic about how I should act the next time I see him.  We have a training session tomorrow and I have no idea how weird it’s going to be between us.  I suspect very.

I’d never hoped for anything more than a casual fling with him, but now that it’s actually happened, where do we go now?

Do we act like it never happened and just go back to our normal routine?  Do I make a few jokes about it the next time we see each other to alleviate any awkwardness? 

And most importantly, do we get to do it again?

Maybe he’s wondering the same thing, because I’m pleasantly surprised when his name pops up on my cell phone. 

“December, what are you doing tonight?” he asks.

Just obsessing over you
.  “Not much, why?”

“Why don’t you come over to my place? I’ll cook for you, we can have dinner.”

“I might be into that,” I say, congratulating myself on how cool I sound. Then I take down his address and agree to come over at 6:00.

As I put on my makeup and try on a dozen outfits—pleased that half of them are too big on me—I start to worry that this isn’t a dinner date.  Knowing Rio, he’s going to give me a little breakup speech about how everything we did was a mistake and he’d like to resume our trainer-client relationship.

While I’d like the opportunity to bang Rio again, I know it’s inevitable that he’s going to shut me out, and it’ll probably happen tonight.  So I take a moment to accept it, and then make up my mind to be casual and nonchalant about the whole thing.  I’m not going to feel rejected or take it personally.  Rio has always been painfully clear about not wanting a personal relationship before I’d seduced him—had I really seduced him?—so his rejection shouldn’t come as a surprise.

I put on some red lipstick to with my tight red sweater and short denim skirt—if I’m going to get the old brush off, I may as well look hot to show him what he’s missing—and head out the door.

Rio’s apartment is on the second floor of a newly constructed apartment block.  When I ring the bell, he answers the door wearing jeans and a grey t-shirt with navy blue piping around the collar and sleeves.  I realize that I’ve never seen him in anything other than his black
Total Impact
shirt and gym issued athletic shorts, and I appreciate this new look on him.  It makes him seem more like a regular guy who exists outside the gym, not to mention that he fills out his jeans handsomely.

“Did you find the place okay?” he asks as he ushers me in.  The kitchen opens up into the living room, so we make small talk while he works on dinner and I sit on the couch taking in his place.

It’s neatly furnished in a way that makes it look barely lived in. And I realize there’s something impersonal about it, like a hotel room.  Flat screen TV, glass coffee table, black leather couch, a few fitness magazines here and there. But there’s an absence of personal touches. No framed pictures of family members. No pictures on the bare off-white walls— not even generic wall art. 

Just when I’m starting to wonder if Rio is a robot, a mangy looking grey cat comes out from behind the couch.  At least, I think it’s a cat.  It looks more like road kill since its missing most of its tail and an entire ear.

“Wow, what happened to this little guy?”

Rio looks out at me while draining a steaming pot.  “That’s Fearless,” he says, setting the pot down.  “He was the stray who used to run the neighborhood.  Always getting into fights.  Driving away other males.  Mating with the ladies.  You know, the good life.”  Rio tastes something from a spoon, then reaches for a pepper grinder.  “Then one day, like all great fighters, he faced a more powerful opponent and was defeated, forcing him to retire.  Though in his defense, I think it was a raccoon that finally got him, which is way out of his weight class.”

I sit on the couch and stare down at Fearless, who’s staring up at me like he’s not impressed. 

“One day I found him curled up behind the garbage cans,” Rio continues.  “He was bloody, his ear had been torn off, and his tail was partially missing and completely skinned.  He’d crawled off to die, but I found him, put him in a box and took him to the vet.  The vet said he probably wouldn’t survive and recommended that he be put to sleep, but I knew he was a fighter, so I got him stitched up and pumped him full antibiotics, and look at him now.”

I reach down to pet him but he flinches and runs away.

“For the longest time, I didn’t know if he was going to make it.  I was calling him Earless at the time.  You know, on account of his ear.  But then he pulled through and that’s when I changed his name to something more courageous.  And that’s the story of Fearless.”

I watch Rio’s back as he opens the oven and peers into it.  “I know why you like him,” I say.  “He’s the cat version of you.  He grew up alone without a family.  Acted like a manwhore.  Got into fights on the mean streets.  But he survived it and now he lives here in this sweet bachelor pad.”

“Huh.  I never thought of it that way.”

“You’re not missing any body parts though.  I can attest to that.  If anything, you’ve got a little something extra.”

Our eyes meet and we both smile, then he looks down almost shyly and laughs.  And I’m relieved that there’s no weirdness between us after what happened yesterday. 

I glance around his apartment again while he sets silverware on a small corner table. “So do you bring a lot of chicks here?” I ask.  “Is this where the magic happens?”

“Not at all,” he says.  “I never invite women over. I go to their place.  It’s more casual that way.”

“So I guess that means I’m special then, since you invited me home to meet Fearless.”

“You
are
special.” He says as he sets two plates of salmon, spinach and baked sweet potatoes on the table.  I can’t help feeling giddy at his compliment.  I know he’s a player who knows all the right things to say to charm a woman out of her pants, but I allow myself to enjoy being charmed anyway. I sit at the table while he pours two glasses of red wine.

“Another thing I never do is the whole unprotected sex thing,” he says, “So I apologize for that.  I lost control yesterday.  Will you let me know if you have any…unexpected consequences?”

It takes me a minute to figure out what he’s talking about.  I wave him away with my fork.  “I have an IUD, so no worries.” And then I add, “It’s a birth control device.”

“Oh.  Well, good.  And I don’t have any STD’s, so we’re safe there too.  Just had my physical and I’m 100% free and clear.”

“Congratulations…that’s…very good to know.”  I take a bite of salmon. 
Let the awkwardness begin.

“
And I’m sure you’re clean too since you’ve only been with, like, one guy.”

I give him an annoyed look.  “Why would you assume that?”
He looks at me like I should know better.

“Okay, fine.  But counting you, I’ve actually been with two guys.”

He smiles and reaches over to brush something off my lip.  “Don’t be embarrassed.  That’s a beautiful thing.”

I nod and take another bite, not sure what to say.  I take a sip of water, figuring this is probably the perfect segway for Rio to launch into his whole “we made a big mistake, let’s never let it happen again” speech.

But it never comes.  Instead, he asks if I’d like to watch a movie after dinner, and after a lengthy discussion of our favorite movies, we decide on
Fight Club
.  It’s one of my favorites and I can’t believe he’s never seen it.

While he’s clearing the table, I survey his apartment once again and wonder why he doesn’t have any pictures.  I remember him telling me that he grew up in foster homes, and figure that has something to do with it.

“Can I ask you something?” I ask as I wander into the kitchen and lean against the counter while he washes dishes, his back to me. “You don’t have to answer, but I’ve always wondered how you ended up in foster care.”

He’s silent for a minute, then he clears his throat.  “My mom died when I was twelve.  I was put into the system then.”

“I lost my mom when I was young too.” I say.  “Cancer.  But wasn’t there anyone else in your family who could have taken care of you?  What about your dad?”

“My mother was murdered.  My father was the one who did it.  Neither of their families wanted me, for different reasons.  I testified against my father at his trial and then requested that he get the death penalty.  The judge granted my request, though I don’t think it’s happened yet.  I believe he’s still rotting in prison somewhere.”  He shrugs.  “I honestly don’t know.”

I come up behind him and put my hand on his shoulder.  “I’m sorry, Rio.” I close my eyes and lean my forehead against his back.  “I’m so, so sorry.”

He turns around and puts an arm over my shoulder, “It’s okay December, it happened a long time ago.  Sorry if I traumatized you.”

I want to tell him that I should be the one apologizing for traumatizing him, but at the same time, I’m glad I know now.  It makes me care about him even more. Makes me love the little boy he once was, an innocent kid who suffered all alone and not only survived, but turned out stronger for it.

Love.

“Hey, don’t be sad,” he says, lifting my chin with a finger and kissing me.  “We’re about to watch one of your favorite movies.”

“Rio…”

He tilts his head in question.

“I really thought you asked me over to tell me that we had to keep things professional from now on,” I say.

“I hate to break it to you December, but I think that ship has sailed.”

I smile up at him and he puts a hand on either side of me, blocking me against the counter.  “Then why did you ask me over tonight?” I ask.
He takes a step forward and I feel his arousal pressing against my belly.  “Because we have a training session tomorrow and I didn’t think I’d be able to control myself if I didn’t get to fuck you tonight.”

He lifts me up and sets me on the counter, pressing his lips against mine. I wrap my arms around this neck and my legs around his hips, losing myself in another one of his kisses. 

We never get around to watching the movie.

Chapter 21

Afterglow

The next evening, I lay sprawled across the couch in my gym clothes basking in the afterglow of an intense workout, a satisfying ache in my muscles.  But the goofy smile on my lips has nothing to do with my workout.  It’s a result of my previous night with Rio, which I’m now reliving in my mind.

After fucking me in the kitchen, he carried me to his bedroom for another round, where I was on top this time. 

Since his cock is so massive I couldn’t take all of him in that position without being spit in two, he guided me stand flatfooted on the bed, then squat over him.  He held my hands for support, our fingers intertwined, while I slowly lowered myself down, impaling myself on his shaft.  Then gliding up and down at my own rhythm while we locked eyes and he said absolutely filthy things to me. 

Mmm, I love stuffing this sweet little pussy.  That’s good, now I want you to take more of my dick, sweetie.  It’s big but I know you can do it.  That’s right, spread your legs wider and take more, make me want to shoot my juice into you.  Go deeper, or I’ll flip you on your back and fuck you so hard you won’t be able to walk tomorrow.              

I’m lost in perverted reverie when the doorbell rings and I spring up to get it, hoping it’s Rio.  He has clients back to back tonight, but maybe one canceled and he’s come over for a quickie.

When I open the door, I’m only mildly disappointed to see Drew standing there with a white paper bag in his arms.  “Hey Ember,” he says as I step aside so he can walk past me.  “I know your sister had a crazy day at work so I brought her a salad from that vegan restaurant she likes, the one with the good ginger carrot dressing.” 

“What, nothing for me?” I ask, realizing that I’m ravenous from my workout.

“Got you one too,” he says, handing me the bag.  “Where’s April?  In her room?”

“No, she’s not home from work yet.” 

He looks at me in confusion. “Really, I thought you two were doing sister stuff tonight, that’s what she told me.  I wasn’t going to stay long.  I just wanted to bring you guys salads so you don’t have to worry about cooking.  I hope April’s okay.  Have you heard from her today?”

I have no desire to cover for April or support her lies, but Drew’s expression is a mix of hope and concern, and I can’t bear to tell him the truth.  “No, but I’m sure she’s just stuck at work.  Why don’t you stay until she gets here, I’ve got gossip for you.”

I bring the bag to the kitchen and casually grab my phone, sending April a quick text:

DREW IS HERE LOOKING 4 U. COME HOME ASAP.

Then I settle on the couch and with my salad and announce how my dream of having a fling with Rio has finally come true.  I fill him in, leaving out the graphic details to spare him from TMI, but when he asks how the sex was, I feel my cheeks heat up.

“Better than I ever imagined possible,” I gush.  “It was like a revelation, Drew.  I think it was the best sex
anyone
’s ever had in the history of the world.”

He holds up a fist and I give it a bump. 

“Respect,” he says, then adds, “Just be careful.  You’re the kind of girl who gets attached.  Remember that this is a guy with three fuck buddies who’s claimed to be bad at relationships.”

“He never said he was bad at relationships. He said he was a bad guy who would cause me a whole world of hurt.”

Drew raises his eyebrows and looks at me like I should know better.

“I know, I know.” I wave him away with my fork. “But he’s had a tough life.  I think he doesn’t feel worthy of a relationship for whatever reason, that’s why he said that.”

“Is that really what you took from his warning?  Because there’s also a good chance that he really is a bad guy—in relationships anyway. And you might want to take him at his word, or at least keep it in mind and proceed with extreme caution.”

I throw a cucumber slice at Drew that hits him in the chest. “Stop peeing all over my happiness, Drew.  Just let me enjoy this—I really like this guy.”

“That’s what I’m worried about,” he said, tossing the cucumber slice back at me.  It hits me on the cheek and falls back into my salad bowl.  “Having a fling is great, but part of that is not getting attached. And it seems like—”

He’s interrupted by a tomato slice to the eye.  He squinches his eye shut and slowly picks it off, but a large smear of orange dressing remains under his check.
“Do you really want to start this, Ember?”  He dangles the tomato slice in the air. “Because I don’t care how messed up your house gets.  I’m not the one who has to clean it.”

I respond by throwing a baby corn at him, which bounces off his forehead and lands in his lap.  He sits there looking at it for a moment, then pulls the salad out of my hand and sets it on the coffee table.  And in one quick sweep he lunges forward and puts me in a headlock.  “You think you’re funny?” he says, rubbing the baby corn and dressing-covered tomato all over my face.

“Stop!” I yell, laughing and screaming at the same time.  “I’m sorry!  I just wanted you to stop peeing all over my happiness!” 

He force-feeds me the tomato and the baby corn, then releases his grip, catching his breath as he leans back on the couch. “I’m not trying to pee on anyone’s happiness.  I’m just trying to look out for you.  All I’m saying is be careful.”

At that moment, the door bangs open and April walks in, looking tired.  She turns to where we’re sitting on the couch and squints at me, “Why is there orange stuff all over your face?”

“Because your boyfriend is a turd.”  I glace at Drew who pretends to look offended, then at Amber who looks confused.  I just wave her away and stand up.  “I’ll give you crazy kids some privacy. I’m going to go wash up.”