4
Apollo's match was in three days, Friday, and even the training he had been doing in the past few months had slowed him down. He was too old, even I knew that, but I knew he did not want to hear my worries, so I supported him whenever I could and watched him train on occasion.
But even these few months were more of a hardship for me. Ivan had been using every attempt to talk to me, at the gym or press conferences between he and my brother. He never spoke, his wife spoke for him giving him an even more lethal appearance. Mary Ann and I would sit next to Adrian in the front of the room and he would look down at me from time to time- sometimes for more than five seconds and I could see the want in his eyes, the need to dominate and over power me and already I was always looking away embarrassed so no one would catch on.
Luckily, I was not getting too much paparazzi following me. I was just his sister and they wanted to hear more from Mary Ann, Rocky, or Tony. I kept telling myself not to worry for it was a simple exhibition match. Apollo would learn from this fight and Ivan could go on fighting a champion in order to prove that he and his country were superior just like America.
The sun was just setting and I was doing some shopping down town to take my mind away from this fight that was to come. I had my shopping bags in my hand and was moving through the parking garage to find my car, but I was not alone. My eyes deepened now as I could see the tall figure that was standing near my car. I was beneath a light post imbedded in the ceiling so when I was close I could see who it was.
"Ivan?" I asked. Ivan looked my way and immediately his blank and silent eyes came to life.
"Licia." he said with relief as he moved over to me. I paused in my walk and raised my hand stopping him. He was in a grey hoody and sweat pants.
"What are you doing here, how did you know I would be here?" I questioned and he shrugged and gave a light scoff.
"I was… jogging and recognized your car." he said. I arched a brow. I know he had seen my car on the first night I met him.
"Why would you be doing any training without your team and wife?" I asked and he tensed some, keeping his hands tucked in his pockets.
"It's good to get away and train alone." he said. I placed my hands on my hips, my bags scrunching together.
"You are a Russian boxer and infantry captain in the USSR. Your absence would be easily noticed by your team of trainers. You are the hallmark of Russia your team wants to show you off constantly, so you being here means something." I explained. He looked at me with an amused smirk, but it was smile.
"You know more about me than I you… I wanted to see you again. I am wearing this so no one will recognize me." he answered motioning his dead down at his body. I nodded moving carefully over to my car and unlocking the back door and placing my bags inside. I then closed it and turned to him noticing how close he was towering over me. His male body scent washed over me causing me to shiver and I shook my head avoiding his light green and blue gaze.
"Ivan, I don't know what you want me to say. You are a Russian boxer and very well known. I'm just the sister of a man you plan to fight," I started and watching as his hands began to move on either side of me and resting flat against my car windows. "And you are married." He shrugged and shook his head.
"It is all for public… she is with another man right now." he said and I shook my head.
"It doesn't matter she is your wife and I won't be a mistress." I said and before I could even inhale, his lips were over mine smooth and honey tasting and I felt my entire body betray my words. My hands gripped his face and wrapped around his neck and his hands embraced my form pulling me closer.
His tongue entered my mouth and I moaned out feeling the heat arise in my body again.
"I want you to come with me to Russia." he muttered against my lips and now my body froze and my movements against him stopped. I pulled back a bit and looked up at him.
"What?" I asked feeling as though I didn't comprehend his words. He nodded.
"After my fights here and my victories, I will be going back to the USSR. I want you to come back with me." he said and I blinked feeling a weight already bearing down on my chest. I leaned back more and his arms didn't leave my body.
"Ivan… you don't know what you're saying." I said and he shook his head firmly.
"I may not always speak, but when I do I always mean what I say." he said and I just stared at him for a moment. I shook my head and moved back from him now.
"This is just lust talking." I said and Ivan shook his head again.
"No. This want- need." he said and I looked up at him.
"You don't know anything about me. Look this is all just fun between us. After your fight with my brother, you will continue to seek fame and be a Russian champion, and I will go back to Colorado and continue working." I said moving to open my, but Ivan's large hand closed it shut and I looked up at him swiftly to see a hard look on his face.
"Your brother will lose. He should not fight me." he said and I nodded gripping the door handle harder.
"At least we both agree on that." I said looking at his hand waiting for him to move his hand, but he didn't. He looked indecisive about something before looking away.
"Do you want me?" he asked and I felt the air in my throat get caught and I swallowed some looking down unsure if I should lie or not. I felt curled fingers beneath my chin and now I was looking up at the giant of a man and I nodded.
"I do." I answered breathlessly and he nodded leaning over me again before dipping his head down and kissing me again. I responded and felt the spark ignite inside me again and he pulled me into him again deepening the kiss and devouring my mouth. I stopped myself however and pushed back from him. "Don't."
He panted some and looked me over shaking his head now.
"I have never met any woman with fire in their eyes that burns as bright as the fire in yours." he said. "I don't care about what happens in my matches, I just want you. Your body and…. Your personality. You make me want to take you against this car right now. I have never had thoughts of doing something so shameful but I want to." I stared at him for a long moment unsure of what to do or say, but I could see in his eyes that he wasn't lying. I looked around for a moment noticing how dark it was before looking up at him.
"Come with me I know a place we can go." I said moving to open my car door. He followed my actions and got inside the passenger's side. He placed his hood over his and glanced at me as I backed out of the parking lot and drove on.
"Where do we go?" he asked.
"There's a secluded house, my brother bought for me to stay at whenever I came to town. I like the quiet so I can go there and take pictures." I said.
"You like this work? Photography?" he asked butchering the word, but I nodded.
"It's my passion. Is fighting your passion?" I asked and he nodded.
"Fighting and serving my country." he responded proudly.