His encounter with Amato while Kim was present, made Jack redouble his efforts in unsettling the man and his operations. Milton showed his brilliance again when he ran the shipment schedule through his analytics. At first the schedule seemed erratic, not doubt to avoid discovery, but Milton was smarter and he drilled on that using the past records and aligning them with weather patterns, Coast Guard patrols schedules, traffic and even Bruneri Inc.'s sales. What he did discover was that shipments arrived on the days that certain Coast Guard units were on duty. From there, it was a fairly easy to track the officers who were obviously in the pocket of Amato. They had to decide whether they wanted to burn those officers or let the feds figure it out on their own. In the end, Jack made a call: corrupt officer allowed Amato's business to flourish and he dealt with more than just pharmaceutical contraband.
Now that Amato was already on the radar, the next 'tip' was easier to organize: Milton sent an email as if from Amato's company's servers that, while encrypted, was very easily opened and the next raid ruined Amato's chances of making up for the first lost shipment. Law enforcement still woudl have trouble pinning it all on Amato and his business, but Jack wasn't interested in that. As it was, Amato was livid and there were reports of one of his associates engaging a Triad in some high-powered baiting with guns drawn and shots fired. Couple more of such incidents and Amato would have a small street war on his hands.
In all this, Jack remained a shadow figure. He didn't want to die and he certainly didn't want his friends to suffer because of him.
And Kim... He was worried about her safety the most and internally decided to stop bringing her to matches and maybe even stop participating in those altogether. He didn't need the money and lately his anger wasn't quite so overwhelming. it was patently obvious to him that being with Kim calmed him in ways he couldn't quite describe or believe. Instead his rage was like a steady feeling of purpose to eliminate the enemy without the uncontrollable need to lash out. Unfortunately, this newfound level-headedness was entirely lost when it came to Kim and his protectiveness was fierce and encompassing.
Which was probably why he constantly expected of something to go wrong. He told Milton to go ahead and install a tracker on Kim's phone and did the same thing with her car. He also tried to be with her when she was out of her classes, but his own schedule was full enough that he didn't get to be in her presence at all times.
It figured that the problem would occur when he wasn't around.
As much as Kim wanted to berate Jack for interfering, it seemed to work wonders. Donna and Brett left her alone for the most part. In fact, it could be said that most of the school left her alone now that the epic love triangle or square wasn't going to play out for the viewing pleasure of the public. She was somewhat isolated in the squad, but Donna's bitchy attitude was grating enough that some junior years didn't exactly stick to the master plan and talked to her and Grace. The team generally ignored her and she was fine with that: at least no one was outright hostile.
Things with Jack seemed to calm down. He wasn't acting like her personal bodyguard so much and they had a series of low-key dates where the subject of his underground life didn't come up at all. She knew he trained, but he let it slip that he was busier now - with investments of all things - and was cutting down the number of fights. She could only stare at him in surprise, but it was such a good news that she didn't dwell on his new-found business dealings.
It was Milton, who actually enlightened her as to why Jack was turning down the matches. It had everything to do with her, apparently, because Jack was not feeling the same rage that drove him before. She blushed, doubting her own power, but Milton was sure and told her to keep doing whatever it was that she was doing. That caused her to blush and sputter and she caught Milton's lips curving into a smirk.
Of course the good fortune couldn't last so long and her happy little bubble was burst when she was leaving her training with Grant.
They had classes about once a week and she honestly thought they were unnecessary, but it did give her an opportunity to learn more about Grant and Jack's life before she met him. Grant knew Jack's parents and while he wasn't talkative, he did slip things on occasion. Like the fact that the late Mr. Brewer was quite an accomplished fighter himself, both in martial arts and comfortable with weapons. Or that Mrs. Brewer was genuinely warm person, but there were moments when her anxiety got the better of her and she had trouble sleeping. Or that Mr. Brewer tried to get her to train, but she was adamantly against it. Knowing her fate, Kim thought she understood Jack's own anxiety over her safety. So she applied herself to the classes.
She just left the gym, heading towards her car when someone tapped her shoulder. Still mentally in the class mode, she whirled around, swinging her bag wide and making the person instinctively step back, just as she lifted both hands in front of herself.
"Stay away!"
As soon as the words left her mouth and she caught sight of the person, she wanted to die. It was Carson, the fighter Jack faced last and the protege of Mr. Amato. She had a momentary worry that he was here to hurt her, but then she took in his relaxed stance and she relaxed too. Her surprise at seeing him was great enough that she just stupidly stood there staring at him.
"Kim, right?"
She just nodded at him all the while thinking how did he know that.
"Sorry, I gotta go," she said quickly deciding to end this. She turned to escape but his voice followed her.
"Whoa! I don't want you to go all karate on me," he chuckled as if he wasn't one of the premier underground fighters.
Obviously, he was making a little fun of her. She gave him on unimpressed look and continued walking.
"Look, I'm sorry. I know you don't like me because Jack and I are opponents, but I'd like to introduce myself and maybe make up for some of the shitty things Amato and Ty have done. I'm Carson," he smiled winsomely and stretched his hand.
"Shitty? Shitty? Telling people that someone has herpes is shitty. Lying to your friends is shitty. Not leaving a tip at a restaurant is shitty. Trying to drug you opponent and then fighting him, is just wrong. And you say it's shitty? Some nerve you've got."
He gaped at her for a moment before looking down. She didn't want to wait and turned to walk to her car, which seemed like miles away at the moment.
"Wait..." he walked after her and even lifted his hand as if to touch her.
"Not interested," Kim spoke quickly, while pulling her keys out. Attached to the key ring was a small fob-like plastic rectangle and she touched it with some reassurance.
"Just let me apologize. I'm sorry. I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt. I never even knew that shit happened until it was already done."
"I don't care. You're friends with those criminals so technically, you're to blame too."
"I'm not friends with them. I train with Ty and Amato bankrolls it. That's it," Carson annoyingly kept up with her fast walk and kept stepping ahead and looking into her face.
"Whatever, I don't really want to talk to you."
"Please, I just want to be friends."
Kim actually stopped for moment and stared at him. Was he out of his mind? Friends, really? She shook her head and then resumed walking.
"This is getting really silly now," she mumbled almost to herself, but he obviously heard her.
"Look, let me buy you a coffee. That's all. Just one coffee."
She was so pissed right now, she simply took the fob in her hands and looked at him in annoyance, "This is a miniature taser. While it's small, it delivers the standard amount of voltage when discharged. If you don't step away from my car, I will use it on you. And I won't fumble seeing as you are standing so conveniently close."
They looked at each other for a loaded second and then he lifted his arms in surrender and stepped away, "Ok, ok, you win. I gotta say I didn't think Brewer would go after such a feisty and good girl. Normally, it's just easy girls for a night with him. But, I guess I can see an attraction..."
His tone was suggestive and she she frowned, "Keep talking like that and I will be testing this on you."
She got into the car and drove off, seeing Carson in the rearview mirror looking at her retreating car with a smirk.
She debated mentioning it to Jack, but decided that he and his hair-trigger protective jealousy would not deal well with this information. So, she decided that since she handled it herself, there was no need to distract Jack.
Unfortunately, Carson showed up again. It happened after another class with Grant and this time he simply walked with her and talked as if knowing she'd simply shut his any attempt. So he talked about growing up poor, and having little going for him other than being athletic. How his father's illness made him give up any college hopes and going into this world of illegal fights as ways of making money.
"I didn't know what they were going to do. I have to keep this gig. My dad's hospital bills are killing me. He had a stroke a few years ago and he needs a helper all the time now. I don't expect your sympathy but this pays well. It pays enough that I don't have to send my dad to some shitty home somewhere and I have good hours so I can be with him. Please, I had no idea what they were going to do or I would have stopped them, or warned Grant."
Kim tried to avoid looking at him, but at this she did. His eyes were pleading and Kim sort of believed him, "And what do you want with me? You know this looks bad, right?"
He shook his head and grinned at her. His eyes twinkled and at that moment he looked so young, "I thought it was obvious."
"Yeah, not gonna happen. Bye, and leave me alone or you'll be the test subject!"
She made a beeline for her car, unsettled slightly by this. She wasn't so vain as to think it was about her specifically and didn't Jack tell her that people might try to use her to get to him? Upset him? Make him jealous? She guessed she had to tell Jack now.
Only there was no need. As usual, her luck didn't quite bear out...
Jack was waiting for Milton's email to catch the attention of the feds. If they followed up as Milton expected them to, then Amato's operations would be crippled as the 'friendly' officers would be out of the picture and Amato would have to bribe new ones or become extra vigilant again, which would mean slowing down his trades. Unfortunately, waiting was boring and unsatisfying and he was a little restless. He used the time to establish a more robust communication at the Bruneri trading desk. It was his way to get into their servers. Once he became a preferred customer there, he was sure any of his communications would be open and downloaded, which was all Milton needed to set his code roam.
He was so pre-occupied with that, and because he hadn't taken on any fights, he didn't come to visit Grant quite as regularly. He knew that Kim kept up her training and he trusted Grant to keep her safe. So, he was quite shocked and surprised when he decided to stop there to see how the training was going. It was their agreement that he woudl not train her himself. Mainly because he couldn't bring himself to do anything that woudl hurt her. So, he arrived just about when her session would have been over and he saw her car in the lot. He had to park farther away and by the time he reached her car, he spotted her being followed by someone.
Only it wasn't someone. It was Carson. They were obscured by her car, but he could hear her well enough.
"Not gonna happen. Bye, and leave me alone or you'll be a test subject!" Jack was already running towards them when she added, "Agh, dammit, let go of my bag!"
"Look, I just wanna talk-"
Jack rounded the car in time to see Kim pull on her bag that Carson was holding. Before he even had time to wonder why Carson was after Kim's bag, he saw her kick Carson repeatedly in the shin. It was surprisingly satisfying to see, but her shoes were just little ballet flats that did little damage.
"What the fuck?!" he didn't event scream, but it was enough to distract Carson for a second.
Kim yanked the bag out of Carson's grip and jammed the taser that was apparently on her keychain into Carson's neck. He hit the ground twitching, and she stepped back and groaned in annoyance.
"I told him that I would test this baby on him," she sighed, blowing her hair out of her face as she let the taser drop. "And you know he probably thought I was bluffing. How typical of male gender... And this is the second time I warned him. How stupid is that?"
"I don't know," Jack said still not sure how to process the fact that Kim just electrocuted a guy three times stronger than her. "Wait- Second time? He cornered you like this more than once? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Please, look at you, Mister 'I let my fists do the talking.' It's one thing fighting in the ring, it's another to commit assault and battery," Kim practically snorted and picked up her bag and continued. "But I was planning on telling you today. For the record, this is the second time. And he didn't try to grab anything of mine before."
If this was supposed to calm him, it didn't work. Jack was still in fight mode, but Kim dealt with Carson so neatly that he was left with little to do. Then he stopped and repeated it again.
Kim dealt with Carson to the point that he was lying on the ground and she was left standing.
He had a surge of pride to add to his adrenaline rush and he simply pulled her into his arms and kissed this amazing girl.
"You're amazing," he told her once they parted lips. "And hot."
"It did feel kinda awesome," she admitted and looked at him from under the lashes. "You're right about self-defense and tasers. I didn't freeze up and Milton's little toy delivered."
He kissed her again, inordinately glad that he had the foresight.
"Let's go somewhere less public," Kim suggested and he started steering her towards his car. It was faster after all.
They started walking, but Carson finally shook off the worst of the jolt and began to stand up.
"Carson, I'm not going to beat you for try to put moves on my girl. She obviously took care of that. But that re-match you wanted? It's happening and you better be ready."
With that he threw a hook at the guy sending him down again.
They got to his place, the house quiet as Milton was at Manny's and his parents still were traveling. He didn't even notice the small throb in his right hand, but Kim did.
"You hand!" she grabbed it and inspected the slightly swollen knuckles.
"Is fine," he said, but she already was grabbing the first aid from his bathroom. "Just do it," he sighed, his lips twitching upwards despite himself, and held out his arm.
She focused on her task, her tongue trapped between her teeth as she cleaned and wrapped. Her loose blonde curls brushed against his face as she carefully administered to him and his nostrils filled with the heady scent of her shampoo and the smell of peonies. Her hands were gentle as they handled him, an apology for the sting on her lips before she'd even applied it to his flesh.
He was used to pain, the small sting of the alcohol and betadine a mere nuisance for him. No, the real torture was her: her smell, her touch. The earlier adrenaline and pride in her transformed into an overwhelming desire for her and he nearly bit his own lip to sit still.
"There! How's that look?"
There was no conscious thought, no internal debate, no hesitant look followed by her silent approval. He reached for her, pulling her body flush with his own as he claimed her mouth. It was hard and almost punishing, but he knew by now that she'd keep up. She mumbled something about his hand, but he plowed through and devoured her. He cupped her head in one hand, his fingers sinking deep into her light blonde hair, tugging and allowing the silken strands to wrap around his calloused fingers.
He laid her backwards gently as he covered her tiny frame with his own, his mouth never releasing possession. The hand at her waist moved upwards to cup her breast through her thin shirt. She whimpered and the sound ripped through him causing him to lose what little sense of restraint he still had.
He pulled away from the kiss to pull the shirt up over her head then unfastened the hooks of her bra and discarded it. He kissed the pale mounds of flesh each in turn, teasing her nipples with his tongue and teeth as his fingers found the fastening of her jeans. He pulled them down without ceremony along with the plain white panties she wore, breaking away just long enough to snatch the small flats from her feet so he could let the last of her clothing drop to the floor. Jack held back for just a moment to look at her, his angel, her hair a mussed halo of light around her head, and her body flushed with newly awakened desire. He slanted his lips over hers again, his body seeking connection with hers and he hitched her thighs up around him so he could grind his hips still in boxers into her center.
She gasped, both hands pushing at his chest as she felt him hot and heavy against her. The hands on his chest moved all over the bares skin and he moaned plaintively, his desire too strong.
"Bambola, to voglio cosi tanto," he whispered and she looked up, adorably confused. "I want you so much, Kim. So much..."
"I'm yours," her eyes weren't confused any more, but he stilled.
"Kim..."
"I know. I want you too..."
"It's going to be your fir-"
"Shhh, I know, but- This is a good moment to. I don't need some grand romantic gesture. And at any rate, you made plenty grand gestures-"
"Bambola..." there was only so much fight he could put up when they were like this.
She reached up and kissed him, "Jack, please..."
Her plea was followed by a hand that snuck into his boxers and those nimble fingers began that tortuous dance again. He thrust into her hand and cursed, "Oh, fuck, Kim..."
Jack could feel her heart pounding against his chest in desire and anticipation. He pulled away from her slightly, jaw clenching as he forced himself to remain still against her even though the only thing he could think about was sinking into her over and over again until he drove out all of his demons. In all his experience, among the dozens of girls who'd shared his bed, he'd never taken a virgin. But then again, he'd never had to wait this long for sex. He'd never had been with the same girl twice. He'd never... Kim was the exception to all of his usual rules and he was too far gone. Even though he knew his life was dangerous, he'd already had a taste of her and he would have rather faced an army with his bare hands than stop at that moment.
"If you don't want this you need to tell me and I'll stop," he told her, his body vibrating in protest as the words left his mouth.
He watched as inexperience battled with desire in her beautiful eyes.
"Tell me," he commanded his eyes dark and almost hypnotic as he willed her to answer in the way he knew would bring them both to completion, "Yes or no?"
"Yes," she said softly and he nearly growled in joy as he claimed her mouth once again.
His rough fingers reached down through the thin curling strands of bright silk that did nothing to hide her from his gaze as his mouth claimed her tight pink nipple again. She panted roughly as he licked and sucked at her breast, his teeth scraping until she was half undone by the near painful sensations being awoken within her. He slid his fingers up and down, barely skimming the cluster of nerves that would ensure her readiness for him as he sucked hard at first her right nipple then the left. Her movements beneath him became more frantic. He took her mouth, whispering against her open lips, "That's right, Bambola. Come undone for me. Show me." He gathered moisture from her center and found her clit.
She bucked underneath him crying out, her eyes opening wide as he brought her closer to the edge, her fingers moving to join his to direct him. He looked up into the stark wonder of her face and something dark began to curl in his belly. "Have you ever touched yourself? Here?" His finger swept over the sensitive bundle of nerves and he chuckled as her eyes slammed shut and she moaned wantonly under his touch. "What do you think about when you touch yourself? Tell me?"
"You," she breathed and he felt his cock jump at the admission.
He took her mouth in an almost brutal kiss as his fingers increased the friction on her clit. He swallowed her cries as she orgasmed, a flood of moisture making his fingers slick. She shuddered and writhed in release beneath him. Releasing her mouth, he pressed their foreheads together as they both gasped for air. "Jesus," he panted, "you are so beautiful. You have no idea do you; no idea just how goddamn beautiful you are?"
She tilted her mouth upward, her lips meeting his in a soft kiss. He moved his lips to coast along her jawline before making his way across her chest and down her waist. He eased off the cot and stripped off his underwear then took a moment to gaze at her most intimate and exposed self. His eyes caught hers and the dark desire he saw there was nearly his undoing. He bent at the waist, pulling her thighs apart, and swept his tongue over her folds, wet and glistening under the florescent lights from her orgasm. His senses filled with the taste of warm musk as she cried out, whimpered, and panted through the sweet torture he was now administering.
He brought a finger into her opening and carefully probed her as he licked and sucked at the sensitive bundle of fibers above. God, she was tight. He continued to explore her as he came up with a game plan. He wasn't the kind of man who felt the need to compare the size of his dick with other men in order to prove himself but he knew he was fairly large and that this wouldn't be easy for her. He'd have to take this slowly. He added a second finger and she hissed, stiffening not in pleasure but in discomfort. He eased back up the cot, his fingers still buried within her, and he kissed her softly in apology. "I know, Kim. I know it hurts but we're going to take this slow, okay? Tell me when."
Slowly her muscles began to loosen and he began to gently probe her once more. She winced slightly but he continued to sooth her with soft kisses and gentle words until she was again moving her hips to the rhythm he set for her, brushing her clit with his thumb to bring her added pleasure. After a while he added a third finger and repeated the process, careful not to tear or bruise her, until his hand was again slick with her juices. When he felt she was ready, he removed his hand from between her thighs and settled himself until he was in contact with the now vacant space.
The ingrained habit of using protection made him reach for the night stand and when he eased into her, he had condom on.
Her fingers gripped his shoulders tightly and he spoke, "It's okay; I won't go further until you're ready. We have all the time in the world." He reached up, easing her hands downward until they grabbed his hips and kissed her once more. He waited until the pressure of her grip loosened and again pressed forward, repeating the process inch by inch until the final barrier was passed and he was finally seated fully within her.
For a moment, they just breathed. He stopped, allowing his heartbeat to calm. He closed his eyes, resting his forehead against her shoulder as he calmed the beast within him that wanted to simply take that which he now knew belonged to him and him alone. He could hear the low hum of the air-conditioning, and the uneven tempo of her breathing. Slowly he began rocking his hips, in and out, his thrusts gradually deepening until she was gasping more from pleasure than pain. His jaw clenched as he felt himself being squeezed within her walls, the sensation almost overwhelming. He tried to keep himself centered, tried to hold off the rush of his own release, but it quickly became apparent that he would not last long enough to give her the full measure of her first experience he had desired to. That would have to come later.
He increased his strokes, pushing deeper and deeper, his mouth open in a silent cry as the blood rushed to his head and he unleashed within her. She cried out as well, in pleasure and feminine triumph if not orgasm, and he shuddered until he was fully spent.
He eased onto his down pulling out of her as he drew her into his embrace. He felt her sob against him, overwhelmed by everything they had done and felt together.
"Are you okay?" He asked softly, kissing the top of her head, the guilt and self-recriminations already coming to bear. What had he done? Christ, what the hell had he been thinking? He looked down at her tears and swallowed, the first flares of panic erupting in his chest. Shit, what if he'd hurt her more than he realized? "Bambola? Answer me; are you okay?"
She nodded against his chest, her breath hitching as she spoke in a small voice, "I'm good, you?"
His head tilted back as he snorted in relief. He lifted his head smiled down at her, a rare and beauteous thing, "Oh, I think I'll live." He took a deep shuddering breath and pulled her tighter against him. "You are going to be the death of me, you know that? You snuck in under my radar, took place in my heart and you attract danger like a magnet. Now what the hell am I supposed to do?"
A/N: I don't know what happened, but this ended up being over 5K. And smutty. I'll change the rating after this chapter to M. After this, well be kickin' it (ha!) into a high gear.