The fight was not that bad. I felt he didn’t give it his all, possibly because one full punch would have broken my ribs. As it was, they were painful and tender to touch. I was going to ache for a while, as that bruising comes out.
Today was the new me. I made up my mind that when I accepted that Tank was my man, I would not only fight for him, but also change who I am, be the real me, and not shy away. With that still fresh in my mind, I undressed in front of Tank, I have never underdressed in front of anyone before, even at school, I had my sports gear underneath, so I didn’t need to
I get down to my underwear infront of others, I didn’t need another reason for them to dislike me, mind you I never understood why I was not liked that much, I did nothing. Still, maybe my sister paved the way before me, and they were disappointed I was not like her. Who knows, not like I am going to ask.
It felt good to just undress, I reached in, and turned the tap on hot, and waited a few seconds before climbing under the hot water, it was as hot as I could tolerate it, my skin already turning red from the heat, but not fast enough for Tank not to see the dark bruises forming, where Bruiser got two good hits in.
Tank hissed when he saw them, and I knew he would try to coddle me when I got out of the shower. I made the shower quicker than I would have liked. At home, I would have stayed in a lot longer, but dinner was almost ready, and if you are not down there, you could end up with the dregs, and not something you wanted to eat.
With a towel wrapped around me, Tank watched my every move with a critical eye. It felt like Grandpa all over again; he would always be ready with the first aid kit for any sign of soreness.
“Lie on the bed and let me deal with those bruises,” Tank ordered, moving to open the kit.
Climbing on the bed, I winced as my ribs complained about my movement. Tank’s face turned to me in an instant, as if he saw my wince. But he couldn’t have, could he?
He gently removed my towel to expose the first bruise, the worst of the two, and gently rubbed in some cream. I thought he would use the spray, less contact, or was this cream better? I don’t know. I had the spray because I couldn’t always reach the places I needed to apply the cream. I was not about to ask my family, after Grandpa died, and wasn’t around to help me out.
He moved to the other bruise and worked his magic there.
“All done.’ He said in a husky voice.
I stood, got dressed in fresh underwear, and put on my dirty jeans and top, thinking it wasn’t worth it to put on clean clothes for a few hours. Tank walked by my side, like a protective giant beside me. He didn’t touch me, most likely worried about touching a tender part, which at the moment was all over. It was a great workout, and I am not starting to stiffen up, even the hot shower couldn’t stave off this for very long.
“Sit, I will get us both a plate.” Tank pushed me gently into a chair, and I waited for him to return.
“You are amazing. I have never seen a girl fight like that. You even landed some punches.” One of the guys said, I think his name was Squirt.
“He was holding back; if he wanted to, he could have broken my ribs and ended the fight in the first few minutes,” I replied nonchalantly. I was still miffed he held back. But my body most likely was glad he did.
“He mightn’t have given you the full force of his punches, but even I can’t land a punch, take the compliment, because you earned them.” I looked around the room of glowing faces, nodding in agreement.
“Thanks,” I replied shyly. I rarely received compliments for fighting; more often, I got grounded.
Then Tank arrived with two massive plates of food, breaking the tension I had been building. Taking the food and gulping, did he think I could eat as much as he?
I took the plate, thanking him as I did, and started to eat, feeling all their eyes on me. To my surprise, I ate three-quarters of it before Tank took the plate and polished the rest off for me. Maybe having a giant boyfriend has its advantages, no wasted leftovers. I chuckled to myself.
One of the noms, collected out plates, surprised me by their sudden need to help out; they had been avoiding doing the cleaning. One even said it was women’s work, which gained him a clip around the ear and a week of kitchen duties. Or so I am told. But to get up and do without being told, something was happening that I didn’t know about, and at the moment, I was happy to let them do the job, not my business.
“Tank, Bruiser, Maxine, my office.” Here we go again. I rolled my eyes and got up slowly, my joints getting stiffer, slowing my movement. Tank noticed and picked him up, bridle style, as if I weighed nothing, and I guess to him I don’t, considering he picked up engine blocks and moves them around, like they weigh almost nothing. I patted myself on the back for not squealing like a child as he picked him up. Tank took a seat, keeping me in his arms. I turned a little on his lap so I could look at the Prez in the face, Tank tightening his grip, to ensure | didn’t leave his lap.
“Bruiser, report!” Prez commanded, his tone rough, but his eyes twinkled at me, showing her was amused at me sitting on Tank’s lap. I feel that was where I sat most of the time when we were together.
“Got better moves than most of our guys, if we’re in a skirmish, I want her at my back.” I looked shocked by his comment, and the Prez tilted his head as he took it in.
“She landed?” He asked, looking mildly surprised.
“A couple of times. I have a cracked rib.” Now I was surprised.
“Oh, sorry, are you okay? I didn’t think; to me, you appeared to take it, so I continued.” I was appalled that I had hurt him.
He chuckled, as did the Prez and Tank.
“Prez, she found a way in and continued to place her hits at that same place. I was in the end, trying to keep that rib out of her reach, and had to call it, way before I wanted to, as she was testing me better than any I have sparred with lately.” He conceded good-naturedly.
“Good. We need more who can fight, and she will be able to protect the women in ways we can’t.” Prez looked at me with what I could call new respect. Protect the woman? Like are we going to war or something?
“Maxine and I will be training three times a week. I need that training more than she does, plus her footwork needs a bit of improving.” Bruiser continued, his voice slowly became softer.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.