SINFUL CITIES

I met Ark in college. I was standing there in the hall, watching my first and only boyfriend since make out with some girl. The night before he tried to get into my pants and I told him I wasn’t ready. Now he had Jin, I think, pressed against the wall and his tongue so far down her throat she was choking on it.

Damon and I were fresh and I really liked him. I was shy all of high school and the one time I stepped out of my box and gave someone who asked me out a chance. They only wanted into my pants. That stung like a slap.

Ark, who everyone knew on campus, was the quick tempered Columbian exchange student. I only had about 2 courses with him and he never spoke to me, the Japanese exchange student.

But that day, he took one look at me standing there with tears in my eyes and grabbed a grinding Damon off his new conquest and beat the shit out of him.

Then he got up took my hand and bought me lunch.

Since then, he’s been my best friend and my protector. Even after we graduated. Now he’s a professional boxer and that just meant he really knew how to lay someone out if he felt for just a second, i was hurt or offended.

***

Walking into Ark’s mom’s house, I made my way to the kitchen.

“Ms. H.” I greeted her.

“Hola, mija, she wiped her hands quickly and rushed to give me a hug. Fussing she began as always. “Kiki, have you been eating, mija? I’ll have to pack you some meals. ” She murmured to herself. Kiki, that’s the nickname Ark picked for me. He knew my name was Misaki but he said in his culture, they gave nicknames to people they cared about. When I met his mother, he introduced me as Kiki and for the years, I’ve been apart of their little family, his mother never once called me, Misaki.

Ark moved out of his mother’s house in our final year, saying he had the money to get himself some privacy, but I loved Miss Hernandez so much that, I’d visit her as much as I was able especially when I knew Ark wouldn’t be able to see her.

I stayed over night several times, just me and her watching dramas and talking. I would be lying if I said I didn’t tell Miss Hernandez everything, even more than Ark.

“Well, look at you, where are you off to tonight? Ark’s fight?”

I cringed feeling guilty. I shouldn’t have agreed to a date on the same day as Ark’s fight. But, I knew I’d rush over to his place immediately after to give him a free apology massage. Where Ark became a Boxer despite his business degree, I became a massage therapy despite my medical technology degree. That pissed my parents off so bad they haven’t spoken to me since college.

I didn’t mind, I had Ark and Miss Hernandez.

“I have a date.” I confessed, looking anywhere but on her. She stared at me for a beat, analyzed my simple form fitting black dress, knee high black boots and raised an eyebrow.

“And who is this young man?” She asked.

“Just some guy I met at the coffee shop a few weeks ago. I wasn’t going to but he asked me after we ran into each other a few times and I said yes.”

“And what does he look like?”

Nothing like Ark. I felt my insides clench at the thought of Ark. He was a wall of muscles, my best friend. Had the kindest brown eyes and a wicked grin. Tight 8 pack, that I’ve seen hundreds of times. A tattooed back, that I know every detail of. That back piece even features my face and name, I’ve seen it up close.

I got one side and his mom got the other. Sometimes he jokes that he wished he’d saved a spot in the middle for our daughter. Key word: Jokes.

Ark didn’t see me how I saw him. That much has been proven after years of friendship and not even a single sexual touch. We’ve slept in the same bed before, and we didn’t wake up tangled together. He stayed on his side and so did I.

After years of waiting. I have given up. I’ll die a virgin if I wait on Ark to be with me. Ark’s my favorite person in this entire world, but if I want to have a life, a sex life. I’ll have to seek it elsewhere because he’s not into me that way.

“He’s tall.” I tell her, not as tall as Ark, but tall enough. “He said he’s a banker.” Compared to an undefeated boxer who owns shares in multimillion dollar companies. Laughable.

Sure Ark was on his way to being a very rich man. After just few fights, he bought his mom a house, the one we were standing in now and helped me with opening my business. But again, Ark didn’t like me that way.

“Well, if you really like him...” Ms. H looked disappointed. Hello, so was I! But Ark had his chance, I really can’t stay hung up forever.

Misaki left about 15 minutes later, promising to call as soon as the date was over. Miss Hernandez didn’t expect that call to come, because by the end of the conversation they were about to have, she hoped she could knock some sense into her son, so she could get grandbabies out of him. Grandbabies that would have Kiki as a their mother.

Ark was doing his pre fight routine, which consisted of pacing and hoping he’d be able to find Misaki in the stance. Then he would sit calm himself and say a prayer thanking the lord for his mom and his Asian angel, not that she knew he secretly called her that. He also pray for a good fight and a win.

There was a knock at the door.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but it’s your mom and she said it was absolutely important, in many colorful words.”

Ark could only imagine what she had said as he winced and took the phone.

“Ma?” He answered.

“Cabron!” She yelled at him. “What did I do?” He groaned.

“Kiki is going on a date tonight and its your fault.”

Ark felt his heart stop. Kiki? Dating some asshole that wasn’t him? He felt his pulse pick up as well as he rage.

“Where?” His mother told him every detail he needed.

“If you let her run off with someone else, I’m never speaking to you again.” His mother promised and he knew she was serious.

He remembered the first day he told his mother about Misaki. Months after they had gotten closer, he’d began to feel something he never did before. Sure he had had girlfriends, few of which his mother actual liked. But Misaki, she was his girl. He protected her, he provided for her (whenever she’d let him). She was his best friend, his confidant, his girl!

He went home one day and called his Ma, telling her, she’d have hija now. The hija she had always wanted. Soon after that, he’d introduced Kiki and as expected they loved each other instantly. The typically shy girl, was quick to laugh and joke around with his Ma.

“Goddamnit!” He cursed.

“Watch your mouth, chico.” His mother snapped at him.

“Sorry, Ma. I’m going to fix it, I promise.”

Ark didn’t want to forfeit the match, so he steeled himself to end it in one go.

In the ring, he bounced around. Aware that the world could see the tattoos of the two most important women in his life on his back. And when he and Kiki had a daughter, and he indented to have her tatted too. He’d put her right on his chest. He’d make sure to save the spot just for her.

Bouncing around his opponent, the wheels in Ark’s mind began to turn with images of some guy touching her hand, wrapping his arms around her and finally, when an image of some fucker kissing her passed through his mind, he swung hard. The sound of his punch landing silenced the audience. His opponent went down and stayed down. Usually after a fight, Ark would linger, sign autographs, take pictures. He was out of the building within minutes and heading straight for the car.

His manager was hot on his tail.

“Man! What’s going on?” He demanded.

“Kiki is on a date!” He growled. Understanding flashed across the man’s face. Yea everyone knew. Everyone knew expect her apparently.

“If I get there and he has so much as a finger on her, I’m going to jail. So get the bail money ready.” He told his manager before hopping in his car and pulling out of the lot.

Ark headed straight for the address his Ma told him.

****

Her date was in mid- sentence when her phone lit up. He paused and looked at her.

“Sorry, I have to take this.” Before picking up and answering the phone.

“Tell him you have to leave then get your tiny ass outside. If I have to come in there, I’m going to break his fucking face for thinking he could talk to you.”

“Ark ---.”

“I’m not playing, Misaki. ” He growled her name, accent thick and heavy with rage. Miss H was a sell out. I stood and my date followed.

“I’m sorry, I have to leave.” I told him.

“Is there something wrong?” He asked.

“There will be if I don’t go.” I explained.

“Well, let me at least walk you to your car.”

“That’s not a good idea.”

“I insist.” He pushed. Oh no.

My date opened the door for me to exit the restaurant but when he went to put his hand at the small of my back, I dodged. Outside, I watched as Ark stomped over to us.

“You should leave.” I tried to warn my date but he stayed put.

“I’m ---” He tried to introduce himself but Ark glared at him.

“leaving.” Ark growled finishing for him “Or you could end up bleeding on this pavement.”

I rushed over to Ark’s side to stop him from thrashing my date for whatever reason.

“And do not contact her again, you got that?”

“She said she was single.” My date argued

“You’re about to be dead if you don’t run along.” Ark was serious too. What’s going on?

My date raised his eyebrow. Looked at me trying to be a wall between Ark and him, then turned his back and went back into the restaurant.

“Get in your car and follow me home.”

“Don’t you think we should talk about what’s going on?” I looked up at his angry face.

“Misaki.” He used my name as if it was some sort of weapon.

And it was then I decided, I hated being called Misaki.

***

At his place, I watched as he undid his hooded and growled that he needed a shower.

I pulled my boots off and found the slippers he got me for whenever I was here. Next I went over the cupboard to find a stress chocolate bar. Which was also fully in stock because he knew me well enough to know that my blood sugar drops whenever I get stressed out.

This situation? Stressed me out.

Moments later, Ark was walking into the living room, freshly shower and still pissed off.

And after playing the events over in my head, I’ve also grown angry.

“Why’d you ruin my date?” I demanded.

“Why did you go on a date?” He countered.

I stood up and marched over to him. Squaring off with him though way shorter than him.

“So I can’t go on dates?”

“No.”

“Why not? We’ve known each other for years Ark. It’s about time I start seeing someone. You don’t even like me like that.”

He laughed, a bitter laugh.

“I have your face and name tattooed to my back and I don’t like you like that?”

“That’s just because we’re best friends.”

“And this?” He presented his right wrist. Japanese characters were printed across it. And although most tattoos using Japanese characters are usually an epic fail. These weren’t. That’s definitely my name.

“I--.” I couldn’t speak. He looked up at him in my shock.

“Fuck it!” He growled before scooping me up easily and wrapped my legs around him.

He pressed me up against the closest wall and kissed me. Our first kiss. I want to say it was tender and sweet but it wasn’t. While the way he pressed me to the wall was gentle, the way he was taking my mouth was not.

Pulling back as soon as my hands went to his back, he glared down at me.

“Is this the problem Misaki? You wanted me to show you that I am your man like this?”

I couldn’t help but moan as I felt his erection.

“Is this what you wanted? Is it Misaki?” He asked her.

“Not Misaki,” She moaned looking into his eyes. “Kiki...” She told him.

“Fuck!” He groaned before capturing her lips again.

The many times Ark had imagined being with Misaki for the first time, he pictured himself romancing her, picking her up and taking her out to an expensive restaurant, then he’d take her back to his place which would be decorated for their special night. He’d be gentle since it was her first time and he’d go slow.

Now that’s been thrown out the window. There was no expensive date, there were no roses and he was far too frustrated to be gentle, not the type of gentle he had intended to give her. And stopping was not an option. The little angel was grinding herself on him. She practically begged him to do this after the stunt she pulled tonight.

“What were you going to do after the date?” He demanded.

“I was going to come here to give you an apology massage for missing the fight.” His eyes narrowed.

“You weren’t planning to tell me?”

“Only if it worked out...”

Ark scuffed, “As if it could.”

She looked at him in shock and hurt. He kissed the expression away.

“Its only me for you, Kiki. It’s been that way since I beat the shit out of that asshole in college. I will never let anyone else in on your sweetness. I share enough of it with Ma. I’d sooner kill another man than know he’s touched you.” He told her.

Pulling away from the wall he marched to his bedroom. He put her to stand and pulled the dress off.

“Never want to see it again.” He told her. Then he took in her tiny body. “Christ! You were made for me.” He pulled his shirt off. She stepped closer to him and rested her forehead against his hard abs.

“Nervous?” He whispered. She shook her head. No.

“Need you.” She murmured.

“Yeah?” He asked, running his big hands over her small back. When he felt her nod it was his undoing.

He snapped open her bra and pulled her panties down in record time. He placed her to sit on the edge of the bed. Before her, he knelt and parted her flesh with his tongue. Instantly she grabbed his head and moaned. This was foreign to her. She’d never done any of this. He knew that.

“I’ll make you feel good. Trust me?”

“Yes, Ark.”

He lapped at her core, sucked at her hole and on her clit. When he slipped a finger into her, she came, shaking. As she came, she felt him trying to probe a second finger inside her and it made her cry out. He crawled up the bed and carried her with him. They laid side by side, facing each other, kissing slowly and exploring each others bodies. Kiki got bold, touching his chest and abs, which she has done before but not like this. Never like this. Then she went lower, wrapping her hand around his curved shaft.

“Shit!” he cursed as he pulled her closer squeezing her ass.

“I’m going to take you like this first.” He told her. “Then when you’re used to me...” Their breaths were getting labored. Their hearts where pounding against each other.

“When you’re used to me.... I’m going to flip you up and let you bounce all over me.”

“You’ll have to take me in yourself though, Kiki. If you really want it, put it in.”

Her grip on him tightened. She looked up at him and he pushed the black hair from her face.

She started to position him. “Wait.” He stopped her.

“Look at me a little.” Lifting her eyes, she looked into his brown ones.

Heat pooled in her belly, her pussy pulsed.

“I’m in love with you. Always have been. Always will be.” He declared.

Her eyes widened. “I’m in love with you too.” She moaned as she positioned him and began to sink on his member. She kept her eyes on his.

“Ark, please...” She was struggling, it hurt and she was so damn tight it was like she was strangling his dick.

“Fuuuk...” He grabbed her hip with one hand, his cock with another and pushed past her tightness and into the warmth of her sheath.

“Ark...” She was crying. He kissed all over her face trying to soothe her, she felt so good, it hurt.

“It’ll get better soon baby,” He didn’t move, just stayed inside her, kissing her slowly until she was clawing at his arms and chest begging him to move.

He started slow, shallow and easy. Pulling out merely an inch and pushing back in slowly. She moaned at every push and clawed him with every pull. Soon they were working up a sweat, and she was becoming a minx in his arms. She started begging for more, harder she even breathed. They kissed, touched, glided together, but when that wasn’t enough anymore, he put her on top and told her to ride him.

She started rocky, unsure of what to do. She took his hands and put them to her hips saying “Show me how, Ark..” in a heated whisper. Yea, he was marrying her, there was no doubt in his mind. This was his girl.

He showed her how to move and soon she took over rolling her hips, bouncing gently, then rolling again. She had him so entranced that he couldn’t take his eyes off her even as he palmed her breasts and played with her nipples. He hoped the combined sensations would make her come again despite her earlier pain. Just his luck she did, crying out, arching then falling onto his chest.

“Ark, I can’t anymore.” She whined into his neck. Wrapping his arms around her back, he told her “Its okay angel, let me take care of it.”

After that, he held her in place as her hammered into her from below with powerful thrusts. It didn’t take much before he was going off inside her like a rocket and loving every minute of it.

“You’re all mine.” He declared as he kissed her hair.

“I love you...” she breathed then she was out cold.