“...Two years since I’ve been in the ring with my brother and sister, too. We were going to be a huge faction and be the most threatening force in IWX and now look. I haven’t been inside the ring since my divorce.”
“Because you let that woman destroy you. Who the hell cares what she thinks? Anyone who wants to be with you shouldn’t care about the money. They also should support you if you’re on the road every day trying to make a living for your family. It’s a big sacrifice. I know. With Isis home now, it’s hard traveling without her and the kids.”
“It’s been two years since I took the position of IWX general manager. I don’t even think I could go back in the ring if I tried.”
Gage sat down on the couch opening a beer and handed it to Cyrus. “Never say never, brother. Why don’t we set you up to come in the ring for a save or something? See how it feels. If you want to get back in the ring, we can figure it out.”
Cyrus nodded. He looked over at Gage, thinking about his friends’ secret life with Isis. Cyrus sat back in his recliner, rubbing his stubble that was just breaking back through the skin. It made since Gage finally cut his hair. His years of having long shaggy hair and beard had passed too, even though his scars were still there. He hated people looking at them, but he finally took his sister’s advice and stopped hiding who he was. He missed a little scruff on his chin, though.
Maybe he would keep it short and clean-cut. His house was in disarray, but he kept his makeover look. He almost prided himself on his new style.
As far as his scars, if anyone wanted to be with him, they would just have to accept him how he was. After all, it was Tammy’s idea to hide them all those years, to begin with. It took him a long time to realize that his insecurities stemmed from trying to impress a woman who didn’t love him the way he thought.
Cyrus sat up, leaning over his knees, and rubbing his hands together. “Gage. Can I ask you something?”
“Sure, bro. Shoot.”
“Are you and Isis still into the BDSM thing?”
Gage chuckled, throwing his head back to take another drink of his beer. “You realize she still wears those collars, right? If I decided not to, I think she’d think I was cheating or was losing interest. It’s sort of an important part of our relationship. I don’t know why, but it’s comforting for her. It’s not like I beat her or force her to do things she doesn’t want. I’m not a sadist.”
“I get that. How did you know you were a… master? Is that what it’s called?”
“Yep. That’s right. I guess it was when I was in college that I started experimenting. There was this girl who was into a few fetish things. She told me about kink fetishes, and I started looking it up. I liked the idea of control. I don’t get into the pain stuff other than spanking and a few light kinks. Why?”
“I… I’ve never tried any of that stuff. Tammy made me feel dirty for even talking about anything I wanted to try. The hardcore stuff is a little much. I’ve been looking online and I… never mind. It’s weird talking to you about this.”
Gage gave a studying look out the side of his eye. “You’re wondering if you’re a Dom?”
“No. I just wanted to know what it’s like. Have you ever been to fetish clubs or anything like that?”
Gage gave a slight chuckle, not believing he was having a conversion like this with Cyrus Evans. The strait-laced, Mr. Perfect of the family.
“Okay. I see you’re a little embarrassed. Don’t be. I’m fine with talking about this. What type of kink are you into?”
Cyrus’ head whipped straight to Gage’s glance with his mouth gaped open. “Are there different types? I just thought you all did that dungeon stuff.”
“Well, yes, and no. There are a million different kinks. What type of kink are you curious about?”
“I guess… the ones where you don’t know the people. I’ve always been curious about how they are okay with that and meet at those clubs. It seems creepy. I like the idea of meeting a girl I know and pretending I don’t.”
“Roleplay.”
Cyrus nodded. “Yeah. I sort of like the idea of meeting a stranger that wouldn’t know me as Cyrus the Crusher. Maybe they wouldn't judge me if they didn’t see my face first. My scars scare people away.”
Gage shrugged off the comment. “That’s not true, Cy. Your scars are not that big of a deal. It’s more of a concern to you than other people. I hear girls talking about how handsome you are all the time.”
“I wish I could meet a girl that didn’t see my face until I talked to her for a while. Like online or something. Maybe she would love me, and the scars wouldn’t matter. The girls who I try to date only care about my money. I don’t want that. I want someone who loves me and that we have things in common.”
Gage looked at Cyrus, thinking about it for a moment. “That’s not a bad idea. I don’t suggest a random hook up though. Maybe a dating site or something. Someone you can bond with on a personal level before you date.”
Cyrus thought about it for a moment. “I have been thinking about something I have always wanted to do that is like dating sites.”
“What?”
“You’ll just laugh at me.”
“Spill it. I’ve never gotten you to talk about this stuff. If it’s bothering you, I want to help you sort it out.”
“There is this girl I saw online. She’s really pretty but…”
“But what?”
“I sort of have a fetish too. No… not a fetish. A preference.”
“Okay, what is it?”
“I always liked bigger girls. Not huge, just average girls. Girls who don’t look like Barbie dolls.”
“Cy, are you a chubby chaser?”
“No, asshole. That’s messed up. I just like a girl with a few extra curves. I think a confident plus-size woman is sexy. Someone confident in their skin.”
“That’s actually really nice, Cy.”
“There is this girl I’ve been noticing who keeps talking about me on social media. She tags me sometimes. Gage, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. She’s got the most beautiful smile and sexy curves that remind me of those women in paintings of the Renaissance…”
Gage interrupted. “I knew it! That’s why you like those paintings in the museum. I knew it wasn’t about just the art. You spend more time looking at those paintings than anything in the whole museum. You think those girls are hot.”
Cyrus frowned. “It’s not like that.”
“Bullshit. You like those girls, and I knew it.”
“Fine. I do. It’s just that all the girls at work are like fitness chicks and always worried about gaining a pound. That’s never been my thing. Tammy was a little thick too when we met. She was curvy but thought she was fat. I don’t like girls to think that. I like confident women. We are all different and shouldn’t have to live in a box society places on us.”
“Says the guy who has always been a gym rat, just like me.”
“I like to work out. It’s not a vanity thing. I like how being in the gym makes me feel,” he noted.
Gage sat back, nodding in approval. “Okay, so we have established you like curvy girls, and you want to meet her without her knowing who you are.”
“Yes. Is that weird? Oh, and I think roleplay would be cool if she were into that sort of thing.”
“Cyrus, can I be honest?”
Cyrus nodded.
“You’re just a normal guy who wants a girl to like him for who he is. I think you know how much it can hurt by not being accepted. Maybe you can find a girl that fills your needs. If you’re worried about what people say about you, screw them. You know who you are and that’s what matters.”
“You’re right. The hell with what everyone else thinks. Gage, I like this girl. I want to get to know her. So… what should I do?”
“Not sure, but we’ll think of something. Maybe we can figure out a way to conceal who you are until you know more about her. I’m starving and those stakes you promised me are clouding my thought process. I can’t figure out your life right now.”
“Figures. You are like feeding an army. Let’s fire up the grill before your precious self waste away to nothing.”
“See. You see it too. I’m vanishing as we speak.”