The Stripper And The Anxiety-riddled Dork

Hi-yah! and a mean-ass left Hook

Chapter 42

Codi's whole body shook after entering the empty gym, her teeth chattering as she looked around and Nicky entered behind her. The blonde shook off the snow in her hair as the door closed behind them, Codi's brow furrowed at the lack of customers.

"I've never seen a gym so empty."

"That's because it's supposed to be closed." Nicky explained as she pulled her utility jacket off, draping it over the receptionist's desk, and slipped her hoodie off as well. She pushed her hair back by running a hand through the strands as Codi looked to her with a questioning gaze.

"I'm pals with the owner. He lets me use this place for a couple of hours after it closes."

"Really?"

"Yup. As long as I pick up after myself, the guy doesn't care. Leave your coat here and come on." Nicky gestured at the desk, Codi slipping her parka off and placing it beside Nicky's jacket and hoodie. The blonde took the lead and headed to the other side of the gym, slipping her shoes off before stepping onto the mats that were laid on the floor.

"Ready?" Nicky asked as Codi toed off her own shoes, the brunette giving a nod. Nicky let out a soft hum before standing in front of the brunette and slipped her hands underneath the younger's, bringing them up and near eye-level.

"You've got a couple scars." Nicky murmured as she looked at Codi's hands. Her gaze focused more on the shorter woman's left hand, it being far more scarred then her right.

"...Those were from a bastard."

"...Nel?" Nicky asked, Codi shaking her head as she flexed her fingers out. The blonde taking notice of her middle finger being crooked, like the bone had been broken and then healed wrongly.

"No. Someone much worse. That's all I want to say, Nicky."

"All right. I ain't gonna push. I wanted to show you how to make a fist properly anyways." The blonde gently held Codi's left hand between both of hers and curled her fingers into her palm. Her thumb was sticking out before Nicky curled it as well and placed it underneath the curled fingers and tucked it tightly behind them.

"There. Now, hit me."

Codi's eyebrows flew up as she looked to Nicky, her eyes wide. Nicky giving her a calm look in return.

"You're kidding me, right?"

"No. Now hit me."

"No! I'm not going to bloody hit you!" Codi exclaimed as she took a step back.

"Codi. It's a sparring lesson, you can't spar without a little contact. Now, come on." Nicky sighed as she kept her arms at her sides, Codi taking notice of the blonde beginning to lightly bounce on her toes.

The brunette let out a huff through her nose before lazily throwing a punch at Nicky's chest. The blonde's light bouncing stopped as she stared blankly at Codi.

"What the hell was that?"

"What?"

"Codi. Punch. Me." Nicky stated, her hands lifting in order to jab her fingertips against her own chest. Codi glared up at the blonde as her fingers curled into her palms.

"Fine!" Codi aimed the punch at Nicky's chest once more, it not even being hard enough for the pain to linger.

"Codi, come on!"

"You bloody blonde, I'm punching you!" The brunette exclaimed as she threw another punch. Nicky instantly taking notice of the lack of force behind it and smacked her hand away before it landed against her chest.

"No, you're giving me love taps! Now come on! Hit me like I'm Nel or Lucas!"

"You want to be punched so bloody much, fine! I'll give you a sodding punch!" Codi growled before quickly winding her arm back and throwing her fist at Nicky's chest once more. The blonde's eyes widened slightly at the swiftness before letting out a grunt as she fell onto her back after Codi's fist slammed harshly into her.

"Fuck!"

"Nicky! Oh, are you okay?!" Codi asked worriedly as she scrambled down to her knees and knelt beside Nicky. She rested a hand atop of the other woman's abdomen, her look of worry turning into slight confusion when Nicky laughed. The blonde's abdomen moving with the chuckling and making Codi's hand jump in time with it as well.

"Atta girl, Campbell. Now That. Was a punch." Nicky praised as she lifted her upper body up, her hands holding her up. Her left leg moved into a slightly bent angle as she grinned at Codi. The brunette let out a sigh of relief after seeing she didn't actually hurt the blonde before punching her shoulder and making Nicky fall back onto the mats.

"You suck."

"Do I?" Nicky sighed as she lifted her upper body up once more. Codi looking away from her with a slight pout as she sat down beside the blonde. Nicky moving to rest her chin atop of Codi's shoulder.

"Yes."

"Sorry."

"Hmph."

Codi kept her gaze away for a couple seconds longer before looking back towards Nicky. Nicky lifted her chin off the younger woman's shoulder, hazel meeting pine-green before she leaned forward.

Codi let out a soft hum as she was gently pushed onto the mats herself, Nicky leaning over her on her knees as she connected their lips together. Nicky's hands moved to settle on Codi's hips, her fingers inching a bit upward and lightly grazing against soft skin as Codi let out a quiet gasp.

"Your fingers are cold." Codi murmured against the blonde's lips before Nicky moved to mouth at her jawline. The brunette's left hand twinning it's fingers in soft blonde strands as her right hand wiggled under Nicky's shirt in order to graze her fingertips against the blonde's abs.

"Mind if I warm 'em up?"

"Not in a bloody gym." Codi chuckled. Nicky placed a kiss at the center of Codi's throat, it bobbing slightly beneath her lips, before moving her hands flat on the mat and beside Codi's hips as she leaned above the younger.

"Yeah? Thought you didn't wanna go fast?" Codi looked over the blonde's face. Her hands moved to rest on either side of Nicky's face, pine-green locked with hazel.

"Will you ever cheat on me like Nel did?"

"No."

"Will you ever lay hand on me like my mother did?"

"Never." Nicky's voice was firm. Her jaw clenching and shifting beneath Codi's palms.

"You've seen what I've dealt with in life, Nicky. I left England to get away from all of it."

"Please don't make me have to leave America as well."

"I won't. I promise." Nicky promised, Codi's grin reaching her eyes despite it only truly quirking up the corner of her lips. She picked her head up in order to give the blonde a quick peck.

"That's all I ask of you." Codi murmured against soft, pink lips before her grin widened a bit.

"That and a Hawaiian pizza."

"Fine. Needy woman."

"Please, you like when I'm needy." Codi hummed.

"Sometimes."