Full Contact (Redemption #3)(30)
“He just gets better looking every time I see him,” Jess whispers.
She’s right. His muscles seem bigger and more defined, pecs protruding above his washboard stomach, his jaw firm, blue eyes focused and intent. His fight shorts, blue with white wolves on the sides, cling to his narrow hips, and for a moment I wonder if he got them because of the tattoo I might never finish, now a dark outline across his pec.
Hidden as we are in the corner, I don’t know if he’ll be able to see me, but I can pretend, and so I send him a mental kiss for luck.
At the sound of the whistle, they touch bare knuckles—no gloves in underground fighting—and then circle each other in the center of the ring. Already my heart is in my throat, and I feel the familiar surge of adrenaline that keeps me coming back time and time again.
“This is going to be a great fight.” Doctor Death throws a casual arm around my shoulder, and I stiffen and pull away with an apologetic smile.
“Sometimes I like to wave my hands and jump around. Wouldn’t want to hit you by accident.” I cringe inwardly at my feeble excuse, but what if Ray looks over and sees us together? Although I’m mentally prepared for it to be over, hope still flickers in my soul.
Misery cocks his left hand and then, without warning, the Predator attacks, unleashing his power with a left uppercut that sends Misery staggering back against the ropes.
Rampage draws in a sharp breath, and my pulse kicks up a notch.
“That’s not his usual MO.” I look back over my shoulder at a rapt Rampage. “He usually stalks them first, then toys with them, lets them get in a few punches before he moves in for the kill.”
Misery shakes his head, trying to recover, but the Predator doesn’t give him a chance, exploding on him with shot after shot. Misery goes down and grabs for the Predator’s legs, but he has left himself vulnerable. The Predator takes full advantage, unloading a flurry of big shots to his head. As Misery pushes himself to his feet, the Predator unleashes a powerful kick, striking the side of Misery’s head and sending him back to his knees. Another few punches and Misery is down for the count.
Violent. Powerful. Explosive. I’ve never seen the Predator blitz an opponent before. Nor have I ever been as aroused by a fight as I am now. All I can think about is having all that power…on me, around me, beneath me, and…oh God, inside me.
“Sia? You okay?” Rampage turns me to face him and peers into my eyes. “You look kinda dazed. Too much for you? Never seen the Predator let go like that.”
“Yeah. I’m good.”
“We should get outta here.” Blade Saw tugs Jess’s hand. “The crowd was pretty loud for that last fight. Might have attracted the wrong kind of attention.”
“Sure.” I look back at the now-empty ring. Already the ropes are coming down and someone is sweeping bloody sawdust into a bag. Ray is nowhere in sight.
Doctor Death is paged by the hospital and pulls me to the side before I can follow Jess out the door. “You always disappear from these events so quickly we never get a chance to talk.” He trails his finger over my shoulder, and I grit my teeth to repress a shudder. Not that he is in any way unattractive, but there is only one man I want touching me right now.
“Tag worries about me coming out to secluded areas at night, so I try to leave before he discovers where I am and comes looking for me.”
“I can understand that.” His voice drops to a soft growl. “A woman like you brings out a man’s protective side. So delicate…with those big, liquid eyes…you just ooze vulnerability. Are you seeing someone?”
My skin prickles, and I scramble to think of a way to shut this down before it gets too awkward. No, I’m not seeing someone but there is someone I want to see.
“Sort of…it’s…uh…complicated.”
Doctor Death smiles. “So that’s a no. Excellent. I’ll come by your studio this week when I’m not on call and we’ll have dinner and talk about that complicated situation.”
“Thanks, but I…don’t think I’m free this week. I’m doing a lot of overtime.” My stomach clenches and I will him to get the message I’m so politely trying to convey. But, of course, he doesn’t understand.
“I’m at the gym most nights I’m not working anyway, so I’m sure we’ll find a time that works.” He brushes a kiss over my cheek. “So looking forward to it.”
We follow the crowd out the front door. Doctor Death heads in one direction, and I find Jess waiting for me near the parking lot.
“I’m going home with Blade Saw,” she says. “Are you okay catching a lift with Rampage?”
“Are you kidding? He just bought a Hummer. I’ve been dying to go for a ride.”
Jess snorts. “A Hummer in San Francisco? You won’t be going anywhere fast.”
“Doctor Death just asked me out.” I follow her into the parking lot where Blade Saw and Rampage are waiting.
“Finally.” She gives me a wink. “I was getting tired of running interference. Now you have options. Or, at the very least, you’ll be able to make Ray jealous.”
“I don’t want the Doctor Death option.” I sigh. “I want the Ray option. And I don’t think he’s the kind of man who does jealousy. He would probably just kill anyone who touched what was his.”