Fighting for Love (Second Chances #4)(21)
“Matt, come on up,” Ryan called out.
When I got in the ring, Shelby strolled up to me, her demeanor changing from playful to sinful as she turned around and rested her back against my chest. Taking my arms, she wrapped one around her stomach and the other to where my hand rested low on the dip between her hip and thigh.
“Hold me tight,” she whispered huskily. “We’re going to spice things up a bit.” That was one thing she didn’t have to tell me twice.
My grip tightened and she moaned when I pushed my rock hard cock against her ass. “Like that,” I growled low in her ear.
“Yes,” she breathed. “Just like that.”
Then the camera lights flashed.
AFTER THE PHOTO SHOOT WAS over, Ryan asked Shelby if she wanted to model with the guys again when the time came. I stood there silently repeating, Please say no, please say no. Politely, Shelby refused, but said she’d had a wonderful time. I was thankful for that because it was hard enough watching her do it the first time, much less a second.
After the photo shoot, we came back to my prepping room and she watched me warm up and tape my hands. Usually, I’d listen to music and shut everyone out, but I couldn’t do that with her around. I didn’t want to.
“Is this what you normally do when you get ready for a fight?” Shelby asked, making a few notes in her notebook. “I know you as a person, but as far as your training and fighting I don’t have a clue. It’s actually pretty interesting.”
“Yeah, this is mostly what I do,” I told her, “but I also listen to music when I warm up to get me pumped. I’m naturally driven and ready to fight, so it doesn’t take much to get me ready to go.”
“What sorts of music do you like to listen to beforehand?” she asked. “I know ten years ago your favorites were Usher and OutKast. Surely, things have changed since then.”
“Hey, I still listen to their CD’s every once in a while, but before fights I like to listen to Avenged Sevenfold or Five Finger Death Punch. We should go to one of their concerts sometime. I think you’d like them.” We had a rule when we were in high school that whoever drove had control of the radio. Needless to say, I mainly drove because I hated having to listen to her music; she loved boy bands.
“You have five minutes before you need to walk,” Garrett announced, poking his head in through the door. “You also have someone out here who wants to see you.”
Shelby pursed her lips but kept her eyes downcast and hand flying across the page as she wrote. I knew what she was thinking because it was the same thought going through my mind. Girls would come to my room before and after the fights offering to do anything I wanted. It was fun for a time, but for the past few months I hadn’t let anyone in my room at all.
“Who is it?” I questioned skeptically.
Garrett smiled, opening the door wide. The last person I expected to walk through that door was the one who did … Mason Bradley, the one fighter during my training that I looked up to. He was honorable and one of the toughest men I knew. He was also a good friend, and one to Tyler as well, so it shouldn’t have shocked me that he’d come watch us fight each other. If he hadn’t taken this coming season off, he’d be the one I had to defend my Heavyweight title against.
“Holy shit,” I announced, “if it isn’t Mason ‘The Eagle’ Bradley. I didn’t know you were coming.” Holding out my hand, he grasped it tight and chuckled.
“Hey, I didn’t want to miss this fight. I’m all for any chance I get to see Tyler’s ass get kicked. He used to f*ck with me all the time about Claire. You’re lucky you don’t have to deal with that.”
Claire was his wife and I even gave him shit about her from time to time, flirting with her and such just for fun. Tyler, however, took things to a much different level. Shelby closed her notebook and got to her feet with a smile on her face; she was what I needed.
“Actually,” Shelby began, extending her hand to Mason, “I think Matt’s a victim of Tyler’s antics as well. I’m Shelby, an old friend of Matt’s.”
Shaking her hand, Mason lifted a brow, smirking. “An old friend, huh? I think I need to hear more.”
“She’s also Paige Monroe,” I told him. “She writes for Physique magazine. She was supposed to write an article either on me or you, but since your lame ass isn’t fighting this season I was picked. So, I guess I owe you a thanks.”
Mason grinned. “Well, you’re welcome. You deserve the spot anyway.” He then turned to Shelby. “I’ve actually read all of your articles. My wife, Claire, loves the magazine, so we get it every month. She’s going to be pissed when I tell her I met you. I guess next month I’ll be seeing this ugly guy’s face in it,” he said, pointing over at me.
The door to the room opened again and Garrett stuck his head back in. “It’s time to go,” he warned.
Shelby rushed and packed up her things before smiling over at me from across the room. “Good luck tonight, Matt. Make sure you win,” she chimed, winking one of her golden brown eyes at me. Before she could walk past me and out the door, I grabbed her arm and pulled her to me. Cutting off her gasp, I kissed her long and hard, tasting the sweetness of her lips that always reminded me of strawberries. She ate them constantly; chocolate covered ones being her favorite.