Paxton's Promise (Gloves Off #3)(10)

“Have you told anyone you are here?” he asked, coming to the mat.

He joined me on the floor and started stretching too. “Ashleigh. I called and told her the day you came over. I haven’t talked to her since then though.”

“What about your brother?”

“Oh God, no. He’d kill me if he knew I was here. He refuses to let me get involved with you guys. Why do you think Tyler and I kept our affair a secret?”

“Yeah, but if nothing’s going on, what do you have to hide?”

“Seriously?” I said, glaring at him. “The last thing you need is for me to have to explain the real reason why I’m here. We’d both get in trouble if anyone found out.”

“So basically you’re saying you’d care if Scar came after me? I’m a little shocked, considering how you loathe me.”

Getting to my feet, he did the same and stared down at me, waiting. “I don’t hate you, Paxton. I just don’t care for you. I appreciate what you did for Ryley and Ashleigh and I’m paying my debt. That’s all this is.”

He stepped closer. “Is it? Because I don’t think you know what you want. Or maybe you do and you’re just too afraid to admit it.”

When I moved back, he countered. “You’re wrong,” I whispered, feeling the chills fan across my skin. He was about to attack and I knew it, I could feel it. Practicing with my brother and Ryley was one thing, but with Paxton it was a whole different story.

“What are you doing?” I demanded.

With a wolfish grin, he circled around me like a lion hunting its prey. “You said your brother wanted you to train, right? Well, I’m going to help you. We all fight differently and I think you could benefit from my style.”

“I’m quite happy with my own,” I said, slowly getting into stance. My body tingled in anticipation.

“Yeah, but if my moves could help you win the title, it’s a win-win.”

My chest rose and fell as my body went on hyper alert. Paxton was good at his floor game and if he took me down to the mat I didn’t know if I’d have the strength to fight him. Deep down I’ve wanted to get back in the ring with him. Now I had my wish. Instead of waiting, I swung and he blocked me, smiling as he deflected each and every jab. Paxton was the Light Heavyweight champion and outweighed me by about fifty pounds. There was no way I could fight someone like him and actually win.

The muscles in his thighs twitched and I knew he was about to charge. Luckily, I jumped out of the way in time. I’d watched him train plenty of times, studying his moves. That was what a good fighter did, they studied their opponents and other fighters. Matt taught me to always be vigilant.

“Very good,” he remarked.

“What can I say, I’m quick on my feet.” He deflected every single swing and kick which started to piss me off. It made me realize how inexperienced I was compared to him. But I had my ways. They might be dirty, but I could definitely put them to good use.

Straightening my stance, I sauntered over to him, smiling lazily. He lifted his brows and placed his hands on his hips, never once taking his eyes off of me. “What are you doing?”

My smile grew wider and once I got close enough, I swiped my leg behind his and used the force of my body to make him fall back. We both fell to the mat and I landed on top of him. Before I could shout out my triumph, he quickly wrapped his arms around my waist and tumbled me over. Now his body was on top of mine.

“Dammit,” I hissed as my head slammed down on the mat. “I thought I had you.”

His face was close to mine, lips almost touching. The weight of his body pressed into mine, his hips digging into my own. However, it wasn’t just his hips pressing into me. My body welcomed his touch and grew wet just having him against me. I also couldn’t move because in our grapple he had taken my wrists and held my arms above my head, pinning me to the floor.

“And you almost did, sunshine. But now I have you at my mercy.”

I tried to move, but he held on tighter, smiling smugly down at me. “You can let me up any day now.”

“No, I kind of like where I’m at.” His smile faded, and then turned serious. “As much as I like having you where you are, there’s something you need to learn.”

“What?” I whispered.

The grip he had on my wrists tightened. “Never, under any circumstances, let another man immobilize your arms like this.”

“I fight women, Pax. I don’t think I’ll ever be in the ring fighting a man.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. For right now, the only person who’s going to be holding you down like this is me. Nevertheless, sometimes it doesn’t always work like that.”

The haunted look in his eyes made me shiver. He had to be thinking about Kacey and what almost happened to her. The night she was held against her will and was almost raped, while he was in the ring fighting for his title. He wanted to go after her, but Tyler needed him to stay so everything would look normal. I’d never seen him look at another girl the way he looked at Kacey that night.

“Do you still love her?” I asked.

Paxton loosened his grip and let my wrists go, but still kept his weight on me. “Not in the way you think. It’s hard not to think about that night. I just get so angry. That’s why I want you to be prepared if anything like this ever happened to you.”