But he’s not alone.
He’s leaning down, listening intently to a woman standing in front of him. She’s gorgeous, with a sharp, sleek bob as dark as ink and a white power suit that looks tailored to within an inch of its life. She’s saying something to him, gesturing with a clipboard, and Ben nods, his face serious.
“Who is that?” I ask, feeling a sudden spike of intimidation.
Charlotte follows my gaze and grins. “Oh! That’s Dana.”
“Dana?”
“Koda’s sister,” Charlotte clarifies, pulling me forward. “My sister-in-law. She’s also the CEO of Worthington Sports. She runs this whole show.”
We weave through the ringside personnel. Ben is still focused on Dana, his brow furrowed, until I get within ten feet of him.
Then, as if he has a radar specifically tuned to my frequency, his head snaps up.
The transition is instantaneous. The professional, cold mask he was wearing shatters, replaced by a heat so intense I almost stumble. His dark eyes lock onto mine, and the rest of the arena—the noise, the lights, the thousands of people—just fades into the background.
“Tilly,” he rumbles.
He ignores the officials and steps over the rope separating the floor from the apron and reaches for me.
I step into his space, and his arms wrap around me, hard. It’s not a polite hug. It’s a claim. He pulls me flush against his chest, burying his face in the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply.
“There you are,” he murmurs against my skin. “I was starting to get worried.”
“Sorry,” I say, my hands resting on his biceps. “It took longer than I expected to get ready.”
Ben pulls back just enough to look at me. His gaze sweeps over my body and his pupils blow wide.
“Fuck, sweetheart. You look incredible.” He groans. “If I didn’t have to fight in twenty minutes, I’d take you right here on the mat.”
I feel a blush scorch my cheeks, but I smile.
“Win the fight first. Then we can talk about the other stuff.”
He gives me a wolfish grin. “I’m going to hold you to it.”
Then he leans down and kisses me. It’s searing and possessive and I hear a few catcalls from the stands, but Ben doesn’t care. He kisses me like he’s trying to breathe me in.
Suddenly, the woman in the white suit clears her throat and we reluctantly pull apart.
“So,” she says warmly, extending a hand toward me. “This is the woman responsible for the sudden improvement in Ben’s mood.”
“Hi,” I manage, shaking her hand. Her grip is firm but friendly. “I’m Tilly.”
“Dana Wilde. It is so nice to finally meet you.” She squeezes my hand. “Ben has been practically vibrating all day. I wasn’t sure if it was pre-fight adrenaline or something else, but now I get it.”
“Dana runs Worthington Sports,” Charlotte adds, leaning in to hug her sister-in-law. “She’s the boss.”
“I try to be.” Dana hugs her back, tight. “Ben, you need to go. Hands need to be wrapped. Don’t make me get the hook.”
Ben sighs, looking back at me. “I have to go.”
“I know. Go.” I smooth my hand over his chest, feeling the steady, powerful beat of his heart. “Be careful.”
“I will be,” he promises. He kisses my forehead, hard, and then turns and disappears down the tunnel toward the locker rooms, Koda trailing in his wake.
“Okay,” Dana says, snapping her clipboard shut with a satisfied click. “He’s in the zone. Now we can relax. Let’s get upstairs before the mob descends.”
