Which costs Aiden.
His opponent snaps him in the jaw and he stumbles. He shakes it off, raising his arms and weaving. Every movement is sharp with intention, every punch controlled in a way that lets me know Aiden’s no stranger to being in a ring.
Sweat streaks down his temple, the lights above only adding to the stifling heat down here. I’m glad I’m wearing a tank top. His opponent catches him in the jaw.
Cheers rise around us with every hit. Some boo Aiden. A lot of them cheer when he gets the upper hand, like they’re just cheering for whoever is winning. He jabs, clocking the other guy in the face, then looks toward me.
A tiny smile slips onto his face.
Or maybe I imagine it.
Either way it costs him, as his opponent jabs him in the ribs. Fear rushes down my spine. He stumbles back. “Fuck him up, Dante!” I hear someone yell.
I shove my shaking hands into my pockets, my heartbeat jackhammering in my chest. Aiden shakes it off and that’s when I see it. It’s like some sort of shadow covering him. Some demon he summons. His eyes go dark, narrowed on his opponent.
His fist slams into his jaw.
The fighter holds his hands up but they’re no use against Aiden’s onslaught.
Jaw. Cheek. Ribs. Aiden is seething, searching for a weak spot.
Then he finds it, pummeling him until he jabs him hard in the face. His opponent nearly trips backward. I can’t look away. Aiden slams one last shot and the guy goes down. The referee calls it, grabbing Aiden’s arm and raising it.
The crowd loses it.
A tiny, relieved smile leaves me. Holy shit, that was crazy.
Aiden’s eyes sweep the crowd and land on me.
Everything inside me freezes as his lips grow into a slow smirk.
It’s clear Aiden’s a lethal fighter, but deadlier still is the look in his eyes as they morph and melt into something with more heat and desire than I’ve ever felt in my life.
My skin buzzes with some kind of feeling.
The crowd around us roars with excitement, but I can’t look away. I know Cam said he did this for the money, or the release, or whatever his reasons are, but with Aiden’s eyes on me, it feels like he fought the match just for me.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
AIDEN
I don’t wantto go back yet, but I want whatever I’m feeling to stop. It’s thick and heavy and I don’t know whether to lean into it or push it away.
I should push it away.
More than that, I shouldwantto push it away.
I can’t believe he was there. I really didn’t care if Cam came or not. I just mentioned it and really didn’t think he’d come tonight. It’s not exactly Cam’s scene, so I was surprised. He came to support me.
And he brought Sawyer.
Who left with me, not his friends. The gym was close, so I asked him if he’d mind that I shower quickly. The basement was stifling and I could feel the sweat dripping down my spine. I grabbed a change of clothes from my trunk and showered while he waited in the car.
“Where do you want to go?”
Sawyer looks at me. He’s had this smile on his face since we left. “I don’t care. I don’t have anything else to do.” I’ve always loved long drives, just me and the night air. Now, when I do this alone, I feel like something is missing.
Atap tap tapsounds on the car windows.
