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The officials enter the cage, pulling Keller away to announce his victory. The moment between us over, I turn to Max. The desire to rub Keller’s win in his face ricochets loudly in my head. With a sigh, I tamp it down, not wanting or needing any more animosity between the two men.
“Yeah, it was,” I agree, and stand up. “I’m going back to make sure everything is okay.”
“You’re not going to watch Jack fight?” Max looks both surprised and irritated at my decision.
I frown at Max. “I’m the therapist. I have to check on the fighters,” I snap. I’ll be back in time.” I walk off without further explanation.
So much for no animosity.
It takes forever to push through the throngs of spectators, employees, and reporters to get to the training room backstage. With all the jostling, the nearness of so many strangers, an uncomfortable tightness begins squeezing my lungs. With each accidental shove or bump, the feeling increases, sending my pulse skyrocketing. I clutch my chest, spots beginning to appear in my peripheral vision. No, no, no. I’ve been doing so good. I can’t have a panic attack on the floor of the Nevada Desert Arena. Trembling, I focus on putting one foot in front of the other, blindly making my way to the hallway lined with training rooms.
After an eternity, I grab the knob with a sweaty hand and duck inside, slamming and locking the door, leaving the loud group of nosy journalists on the other side.
“You okay, Britt?” Gabriel is staring at me, concern marring his kind features.
Keller is sitting on the edge of the table, his hands out for Gabriel to unwrap. His dark head of hair lifts and shining gunmetal eyes lock onto mine. Keller’s mouth drops open for a brief moment before his expression changes from shock to rage.
“What happened?” Keller demands, jumping off the table to stalk over to me. Sharp eyes rove over my body, checking for injuries. “Are you hurt? Who did this to you?”
“W-what?” I’m still recovering from the adrenaline that flooded my bloodstream, so my mind is slow to respond. “I-I don’t…” I close my eyes and shake my head. “What did you ask?”
“Gabriel!” Keller’s loud voice startles me, sending my poor heart stumbling back into overdrive.
“Yes?” Gabriel is behind Keller’s shoulder.
“I need a moment alone with Britt.”
Gabriel’s brow furrows as he thinks over the request. His dark eyes find mine and somehow, I manage to nod that it’s okay.
“All right, Killer. Congratulations. I will go talk to those sharks.” He jabs a thumb at the door.
Numb, I allow Keller to maneuver me out of the way so Gabriel can exit the room. The door clicks softly behind him and Keller locks it before scooping me up in his arms to set me on the padded exam table. He nudges my knees apart until he’s standing between my legs.
“Britt, tell me what happened?” His tone is soft, calm, but I can tell he’s far from calm. Keller runs his hands over my skin, searching for injuries.
I squeeze my eyes shut, lowering my head. “Nothing. Just…”
“Hey. Look at me, baby.”
I swallow, forcing my eyes open. Keller is inches away, his bare chest nearly touching me. I drink in his skin, the dark ink slashing across taut, sweaty muscles. He brings his huge, taped hands to gently frame my face. “Tell me what happened so I can kill whoever made you feel like this.”
Those words, coming from someone as dangerous and as lethal as Keller, should frighten me. It’s a clear warning to run far away without looking back, because I have no doubt he would do exactly what he says. But to me? The words are a blanket of comfort, a warm fire to curl up in front of on a cold day. They’re the words I need to hear to feel safe, to silence the forgotten trauma that unnerves me each and every day. The time apart has only made me crave him more.
Without thinking, I lean into one of Keller’s hands. His thumb caresses my cheek, soothing, calming. My heart slows and I’m able to sort out my thoughts as the panic recedes.
“It’s just the crowd.. I get a little… freaked out sometimes.”
His eyes narrow as he thinks over this new information. “You get freaked out?”
I nod and lick my dry lips.
Shockingly, Keller chuckles, a sound I never thought to associate with him. “I don’t get it. You’re one of the bravest people I know and you’re afraid of a crowd?”
Shame rushes down my spine, releasing a flood of heat across my skin. “I’m not brave,” I whisper.
Keller lifts my chin and stares right into my eyes, our noses almost touching. “You are more than brave, Britt. You’re fearless. I’m in awe of you.”
The rough pad of his thumb leaves my cheek to brush over my lips. “I’m not.” My mouth scrapes against his thumb. The desire to pull it into my mouth and lave it with my tongue, to taste his salty sweat, is near overpowering.
