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“Ames,” Sam said, her voice steady, grounding. “You’re going to head back out there and dominate, okay?” She leaned in, close enough for her lips to brush my ear. “If you win, I’ll reward the fuck out of you tonight.”
Oh hell yes.
Heat rushed through me. The ref gave the signal, and I sucked in a sharp breath. Dana was my height, with a similar build but with broader shoulders and thicker thighs. She packed a fucking punch.
However, I was scrappier.
And tonight? Tonight I fucking wanted it more.
I stepped up to face her, the ref at our side. Tension simmered through the air—not just our anticipation but the whole arena’s.
He slashed through the air. “Fight.”
Dana lunged in fast, but I’d been expecting that. Chaz trained to slam in hard and quick, but Sam’s style was different. Patience, smarts instead.
She swung her leg overhead, and I ducked right. Wouldn’t let the opportunity pass. I dove in and knocked her to the mat. Screams sounded in the background as we grappled. I tried to slam her down again into a pin, but she rolled out of my grip. My pulse thudded hard in my ears as I moved into a crouch, right as she straightened up.
We circled each other, and she lunged first. Righthand side, just like Sam had said.
I ducked around, throwing a punch in return. Sweat flew between us as we prowled and tossed punches, none of them fully landing. Back and forth, back and forth, each of us searching for an opening.
I darted out with a kick to her left, but she slid out of the way just in time. Her fist came flying in my direction a second later, and I twisted to the side and dodged. Adrenaline raced through me, the lights blaring down as my focus zeroed in on this moment, this second, and I experienced a peace I had never managed to find anywhere else.
Dana lunged at me, and the world tilted sideways. I slammed to the mat, but my body was moving automatically. My thighs clamped around her, and I pivoted and slammed her to the side. She tried to rock me back, but I used the impetus to roll to my knees. My breaths came out in quick pants as I got to my feet again.
Her fist flew at me, and I brought my fists up to block. She followed with a kick. The momentum was amping up, the intensity of the fight growing with every passing second. She tossed another punch as we circled, circled, circled.
This needed to end, and I would be the one to do it.
Dana lobbed another swing—right side again.
I dove in from the left—full-body takedown.
The thump was audible as she hit the mat hard, my body thudding down on top of hers. I pinned her in place, even though she winged her thighs around me to escape. I tossed my full weight into the move, and she continued to use her thighs for leverage. I leaned in harder. Dana started swinging punches, a few grazing my cheek. I pivoted to the side, tasting the copper along with the plastic of my mouthguard.
Had to hold this.
Fucking hold it.
She lobbed punches like shrapnel against my back, but I gritted my teeth and remained steady. Sweat dripped from my brows, poured down my body, and the pain was already pulsing from the blows. Her hip jerked beneath me, but I kept her pinned in place as the seconds stretched out like eons.
The bright lights glaring in my eyes.
The dull roar of the crowd beyond the ring.
The hummingbird thump, thump, thump of my heart.
Finally—finally she tapped out, and the ref ended it.
Breath burst from my lungs. The punches stopped, and Dana sank to the mat with a groan. I rolled off her, my body on fire—from adrenaline, from the hits lobbed my way, from how even my cells vibrated right now. I hopped to my feet and lifted my fists in the air, punching a few times, fucking euphoric. Bubbles rose inside me as the crowd roared.
Tonight’s win hadn’t just been about rising the ranks in the MMA.
No, I’d wanted payback.
Chaz’s frown as he met up with Dana, the bored look on Allie’s face in the audience. Yeah, maybe a little petty, but I’d needed an inch of karma—even if I was the one delivering it. I headed over to my side of the ring, and Sam’s arms were around my shoulders. I almost sagged into the grip, relief coursing through me so strong it was intoxicating.
Sam’s eyes glowed with pride, and my pulse thudded harder. A little of the bitterness I’d been feeling dripped away—not from my win but because of her. Because she stared at me with a wonder that was more than just what a trainer and fighter shared—a mixture of heat and pride and affection. I swallowed hard, my heart singing.
