Page 74 of Ethan's Sky

Cash’s hands come up in a placating manner. “I’m only holding back because you’re angry and we both know I’ll hurt you if you aren’t in the right head space. Stop thinking about that guy and what he said to you the other night, and fucking focus, and I promise I won’t hold back.”

Guy? What guy is he talking about? I thought she was with him, or Walker, or all of them. I don’t even fucking know, but how could there be another guy? What fucking guy?

My temper is rising even though I know this conversation has nothing to do with me. I shouldn’t even fucking care.

I don’t care.

You’re also full of shit.

I watch as Skyler slams her hands down on her hips. Her tattoos are on full display. All but the part that disappears under the waistband of her shorts. Those black, cut to the edge of her ass cheeks, spandex shorts.

Goddamn.

I’m trailing her ink with my eyes and am taken back when I spot the small diamond belly ring she’s wearing. I’m about to yell at her to ask why she has a fucking piercing in the first place, when I remember Scarlet has one like it and it’s something young girls do.

I wonder if Scarlet will let me take a closer look at her belly ring.

That thought is the only reminder I need hat Skyler’s belly ring is none of my fucking concern!

“I am not thinking about him or any other man for that matter. What I am thinking is I’d like for you to put your hands on me like you mean it so I can practice.”

Cash smirks. He looks over Skyler’s shoulder, his eyes connecting with mine says, “You want my hands on you babe? You got it. But I can think of a lot of other ways I’d like to have them on you then grappling. What do you say after we finish here, we get a shower and I’ll show you what I’m talking about.”

That’s it.

I’m jumping in the cage and on his ass in a flash. I can hear Skyler shouting at me from the side, but I’m too pissed to care what she has to say. She’s probably going to tell me to get off her little fuck buddy here, but I have no plans on stopping this.

Cash is laughing until the first shot connects with his jaw. His eyes narrow as he moves his mouth around loosening it up again. He smirks and the next thing I know he’s got ahold of my knees and we’re both going to the ground. He’s rolling me to the side trying to make some space to get both arms locked around me, but I’m not giving up that easily. I’ve been waiting weeks to throw punches at this motherfucker, I’m going to take my time with him now that he’s inmy house.

We roll several times, flipping each other, pinning each other against the gate and back to the ground. We are trading punches and elbows, constantly moving around as we take turns trapping one another and escaping the other’s hold. This is the best sparring session I’ve had in weeks! If I didn’t hate the bastard so much, he would be a great grappling partner to spar with regularly. But I do hate him that much.

I’d. end up killing him.

Cash gets loose, spins out and away from me and comes to a stand. I’m on my feet and stalking him around the cage. We both move in trading blows. Mine to his chin, his contacting my ribs. We go back and forth like this, trading one for another for what feels like hours. I’m about ready to call it quits when Kieran shouts, “If you aren’t going to beat the brakes off the man, then why the hell did you get in the cage in the first place. Finish your fucking job, Ethan!”

That’s all I need to hear.

I’m on Cash, throwing blow after blow after blow. Rotating from the head to the body and back again. He’s still wearing his head gear, so I know I’m not going to do any real damage to his head, but I won’t feel bad if I crack a rib or two. After all the shit talking, he’s been doing and the way he and my other brothers keep taking up for Sky rather than me…he can take the punishment …for all of them.

“Ethan! STOP!” I hear Skyler shout. I turn to find where her voice is coming from because I know she’s no longer in the cage with us.

Rookie mistake.

When I turn my head back to Cash, I’m met with a right cross followed by an uppercut that sends me stumbling to the floor.

There’s the slamming of a door behind me and the next thing I know Kieran is standing over me, forcing Cash back with his hand.

“Christ boy. If you lose focus like that with Vargas, he’s going to fucking kill you. Get your head out of that girl’s ass and back in the game where it belongs!” Kieran helps me to my feet. Cash is standing behind him, his sparring gear tossed on the ground. He’s got his hands resting on his head trying to catch his breath.

“About fucking time, you got that shit off your chest.” Cash says, smirking at me from across the cage now. “Feel better?”

“What are talking about?” Then suddenly it clicks. “You said that shit on purpose. You wanted me to fight you.”

Cash shrugs. “It’s like Kieran said. You needed to put a beat down on somebody, and the only place it’s legal to hit a brother is in the cage without colors on. So…” He throws arms out. “Besides, I won’t say I haven’t wanted to beat your ass a few rimes since being here. Win-win.”

Well shit. I don’t know what to say to that except, “Thanks.”

“Anytime. I do the same thing for Sky when she needs to get her anger and frustration out. She could probably help you out with your ground game before you go into the fight with Vargas. It’s crazy how well in tune she is with her opponents. And she’s been studying your fights for years. She could probably show you where your blind spots are, and what Vargas’s weaknesses are too, if you ever get the balls to talk to her that is.”

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