Page 18 of Between the Ropes

I reach out, my fingers barely brushing her chin, lifting her face so our eyes meet. The soft curve of her jaw, the way her skin feels against my fingertips—it sends a jolt through me, straight to my core. She doesn't move, her breath coming quicker, her chest rising and falling with every short inhale.

I lean in, so close I can feel the warmth of her breath on my lips, smell the lavender and mint that clings to her skin. My mind screams to close the gap, to taste her, to finally break this unbearable tension. Her eyes flick to my lips, then back up to meet mine. The pull between us is magnetic, and I can feel her leaning into it, too, her body softening, just waiting for me to—

“Ryan…” Her voice is soft, almost pleading, and it cuts through the haze clouding my thoughts. She’s not pushing me away, but the reminder in her tone is enough to snap me back to reality.

“Lay down,” she says gently, her voice steady but her eyes still locked on mine. “Let’s get started.”

I blink, the fog lifting just enough for me to pull back. My hand drops from her face, and I step away, cursing under my breath.I turn, heading for the massage table, my mind still racing, still locked on the feel of her, the closeness we just shared.

I lay down, but the second her hands touch me, I know I’m in trouble. My body reacts, every nerve alive under her touch. It’s too much, the fire she’s igniting in me, the way her hands move over my skin.

I can’t do this. I can’t fucking do this right now.

I sit up abruptly, the air between us charged again. “I gotta go,” I mutter, not even bothering with an excuse as I grab my shirt. I’m out the door before she can say a word, my heart pounding as I escape down the hallway.

The match later that night is pure fire. The crowd’s deafening, their energy pulsing through the arena. I take every ounce of my frustration, my rage, and channel it into every hit, every slam against Kyle. He doesn’t stand a chance. The second his body hits the mat, I’m on him, making him pay for every moment he spent alone with Natalie, for every smirk, every touch.

By the end of the match, the crowd erupts as I stand victorious, but the adrenaline only does so much to calm the storm inside me. I head back to the locker room, still heated, still thinking about her. About how I almost lost control. How I almost let myself give in, how I almost allowed myself to have what I wanted in that moment.

The hot shower afterward barely helps, but I need to wash the match—and the thoughts of Natalie—off me. I pull on a hoodie and sweats, avoiding everyone as I slip out of the arena unnoticed. I don’t have the headspace to deal with anything or anyone tonight.

All I want is to get to the hotel and be alone—with my miserable, tangled self.

13

I’m perched on the edge of the chair in my small office, watching the monitor as Ryan Pierce makes his way down to the ring. My heart is racing, and I don’t know if it’s because of the match—or because of what happened between us earlier. He looks incredible, like always, his wet hair hanging loosely over his muscular shoulders, water droplets clinging to his skin. Every step he takes exudes raw power, and I can’t tear my eyes away from the screen, away from him.

I let out a slow breath, trying to calm my nerves.Professional, I remind myself, but I can’t stop the thoughts running wild in my head. I grab my phone and call Annika, needing someone to talk to, someone to help me make sense of all this. She picks up after the second ring.

“Hey, girl! What’s up?” Annika’s voice is chipper, like always, but I can already hear the playful undertone creeping in.

I sink back into the seat as the match begins. “You were right,” I blurt out, my voice barely above a whisper. “Ryan Pierce is absolutely gorgeous. He has muscles in places, I didn’t even know one could have muscles. And now that I've touched him, I can't stop thinking about him, Annika.”

There’s a beat of silence before Annika bursts into laughter. “Finally, she admits it! What took you so long? He’s like… walking sex on legs. Wait, what do you mean, you touched him? Like touched him touched him, or massaged him?”

I groan, rolling my eyes even though she can’t see me. “I know, I know. But I need to stay away from him. And i gave him a massage, get your mind out of the gutter."

Annika hums, clearly unconvinced. “Mmm, do you, though? You’ve got eyes. Why not enjoy the view while it lasts? What fun would staying away be anyway?”

I sigh, watching Ryan in the ring, the way he moves, the sheer athleticism and grace in every punch, every slam. “It’s not just that,” I admit. “There was… a moment. Earlier, in my office. He got so close—like,reallyclose.”

Annika gasps, and I can practically hear the grin in her voice. “Tell me everything.”

I feel my face heat up, but I don’t hold back. “He was right there, inches away. I thought he was going to kiss me, and honestly, I was going to let him. What the hell is wrong with me? I’m supposed to be a professional, but when he looks at me like that, I just—”

“You melt,” Annika finishes for me, her voice teasing.

“Yes!” I shake my head, frustrated with myself. “And then, he just… jumped up and left. Like, a minute into the massage. It was weird, like he couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”

“Interesting,” Annika muses, dragging the word out. “You’re not the only one feeling this, Nat. I bet he’s got it bad for you too.”

I let out a soft laugh, but I can’t help the butterflies in my stomach. “He’s Ryan Pierce, Annika. And I’m… me. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who gets hung up on anyone.”

“Maybe not usually,” she agrees, “but you’re not just anyone. There’s obviously tension between you two.”

I open my mouth to respond when I wince, watching the monitor. “Ooh,” I mutter, biting my lip. “He just took a nasty hit.”

Annika laughs on the other end. “Oh, boy, you’re introuble,” she teases. “Watching his matches now? You’re way more invested than you realize.”

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