Page 29 of Between the Ropes

22

I meet Travis in the lobby, and the moment I step out of the elevator, I can already feel his eyes on me. He’s leaning against one of the columns, arms crossed, a knowing smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. He knows me better than anyone, and the fact that I’m not following my usual routine hasn’t gone unnoticed. Hell, I don’t ever stray from my routine. Not for anything—oranyone.

“Decide to sleep in today?” Travis asks, lifting his eyebrows as I approach. “I was waiting for you. Got my workout in bright and early. So... what were you up to?”

I glance away, rubbing the back of my neck, feeling that unfamiliar knot of bashfulness tightening in my chest. I’m not the kind of guy who gets bashful, but there’s something about this—about her—that makes me feel... different.

“Pretty sure you already have an idea,” I mutter, my voice low.

Travis grins, his eyes lighting up with curiosity, and I can tell he’s about to start digging. “Oh yeah? Does this have something to do with that blonde I saw you with?”

“Drop it,” I say, a little more sharply than I mean to. The last thing I want is for this conversation to turn into a full-blown interrogation, especially not here, in a public lobby. But Travis keeps pressing, his grin widening as he pushes off the column.

“Come on, man, you never skip gym time. Not foranyone. Must’ve been worth it,” he teases, elbowing me.

I shoot him a look that should’ve shut him down, but he just laughs it off, clearly enjoying the rare moment of seeing me out of my element. I don’t stray from my routine. Ever. But last night... last night was different. Natalie is different. I have no regrets.

On the plane, I settle into my seat, my mind buzzing with everything that happened. As much as I try to focus on my upcoming match just a few days away, I can’t stop thinking about her—how she felt beneath me, the way she looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered in her world. She said she was mine, and fuck, I want that to be true. I need it to be true.

But then, doubt creeps in, and I hate that it does. What if this was a mistake? What if she’s just like the rest of them? What if she breaks me... and this year—the most important year of my career—falls apart because of it? I wouldn’t come back from that. I’d lose everything. I would never forgive myself.

My fists clench on my lap, and I force myself to breathe, to shove those thoughts out of my head. I remember the way she looked when she said she was mine, breathless and vulnerable. The way she moaned my name when I made her come. That wasn’t fake. It couldn’t be.

Still, my body is tense as hell by the time we land in Florida. I need to get out of my head.

When I get home, the first thing I do is hit my home gym. It’s a ritual, a way to stay grounded when everything else feels chaotic. I need this. If I keep thinking about Natalie, I’ll end up calling her. Or worse, driving the four hours to Tampa just to see her.

I start with deadlifts, focusing on the weight, the strain in my muscles as I push myself harder than I ever have. Each rep is a way to channel the storm inside me, to get rid of the frustration, the confusion, the doubt. The thought of her with Kyle—the way that fucker was trying to get close to her—fuels me even more.

He better stay the hell away from her. I don't need any more reasons to hate the guy.

The anger burns hotter in my chest, and I increase the weight, gritting my teeth as I pull the bar off the ground, my muscles straining, my veins bulging. The pressure I put on myself is relentless, but I need it. Ihaveto be the best. This match next week—it’s everything. It’s a qualifier, a shot at the championship match atFallout.

If I win this, I get my title shot. I’ll be at the top. That’s all I’ve worked for my entire career. It’s finally within reach, and I can’t afford to slip. Not now. Not because of... feelings.

The workout is brutal. I’m drenched in sweat by the time I finish, my muscles screaming for relief, but my mind is clear. The doubt is still there, buried somewhere deep, but it’s quieter now. I wipe the sweat from my brow, breathing hard as I head to the shower.

The water is scalding hot, but it barely registers. My mind drifts back to Natalie—her body, the way she looked on her knees before me, my cock in her mouth. The way she sucked me off like she needed it as much as I did. Fuck, I can’t stop thinking about her.

I lean my head against the tile, the water pouring down my back, and let out a groan. This woman is driving me insane, andit’s only been a day. How the hell am I supposed to go 72 hours without seeing her?

I take my cock in my hands, stroking it. I think of the way she looked with my cock in her mouth, the way she sucked me, and swirled her tongue around the head. My hand begins to move faster, my body shaking as my pleasure builds. When I come, all I see is her, flushed and needy, and fuck do I want to sink into her. I would spend the next three days in bed with her if I could.

When I finally crawl into bed, exhaustion pulling at my limbs, my mind is still on her. I know it’s stupid—this need I have to see her again so soon—but I don’t care. If she lets me, I’ll drive the four hours to Tampa. Fuck the rules. Fuck the doubts.

I’m not sure what this is between us, but I know one thing.

She is going to be mine.

23

I wake to the sound of my phone vibrating on the nightstand. Sunlight spills through the blinds, casting soft golden streaks across my sheets. My body is still heavy with sleep, but the second I see his name on the screen, my heart kicks into overdrive.

Ryan.

There’s a missed call. A text waiting.

Ryan:"I need to see you."

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