Page 73 of Between the Ropes

Ryan strides down the ramp with that lethal, predatory confidence that makes the whole damn world take notice. His molten brown eyes are locked on the ring, his jaw clenched, hisentire body coiled with raw power. Every inch of him radiates dominance—like heownsthat squared circle. The title might not be around his waistyet, but in this moment, there’s no doubt—he’s already the champion in their eyes. Inmine.

“He’s got this,” Travis murmurs beside me, his voice low, sure.

I nod, barely breathing as Ryan steps into the ring. The referee calls for the bell, and just like that—itbegins.

The match is a war. A clash of titans. Every move, every counter is a showcase of skill, resilience, and sheer force. Ryan moves with the precision of a man whorefusesto lose, his body absorbing every hit, his strength answering back tenfold. The crowdlivesfor it, their chants rising and falling in waves, fueling the battle inside the ring.

And then—it happens.

Ryan seizes control, powering through the last desperate attempts of Kyle. He lifts him high, his muscles flexing with raw, undeniable strength. The arena erupts as heslamshim down with his finisher, the impact shaking the very foundation of the ring.

One.

Two.

Three.

The bell rings.

For a split second, everything is silent—like the entire world is holding its breath.

Then, the explosion of sound hits. The crowd erupts, the deafening roar shaking the walls. Ryan kneels in the center of the ring, his chest heaving, sweat glistening on his skin, his fists clenched.

The referee moves toward him, holding up theprize.The UXW Heavyweight Championship.Hischampionship.

I press my hand to my chest, my heart pounding as the referee bends down, offering Ryan the belt. He grips it, his fingerscurling tightly around the gold plate, his head dropping for just a moment as if he’s absorbing the magnitude of this victory.

Then, the ref grabs his wrist and hoists his arm high into the air.

“Ladies and gentlemen, your winner… and the NEW UXW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION… RYAN PIERCE!”

The announcement is drowned out by the crowd’s deafening cheers. Ryan slowly rises to his feet, lifting the title above his head, his face a mix of exhaustion, triumph, and raw emotion.

My eyes sting with unshed tears.He did it.

Beside me, Travis lets out a loud whoop, shaking me by the shoulders. “Holyshit, he did it!”

Ryan climbs the ropes, holding the title high for everyone to see, the flash of cameras lighting up the arena like stars. He worked for this. Bled for this. Sacrificed for this. And now—

Heearnedthis.

I’msodamn proud.

“Let’s go,” Travis says, gesturing toward the gorilla position. We head over, waiting just behind the curtain for Ryan to return. The energy backstage is electric—staff, wrestlers, and crew members all buzzing from the main event.

When he finally comes through, sweat dripping down his face, his hair tousled and damp, the UXW Heavyweight Championship slung over his shoulder, his eyes lock onto mine instantly. A mixture of exhaustion, adrenaline, and absolute triumph burns in his molten brown gaze.

The belt gleams under the bright lights, and for a second, I juststareat it—the symbol of everything he’s worked for, sacrificed for. This moment ishis.

Before I can even say anything, he strides toward me, gripping the title tighter in one hand while pulling me into his arms with the other. His lips crash against mine in a kiss that’shungry, filled with raw, unfiltered emotion.

“Guess that’s my cue to leave,” Travis mutters, chuckling as he claps Ryan on the back. “Hell of a win, brother. Enjoy it.”

Ryan doesn’t even glance his way, his focus solely on me. Instead, he shifts, hoisting the belt higher. His belt. The gold glints under the lights as he pulls back just enough to press his forehead against mine, his breath still heavy from the match.

“I did it,” he murmurs, his voice rough with pride. “I fuckingdid it.”

I place my hands on his chest, feeling the rapid, powerful beat of his heart beneath my palms. “You were incredible,” I whisper, looking up at him. “Every second of that match, you fought like a champion. And now…” I run my fingers over the cool metal of the title resting against his shoulder. “Now, youareone.”

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