Page 83 of Savage Torment

Cracking my neck from side to side, I pry my eyes back open and turn into the light. If I thought the noise was loud before, I was mistaken. It’s insane now.

Prowling down the walkway, slapping a few hands as I make my way past, I spy my opponent, waiting patiently for me in the ring. But his eyes aren’t trained on me. I know withoutfollowing his line of sight where he’ll be staring, but I take the breadcrumbs anyway and wind up spotting the most stunning woman here.

Fuck it. The most stunning woman to ever exist.

My Little Witch.

Her hair looks brighter than ever, but her skin against the silver dress leaves me drooling. I have to snap my gaze away and focus on the vampire. Otherwise, I’ll fucking forfeit before we’ve even begun, and he can’t win. Ever.

As I enter the ring, the cheers die down, or do I tune them out? I’m not sure. Either way, the referee calls us both to the center of the ring.

“Neither of you are going to wear gloves?” he clarifies, and we both grunt in response. “You’re two insane motherfuckers, that’s for sure,” he states before holding his hand palm down between us. “Touch,” he orders, and we both lift our fists, ready to connect.

“Remember what I said,” Blaze murmurs, drawing my gaze to his, and I nod, knocking his fists with mine before taking a step back.

“It won’t be a problem,” I explain, and a hint of a smile gives him the air of a serial killer as he eyes me.

“We can’t make it look like we did it on purpose,” he states, and I roll my eyes.

“Don’t worry. I won’t go easy on you,” I reply just as the bell chimes, calling the start of the first round.

As we sidestep one another, the crowd falls silent. My focus is on watching his every move, piecing him together brick by brick. It’s fun taking the time to assess how they step, the distance, and the sway between each move. It’s like unraveling a mystery, only to use it to my advantage.

He rears his lift arm back an extra inch twice, giving me a small tell of when he’s sizing up his actual move, and when ithappens for the third time, I duck to the right, prepared for what’s to come, but I stumble back a step when his right-hand connects with my jaw instead.

Holy fuck.

I blink at him, arms still raised, and he grins.

I’m surprised, but I’m not losing.

He’s got more skill than I gave him credit for, but that doesn’t make me cower away. If anything, it makes this whole thing more exciting.

“I’ll give you that one,” I state, and he scoffs.

“You didn’t give me shit. I took it. Just like I took her,” he goads, hitting the mark immediately.

Any fighting decorum I had is gone, shattered between us as I barrel toward him, slamming my shoulder into his stomach and sending us both to the mat. Shuffling my knees, I try to pin him as I take a swing at his face, but his arms are locked in position, shielding him from me.

Fucker.

I can play dirty, though.

Instead of aiming for his jaw like I want, I aim for his side instead, earning a grunt after the third swing before he jerks his hips, sending us both to the left. I don’t give him a chance to pin me to the mat. I’m up on my feet, arms raised and fists ready as we circle each other once again. Only this time, there’s purpose in every stride I take.

“I thought you wanted to win? I thought you wanted her to yourself,” he pushes, using his words to bring me to the edge, but as well as it worked last time, I refuse to let my composure slip again.

“Oh, I’ll have her to myself. I’ll have her any way I want her. In the locker room… in the girls’ bathroom… on the log flumes, coming all down my?—”

His fist slams into my face, knocking me off balance, but I manage to avoid the mat.

Anger burns in his eyes as his chest rises and falls rapidly, and it’s my turn to grin.

Two can play at this game, now that fact is clear.

“One day, you’ll get to hear her cry your name, Blaze. One day. Just not today. But I promise you, it’s the sweetest fucking sound you’ll ever hear. That pink hue that ghosts her cheeks all the time… fuck, you’re not even ready,” I insist, and his gaze snaps to the woman in question.

He lingers longer than he should, his arms dropping a fraction, and I use this to my advantage, slamming my left hook straight into his chin. His eyes roll as his head knocks back, and he lands on the mat with a thud.

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