Page 31 of Finn

When the first round ends, Finn grabs my hand and drags me toward the corner where his guy is given a stool to sit on. He immediately starts giving advice from the ground, one hand tangled in mine and the other pressing into the fighter’s back as Jax takes point in the ring.

It’s a flurry of movement and quickly uttered words and before I know it, Finn is leading me back to the seats. My heart beats a mile a minute, and I place my hand over my chest as soon as we sit to make sure it doesn’t push right through my skin. Finn peeks over. “Insanity, huh?”

“That’s one word for it,” I utter, barely able to define what I’m feeling.

The same enamored thoughts I had yesterday from the second floor are more prominent this close to the action. I have no idea how to even throw a punch or what the fighter should be doing, but I’m compelled to cheer Finn’s guy on. I grimace when a gash opens up above his eye and clap when he returns with his own flurry of punches.

It’s wild and untamed. It’s completely freaking barbaric, and I love every damn second of it.

Again, when the fight lasts another round, Finn pulls me to the side of the ring to give instructions. I listen in, trying to get a feel for what he’s telling him to do. This time, he’s encouraging, telling the fighter to stay the course. I tighten my fingers around Finn’s, leaning into him as he speaks rapidly. I don’t even realize I’m doing it until a voice says, “Leenie.”

I glance up to find the hot-as-fuck trainer staring down at me. He blinks. “We have to go to our seats now.”

I’m pressed against him. From thigh to shoulder, I’m practically on top of him. I quickly step back after noting our proximity. Jax brushes past us on the way back to his spot, and he glares at me. Turning away, I walk toward the two folding chairs and leave Finn some breathing room, telling myself not to get caught up in the moment.

Halfway through the next round though, Finn grabs my hand and places it on his knee, covering it with his own.

When my hand gets clammy from the massive amount of heat emanating from him and the inferno inside me, I don’t pull away. Neither does he. He only lets me go when his guy lands a solid punch that knocks his opponent to the mat. The poor guy’s eyes roll into the back of his head. Shooting to his feet, Finn screams, and I watch his celebration from the chair until he spins on his heel, grabs me out of the seat, and hugs me. “That was his first win,” he yells into my ear.

I squeeze him back, smiling into his solid chest.

What a knockout, and I’m not just talking about the fight. I don’t know what I’m going to do about Finn, but I’m completely enamored. Crushing fucking hard.

Fuck.

13

When the fights end, we don’t stay for the afterparty-slash-club scene even though all their fighters try to persuade them. More than a few eyes study how Finn practically has me pinned to his side. I’m sure they’re super curious as to what’s going on between us, and why I’m so suddenly in their faces, practically in the ring with them, and even standing ringside between rounds.

Finn carries my bags again as we make our way to the side entrance. For some reason, I just can’t get over how everyone watched me with blatant curiosity. “So, what does everyone think?”

“The fighters?” Finn asks from behind me.

Jax peers over his shoulder. “I guarantee they’re not thinking about you at all.”

I roll my eyes at his back, but Finn laughs. “You’re delirious, brother. They were watching her like a hawk.” He reaches out to pass a featherlight touch across my lower back as we stride down the hall, and I immediately slow so I can feel the full impact. He doesn’t disappoint. His fingers press against me firmly, his thumb tracing over my spine.

“Fucking wonderful.” Jax spins, making the both of us stop in the cramped space. His dark eyes zero in on me. “Don’t fuck any of them. They’re off-limits.”

I suck in a breath like he’s just slapped me. Finn’s growling something over my head, but I’ve had enough of his bullshit. I step up to the broader brother, place my hands on his chest, and shove. “Fuck. You.” He doesn’t move. Like, at all. He stays right where he is despite my throwing everything I had into it, but I’m sure the ire behind my words did at least something to him. “I’m not a slut, you overbearing asshole. Listen, I don’t want to be here with your moody ass either. Maybe we should just agree not to talk to each other.”

Finn pulls me back with a hand around my middle. He’s not protecting me. Jax isn’t going to retaliate. Instead, he curses his brother out himself, and Jax has the good sense to look apologetic. He doesn’t say as much, but he does stalk away with his head down. A couple of seconds later, a steel door slams.

Finn huffs behind me. “I swear, he’s a good person. He doesn’t like new people. He’s set in his ways, almost like a grandpa. He doesn’t mean anything by it.”

I ignore his excuses. “How are you guys so different?”

“It’s not his fault. He’s been through some shit,” Finn says, returning his hand to my back and pressing me forward. “I’ll have a talk with him, but really, it’s best to just stay out of his way for now. It takes him a while to get out of his funks.” I don’t respond, and he sighs. “It was a nice attempt at a push.”

I snicker. “Too bad he didn’t go anywhere. I’m not sure I got my point across.”

“You did,” Finn assures. “We’re both fighters, so we get physicality.” Pulling my bags higher onto his shoulder, he continues, “He didn’t mean to imply that you were easy. He cares a lot about our fighters. The gym and what we do there is the only thing either one of us has done that brings us any sort of happiness. He doesn’t want them derailed. That’s all.”

I pull my shoulders back. I can get that. Just, dude needs to think about what he says before he says it.

Turns out we have to take the bus to Jax and Finn’s place, and as soon as we’re seated on the uncomfortable plastic chairs, I find myself thinking about what’s going to greet me when we get there. Finn’s already assured me that it’s the furthest thing from a bachelor pad but getting that kind of guarantee from an actual bachelor probably shouldn’t be taken to heart. It could only be one step above, and I’d still have to live in a gross, male-dominated house for who knows how long.

As Jax and I prefer it, the older brother keeps to himself for the ride there. His hard face never softens as he leans his temple against the bus window. Finn is quiet, too. The three of us are the only ones on the bus, so I occupy myself by sending text updates to Jaz. I even had a text waiting from my brother, who asked how I was and let me know he’d safely arrived at his destination. I’d ask where that is, but he won’t tell me. Instead, I tell him I’m fine and that we’re headed back to Jax and Finn’s house right now. He responds with:Let me know if it’s acceptable.

---