Page 21 of Further To Fall

Austin gently laid me on my bed and pulled down the covers beneath me, tucking me in with such care, it would have broken my heart if I were fully conscious. He carefully removed my glasses, setting them on my nightstand, then leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. “Goodnight, Carter. Sweet dreams.”

10

Carter

The energy in the arena was electric, and I wanted to soak in every drop. This was nothing like the gym Austin trained at. Just an hour outside of LA, this place was massive and all sorts of fancy. They had obviously cleared out all the equipment and replaced it with rows of chairs and risers surrounding the octagon. Looking at the chain-link walls that made up each of the eight sides of the fighting ring, I suddenly felt as if I had swallowed a boulder.

Liam, decked out in a low-slung hat and sunglasses in an attempt to conceal his famous profile was out in front of me. He weaved his way through the crowd, a bodyguard at his side, but kept a firm grip on my hand. Ford followed closely behind. As we made it to the first few rows of padded folding chairs, a bulky and very intimidating security guard stopped Liam. We flashed our passes. He let us through and pointed us towards our seats. In the very first row.

I twisted my fingers into complicated knots as I sat down between Liam and Ford. “Right in the middle of the action, huh?” Even I could hear the nerves in my voice.

Liam and Ford eyed each other over my head, and Liam leaned over and patted my knee. “You going to be okay watching this? We can leave if you’re having second thoughts. Austin will totally understand.”

That steeled my resolve. I wanted to be here to support Austin, and I wasn’t going to be a baby about it. “No, I’m fine, I’m just nervous for him. I don’t want him getting hurt.”

Ford snickered. “He’s gonna get hurt, that’s the name of the game. But don’t worry, Bulldog’s a beast. No one’s gonna take him down.”

I ignored Ford’s less-than-helpful reassurances and pulled out my phone to text Taylor.

Me:Just got to the fight now. I’m so nervous my stomach hurts.

My knee bounced up and down of its own accord as my eyes took in every detail of the chain-link fence and the floor it surrounded. The vibration in my palm brought my gaze back to my phone.

Taylor:You’re worried about Mr. Muscles? Puh-lease, you should be worried about his opponent’s blood getting on your outfit.

I snorted.

Me:Thank you, that was just what I needed.

Taylor:No problem, girlie. Have fun and call me later!

Me:You got it! <3

I slid my phone back into my purse and smoothed my palms over my skinny jeans just as the lights flickered, and music started to play. Across the cage, the meanest-looking guy I had ever seen lumbered toward the ring.

I grabbed both Liam’s and Ford’s arms in a death grip as I frantically looked back and forth between the two of them. “That’s not who Austin’s fighting, right? There’s no way they’re in the same weight class. He’s huge!”

Liam’s jaw clenched. “Well, A’s in the heavyweight division now, but he’s at the light end of the class, so he’s going to have to fight dudes a lot bigger than him. But he’s got speed that they don’t.”

My stomach sank again. This was not good. Another song began to play, and the crowd turned behind me. I saw a figure with the hood of his silk robe up, making his way down the aisle. As Austin got closer, I swear I could feel the intense energy rolling off him in waves.

I had witnessed how seriously he took his training: the hours he put in at the gym, watching any tape he could get his hands on of his opponents’ fights, how he monitored every morsel of food he put into his body. But I had never seen him like this. He was laser-focused as if he were balancing on the edge of the sharpest knife’s blade. It scared me, and it was hot as hell all at the same time.

He shrugged off his robe and dropped the loose shorts he had on to reveal the shortest and tightest shorts I had ever seen on a man in real life. Dear God, I needed to look away, but I couldn’t quite make myself. There was no hiding that bulge now. My face heated, and I tore my gaze back up to Austin’s face. A referee was patting down his face, shoulders, chest and then examining Austin’s gloves. When the ref was done, Austin made his way to the cage and climbed in.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I felt like if my gaze was on him, no one would dare hurt him. “I think I’m going to throw up.”

Ford elbowed me in the side. “Probably wouldn’t be the first time someone’s tossed their cookies watching a fight. Just do me a favor and point your upchuck towards Liam instead of me, okay?”

Without taking my eyes off Austin, I reached over and pinched Ford’s side. “Just for that, I’m aiming right at you.”

The ref ushered the fighters into the center of the ring, and his voice came over the loudspeaker, “I want a good, clean fight. Touch gloves if you want to, and then back to your corners.”

Austin stayed silent but extended his gloves. His serial killer-looking opponent kept his gloves lowered but spat something at Austin I couldn’t hear. My nails dug into my palms as my fists clenched. “I really do not like that guy.”

Liam squeezed my shoulder. “It’s mostly show. These guys all have to play to the character they’re known as.”

The little relief I felt with Liam’s words was soon erased by the sound of the bell. The fighters circled one another, putting out brief, testing jabs. Then, Meanie erupted with a vicious kick to Austin’s side, and I gasped. Suddenly, it was like another person had invaded my body, I was screaming and cursing at Meanie. “Oh, no you don’t, you little weaselly fucker.” And screaming and cursing at Austin, “Come on, Bulldog, get your shit together! Take him down!”

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