Page 13 of Ignite
“You know what,” I said, caught in his gaze. “I’ll never be able to repayyou.”
6
Liam
I’d wanted women before,chased them even, but none of them had ever knocked me forsix.
I felt the lingering flutter of Ali’s lips on my cheek and mixed with the recent memory of kissing her, I felt my cocktwitch.
“Of course, you’ll be able to repay me,” Isaid.
She tilted her head to the side, her silky hair sliding over herbreasts.
“Not like that,” I went on hastily. “Imean…”
Fuck, what was wrong with me? I was a cage fighter, not apussy.
“If you say so.” She shrugged, glancing away. “Are you fightingtonight?”
“No,” I replied, thankful for the change in conversation. “I’ve had three in a row this week. That was pushing it. Four would be bad news. I don’t want to getcocky.”
“So you’re winning enoughpoints?”
“Yeah, I’ve got a good clip,” Ireplied.
“What do you get if youwin?”
“The Championship?” I raised my eyebrows. “Well, it changes every year, but it never drops below amillion.”
“Amillion…”
“Dollars.”
Her mouth fell open. “You’re shittingme.”
I smirked, liking how Ali’s new look had caused her to grow more brazen. Just like my fists were my armor in the cage, her outward appearance had become hers. It was a shit world we lived in to suppose beauty meant more thanintelligence.
“Do you want a drink?” I asked. “Then we can go sit if youwant.”
Ali smiled, her whole face lighting up. “Sure.”
At the bar, she ordered a bottle of sweet cider, and I handed over the cash before she could fish out the purse from her pocket. Faye was working her shift, and as she moved past, she gave me a look that said ‘don’t fuck with her.’ I wasn’t that stupid, but my cock had taken on a life of its own from time to time. The ultimate male excuse. Blame it on beinghorny.
She followed me past the cage, which was empty as fights were being switched over, and to a quiet corner at the very back of the warehouse. It was near the place I’d found her pinned by Mountain, and I bristled at the memory. He was a nasty son of a bitch, and there were no prizes for guessing what would’ve happened if I hadn’t been walking by thatnight.
We sat on a two-seater vinyl couch against the wall, my eyes darting to the place I’d first seen her. Scared, caught, and completely out of her depth. I’d laid that kiss on her in order to drive the point home with Mountain,but…
“I suppose everyone’s here to win the Championship,” she said, bringing my attention back to her. “Why do you want to win? Just for themoney?”
“It’s life changing,” I replied. “There’s a guy who used to fight here who won a few million a couple of years back. He used the cash to start his own business. Maverick was his fighter name. He had a rough go of it before and turned it around. He’s really successful now. He coaches fighters for the AUFC, and his gym is one of the best in thecountry.”
“Do you want to be like him?” sheasked.
Glancing at her, I nodded. “Something like that. My ownversion.”
“What would you do with themoney?”
I was past talking about myself, so I turned the question around on her. “What would you do with a milliondollars?”
