Banging Reaper (3 page)

Ethan just lost. I can’t fucking believe it. I think I’m in shock.

He storms out of the octagon without even looking at me. He looks rough, parts of his face are swollen and he’s bleeding in several places. I’ve never seen him so beat up.

It makes me feel sick, seeing him like this. It’s heartbreaking watching your best friend get pounded on. I wouldn’t wish this feeling on anyone.

It was bloody, and it was horrifying. It was the most brutal thing I’ve ever forced myself to watch. Ethan won’t be able to 
pay
 me to attend another one of his matches. I’m done, I’m so done. I guess I’m just not strong enough to watch the people I care about get brutally beat up.

To me, watching the fight was like watching the perfect storm form. I could see from the very beginning that they weren’t very well matched. Reaper just seemed so much more comfortable, so much more in his element. He oozed experience, but somehow I still thought Ethan might still have a chance. He’s always had incredible luck.

Ethan started strong but showed his hand early on. Then from there, things just seemed to spiral downward, going from bad to worse. The cheap nut shot to Reaper was obviously the final straw.

There was nothing I could do to stop it. I was powerless, useless. I had to sit on my hands and bite my lip. And still, knowing that Reaper was the better opponent, I hopelessly hoped that somehow Ethan would pull out a win. I still rooted for him. Even knowing logically what was probably going to happen, I didn’t give up. Best friends never give up.

When Reaper lifted Ethan into the air as if he weighed nothing and slammed him down, I wanted to scream. It was straight up crazy. It felt as if the entire arena shook as Ethan hit the mat. Then Reaper fell upon Ethan, throwing punches like a man possessed… When someone had to pull him off Ethan, I was afraid he had gone too far.

I almost cried in relief when Ethan peeled himself off the mat.

He was alive, and he was still breathing, thank God.

But now that it’s over, it’s the worst outcome possible. It’s Ethan’s very first loss.

He must be pissed. No doubt his pride probably stings the worse. Now that it’s done though I’m just glad Ethan survived that fight without breaking anything or worse, ending up in the hospital. He walked out of the octagon on his own, without any assistance. He was so mad he didn’t even look at me.

I’m getting ready to stand up and head back to Ethan’s room to help soothe the sting of the loss when Reaper walks out. Reaper grins at me and it feels like he just punched me in the gut.

What. The. Fuck.

The air goes out of me and my heart starts racing. I’m not sure what’s going on. There’s just something about that grin, even swollen and lopsided, that does something funny to my insides. I feel like he found my dial and cranked my temperature all the way up.

I felt this or something like this when I first passed him in the hall. His eyes fell upon me and when they met mine it was like there was a jolt. It was some kind of weird electrical shock. I shook it off then, thinking perhaps it was my imagination running wild. But now, I’m not so sure…

Reaper walks past me, tall and triumphant. Fans in the crowd congratulate him on his win and thank him for such an entertaining match.

My knees feel weak as I stand up. I turn and watch Reaper walk out. He talks and takes some time to interact with his fans. I watch him, waiting for him to leave, and while I’m waiting, my eyes start to wander down. For such a brute, his ass ain’t half bad.

Fuck. I so did not just do that. I so did not just check Reaper out.

It feels like forever that I wait, waiting for him to leave so I can walk out myself. And the entire time my eyes keeps betraying me, they keep sneaking peeks. They keep checking Reaper out.

Maybe it’s just pheromones I try to reason, I try to 
justify
 to myself. Maybe it’s all the testosterone in this arena. It must be a chemical reaction, a product of all the brutality I just witnessed. He just proved he’s the alpha male. This must be why there're so many other half-dressed girls hanging around. There must be a perfectly logical, perfectly scientific reason to explain why we’re all looking at him and I'm practically drooling all over myself.

Finally, Reaper laughs with a fan, waves goodbye and walks off, seemingly oblivious to all the female attention he was just receiving.

I let go of my breath, and I wasn’t even aware I was holding it. I grab my purse, sling it over my shoulder. Now that Reaper is gone I can focus again on Ethan.

I feel like I just popped and all the steam let out.

I’m nervous about meeting up with Ethan. I don’t know how this is going to go. Usually after a fight Ethan would be celebrating. There would be girls, booze and other fun stuff. But not tonight, not after a loss. I don’t know how the rest of the night is going to go.

Ethan can be kind of a sore loser.

“This is all your fault, Avery,” Ethan growls at me and crowds me into the wall.

I walked into Ethan’s room knowing he would be pissed off after the fight, but I didn’t expect him to take it out on me. After I walked into his room, he shot me a glare over the heads of at least other dozen people. Not wanting to deal with his attitude, I’m tired and just want to go home, I tried to make a quick exit. I wasn’t fast enough though. He caught up with me in the hall.

“Look Ethan, I know losing sucks,” I try to reason with him. “But you fought well. I’m sure you’ll win the next one.”

Ethan’s hands slap against the wall, leaving me trapped on either side by his big meaty arms.

His head leans down and his baby blue eyes glare at me as he says, “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have lost this one.”

Now that’s not fair. I frown as I meet his glare. He’s being completely unreasonable.

“How is this my fault?”

Ethan growls and his glare drops to my mouth. “You didn’t give me my kiss for good luck.”

It’s so absurd I almost laugh. His superstition has gone up a whole new level. “I’ve never had to kiss you before.”

Ethan’s face comes closer, stopping only a hair away. “You do now.”

What? I don’t think so. “No,” I say. “I’m not kissing you.”

“Yes, you are,” Ethan snaps and presses his mouth against my mouth.

At first, I’m so shocked I don’t do anything. Then Ethan moans and he must take my lack of action as acceptance and that just pisses me off. I shove at his chest and must catch him by surprise because I successfully push him off.

“Stop!” I scream at him. “Think about what you’re doing!”

“You owe me!” Ethan roars and shoves me hard into the wall.

My head slams back and I see stars.

“You owe me!” I hear a man bellowing as I exit the small curtained off area where Doctor Miles was checking over my jaw. My jaw is slightly swollen from a punch I took. It’s not as serious as I thought though, just tender and in need of the cold compress I’m pressing against it.

Dale laughs beside me as he steps past the curtain. “Someone must have...”

I’m not sure what he was going to say next, I don't hear much beyond the blood rushing in my ears as I see the raven-haired hottie's head slamming back into the cinder block wall.

I am a man who is more often than not able to keep the calm. The one who breaks up the fights, the one who doesn't yell or scream when I’m mad. I am the one who keeps the dark lizard part of my brain in check. Somewhere deep and dark in my body, I have that beast locked up in shackles tightened down, never allowing him to escape. 

Not during my fights. Not in any relationship. And never when I am dealing with anyone except for myself.  I do not allow the beast out, and he stays buried inside and chained to a steel wall of self-discipline.

I have no excuse at all for the next forty-five seconds.

I snap after witnessing Ethan shove the girl into the wall.  The beast is in control now and he's got one chain off with only one more barely restraining him.

Running straight at Ethan, I hit him as hard as I possibly can from the side with my shoulder and wrap my arms around his torso before I slam him into the concrete floor. 

I feel a sharp pain in my left hand as I land.  It’s not a pain I like but I can live past it if I get to put this little fucker six feet under.

Flipping him onto his back, I mount his waist like I’m a cowboy and watch his stunned face quickly turn to rage at me. 

The snapping sound I hear in my head is the last chain coming off.

I am not a monster. I'm a controlled rational being.  My right and left fists smashing repeatedly against Ethan's arms and against the side of his head are the monsters. They like the pain they feel after each connection to his face.

“Never. Hit. A. Woman.” Each word is bellowed out as I connect with his face and body.

Dale and a security guard slam into me, pushing me first into the wall then down to the ground. I know I’m out of control. I know the beast needs to be restrained, but I just don’t have the strength yet to put his chains back on.

It's a good thing though that Dale is just as big as I am because the security guard is flung into the wall with a thud. I roar, still enraged, but Dale manages to keep me down. He holds me and tries to talk sense into me, not letting go of me until he’s sure I’m calm.

It’s chaos for the next few minutes as more and more people come running into the area. 

People swarm and surround Ethan and me.  When they finally allow me to get up from the ground, my first thought is to that raven-haired chick. I sure hope that head slam wasn't as bad as it looked. 

Looking around, I try to find her but only see Ethan running his mouth, bellowing for the cops. He’s bitching and claiming I just assaulted him. I see Dale, he’s not looking at Ethan, so I follow his line of sight until I spot the girl I’m looking for.

She’s still on the ground against the wall. Her knees are pulled up under her chin and her arms are wrapped tightly around them.  She’s shuddering as if she’s afraid, and it’s all I can do to not to charge back at Ethan and beat him to a fucking pulp. 

I know for a fact that even with all the security standing around Ethan, and a cop approaching him from the side, that if I wanted to, I could get to him without anyone being able to stop me. I could hurt him, and I could more than likely end his life right there. I would get hurt doing it in the process, but the beast is truly a beast, the pain would only inflame him. I could kill this man and not a damn person would be able to stop me.

I feel my left hand twitch and I lower myself to the ground beside the girl I’m always going to think of as a raven-haired beauty. It is pain I feel, but it’s also anticipation, like my body is going through a pre-flight check to make sure it’s ready to go after the bastard who hurt this beautiful woman.

“It's...” I'm not sure what exactly to say to her because it’s not okay, and I know that. But I have to say something as I pull her over and into my arms as gently as possible. Wrapping my arm around her body, she feels surprisingly soft and warm.

Pulling back, I push her hair away from her eyes and quietly say, “I need to see your eyes Raven girl. I wanna see if your pupils are dilated.”

Those luscious emerald chips slowly open with small pools of water spilling down her cheeks. They are beautiful and completely captivating. If this raven-haired beauty was mine, I could see myself burying my face into her hair and taking long deep breaths. I’d likely never get my fill of her scent.

Fuck, this is not good. I need to keep those thoughts away.

Her eyes are not immediately focused on me but past me at the whole scene surrounding her. I don't hear Ethan yelling anymore which is a good thing because right now, any more from him and I’m not sure I will be able to hold myself back.

She then slowly looks at me and her eyes focus on mine. The response she gives me is just what I was dreading. I feel her jerk back from my arms, trying to escape.

Pulling back even further, I turn my head to the side and say to Dale, “We need Doc Miles. I want to make sure Raven doesn't have a concussion.”

I know Dale is close because I just do. Dale is more than a brother to me, he knows my thoughts and I know his. I can always count on him to always be there.

Not letting go, I turn back to the girl I’m holding in my arms and try to give her a soft smile. “I promise I won't let you get hurt again, but I need you to stay right where we are. Your head hit that wall hard enough that I heard the thump from ten feet away.”

I hear Dale’s feet trail away and his voice raises as he hollers for Doctor Miles to come over.

“I... I'm okay. There is no need for a Doc...” The girl trails off as a young and very slender woman named Miranda Miles quickly approaches and kneels down beside us on the floor.

“Chase dear, if you could give her some space and tell me what’s going on?” Doctor Miles asks in her clipped British tone.

I unwrap myself from the beauty, reluctant to stop touching her but knowing I have to because she needs care. “Raven here had her head hit the wall when the guy over there shoved her.”

Moving away from the woman, the woman who my arms were oddly finding very comfortable, I look to the police officer standing right behind the good Doctor Miles.

“I'm Avery not Raven.” The girl frowns. “He didn't mean to...” she says to Doctor Miles as she reaches up and wipes those tears from her cheeks.

“I'm Doctor Miranda,” Miranda says as I watch her gently reach towards the girl. “Let’s have a look, sweetheart. Chase was right to call me over, concussions are a very dangerous thing if undiagnosed.”

I'm reluctant to leave this woman alone though, but by the look of the police officer’s face, he is wanting to speak with me.

“With me, sir,” he says politely to me and I get the feeling this isn't optional.

I follow him over and through the crowd with Dale on my heels as we make our way to where Ethan is standing in the corner with his crowd of trainers and hanger-ons surrounding him. Ethan has a grin though, even if his lip is busted and he has a newly broken nose.

“Gentleman,” the officer says with authority. I look down quickly and see the nameplate above his badge reads:
Officer Stegman
. Looking around at all of us, Officer Stegman says, “If you would please excuse us.” He looks pointedly to everyone but Ethan and me. “I would like to have a discussion with these two men.”

Dale looks like he is about to argue with the officer. I shake my head at him and nod towards the Doctor and Avery. He gets the hint instantly and reluctantly huffs his way over to the girls.

“Gentlemen,” Stegman says. He’s a well-built guy even if he is slightly past his prime. Almost as tall as Ethan and I, I still feel like I am looking up to him as he speaks in a very stern voice. “I did not witness this brawl you two have decided to have outside of your cage, but it is quite obvious that this wasn't just some random act of anger.”

“This douchebag fu...”Ethan begins to say, his voice hot and loud.

“Excuse me, sir,” Stegman says quietly to Ethan. “I am not through speaking yet.”

I wince. I may be going to jail but fuck if I don't respect this officer. He doesn't even raise his voice and I can feel the authority. Ethan seems to feel it as well because his entire posture slumps down like a chastised child.

“I believe, young man,” he says while looking at Ethan, “That you need to get medical attention for your nose. Then I believe it would be wise for you to return to your home and stay there to heal properly.”

“You, sir,” he says as he puts his hands on his hips and stares at me for a long time, right into my eyes. I don't blink or turn away. I know I just committed aggravated assault, and I know Officer Stegman has the right to arrest me right now. As a matter of fact, his hands are resting right on the holder of his cuffs. I have never been arrested before and not once in my life, beyond some very kinky fun, have had cuffs around my wrists. “You need to go back to that young lady over there and ensure she is okay.”

“What the fuck?!?” Ethan exclaims as the Officer gives me a small smile and nod to hurry off. I stand around only for the briefest of moments before the officer turns to Ethan and gives him his full attention. This time his hand grips his cuffs, and he pulls at them.

“Young man,” Stegman says patiently as I turn and slowly walk away. “I heard every single word that man said as he went about restraining you. I suggest you think long and har...” I hear just before I am too far away from them and past the point of caring what happens to Ethan.

My eyes and concern now are for doing exactly as that officer ordered.

I walk up to Dale and give him a grin and a wink. Nodding over my shoulder I say, “I was restraining Ethan, right?”

Dale just shakes his head. Chuckling, I pat him on the shoulder, he did do me a solid, then look past him to Miranda and Avery. I see the doctor helping Avery up with a hand under the beauty’s shoulder.

Miranda looks at me and smiles. “Avery is quite well, though she will have a lump on her head that needs a cold compress.”

“Got it, no concussion?” I ask and receive a shake of the head from the Doctor. “Good, I will make sure she gets home and has an ice pack and some ibuprofen then.”

I smile towards Avery and not surprisingly get a very deep frown from her.

“Ethan is going to take me home,” Avery says as we look over to where Ethan is noticeably slouching down and away from the Officer.

“He's been sent to get medical attention and then straight home,” I say quietly and look to Miranda. She only gives me the briefest of nods before she turns and smiles goodbye to Avery. Miranda then straightens herself out and walks over to Dale.

“I, on the other hand, can give you a ride home. If you want it.”

I feel like I’m holding my breath as I watch her. I don’t know why she’d want to get in a car with me, but I really want her in my car. I have this insane need to keep her close and protect her. I have a feeling if I leave without her, she’ll probably run right back to that jackass, and if she does that I’ll have to kill him.

I really don’t want to have to kill him. I just avoided going to jail.

“I...” Avery says as if she means to reject my offer but then stops and chews on her lip.

I can see the hesitation clearly on her face. She glances around me to look at Ethan, but the officer seems to be losing his patience. He’s sharply commanding Ethan to leave the area or be arrested.

“It's okay,” I say quietly. “It’s no trouble at all. In fact, it would be my pleasure,” I assure her.

I bend down and pick up the small purse she left by her feet. I hold it out to her and she attempts a smile.

“Thank you,” she tells me and accepts the purse, immediately slinging it over her shoulder.

She casts one last glance towards Ethan as if she was hoping something changed, then she looks back to me with her shoulders slumping in acceptance, or maybe it’s defeat. “If you don’t mind, a ride would be great. Thanks.”

I grin, and it fucking hurts. My face is sore, but man am I fucking happy.

Dale walks over to me, catching the end of our conversation. He frowns and pokes me in the ribs. “And how will I be getting home then?”