Pulse

by Amity Cross

  “Hey.”

  I glanced up at Hamish, who’d appeared beside me. He was having a great season sitting in third place, but due to me and Hammer he didn’t even have a shot at the Championship this round. Even if he won all of his remaining fights, he wasn’t getting close to second. Still, the Irish fighter took it in his stride. He was sitting pretty on a couple of million bucks, so who was he to complain?

  I grunted and turned my attention back on the cage where Ren and Storm were grappling. He obviously wanted to talk to me about something. It wasn’t often he sought me out, though I knew he was there keeping his end of the bargain. Watching our backs just as I watched his.

  “Don’t think I didn’t see what passed between you and Hammer the other week,” Hamish said without looking at me. He was sure of himself, the cocky bastard.

  “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll shut your fuckin’ mouth,” I snarled, watching Ren land a punch right into Storm’s ribs.

  “Does she know?”

  I started grinding my teeth together, holding back the words I wanted to spit out at him. It was none of his fuckin’ business. What had he done for me lately? Stopped me from punching Hammer’s head right off of his shoulders. I didn’t owe Hamish ’The Goblin’ any explanation.

  He took my silence as an admission. “She’s goin’ to rip your balls off if she finds out.”

  I turned to stare at him this time, just incase he didn’t understand my warning. “I reckon that’s my problem to deal with.”

  “On your own?” Hamish raised an eyebrow.

  “You want to be BFF’s or somethin’?” I muttered.

  “Hey, you’re uptight, but I reckon we get along well enough.” He winked and I found myself wanting to knock his head off as well.

  He watched me as I watched Ren and it pissed me off more than it should. What the fuck was he looking for? A threesome? I didn’t share.

  Finally, he spat it out. “I see what you have with Reign and I can’t say that I’m not jealous, because I am.”

  I glanced at him and didn’t understand the look on his face.

  “Do right by her, mate,” he said. “You don’t know how lucky you are.”

  He clapped a hand on my shoulder before backing away. It wasn’t until he’d gone that I realized the fight was over and Ren was exiting the cage. I couldn’t begin to even speculate what had gotten up Hamish’s ass. Maybe he just wanted a woman of his own. What the fuck did I know? I hardly knew the guy.

  Ren stood in front of me and her hand came to rest on my chest, snapping me out of my daze.

  “Everything good?” she asked, gazing up at me. She was high on adrenaline, her pretty brown eyes sparkling.

  No, no it wasn’t good, but I couldn’t tell her that. I pulled her into my arms, not giving a crap about the sweat that coated her body, and lowered my lips to her ear.

  “I’m going to take you back to Beat and I’m going to bend you over the kitchen table and sink my cock into your sweet little pussy, balls deep.” I felt her body tighten as she gasped. “Then I’m going to press my finger in your ass. You know what that will do?”

  “Tighten me around your cock,” she replied, whispering in my ear.

  “Fuck,” I cursed, my balls beginning to throb.

  She trembled against me and murmured, “Where’s this coming from?”

  Pressing my cock against her belly, I said, “Where do you think?”

  “You’re wicked, Maverick.”

  “And fuckin’ hot for your screams, so get your stuff before I strip you in front of all these people.” She clutched my shirt, her lips brushing against my neck. “Or would you like that?” It was a distraction, a selfish fuckin’ distraction.

  She pulled back so she could look up at me and I saw the desire that I felt for her mirrored in her gaze.

  “I don’t like to share,” she murmured. “Give me ten minutes.”

  I lifted my hand and brushed my fingers across her lips, the way her body responded to mine mainlining right into my cock.

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  As the next few weeks went by and mine and Ren’s points kept ticking over, everything felt like it was on track.

  There was no doubt that both of us would be toeing the line in the Championship. It wasn’t the one I would’ve liked for her to win, but I had to support her. It was what she wanted after all. She wanted to get her strength back and face her fears and in true Spitfire style, she got back up on her feet time and time again and kicked everything in the balls.

  I lay next to Ren, the early morning light filtering through the window overhead. She was sound asleep, her chest rising and falling with each breath. She was so fuckin’ beautiful when she slept; she curled up into this tight ball, hugging the doona to her chest. Her hair was tangled on the pillow behind her and I found myself combing my fingers through it.

  Our usual routine was staying up late to train after getting back from The Underground, fucking until we fell asleep and then getting up early to do more of the same. But this morning I didn’t want to wake her. It was a tough schedule to keep up with, even for the super motivated Ren. I could see how tired she’d been getting and she needed her strength.

  I had an overabundance of energy and that pretty much came from my emotions, which were haywire most of the time. I’d seemed to have gotten a handle on my anger a while ago now and I was glad I’d kicked the meds and gone the natural route. That’d worked for me and then some.

  It was then that I realized what I wanted to do if I got through this Championship in one piece.

  Ren must’ve already been waking and when she felt my body tensing, she stirred against me and moaned. Fuck, she was sexy when she made those sounds. When her voice was husky from sleep, it made my cock begin to wake up as well.

  She moved against me, rolling over to face me. Her arm snaked over my stomach and her cheek came to rest over the word rebirth on my chest.

  “Hey,” she said sleepily.

  “I’m not going back to pro,” I said and for the first time since we’d gone back to The Underground, some of the weight on my shoulders began to fade.

  Her eyes began to open as she realized what I’d said. “What?”

  “I don’t want it,” I replied. “I don’t want that life anymore.” Her legs threaded through mine as I reached up to stroke my hand through her hair.

  “Then what are you going to do?”

  I wasn’t ready to acknowledge that dream when it could still be snatched from me and I pressed my lips to her forehead. “I’m not sure,” I lied and my heart twisted. “I have to think about it some more.”

  “Sure.” Her eyes closed as she began rubbing her hand across my abs. Up and down, going down more as she went.

  If everything went south, if I didn’t make it to the other side, I had to make sure Ren and Violet were taken care of. The first chance I got, I’d have to go see a lawyer and the bank. Put the house in Violet’s name and make sure Ren had someplace to go.

  Rolling onto my side, I slid my hand over Ren’s waist and pulled her against me. If I couldn’t be here, then I could at least make sure she never wanted for anything ever again.

  Hooking a leg over my waist, Ren bit at my bottom lip before sliding her tongue against mine. She kissed me, igniting a fire in my heart and I rolled on top of her, settling between her legs. I didn’t have it in me to fuck this morning. Not hard, not punishing, not filled with the lust my body had for hers. No, this morning we’d take it slow and feel everything.

  I felt the slickness of her pussy as I stroked the underside of my cock against her and moaned into her mouth, my breaths coming faster. She was always so fuckin’ wet, so ready for me to take her…so fuckin’ greedy for it.

  I continued teasing my cock against her clit and I moved my mouth to her tits, sucking on a nipple, biting, licking, savoring her desperate moans, because if I was going to hell, then this moment, this desire between us was the thing that I would remember for
eternity.

  “Maverick,” she gasped, her voice pleading.

  I heard her and without answering, I reached between our bodies and guided my cock against her opening. As I entered her, she clawed at my back, arching off the mattress, forcing me deep inside her body and I almost came undone. So warm, so wet...

  I had to have her, I had to claim her…I began stroking, pulling out to the tip and filling her deep, driving her upwards with every thrust. Her hands raked down my back, her legs tightening as we rose, her hands finally grasping my ass, feeling my muscles flex as I fucked her pussy.

  Her cries became more desperate as I kept up the steady pace, neither slowing nor increasing, driving her wild with want. I sucked at her neck, her lips, her breasts, curling my hands into her hair and tugging. I wanted to be closer, I wanted us to be one, but I was as close as I could get. Our bodies fit together perfectly. Her pussy clutched tightly around my cock…perfect.

  I felt her tremble as her orgasm neared and my balls tightened. I groaned loudly against her neck as I held back, wanting to come in her as she milked my cock with her orgasm. It was the best way and I’d fill her hotter and harder, driving her pleasure even higher.

  “Ash,” she moaned, her gaze meeting mine.

  “I know,” I grunted, sinking my cock deep and holding.

  “I’m so close…”

  “I’m going to go hard and we’re coming together,” I said through a heavy breath.

  She nodded, her fingernails biting into the skin of my ass.

  I drew back and thrust hard, our skin slapping together and she cried out, throwing her head back. Her tits pressed hard against my chest as she arched underneath me, but I didn’t stop to savor. I needed to come inside her and she needed me to take her with me. I knew everything about her body and this I knew without a doubt.

  I fucked her mercilessly, my cock pounding into her pussy, slapping against her clit and when she began to tighten, I erupted. The tension released from my balls and warmth spread through me as I thrust, our cries mingling together. I came so fucking hard, I wasn’t sure I’d ever come back down. Ren writhed underneath my touch, our bodies slick with sweat and hot to the touch.

  I thrust one last time, the last of my orgasm spilling into her and she was perfect. Fuckin’ perfect.

  I collapsed beside her, the musky scent of sex clinging to my skin, the sheets, everywhere. I came hard every time I fucked her, but that was…it was on a par with the first time I’d sunk my cock into her pussy.

  “I think you broke me,” Ren said through her ragged breathing.

  “Fuck...Spitfire,” I moaned as she curled her limbs around me.

  “I love you,” she whispered, her breath hot against my cheek.

  “I love you,” I replied, my eyes feeling heavy.

  We lay together, basking in the afterglow, my entire body feeling satisfied and I tried to commit everything to memory. Her touch, her taste, the sound of her voice, the color of her hair, her eyes… my cock began to perk up again at the thought of sucking on her clit. I had to fuck her with my mouth before we went downstairs. I had to taste her.

  I was about to tell her, when my phone began to ring. It was shrill in the silence and I groaned reaching for the annoying piece of shit.

  “It’s Max,” I said, glancing at the screen. If he was calling, that could only mean one thing...

  “The head referee?” Ren asked, peeling herself away from me.

  I rolled off the bed and answered the call before it flipped over to voicemail. “Yeah?”

  I felt Ren sitting up behind me, her gaze burning a hole in my back.

  “Fuller? It’s Max from The Underground. Hope I didn’t catch you too early.”

  I could still feel Ren clenching around my cock and I was keen for another go before we got up. I couldn’t tell him that, so I said, “No, it’s fine.”

  “I just wanted to let you know ahead of time that you’re in the Championship round.”

  “I gathered I would be,” I replied, but my skin began to prickle all the same. Knowing it was one thing, hearing it from the head honcho was another.

  “You’re up against Hammer,” he went on.

  “Good.” That was a given too.

  “Fuller, I know there’s shit between you two. Bad blood and all, but know you have my blessing to give the crowd a good show,” Max said and I instantly got the undercurrent in his voice. He knew what we were planning. He knew what was going to go down in that cage. He was giving me permission.

  I tensed up for a moment before saying, “Understood.”

  “If Reign’s with you, could you tell her that she’s in too? Next Thursday night. You’re Friday.”

  “Who’s she up against?” I asked and I instantly felt Ren’s hands on my back.

  “Fury,” he replied.

  “Rogue didn’t make it?”

  “She lost by a hair last night. There’s a point between second and third. Your girl got number one.”

  I reached behind me and curled my hand around Ren’s thigh. “Good, fuckin’ good.”

  “Good luck, Fuller,” Max said and promptly hung up on me.

  Staring at the phone as the call disconnected and went back to the lock screen, I sighed. A little in relief and a little something else. Turning to face Ren I said, “You got in.”

  Her eyes were sparkling, as much from our epic fuck as the thought of fighting her first real Championship. “Who am I fighting?”

  “Fury.”

  Ren nodded, her brow furrowing in thought. Probably already devising a strategy, knowing her.

  “Don’t think about it right now,” I murmured, dumping the phone and reaching for her.

  “Why not?” she asked with a wicked smile.

  “Because I want to have you at least a million times before then.”

  Laughing, she fell back onto the mattress, her naked body on show to me. Fuck, she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I told her as much as I covered her body with mine and didn’t think twice as I filled her with my cock again and again.

  The last six months had been all about gearing up towards this fight and now it was real. And now I knew time was running out and I wanted to savor her in the days I had left. Because it could be days or it could be years.

  Which one it was going to be was yet to be decided.

  Friday week was D-day.

  Chapter 33

  Ren

  With the season pretty much over at The Underground, Ash and I spent most of our time training at Beat. Occasionally we’d go over to his house in Toorak and see Violet, who was always pleased to see us, and spend time at his home gym.

  Violet had told me that she hadn’t seen Ash happier, but I couldn’t get past that tingling feeling in the back of my mind that something was eating him up. When I asked, he just said it was nerves, but I knew Ash Fuller. Something was up, but we didn’t have much time to discuss it. After our first time together, no it was after our second on the same night, he’d chastised me for trying to use sex as a weapon. The last few days since we’d gotten the call from Max had been filled with steamy, hold on for dear life, sex.

  Couldn’t say I was complaining, but I saw it for what it was. A distraction.

  Ash had also taken it upon himself to up my training regime now that we knew I was up against Fury. She was my match in height, weight and skill more so than Claw had been, so we had to be smart and try new strategies to compensate. Our last fight had been close, I’d pipped her at the post, but it was only by a hair.

  He had me shadow boxing and testing my reflexes with a swinging punching bag, making me dart and weave, keeping me light on the balls of my feet. A boxing technique he told me. Dart in a jab with my left to test her defenses, and dart back with the dexterity to dodge her counter attacks. It was a hard workout and I was sweating like a pig after ten minutes.

  When I couldn’t take anymore, we moved to stationary punch repetitions on a medium bag to help with my upper body. No u
se being able to dart into range and jab if I couldn’t back it up with juice behind my right hook.

  Ash held the bag steady so I could do my repetitions without the swing back.

  “When is it your turn Maverick?” I said through a heavy breath as I drew my fist back. “You’re running me ragged. It’s only fair I give you a go.”

  “We can have a go on the mat later.” He sealed his dirty statement with a wink.

  “I need to work on my crunches,” I retorted, slowing as my lady bits began to churn.

  “Okay,” he said. “But that wasn’t an invitation to stop.”

  I laughed and began belting the bag again.

  We were still making foul sex jokes when the outside door opened. We both turned at the same moment Dad came through the door, dragging his suitcase, closely followed by Dean, Lincoln and Josie.

  “Ren!” she cried, dropping her suitcase and coming over to hug me.

  I threw my arms around her neck and squished her against me. “I’ve missed your crazy face.”

  “I’ve missed your…crazy.”

  “I would complain, but that about sums it up.”

  She let me go and began hopping from foot to foot. “I want a full report later, but for now I’ve gotta go pee.”

  I made a face. “Too much information.”

  She waved me off with a laugh and darted across the studio. My gaze caught on Dad’s back as he climbed the stairs. He hadn’t stopped to say hello, so I gathered he was still dark about me fighting at The Underground. Well, he just had to get over it.

  The Twins came over; leaving their bags by the door and each of them hugged me, ignoring Ash. Lincoln was the only one who waltzed over to my hulk of a boyfriend and shook his hand. I bet they had a lot of things to discuss. Violet being one.

  “I hear you’ve been kicking ass,” I said, shoving playfully at Dean.

  “It’s been brilliant,” he said with a grin. He eyed Ash over my shoulder. “How’s everything with, you know?”

  “The Underground?” I asked, quirking my eyebrow. “Or Ash?”