Pulse

by Amity Cross

  “She would be thinking the same thing. There’s a lot of money riding on this from what I hear. She’ll most likely try everything to get the upper hand.”

  “I’ve already anticipated that.”

  “Be ready for everything Ren.”

  I smiled. “You’ve got it Coach.”

  “Hey Reign!”

  I jumped as I was tapped on the shoulder and glanced up to find one of the referees.

  “Fifteen minute call,” he said. “Better get a move on.”

  I nodded my understanding and my gaze caught on Ash’s.

  “Good luck,” Dad said. “I’ll be watching from the stands with Josie.”

  “I love you Dad.”

  “Go,” he said, his eyes getting all misty. “Go and make me proud.”

  Ash threaded his fingers in mine as he led me through the crowd and out into the change rooms. They’d been totally blocked off since it was the Championship and as we came in, Fury glanced at us from the far side of the room. She nodded once and turned her attention back to stretching out her muscles.

  Ash opened my locker as I stripped down to my sports bra and shorts. Sitting on the bench he gestured for me to stand in-between his legs. He grasped my hand and began strapping me in for the fight ahead. The whole thing seemed so…final.

  “I knew he’d come around,” Ash murmured.

  I cocked my head to the side. “You did, huh?”

  He grinned, his green eyes flashing. “He wouldn’t miss his daughter’s Championship. No matter what shithole it was in.”

  “I guess that puts the full stop on our messed up relationship.”

  “It ain’t so messed up anymore Spitfire.”

  I smiled down at him. “Thank fuck.”

  “You’ve got this Ren,” he murmured so Fury couldn’t hear. “We’ve trained for this. You know the moves, you’ve got the strength. You can do this.”

  “I hope so.”

  “There’s no hoping Spitfire,” he said, standing so he could cup my face in his big paws. “There’s only knowing.” He pressed his lips against my forehead.

  “I know,” I said, closing my eyes and relishing the feel of his lips against my skin. “I know I can do this. I can do this.”

  Ash pulled back, his green eyes fixed on mine. “Now go get your Championship Ren.”

  “I love you,” I whispered, my whole body beginning to hum.

  “I love you forever.”

  As I walked through the gauntlet of the crowd towards the cage, I felt like I was walking in someone else’s skin. It was surreal. I’d done this so many times that it shouldn’t feel any different, but it did. It felt like the rest of my life was riding on this one fight.

  It didn’t matter if I won or not. Ash’s fight was the one we wanted in the bag. His was the one that counted.

  I still wanted to win though. Was that so bad?

  Ash left me to walk into the cage on my own, at my request. It only seemed fitting that I finish this part of my journey alone. It’d be that way once I was in the cage anyway.

  Two years ago, I’d walked into Beat and gotten a taste for fighting, long before Ash had arrived, so maybe this fighting thing was just mine all along. It was something that we shared, but it was also a solitary thing. Who knew, right? It just felt like the thing to do.

  I was about to step into the cage when I heard my name, and when I turned, my face split into a grin.

  The Twins were pushing through the crowd and when the bouncers went to stop them, I raised my hand.

  “They’re with me,” I said and they backed down, but watched the boys like a hawk.

  “Ren,” Dean exclaimed. “We’re glad we caught you.”

  “I didn’t think you’d be interested,” I said with a shrug.

  “You fucking kidding?” Lincoln exclaimed. “You’re in a Championship.”

  They caught me in their own separate bear hugs and kissed me on the cheek.

  “We wanted to let you know that we were here before you went in,” Dean said, squeezing my arm.

  “And we found this squirt on the way,” Lincoln said, shoving another familiar face forward.

  “Seth?” I exclaimed.

  “Hey,” he said, looking a little on edge. “I’d hug you but your boyfriend’s giving me the evil eye.”

  “Oh, screw him,” I declared and threw my arms around his neck. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Go get her, Reign of Terror,” he said in a mock booming voice.

  I laughed. “Oh, shut your face.” The referee called out for me and I began backing away. “I’ll see you guys on the other side.”

  The cage door closed between us, the Twins gave me the thumbs up and I smirked as Seth began to pale. It was his first fight that wasn’t all rules and regulations and he’d sure picked a night to come watch. I hoped someone had given him a bucket because the poor guy looked like he was gunna puke.

  Turning on my heel, I came face to face with Fury. She was hopping from foot to foot, shaking out her limbs and looked as high as I felt. When she saw me approaching the center of the cage, she held out her hand. Total class act.

  “I’m glad I’m up against you, Reign,” she said as I shook her hand.

  “Why’s that?”

  She smirked as I let go. “You’re a good challenge.”

  I smiled right back. “Ditto.”

  “Don’t hold back.”

  “Wasn’t planning on it.”

  “Okay ladies, you know the rules,” the referee said, looking at Fury and then at me to make sure we were listening. “Fight until one of you taps or can’t continue. It’s the Championship, so give the people a good show.”

  I didn’t even stop to wonder what the prize for winning the Championship was. I hadn’t even looked, but I’m sure it was a pretty penny. Whatever it was, I’m sure it would go a long way towards helping the people I loved.

  Fury blew me a kiss and I smirked, toeing the line. The referee raised his hand and held, my heart thumping wildly in my chest.

  The whistle blew, his hand dropped and it was on.

  I darted forward, jabbing with my left and as Fury’s guard lowered to block, I threw with my right. My fist clipped her forearm as she backed off a step, the crowd cheering. Obviously, she’d been training with the same thing in mind. Do the unexpected.

  I tested her a few more times and when she did the same we were at a deadlock. We circled, each of us looking for an opening. It wasn’t going to be an easy fight, or a short one.

  Fury punched and I was too slow to bring my guard up and her fist connected with my eyebrow. I felt the impact split through my skull the same moment the sensation of ripping skin pulsed through my forehead. Then the warm trickle of blood as I twisted out of reach of her left hook, which was coming back to clean me up.

  She smirked at me as I shook my head and put her guard back up.

  The thing I liked about Fury was that she didn’t talk during fights. She didn’t taunt to try and put me off; she used her skill to best her opponents. It only meant that this win would be sweeter because I was fighting the best.

  We circled for what felt like an hour, getting a few punches and kicks in, grappling and breaking away. Someone had to take a risk soon, because this fight was going to go on until one of us dropped dead from exhaustion and that could take hours.

  I’d split Fury’s lip and I think I’d cracked one of her ribs and still she refused to slow. My eyebrow was throbbing like a bitch and I knew I’d be covered in bruises tomorrow. Black and fucking blue.

  Fury made the first move. She lunged with a roar, and I stumbled back, hitting the cage. She pinned me, shoving her forearm against my neck and sunk a punch right into my stomach. The air whooshed from my lungs and with a cry I brought my arms up and locked around her upper body, trying to wrestle my way free.

  My vision pricked as she pressed her arm against my wind pipe and sunk another punch into my guts. For some reason, the only thing I could think about
was Hulk smashing. Where the hell that came from I didn’t know, but as Fury went to clock me with a third punch, I shoved against her with all my strength.

  She stumbled one step, then two, her body off balance and I struck.

  I had to go hard or go home and I was definitely not going home.

  I attacked, smashing my shoulder into her stomach. I hooked my arm around her knee and grasped her wrist in my other hand and then I hauled her onto my upper back and heaved. Fury sailed through the air and landed hard on her back, her eyes widening. The crowd cheered and whistled, calling for blood. I almost had her.

  I stepped forward and raised my fist for the final blow. One punch, right onto her temple. One-Shot Miller. Her eyes met mine and she knew it was over.

  Fury slammed her fist on the mat and just like that, it was over.

  Reign of Terror had won.

  I’d won.

  Fancy that.

  Chapter 36

  Ren

  It felt like a miracle.

  The moment Fury had slammed her fist onto the mat; the world had seemed to shift on its axis. The crowd had erupted into cheers, the referee grasped my hand, shoving it into the air, and then I was on someone’s shoulders hurtling through the crowd, people giving me high-fives… Then I was in Ash’s arms and the pride in his eyes… I’d never forget it.

  And then there was Dad. His face had been ashen, but he’d embraced me with his own kind of pride and I was glad to share it with him. The man who I grew up hating had turned into one of the most important people in my life. I thought I knew how this life thing worked, but as it turned out, I didn’t know a fucking thing.

  After a big fat check was shoved into my hands and I’d been congratulated by just about everyone in The Underground, we ventured back to Beat for an impromptu party. Josie had insisted of course and since I was riding high, I didn’t have it in me to say no. Ash nodded and it was settled.

  The Twins brought out the beer and turned up the music and it was the happiest I’d seen everyone, not to mention the first time everyone was in the same room at the same time.

  The only obvious absentee was Violet and Ash said she wouldn’t come anyway. We’d see her after his fight and I made it my mission to help her in anyway I could. She’d suffered far worse than I had, but in a way I felt connected with her. Maybe that’s what I could do with some of the money I’d won. Help people like us, people who needed support after going through ordeals like Violet’s. Maybe that’s what I was meant to do all along. Help people.

  Ash hovered at the edges, a beer in hand, watching the party unfold around him. I smiled as he shook hands with Seth and as his gaze caught mine, I raised my eyebrows. In true Maverick fashion, he just shrugged.

  I wasn’t a fan of parties on all those ordinary occasions, and since we still had Ash’s fight tomorrow night, it all seemed premature.

  I loved hanging out with everyone, but I was also glad when they left me and Ash alone. I could see the strain on his face. He wanted to be happy for me, but his own fight was weighing on him heavily. This was our end game. Him fighting Hammer.

  I locked the door behind Josie and the Twins and waved to them through the window as I armed the alarm. Turning back to the dark studio, I hesitated as I caught sight of Ash on the far bench, leaning forward with his elbows pressing on his thighs. His head was bowed, his shoulders hunched and I knew he was on struggle street.

  I padded across the mats and sat beside him, rubbing my palm up and down his back.

  “Ash?”

  “Hmm?” he mumbled, glancing up at me.

  “It’s almost over,” I said with a sigh, “I believe in you.”

  He straightened up, winding a thick arm around my back and tugging me against his side. He lowered his head, searching for my lips with his own and I caught him, kissing him hard. He was floundering.

  The tip of his tongue teased against my bottom lip as I moved to straddle him. Settling into his lap, I felt the hard ridge of his cock press against my softness and he moaned as I wriggled against him. Sex was our anchor and if it was what he needed to hold on, then I’d let him have me however he wanted.

  “Spitfire,” he muttered against my lips.

  “Do you need me?” I asked, trailing my hands over his shoulder and up his neck before burying my fingers into his hair.

  He nodded, his eyes hooded with lust.

  “Then take me.” I began moving, massaging his cock against the seam of my shorts. “However you want. Hard, slow...”

  My train of thought was obliterated as he smashed his lips hard against mine, his tongue delving into my mouth and twining with mine. He tasted like beer from the party, from the one drink he’d allowed himself to have. He was all beer and...Maverick. I clutched him, rubbing my breasts against his chest and rocking against his crotch faster until he couldn’t bear it anymore.

  He stood in one fluid motion and lowered me to the mat, his hands pulling my top and bra off and throwing them over his shoulder. His mouth licked and bit a trail down my neck to my nipples where he lavished attention on one before moving to the other. The tip of his tongue flicked against the sensitive ball of flesh and I moaned, fisting my hands into his hair.

  He pulled away, dragging his T-shirt over his head and shoving his jeans down, freeing his cock from his boxers. Then he hooked his fingers into my shorts and knickers and tugged, stripping me bare.

  He was like a man possessed as he latched his hands on my hips and flipped me over. I pushed myself onto all fours, knowing exactly what he wanted to do to me.

  My ass was in the air, Ash was behind me and I glanced in the mirror as he began sliding his cock between my ass cheeks, rocking back and forth. The sight of him over me made my knees tremble.

  The whole thing was so powerful and the sight of it made my arousal spark even further. He was so dominating, we both were, but I wanted to submit to him and him alone. He was the only man I’ve ever loved and he would be the only man who held the title. This was for life.

  “Ash,” I gasped, my elbows shaking with the effort of holding myself up and in position.

  He drew back and I felt the head of his cock press into my opening, teasing.

  “Please…” I couldn’t take it. I was so aroused, I was bordering on hysterical.

  His hands dug into my hips and he pushed into me, sliding his cock deep. I moaned in satisfaction as I pressed my ass back into him, grinding against his pelvis and driving him all in, right to the hilt.

  Then he covered me with his body, his hands coming to rest on either side of mine on the mat and he drove his cock into me over and over. Our skin slapped together, our moans mingled and it was so fucking animalistic the whole world fell away and the only thing that mattered was the pleasure we were giving one another.

  Ash needed to know I was with him in body, mind and soul. I knew it as his teeth sunk into my shoulder, I knew it as his balls slapped against my thighs, I knew it as I felt the head of his cock strike deep inside my core…I knew it in my heart.

  “I’m with you,” I muttered as I reared back into him, meeting his thrusts with my own.

  “Spitfire…”

  His right hand left the mat and clamped around my breast and kneaded before pinching my nipple hard. Pain tore through my skin, but it was a beautiful pain. I wanted more, but his touch was gone and then his fingers found my clit and started rubbing.

  My orgasm swelled hot and hard and when he pinched the ball of nerves, I erupted with a cry. Ash didn’t let up his assault as he thrust hard, increasing the pressure on my clit.

  I tightened around his cock, quivering as I came apart harder than I’d ever thought possible.

  Holy fucking shit.

  Ash grunted and I felt his release pour into me as I used the last of my strength to rear back into him, squeezing and stroking his cock until he straightened up and held me firm. The last of his orgasm emptied into me as my elbows buckled and we fell to the mat, our chests heaving with desperate breat
hs.

  He pulled me to him, chest to chest, our bodies hot and sweaty. He held me for so long without saying anything, that I knew something wasn’t right. He would’ve said something about what we’d just done by now. Something dirty and wicked…but he just clutched me against his chest, his lips against my forehead.

  “Why do I feel like you’re saying goodbye?” I whispered.

  Ash tightened his grip, warmth spreading through me. “I’m saying goodbye to our old life.”

  I sighed and couldn’t help thinking that that wasn’t it.

  “No matter what happens tomorrow,” he went on, “know that I love you Ren. Always.”

  “That sounds like a goodbye.”

  His hands trailed up my back, caressing my skin, before tangling in my hair. His green eyes met mine and there was something there that put me on edge.

  “Tell me,” he murmured, his lips moving toward mine.

  “I love you.”

  He covered my mouth with his, the tip of his tongue caressing along my lip. I sighed into him, my body coming alive again at his touch. As he swept his tongue against mine I couldn’t help feeling this overwhelming sadness. I should be on top of the world and building Ash up for his fight tomorrow night. Not this…whatever this was.

  It felt like a goodbye to me.

  Chapter 37

  Ash

  It had been a goodbye.

  I couldn’t go into the fight tonight without hearing it one more time as I sunk into her. I couldn’t explain all the things I felt for her with words. Words were my weakness, my strengths lay in the physical and that was the only way I could tell her.

  Ren was it. She was the one. Always. There’d never be anyone else.

  The first time I had her was from behind. I could watch as our bodies joined, as my cock slid into her pinkness, I could watch as I came in her. I could revel in my need for dominance over the wild spirit that lived inside her, the spirit that wanted to submit because she loved me.

  Fuck, I loved her.

  I didn’t need the rigmarole or a posse of people watching me. I told Violet to stay home even though it was a given. She was still a slave to her fear and would be forever until this ordeal was over. I made Ren promise to call her the moment the fight was over. I didn’t know what state I’d be in, if it was going to be the living or dying kind.