Chapter 19 #2
The onlookers notice, the temperature in the room changing on a dime. I feel the weight of their attention shift toward me, a ripple of realization moving through the room. It’s as if someone lobbed a live grenade onto the gym floor, the roar of the crowd collapsing into stunned silence.
Violet’s opponent takes advantage of her distraction, hands circling her waist as he angles to throw her off. My wolf surges, possessive instinct pulsing through me.
I’ve had enough.
A low growl rumbles in my chest as I step forward. “Get your hands off my mate,” I snarl, voice edged with steel.
His eyes go wide. He jerks his hands away from her body like he’s been burned, scrambling out from underneath her. “C-Commander Kane,” he chokes, clambering to his feet and wiping sweat from his brow. “I didn’t… I-I was just…”
“Leaving,” I finish for him, letting my wolf show in my irises to cement the order.
He nods quickly, scrambling away, while Violet rises from the mat unhurriedly. A lazy smile curves her mouth as she catches my eye, like she’s daring me to lose my cool.
Something hot and dark coils in my chest, but I don’t let it show. I keep my face blank, arms folded, expression locked down tight.
I don’t so much as blink as she advances in my direction, her chest heaving, knuckles split and bleeding.
The bond strains between us, taut as a wire as she walks straight up to me, inclining her chin to hold my gaze.
A line of sweat trails down her temple, and I have to fight the urge to reach up and wipe it away.
“I’m not doing your fucking desk job,” she says, voice flat.
I hold her stare for a long moment, taking in the faint tremor in her hands and the bruise already blooming beneath her left eye. Then I erase the last sliver of distance between us, crowding in so close that her wolf’s energy brushes against mine, wild and electric.
“You’re making this harder than it needs to be,” I murmur.
She shrugs, unapologetic. “Not the first time. Won’t be the last.”
I exhale sharply through my nose. “Let’s go,” I growl, reaching for her elbow.
She jerks back, slipping neatly out of reach. “No.”
I arch a brow with lethal calm. “No?”
“Tell you what.” She clucks her tongue, lifting her chin as a wicked smile curves her lips. “If you can beat me in a match, I’ll leave with you.”
A ripple of excitement rolls through the crowd, murmurs swelling as her challenge lands.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I mutter.
“What’s wrong, Commander?” she laughs, raising her voice. “Scared to fight a girl? Or scared I’ll mess up that pretty face?”
I pin her with a glare that could sand paint off a wall. “You sure you wanna do this?”
She cocks a hip and tosses her hair, giving me an insolent once-over. “Oh, I’m sure. You gonna be man enough to step up, or just keep standing there looking broody?”
My inner wolf howls with excitement, eager to meet her challenge.
Asshole.
I sigh, dig my keys and phone from my pockets, and toss them onto the mat. Then I toe off my boots and advance, prepared to end this quickly.
The room fucking explodes, roaring louder than any crowd I’ve ever commanded. Their energy hits hard, a wild thrill running through me despite my best efforts at resistance.
It’s been far too long since I sparred just for the hell of it. For fun, even.
Violet jogs backward, opening up the space between us, never taking her eyes off me. Her arms hang loose at her sides, the faint sheen of sweat on her skin catching the lights. Her eyes are wide, bright blue and utterly fearless.
We start circling one another, the crowd fading to a dim blur at the edges of my vision. All I see is her– every twitch of muscle, every subtle shift in her stance.
“Want me to go easy?” I ask, keeping my voice low. “Or are we doing this for real, Violent?”
She snorts an arrogant laugh. “Hit me with your best shot, Commander.”
I shake my head, a quiet chuckle slipping out. “Just don’t cry when you lose.”
She grins like a maniac, irises rimmed with silver– and then she’s on me.
Her first move is a feint. She fakes a jab, then snaps a kick at my knee. I block, catch her ankle, and twist. She rolls with it, using the momentum to try for a sweep on my other leg.
Nice try.
I plant my feet, drop my center, and catch her mid-spin, flipping her clean back onto her feet.
She barely pauses before coming at me again, faster this time. I let her close the distance before grabbing her wrists, spinning her around, and hauling her back against my chest.
I expect a struggle, and she delivers, thrashing hard enough to crack the back of her head into my nose. The pain barely registers through the adrenaline. She breaks free, spins, and drives an elbow into my jaw.
The crowd loses their shit while I shake it off, baring my teeth. “Cute.”
She beams a grin, then goes in for a takedown, but I’m ready.
I roll as we drop to the mat, trapping her underneath me.
She spits and writhes like a feral cat, nails digging into my forearms, face twisted with sheer determination.
Her breath puffs hot against my throat, and for a second, we’re locked there– chest to chest, bodies straining, neither willing to give.
I could easily end this right here, but something in her eyes dares me not to. And I’m enjoying this far too much.
So, I let her wriggle. Let her slip a hand free and rake it down my back, nails biting in. I return the favor, grabbing a fistful of her hair and yanking her head sideways, exposing the long line of her throat.
“You wanna bite?” she taunts, breathless. “Or just grind on me until you get off?”
I huff a short laugh. “Don’t tempt me.”
The words are barely out before she bucks, catching me off balance and reversing us in a sharp, practiced roll. Suddenly she’s on top, straddling my hips with her palms braced against my chest, grinning like a menace.
“Your move, Daddy Kane,” she pants.
Jesus.
I grab her wrists, twist, and flip us again, pinning her flat to the mat. This time, I don’t let go. I settle my full weight over her, my thighs bracketing her hips, hands caging her wrists above her head.
She tests my grip, but I don’t budge. We both know how this ends.
Her eyes narrow, heat flashing through them as she arches, deliberately brushing against me. “What now?” she spits. “You gonna make me beg?”
The crowd is chanting, but it’s just background noise.
I lower my face until our noses brush. “Tap out,” I growl.
“Make me,” she grits out, bucking her hips.
I shift my grip, one hand still locking down her wrists, the other sliding to her waist. I squeeze hard and she sucks in a sharp gasp.
I know her type. She’ll fight until there’s nothing left, then demand another round.
So I wait.
I let her strain, let her twist and burn through what strength she has left. Eventually, I feel it– the falter in her resistance, the tremor in her thighs as her energy wanes.
I lean in, lips close to her ear. “Tap out, mate.”
She bares her teeth. “Fuck you.”
A smile tugs at my mouth. “Not here.”
With one final squeeze, she goes slack, the fight draining from her body. Though she keeps right on glaring at me, defiant to the end.
“Fine, you win,” she spits, the words a curse.
A ripple of satisfaction rolls through me, my wolf relishing the victory.
I release Violet, push to my feet, and offer her a hand. She glares at it for a beat before taking it and letting me haul her upright. The crowd explodes, the sound crashing over us in a tidal wave. For a moment, we just stand there, both of us sweaty and breathless.
“Never thought I’d see the day,” someone hollers, followed by a sharp whistle. I track the voice to Drake– recently promoted deputy warden of the TTC. He grins, tipping his head toward me. “You’re a lucky man, Kane.”
I grunt, wiping dried blood from my nose. “Luck’s got nothing to do with it.”
Violet huffs and turns to stalk for the exit, shouldering through the crowd of admirers with a look that dares anyone to get in her way. I snag my things off the mat and follow, tugging my boots back on while barely breaking stride.
In the hall, she stops short and pivots, folding her arms across her chest. She’s still breathing hard, hair a mess, eyes bright.
“That was fun,” she admits, voice hoarse. “So, what now? You gonna drag me back to the Tower and lock me up?”
I shake my head, unable to fight the grin tugging at my lips. “I don’t think you’d stay put, even if I tried to.”
She laughs, surprised, and for a split second I glimpse the girl she must’ve been growing up– wild, uncontainable, burning too bright for anyone to handle. Somewhere along the way, she was taught that was a flaw.
It isn’t.
It’s what makes her powerful. Magnetic. Mine.
“Come on, mate,” I growl, jerking my chin in command.
Her smile fades. She folds her arms tighter, defensive. “I said I’d leave with you, not do that stupid job.”
I exhale slowly. “I know.”
Victory flashes across her face.
I turn and start down the hall, and she quickly falls into step beside me, close enough that our arms brush. For the first time, it doesn’t feel like there’s miles of distance between us. Our bond vibrates with a strange new current– brighter, sharper, already hungry for the next battle.
The noise of the gym fades behind us as we move down the corridor together, adrenaline still riding high. I steer us toward the next hall, focused on getting her out of here, but she slows, hooking a thumb over her shoulder.
“I’ve gotta grab my clothes from the locker room.”
I give her a quick once-over, automatically cataloguing her out of habit.
The black sports bra and shorts she’s wearing are enforcer-issue, clearly borrowed.
Her skin is slick with sweat, a smear of blood drying along her ribs that isn’t hers.
She could use some cleaning up before we head back to the Tower.
I probably could, too, after working up a sweat with her on the mat.
I nod and pivot smoothly, changing course and heading for the locker room.
Getting naked with her right now probably isn’t smart, given the aftermath of the match still hanging between us.
But neither is leaving things unfinished.