44. Gavin #2
The sound of the mic switching on came over the sound system and filtered through the speakers as the referee looked at Daire and said, “Ready to fight?” When Daire nodded, the referee turned his attention to his opponent and asked the same question.
Once he got the all-clear, he clapped his hands together and the bell sounded.
The crowd quieted, a hum of excitement filling the warehouse as the two men began to size one another up. This part of the fight felt very similar to the underground, the way Daire was zeroing in on his opponent, no doubt looking for any kind of tells before he pounced—then it happened.
Daire was across the mat, striking out first with a quick jab to the chest and cross-blow to the jaw, starting off strong.
His opponent fell back a step, stumbling over his feet at the force of that first punch.
But he was quick to recover, bouncing back on his toes like he hadn’t just seen the Milky Way spinning over his head.
His eyes tracked Daire as they moved around the ring.
I brought a hand up to my mouth, biting down on my nail, as the guy made a rush for Daire. He kicked out and landed a blow to Daire’s thigh at the same time he struck him with an uppercut to the face.
“Motherfucking ouch !” West winced as Daire’s head snapped back, and I couldn’t help but do the same, because that one had to hurt .
“Reaper! Reaper!” The crowd started up again, and like something had just gone off in his brain—or been knocked loose—Daire straightened, rolled his shoulders, and narrowed his eyes on the man opposite him.
The Reaper had finally come out to play.
“Is it me or does Daire look like he suddenly wants to—oh shit ”—Travis feinted to the left like he was the one dodging Daire’s fist—“kill that guy?”
Another cross-hook, and Daire was grabbing “that guy’s” shoulders and pulling him down to land a hard knee strike to the stomach. There was a loud gasp of air from the man as Daire moved in, shifted slightly down, then hooked a leg around his opponent’s and tackled him to the ground.
Once they were there, there was a whole lot of rolling around and punching that was difficult to see from where we stood. But since the referee didn’t call a stop to it, I figured it was all by the rules as Daire straddled his opponent and began to land strike after strike to his head.
“Sweet mother of— Gavin?” Travis grinned at me. “You let him straddle you like this at home?”
I flipped him off, but my eyes never wavered from the fight. Daire tightened his thighs and rolled, moving the two of them across the mat until he was taking the other man in a chokehold.Daire wound an arm around his neck and his legs around his waist.
I caught West in my periphery looking my way. “Don’t say it.”
“So that’s a yes. Got it.”
I shook my head, but as the man in Daire’s hold thumped the mat once, twice, and then a third time, the fight was called and the Reaper reigned supreme.
“Hell yes!” I called out as the crowd went wild.
The guys whooped and whistled, there were more chants of “Reaper, Reaper!” and as the referee held up Daire’s arm, I could’ve sworn he almost grinned.
Almost.
“The next match begins in ten minutes,” the announcer said, and as the lights went up again, I pushed through the crowd in the direction Daire had gone.
I wasn’t sure whether it was okay to hug him or show any kind of affection in this setting, in front of all these people, so as I approached I kept my hands to myself, though I couldn’t have dimmed my smile if I tried.
But if there was one thing I loved about Daire, it was that he gave no fucks whatsoever.
As soon as I was in grabbing distance, he swooped me into his arms, lifted me clear off my feet, and crashed his lips down on mine. His skin was slick with sweat, and I could feel the way the adrenaline was still running through him from his rapid heartbeat.
I didn’t care. I was so damn excited for him and glad his head was still on his shoulders that he could’ve been a bloody mess and I still would’ve wrapped myself around him.
He pulled his head back to look at me but still kept his arms tight around my waist. “You proud? I didn’t break any rules.”
I laughed and gave him another quick kiss, glad he’d removed the mouth guard already. “Keep that up and you might have the whole place chanting your name next time.”
“Fuck me, that was insane,” West said as the guys caught up to us.
“Yeah, I knew you liked to punch things, but that was impressive,” Preston added.
Daire lowered me to my feet but kept me close. “If you want me to practice on anyone, let me know.”
“Uh, I have a serious bone to pick with you, and not the kind I like.” Travis crossed his arms. “Reaper? You have some explaining to do.”
Daire glanced at me, and I shook my head, letting him know I hadn’t said a word.
“Amazing fight, man,” Donovan said, bumping knuckles with Daire, who still wore his gloves. “Kelly would love watching this shit.”
Daire nodded in acknowledgment, and I elbowed him to say something.
“I, uh, appreciate you guys being here.” The words came out stilted, but they were more than he’d ever bothered with in the past.
Preston smiled, answering for everyone. “Yeah?”
Daire nodded. “Yeah.”
It was like no one had any clue what to say to something nice coming out of his mouth, and when an awkward silence passed, Daire cleared his throat and added, “Now get the fuck out so I can spend time with my guy.”
Now that they knew how to respond to.They all peaced out and headed for the exit.
“Free to leave, or do you have to stay?” I asked, grinning at him and hoping for option one.
“You should know by now.” He pulled me back in, flush with his body. “I do want I want.”
“I like that…” I was shameless, rubbing myself against him, and he lowered his mouth to my ear.
“And right now I wanna do you.”
I turned my head so I could capture those sweet-talking lips, but I’d barely brushed my mouth over his when Travis came back.
“Wait, you never answered about the Rea?—”
“Fuck off,” Daire growled in a tone that brooked no argument, and I chuckled as he closed the distance between us again. “Now, where were we?”