Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
Sloan
I’m sitting backstage on a sofa next to Ash, while Beck weighs in. The arena is already so loud, the floor feels like it’s vibrating from the volume.
Beck’s hardly let me out of his sight since I got here.
“You can’t stay back here during the fight unfortunately, but you’ll be safe there. Promise.” Asher pulls a ticket for a suite out of his pocket and hands it to me. “This is where you’re supposed to be sitting as one of the girlfriends.” Asher winks at me.
“Ooooh, like a WAG? Thank you, Ash. I’ll head there now.”
I take the ticket and pull Asher into a hug. “Beck’s got this. You can breathe.”
“Thank you, Sloan,” Asher hugs me back.
“Quit hugging my girl!” Beck barks, making his way over to us.
“Good luck kiss for me, Little Dove.” Beck puckers his lips.
I give him a hug and a quick kiss and tell him, “Get your title back, Beckett Scott!”
I make my way out into the arena, looking at how almost every seat is filled. If James was still looking for me, I’d be incredibly anxious around all of these people. But for once I can just enjoy this feeling of doing something without fear.
I’m in complete awe as my eyes scour the room. There are strobe lights flickering overhead, with the octagon in the dead center.
A jumbotron sits directly above the ring, ever changing with the fighters and their rankings listed.
It’s so wild being in the thick of it. Watching it on TV with Quinn didn’t feel anywhere near as amped up as this.
The energy in the room is electric, palpable, and buzzing with excitement.
Making my way to the suite, I take a seat fairly close to the glass.
I know Ash is worried about Beck after what he witnessed last time, but I’m confident Beck has what it takes to win.
I believe Beck when he says if he wasn’t ready, he wouldn’t be here. I also think Beck wants to do this for himself, not for anyone else.
But I am slightly worried, because Beck may not remember exactly what happened to him, but the body remembers. I just pray it doesn’t remember when Beck’s in the ring.
The announcers’ voice draws me out of my head. “Ladies and gentlemen. Fighting in our Heavyweight Division tonight is reigning champion, Kenzo King, facing Beckett Scott who is here for his chance at redemption. We expect this to be a hard-hitting affair.”
A video starts playing on the jumbotron, Kenzo King is walking through a hallway and Beast-the Southpaw Remix is playing.
As Kenzo’s massive frame enters the octagon, a flashback of Beck’s last fight with him runs through my head.
He looks even more ferocious than he did on screen all those months ago.
Reminding me how it took one hit and he almost took Beck’s life.
Knots start to form in my stomach, envisioning a repeat of that fight.
Don’t think like that.
Beck was in a completely different head space then. I have to remind myself that his mind is clear.
Hopefully he wants to get this fight over with, as quickly as I do. So, we can return to his room and finish what we started. I hoped he would love this T-shirt. When Quinn dropped me off at the airport, she was also squealing about it.
The jumbotron shows Beck walking through the hallway to Knocked Loose’s Don’t Reach For Me. People are yelling and whistling, making the room feel like a live wire around me. It breaks me out of my thoughts of how this fight went last time.
The announcer starts talking about how Beck had been the champion for a couple years but lost to Kenzo King several months ago after a very quick knockout, which was completely unexpected. Beck took a few months to heal but is here to take back his title.
People are screaming, clapping, and whistling so loud, and my heart is beating wildly in my chest. Both at how nervous I am that something bad is going to happen to Beck and at how fucking gorgeous he looks in his video, wearing the hell out of a burgundy suit tailored perfectly to his body, and the sexiest smirk on his lips.
When Beck enters the octagon in tight little black shorts and no shirt, my body is instantly on fire.
I haven’t gotten to see or touch him in months.
It’s a gift to see Beck naked. My core clenches at the sight of him.
All I want to do is run my tongue through every ridge of defined muscle on his delectable body, and climb him like a tree.
My eyes track Beck’s every move. Every flex of his muscles. Watching him is like foreplay right now. Fuck me.
When Beck reaches his corner, his camp immediately starts taking care of wrapping his hands up.
His wrapping is…violet?
Huh, that’s unusual.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the main event of the evening,” says the announcer.
The referee comes to the center and explains the rules. He confirms that they understand, both nodding. The fighters return to their respective corners.
The ref asks if they are ready, looking at each opponent for confirmation. Both fighters take their fighting stance. They touch gloves.
I notice Kenzo barking and snarling at Beck, but Beck remains expressionless. What an animal! My stomach twists in knots. Beck still demands the attention of the room, even in his indifference.
“Let’s go!” the ref yells and steps out of the center of the ring.
Kenzo and Beck bounce around each other a bit, sizing each other up. Kenzo throws a punch and Beck dodges it.
I’m on the edge of my seat, adrenaline coursing through my veins, my knee bouncing with anticipation, so focused on every move Beck makes. My eyes never leave him. My heart pounding so hard I feel it in my ears.
Kenzo kicks Beck in the shin and Beck jumps back. Beck takes another step further back, as if he’s preparing for something. Kenzo goes to throw a punch and I cover my eyes. Flinching at every punch Kenzo tries to land.
I notice Beck jump back again and can’t figure out why, but then Kenzo’s leg comes up in a roundhouse kick that would’ve gotten Beck right in the side of the head, but Kenzo just misses. Kenzo looks pissed.
Kenzo tries to throw a hook and Beck quickly dodges and counter strikes with a right jab, and a left hook that lands perfectly on Kenzo’s jaw and knocks him to the ground.
I’m immediately on my feet, standing and holding my breath, with my fist to my mouth. I’m looking at the sheen of sweat coating Beck’s skin. My body doesn’t know how to feel right now. Worried for Beck? On fire for Beck?
Beck goes to finish the job but Kenzo jumps up and throws a solid uppercut to Beck’s jaw. He shakes it off, adjusting himself, before dodging another series of punches from Kenzo. Kenzo is not letting up. He’s out for blood.
Beck is finally able to get enough space that he throws a series of punches: a jab, a cross, and a deadly hook. Kenzo falls to the ground. Beck gets on top of him about to throw another jab, but the referee comes over and breaks up the fight and calls the knockout.
“Winner Beckett Scott!”
The crowd goes insane! It takes a minute for it to register that it’s finally over but I’m beaming at Beck. So fucking proud of him for winning and for restraining himself at the end.
I am screaming my head off with tears streaming down my face. My heart full of so much love and pride for this wonderful man.
I’m staring at the ring, when Beck’s eyes connect with mine. Beck has the biggest smile on his face.
I raise my hands above my head and clap as loud as I can, whooping and hollering for him.
“That’s my girl!” Beck mouths.
“That’s my man!” I mouth back and wink at him. “So proud of you!” I blow him a kiss.
“I love you,” Beck mouths back.
Before I can blink, I’m up and running to get backstage. The second I spot Beck, walking in from the octagon, I’m launching myself at him. Catching me in the air, I wrap my legs around him, grab his face, and kiss him with every ounce of adrenaline coursing through my body.
“You were fucking incredible, babe,” I squeal, pulling back with his cheeks still between my hands.
“Thank you, Little Dove.” Beck kisses me softly.
“I’m so proud of you. For real, Beckett Scott. That took a lot of courage, to get back out there so soon. But purple hand wraps?”
“They’re the color of your eyes. I needed something that would remind me of you.”
I swoon at his response, kissing him again.
“You two need to get a room,” Ash says, coming up behind us.
“We have one.” I giggle, nipping Beck’s ear with my teeth.
“So glad we aren’t sharing one like last time.” Ash shakes his head.
“Adore you, but same, Ash.” I laugh.
“You, this T-shirt, and nothing else, in my bed, in twenty minutes, Little Dove. I have months of sexual frustration to take out on this sinful body,” Beck growls.
Making me instantly turn red at his comment in front of Ash.
The announcer comes in, just barely breaking up the sexual tension, “How does it feel to take that title back, Scott?”
“It felt amazing! But what’s even more amazing is getting my girl back,” Beck replies, never losing eye contact with me.
“Ah, I see! What do you think?” The announcer looks at me and then my shirt, chuckling, “Beckett Scott’s Girl?”
“I’m so proud of Beck! It’s well deserved!” I smile at the announcer.
“Looks like you’re checking off all of the victory boxes, Scott!” the announcer states.
“Love isn’t a game. It’s inevitable,” Beck says to the announcer as he carries me away to the uber.
I melt into Beck’s arms. It feels so good to be home.