Page 77 of Resisting Royal

CHAPTER 38

ROYAL

The blood hit the mat as Ruben’s left hook connected with his opponent’s cheek. The crowd surrounding the cage went wild, their cheers and foot stomps mixed with the sound of the cage’s rattling. The adrenaline was so thick I could almost taste it through the thick glass that I watched the fight through.

“I can see why he is undefeated,” I mused, more to myself than anyone who surrounded me, but still, Troy answered.

“He’s a powerhouse with a lot of drive,” Troy mentioned.

“I think we should offer him a permanent spot on our lineup. Bring it up to him tonight, but only if he wins.” I was sure he would win. Just watching him, I could tell he would be a hard one to defeat. His opponent's leg gave way, and his knees hit the mat hard. His upper body swayed as he fought to stay upright.

“I’ll take care of it.” Troy plopped down next to me, his long legs stretched out.

“Any news about Frank?” The opponent lost his fight against Ruben, his body slamming down sideways to the left.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Troy’s head shake. “Nada. It’s like he just disappeared.”

Odd. “Any idea who he owed in the first place?”

“That’s the thing. I can’t turn up anything. Absolutely nothing. I don’t know, man. It’s not looking good. I have a bad feeling about this.”

He crossed his arms over his chest as he watched the crowd. “Keep searching. Something is bound to turn up.” He nodded, and I stood, turning my back to the glass and the group on the other side. “It’s late. I have a bit of business to take care of then I want to head home. See if you can clear this place out on time, will ya?”

I left the office hours later, well past the time the ring was empty, and the crowds had scattered. On the drive home, I stopped and got two cups of coffee and two breakfast platters to bring home to the wife as I had promised her.

She was asleep when I walked in the door at nearly six in the morning, but I knew she would be up soon. The desire to peek into the bedroom and watch her sleep consumed me. The empty spot next to her would be begging me to lay close, to wrap my arm around her middle and savor what was officially mine.

As if she sensed me, she suddenly appeared on the stairs, paddling down barefoot, rabbit in hand. “I thought I heard you.”

“Could have been my mother.” I licked my lips, watching the muscles of her thigh flex in her shorts as she moved down the steps.

She laughed. “Not a chance. Your mother is way too loud, you were trying to be quiet. Plus, your mother already left an hour ago, taking her tornado of noises with her. She was mumbling something about getting a prime spot at a twenty-four-hour tanning bed.”

I cringed. “She’s going to look like her skin is made of leather before she croaks.” Bianca nodded, then she bent over, letting her rabbit roam free on the floor. “I brought you breakfast.”

Her face lit up. “Aw, you do care.”

“Did you doubt it?”

She shook her head in denial and strolled past me. “I had my moments.”

I followed after her, reaching out to pull her body back into mine. I wrapped my arms around her, burying my nose in the crook of her neck and inhaling before letting out a sigh. “No more doubting me, it’s a house rule.”

She turned in my arms. “You can’t make up rules like that, not without notice and proper forms filed.”

I leaned in to kiss her nose. “I’ll have my secretary get right on those forms first thing.” Her hand reached up to cup my cheek and for the first time, I noticed my ring sparkling on her finger. “You have my ring on.”

“I do.”

“You have my ring on,” I repeated.

She laughed, her finger running over the scruff on my jaw. “I said I do.”

The sight of her wearing my ring made my insides clench. My heart felt ready to explode. My hand went to her hair, pulling it hard enough to tilt her head back, forcing her to look up at me as I leaned down and crashed my lips into hers, consuming her in a bruising kiss. I stepped forward, forcing her to step backward until her back hit the counter.

I hoisted her up, sitting her on the granite as I tore my mouth away from hers, moving to the skin on her neck. “You have my ring on.” She moaned her answer as my fingers snaked past the hem of her shorts to her upper thigh, caressing the tattoo that was the source of my constant lust. “Do you know how sexy that is? To see you with my ring on your finger, a clear statement claiming you’re mine?”

“No.” She gasped as my fingers passed her panties.

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