Page 67 of I Am Lioness

They duked it out for almost the full five minutes every round and while McLeod didn't go down easily, one way or another, Hazel eventually got her to submit. It took a lot of strength and strategy to keep her down on the mat, but nonetheless she did it.

My girl did it once again and the victory earned her a first-class ticket to The Finals where she would be matched up with Panterra for the fourth year in a row.

After leaving The Windy City behind, all I remember is buckets of rain pouring down on a constant basis from the day we arrived in Seattle.

It was every bit the soggy city it was painted to be on TV and the big screen. Aside from the gym, Hazel and I hadn’t been able to go much of anywhere and we were growing rather antsy from the monotonous routine of staring at the inside of our suite or the same four walls of the gym.

Two nights before The Finals, after another gloomy yet surprisingly dry day, Hazel suggested venturing out somewhere to break away from the gnawing sense of cabin fever, even if it were just to grab a bite to eat.

I agreed, obviously, and we rushed out the door before Seattle could quite literally rain all over our parade again.

Settling on dinner and a few drinks, we ended up at a small pub not too far from the hotel. Maybe it was the two glasses of wine she’d had before our entrée’s were served or the simple fact that we were finally out and about, but Hazel was adorably chatty and very giggly.

I sat across from her in silence with a smile on my face as she went on and on, barely taking a breath between one topic and another. In the time we’d been together, I'd never seen her so animated, and as I regarded her with an ardent stare, I found myself contemplating whether or not to ask the question I’d been debating since we were in New York.

I never asked her though, fearful that what it entailed would scare her off and dampen the remainder of our evening.

We strolled back into the hotel sometime around eleven, beating another storm by just minutes. On our way up to the suite, Hazel made it very clear what her intentions were once we entered that room, intentions that matched mine to the T.

She pressed me up against the wall of the elevator and tunneled her fingers into my hair, pressing her lips to mine.

“I want you.” She whispered.

I hummed appreciatively and dug my fingers into her waist as her tongue flashed out to duel with mine.

“Yes? No? Maybe so?” Her tone was playful.

“How about we make use of that giant tub?” I suggested against her neck.

Her mischievous grin was utterly palpable.

“I’m quite liking where your head is at, Mr. Carr.” She purred as the elevator slowed to a stop, the doors opening up on our floor with the loud ding.

Taking my hand in hers, Hazel lead us down the hall to our suite and I pulled the room card from my wallet, sliding it into the slot. The lock released with a click and I pushed the door open, motioning for her to go in first.

“Get naked,” she said in a domineering tone, sashaying her sweet little ass down the narrow hallway that lead to the master. “I'll be waiting.”

“Yes ma’am.” I chuckled, quickly trailing into the living area to turn on the lights.

Nothing happened when I flipped the switch though.

What the hell?

I tried again, flipping it on and off several times but still nothing happened.

Suddenly I was jerked backward into the dark and a thick cloth was shoved in my face followed by a strong arm curling firmly around my neck.

I struggled against my assailant but they tightened their hold around me and pressed the cloth further into my face.Hazel, I thought to myself in panic as my mind began to fog. I could barely breathe, feeling weaker and weaker by the second, my body slumping in a heap against my captor.

Darkness.

“He's awake.” A woman's voice said from somewhere nearby.

I lifted my head and groaned, still feeling some of the effects from whatever had been used to put me out. My eyes struggled focus around the room even as the sound of footsteps approaching grew louder.

It was light enough for me to see I was in an empty warehouse but dark enough that I couldn't make out who was lurking in the shadows.

“Good evening, Mr. Carr.” Said the same feminine voice.

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