Page 27 of From Best To Bested

“I’m gonna enjoy breaking your holes when you’re finally mine,” Jake said with absolute certainty.

He’d never hid the fact that he wanted to bend Roman over. He’d gone through polite advances, smug come-ons, threatening, postering, scare tactics, and so much more over the years. Roman always managed to fight him off, to beat him back, to shrug off his diluted antics. But now Roman worried Jake would take him here and no one would stop him.

“That’s not going to happen, buddy.” Ezra slapped a hand on Roman’s shoulder, snapping him away from his fear-spiraling thoughts and back to the reality of things. “I don’t plan on sharing.”

“Maybe a trade.” Jake shrugged with non-committal indifference, but his eyes were hungry as they locked onto Roman’s naked body.

“There’s nothing you have that I want,” Ezra said.

“I got a pretty nest egg, some connections, and honestly, the way I heard you wearing out that ass, you should probably trade him in for something better. Champions deserve the best.” Jake winked at Roman. “I like my things a little worn for wear, anyway.”

“I don’t think you understand,” Ezra continued with this almost perplexed expression. “Roman is my friend. I would never do something like that to my friend. Sorry, but as long as we’re pals, there’s not a thing in the world you have that I want.”

It was a haunting comment. Ezra spoke so genuinely, so matter-of-factly, Roman almost believed the sincerity in the words. But they weren’t sincere. Ezra’s friendship was merely a ruse to veil the horrible things he did to Roman. Things Roman consented to, things he willingly allowed from Ezra. It was this warped manipulation that continued messing with Roman’s head. The longer he dwelled on it, the more confused he got.

Ezra’s strokes were brutal and filled with hate when he pumped into Roman last night, but there was a tenderness to how he kissed Roman, an affectionate desire in his tongue when it parted Roman’s lips. It didn’t make sense. But Ezra continued going late in the night after they’d dozed off once, asking how close Roman was, waiting for a response, then changing his strokes to bring Roman off a second time without Roman even needing to touch his own cock.

Roman wasn’t curious—not when it came to Ezra—but he was so confused. Still, even if he were unknowingly gay, bi, something in the middle, he’d never willingly submit, never give someone that level of control over him. Yet he had. He had, and it felt nice. At least in the sense he could breathe easy again. He didn’t have to fight every second of the day just to survive; he could give the reins to someone else and let them keep him safe and secure. He hated himself a little bit for thinking such things, for being weak, for failing.

“What’s that dumb expression?” Roman thought. “Caught between a rock and a hard cock.”

The silly musing almost brought a smile to his face, but he couldn’t find the humor in anything anymore. He knew that wasn’t the saying, but it was for him. The rock being The Pit, an arena of death, and a farewell to Levi’s safety. The hard cock being Ezra literally pounding Roman into his place, showing everyone his superiority as the new reigning champion of the arena and parading a phony friendship.

Roman had found himself so lost in his thoughts that he hadn’t even noticed Jake take his leave. Ezra nudged Roman.

“Come on,” he demanded as he did with all the things he said, though there was a kindness in his tone.

Roman couldn’t and wouldn’t make sense of Ezra. Right now, all he hoped to do was survive him.

Ignoring everyone else’s comments, Roman followed Ezra to get dried and dressed and then through the cellblock until they arrived at the gym. Ezra strolled through to the private section reserved for the champion, a perk Roman had lost once he lost his title. He didn’t know if Ezra wanted to actually workout for an upcoming match or if he simply wanted to gloat while Roman stood on the sidelines.

“Ready?” Ezra gestured at the treadmills.

The champion’s gym wasn’t anything noteworthy, but unlike the main gym, which mostly consisted of outdated weights and hazardous machines, the champion’s gym had some nice equipment. It wasn’t a lot of stuff, but enough to make the room cramped and easily allow for a small group to workout together.

When a small group entered, Roman flinched, worried they’d come to challenge Ezra, worried they’d come to challenge Roman. Everyone knew this place was off-limits.

“Howdy.” Ezra waved them inside, allowing them to survey the area. “Come on in.”

“What’re you doing?” Roman hissed in a concerned aside.

“Returning some territory and making some allies,” Ezra whispered, a friendly smile on his face for the arriving men but a cutting glare for Roman.

Technically, the champion’s gym wasn’t for the champion alone, but it had become that way once Roman took the title. After Jake and some of his crew ambushed Roman after a workout, he fought them off, broke a few noses, and put both of Jake’s arms in slings. Once he’d fended off the threat, he marched into the warden’s office and made the demand the gym belonged to him. It belonged to the champion. If other arena contenders wanted to train in there, they could gladly face off against Roman in the arena for the opportunity.

Roman sighed, recalling how much weight his voice used to hold, remembering the authority in his demands, the confidence in his walk, how tall he held himself.

When he stirred out of his depressing thoughts, he found Ezra locked in idle chitchat with the other men.

“Yeah, we’re getting in some cardio to work on our stamina,” Ezra playfully said, reaching out to grab Roman’s waist. “This one’s got a lot of energy.”

When Roman tensed at the hold, Ezra strengthened his grip and pulled Roman closer. He bumped Roman’s butt against his crotch and made a show of the action.

“I should probably focus on my next match-up, but gotta make sure my bestie is in top shape, too.”

The other men nodded and went to go workout, eyeing Roman the entire time.

“We’ll start with cardio, then something to keep those glutes in fan-fuckable-tastic form,” Ezra whispered, then slapped Roman’s butt and squeezed. “After that, you can join me for a sparring session. I got a match against Victor Fox this week. I’ve heard he’s a wiry fucker.”

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