Page 3 of Revive Me

Most are just the usual congratulatory text, but some are from people I haven’t talked to in years, sending congratulations and following it up with awe should catch up sometime. Others are from women I’ve hooked up with, asking me to let them know when I’m free for somecelebrating.

I huff an amused laugh as I power off my phone and toss it on the couch. A lot of people would probably be overwhelmed, but I’ve always loved the praise.

Pulling in another deep breath, I turn my attention back to the city skyline before me. It’s times like this when I feel like I’m literally on top of the world: I’m rich, I’m adored, and now the entire MMA world knows that I’m also the biggest threat in the light heavyweight division. Only one more fight before I can prove I’m the biggest threat in itshistory.

I can’t help the slow, self-satisfied grin that stretches across my face at the thought.

God, I love my life.

2

ROMAN

Dustin’s 'team celebrating' lasts approximately twenty minutes.

Because that’s how long it takes him—and the rest of the guys—to find a group of girls to chat up.

Sighing, I stretch my arm along the back of the booth and settle deeper into my seat. Not that I’ll be here much longer; drinking doesn’t hold the same appeal it used to. Nowadays, I stay away from anything that doesn’t make my body feel better. And with half my teammates gone, I’m not exactly itching to hang around in a loud bar for no reason.

But then, I see her.

She’s standing at the bar with her back to me. From here, all I can take in is her blonde hair down to her waist, and the tight black mini dress she’s wearing. But then she pushes up onto her heels to yell her order in the bartender’s ear, and the position perfectly accentuates her shapely legs. My focus immediately zeroes in on her ass.

Fuck, I want to bite it.

Once he takes her order, the bartender shoots her a wink and walks off to grab her drinks. The attention causes her to duck her head with a smile, her hand reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear. The motion is adorable.

I take a sip of my whiskey, my eyes glued to her. She takes the four shots of clear liquor from the bartender and turns to her girlfriends standing behind her. With a big smile, she passes them out, then clinks her glass to theirs. The wince that pinches her face as she downs the shot tells me drinking isn’t really herfavorite thing to do, either. When one of her friends gestures to ask if she wants another, she shakes her head with a laugh.

Downing the last of my own drink, I decide this is my opening.

It occurs to me on my way across the bar that I can’t remember the last time I approached a woman. With my name growing bigger and bigger—and with there being minimal damage to my face throughout my career—it’s not usually me who’s initiated dates or hookups. Being the one to approach feels weirdly foreign.

But she’s gorgeous, and that smile is doing something to me. I’m slightly more forceful than I need to be as I push through the crowd.

As I slide in next to her, she’s still facing her friends, her back to the bar top, which means we’re side to side but turned in opposite directions.

Keeping my gaze trained forward, I lean over to speak softly into her ear. “You know, I can recommend a greatmocktail if you’re interested.”

I don’t plan to look at her when she inevitably turns to face me, but…I can’t help it.

She’s fucking breathtaking. I knew she had a great body and an infectious smile even from across the bar, but seeing her up close? Looking into those blue eyes?

It stuns me for a moment.

With only inches between us, I can see the surprise in her eyes and the way her hair sticks to her damp neck from the heat. Can smell the lingering tang of tequila on her breath, along with her subtly sweet perfume. And I take my time registering all of it.

But when she doesn’t answer, and her gaze continues to travel over my face, I eventually quirk an eyebrow in question.

Her head jerks as she snaps out of her study. “Sorry,” she blurts out. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard the word ‘mocktail’ come out of a hot guy’s mouth. Threw me for a second.”

A grin slowly pulls at my lips. “You calling me hot, gorgeous?”

She blinks, then slaps a hand across her eyes. “I can’t believe I just said that out loud. See,thisis why I can’t drink tequila.”

I let out a loud laugh, which has her hand lowering and a small smile peeking up at me.

“Well, that just brings me back to my mocktail offer,” I say with a chuckle.

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