Page 86 of Heartbreaker
“Dammit, Wolf!” I groan as my back hits the mat. Not only did he full stop for extra impact, but his forearm landed in the spot between a perfect landing and the top of my breasts. Women do their best to avoid that area, but the guys…they forget sometimes.
“You good?”
“Just keep going, fucker.” With an inhale, I roll to my stomach as he runs the ropes, jumping over me and rebounding off the opposite rope as I jump up. He ducks, missing my swing, and slides behind me.
Arms wrapped securely behind my waist, Bennett lifts me off my feet and over his head, slamming my shoulders into the mat—German Suplex—except he doesn’t let go. He rolls through, still holding my waist. I elbow his side, but he only tightens his grip. Adjusting his feet, Bennett tosses me over his head into another suplex, this time letting go.
“You’re enjoying this,” I say, wiping the corner of my mouth as I use the rope to stand.
“You’ve always told me not to hold back,” he counters. I shrug with a small smirk before we lock up again. It’s true, I never want him to hold back—or anyone for that matter. Bennett glances behind me, and his brow raises. The next time he speaks, his voice is so low I barely hear him. “Don’t look now, but if I didn’t know any better, I’d say he looks a little jealous.”
“Shut the fuck up, Wolf.” I kick his gut and shove him away, hitting him with my own clothesline when he charges. Time to end this shit.
When Bennett sits up, I snake my left arm around his neck and sit back on my heels, arching his body into a bow—Seated Dragon Sleeper.
Raelynn snickers from her corner. “Oh shit, you’re in deep trouble now, Wolfie.”
Bennett tries to kick his legs out from under him, but I tighten my arm on his neck.
“You better tap before she goes for the ’Breaker,” Raelynn says.
“What do you want, Wolf?” I ask. “The ’Breaker or a DDT?”
“Do I have a choice?” he asks, his voice strangled.
“I just gave it to you, didn’t I?”
“Fuck it,” Bennett breathes. “Give me the ’Breaker.”
“Good choice.” I smirk, coming up onto my feet. Bennett’s body hangs almost limp, feet planted on the mat, before I lift my knee and slam into his back. He grunts in pain, and I do it three more times before I drop to my knees. I strike my forearm down onto his chest, and where I’d normally hold onto my opponent, I let Bennett fall to the mat.
“Fuck.” He coughs.
“Had enough?” I ask.
“Not even close,” Bennett says, groaning as he begins to roll over onto his stomach. He pushes himself up to his feet.
“Okay! I’m calling time. You two are going to kill each other if I don’t,” Raelynn says as we circle each other again.
“Who’s it gonna be, Rae?” Bennett asks.
“Why do I have to decide?”
“Because you’re the one who called it,” I say.
Raelynn groans. She hates picking the winner. Bennett and I circle each other four more times, and I’m about to tell her to choose when someone else does for her.
“Wolf,” Brooks calls out, his voice closer than I thought.
Without acknowledging him, I lunge forward, but Bennett’s foot connects with my gut. He pulls me forward, my head going between his legs, and wraps his arms around my midsection. In one quick motion, Bennett lifts my feet off the mat, my legs landing on his shoulders, before he drops to his ass and my back hits the mat—Powerbomb. Bennett covers, and I think about kicking out just for the hell of it, but I watch as Raelynn’s hand slams on the mat—one, two, three.
“I remember your ’Breaker being worse than that,” Bennett says, patting my leg before we both sit up, catching our breath.
My brow raises as I look over my shoulder. “Should we try again?”
“No, no.” His response is quick. “I’m good.” I notice his gaze move outside the ring, and for the first time, I look at the other man who joined us.
John Brooks stands nearby with the same confidence he oozes when he walks down the ramp to face his opponents in the ring, and I wonder if he’s putting on the front for little old me. But maybe it’s not for me at all. His eyes never leave Bennett, who glances my way with an eye roll and a slight shake of his head. They’ve remained best friends through the tumultuous ending of our relationship, but I know it’s been hard on our mutual friend, who tends to tread lightly on both sides.
