Breaking Beast (Pounding Hearts 4)

“Good fight.” She nods at me and bumps my fist but I can tell she’s disappointed about what just happened.

I let her stand first and then the ref gets between us. Taking each of us by the hand, the announcement is made over the sound system about my win and then my arm is lifted in victory.

A rush of pure joy washes over me. I’m so happy I feel like crying.

I won, I fucking won. Five thousand dollars. Five freakin’ thousand dollars.

I’m free.

The cage is opened up and my guys rush in.

“Fuck, yeah!” Chase cheers and picks me up, bouncing me on his shoulder. I punch my fist into the air, looking out at the crowd and just soaking it in.

“Way to go, Barbie doll!” Dale grins up at me.

“You’re damn lucky I’m tired,” I tell him. “Or I’d kick your ass for saying that.”

He laughs but then steps to side. Alex steps up to Chase and gives him a look. Getting the hint, Chase lowers me down, handing me off to Alex.

“Fuck, yeah, my beautiful fighter girl. I fucking love you!” Alex says fiercely. He grabs me by the face and stares into my eyes. “I knew you could do it, I knew it!”

Before I can say anything, he’s giving me a deep, soul crushing kiss.

“That’s enough, break it off, love birds. You’re starting to make everyone sick,” Dale butts in after a minute.

Alex pulls back and grins.

Before I have a chance to ask him about what he just said, the officials step into the cage, demanding my attention.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Christy

Well-wisher after well-wisher filters into my locker room backstage. Guys from the gym congratulating me on my win. Avery and some of the girls I’ve been training with. Reporters wanting interviews for their blogs. The medical team and officials.

At first, when I was still coming down from the adrenaline high of winning, it was flattering. Really, I’ve never had so much positive attention before, or so many people wanting to talk to me.

But now that over an hour has passed, it’s just become damn annoying. I’m ready for them all to go away. If it wouldn’t be rude as fuck, I’d tell them all to get the fuck out.

Alex said he loved me, and I need to know if he meant it without everyone hanging around.

Throughout all the interviews, all the well-wishes and congratulations, I can’t help but feel super aware of him.

No matter where he is in the room, I can just sense him.

The hair on the back of my neck stands on end when he’s behind me and my body tenses with anticipation.

Every time I get a chance to glance over at him, our eyes meet and a jolt of pure excitement shoots through me.

For the most part, with the others around, he keeps his hands off of me, and I feel like we’re just biding our time until we’re alone.

But dammit if I don’t still feel worked up.

It’s like all the aggression I had in the cage, all of that adrenaline that was pumping through my veins, has been transformed into a sexual need.

I just survived a battle and now my body wants to celebrate.

“Okay, let’s wrap it up,” Alex says to the fifth MMA blog guy to interview me.

The guy shoots Alex a dirty look and has the nerve to say, “Just one more question. Christy, where do you—“

The guy doesn’t get to finish his question because Alex must be just as frustrated as me. Alex grabs the guy by the back of the shirt and forces him to his feet.

“Hey!” the guy says with a great deal of indignation as Alex walks him backwards towards the door. “Get your hands off me. You can’t do this to me…“

“I can and I just did, buddy,” Alex grins then pushes him out into the hallway. “Make sure everyone knows that Christy Heiland is done with interviews for the night!” he yells out then slams the door in his face.

“Oh, thank god,” I say with relief. “I thought he’d never leave.”

Alex starts to turn towards me then someone bangs on the door, bringing him up short. Turning back around, he locks the door and roars angrily, “Go away!”

The banging stops abruptly. Alex waits at the door, his body tense as if he’s anticipating another interruption.

When all is quiet, his shoulders seem to sag with relief.

Turning towards me, his eyes are bright and full of some emotion I can’t place. “How do you feel?” he asks.

“I feel pretty good,” I tell him. “I only took a couple of punches to the head.”

He grins, walking towards me, and that grin, that grin does things to me. My heart skips a beat and my stomach flutters.

“Yeah, you’re going to have quite a shiner tomorrow.”

I reach up and touch my face. It feels swollen and puffy but the pain isn’t that bad. Honestly, I’ve taken worse beatings during practice over the past few weeks. Tonight feels pretty tame compared to some of the stuff Dale has dished out to me.