Fighting for Keeps (Rocky River Fighters 2)

Zane struggled for a moment, his face showing his fury, before he finally tapped the floor in succession with his free hand, admitting his defeat. Seth yanked Zane’s captive arm higher for a moment before he let go and stood, arms raised in victory as the crowd roared their approval.

Greg entered the ring to announce Seth’s victory, and a smile crept across Amelia’s face, growing bigger and bigger until her cheeks hurt. Sidling through the rowdy crowd, she made her way toward the stalls so she could congratulate him as soon as he was finished, thinking over the fight as she went. Even when he fought Jax last week, it was nothing like this. He was amazing out there tonight, and she wanted to be one of the first to tell him so.

She made it back to the stalls, coming to an abrupt halt as Zane stepped in front of her. He was battered and bloody, but even as she watched, his wounds were slowly healing.

“Come to check on me? Did I make you hot while I was up there fighting? Did you come to realize I’m the better man?”

Eyebrows raising as she took in his words, she thought for a moment he was kidding, but no, he was completely serious. “You lost, Zane. Seth kicked your ass. It was barely even a match.”

A dark expression crossed his face. “The fucker cheated. He’ll pay for that.”

“I was there, Zane. I watched it all happen. He didn’t cheat, he was just better than you. A thousand times better than you.”

Narrowing his eyes, he stepped in close, invading her personal space. “I was distracted, thinking of all the things I was going to do to you. He might have been good enough to beat me tonight, but I can guarantee you I’m better than him in bed. Are you ready to find out how it feels to sleep with a real man?”

“Oh, sod off, you bloody beef curtain. I want nothing to do with you,” she bit out, shoving his arm so she could dart away, taking pleasure in his grimace of pain when she pushed on a sore spot.

Smiling, she turned to head back into the main fight area, pausing when she saw Seth coming to a stop at beginning of the hallway leading to the stalls.

“What the hell is going on here?” Seth boomed out.

“Absolutely nothing,” she replied with a smile as she went to him. “Zane was just admitting his defeat to you and leaving. You were amazing out there.”

“Thanks,” he replied absently, eyes narrowed and glaring at Zane.

“I’m talking to Amelia here,” Zane said stiffly. “You can go now.”

“Do you seriously not get it? You lost, Zane, and she doesn’t want you here. We all know who the better sh—man is here. You’re the one who needs to leave.”

Wide eyed, Amelia glanced between the two men who looked like they were on the verge of fighting again. A weird noise came from Zane, and her eyes narrowed on him, wondering what the hell that was. It kind of sounded like a hiss.

“You will never be better than me. You got lucky tonight, but you won’t be in the future.”

Seth rolled his eyes. “Oh, please. Accept your defeat. I know you’re butt hurt right now, but you’ll get over it. Go lick your wounds, literally. I’m sure it’s a taste you know well.”

Slapping a hand to her mouth, Amelia tried to stifle her giggle. Really, this wasn’t funny. They looked like they were about to go for another round. Zane stiffened further and took a step toward Seth, pausing when another voice intruded.

“Zane! Over here, now,” a man snapped out.

Glancing over, she saw another fighter, Kian, waiting at the mouth of a stall, glaring Zane’s way. Zane turned and marched to the stall without another word, leaving them in silence.

Seth walked forward and took her in his arms, leaning down and kissing her softly, then pulled back with a puzzled expression. “What the hell did you mean when you said beef curtain?”

Blushing, Amelia glanced down. “It’s a British phrase. I basically called him a pussy.”

Throwing his head back, Seth laughed, loud and long. When his laughter finally died down, his eyes were watery, and he reached up to wipe them. “That’s fucking brilliant, Amelia. I’ll have to remember that,” he said, still chuckling. “I’m sorry for that little scene. Zane doesn’t seem to know when to quit.”

“It’s okay. I think he got the hint after that,” she replied with a smile.

The other Rocky River fighters came in then, congratulating him on his win. Leaving them to it, she went to find Greg to collect the money they’d earned tonight, intent on giving the winners their purses. She found him in the entrance booth, counting their take for the night.

“Hey, Greg. How’d we do tonight?”

“Pretty good. Zane and Seth fighting each other drew a large crowd.”

“That’s great. More for the winners. I was coming to get the cash so I could pay the them.”

“I thought you’d say that. I divided it all up already. You sure you don’t want to keep any of it?” he asked, putting the money in a bag and handing it to her.