Chapter Three
Alexa
My seat for the fight wasn’t as good as it was the last time. Tonight the little stadium was even fuller than it had been the last time and by the time I got there and bought my ticket, I was relegated almost to the back row. It was nice though that the seats were raised so that I would still be able to see. I was also closer to the door this time, just in case Ian was getting beaten too badly and I couldn’t stand it and had to leave. I was surrounded by a group of half-drunk college guys and they were loud and obnoxious, but at least while I was waiting for the fight to begin, their antics entertained me and took my mind off of what I was going to say to Ian when I saw him. I was also trying not to obsess over whether or not I actually believed the text messages were from an “ex.”
When they were ready to begin, I watched Ian’s opponent come out and I found myself sizing him up. I worried that his arms looked more muscular than Ian’s and maybe his legs were a little bit longer. I told myself that I was being stupid worrying about him for two reasons: #1. He knew what he was doing and I’d seen him do it. He was good. #2. He wasn’t mine to worry about. After his opponent, Hugo Montalba came out and made it into the octagon; I finally got to feast my eyes on the eye candy that was Ian. As soon as I caught sight of his smooth, oiled chest I remembered what it felt like underneath my fingers and better yet, against my naked chest. I shuddered, and then I chastised myself again and then I finally turned my attention back to the cage up front. The referee had the two fighters in the center of the octagon doing whatever it was that referees do. When they finished all that, the buzzer sounded and “Hugo” was on him. I don’t know a lot about fighting but I heard the college guys saying that he was trying to get Ian down onto the ground. Apparently, if drunken college guys are to be believed, Ian’s boxing is much better than his “ground game,” mostly due to the fact that he was as fast as lightning on his feet.
I watched as Hugo and Ian danced around for a while with Hugo’s beefy hands wrapped over the tops of Ian’s biceps. I could see him swinging his right leg out in a sweeping motion, I assume to knock Ian off of his feet. Ian’s feet never stopped moving though, so they were hard to catch. Ian finally pulled back, breaking the other man’s grip and sending him propelling into the side of the octagon. His move back-fired I think, because Hugo came back with his body crouched and drove his shoulder into Ian’s stomach. Ian was gasping for breath and had to reach out for Hugo’s shoulders to steady himself. When he did, Hugo stood up quickly and knocked him back. I sucked in a hard breath as I watched him fall back and hit the mat. Hugo dove for him, but even off his feet Ian was quick. He rolled away and was up on his knees in one swift motion. Hugo came around behind him and tried to get him in a chokehold before Ian jumped to his feet. He twisted away from his opponent and then Ian immediately came back with a round kick and caught him hard in the side. He doubled over and that was when Ian threw his first punch. He caught the guy underneath the chin and he flew backwards. He landed on his back the way Ian had done only seconds before. He wasn’t as fast as Ian though, and it was almost his undoing…but then the buzzer rang and saved him from a pin.
My eyes were glued to Ian as his chest rose and fell quickly and sweat rolled down the sides of his face and dripped off his chest. He took the water bottle his trainer handed him and squirted some in his mouth and then some over his head. I felt like a complete perv as I watched the water roll down across his shoulders and then slowly trace its way down the muscles of his arms and chest. I was mesmerized by it and all I could think about doing was touching him.
The buzzer brought me out of my fantasy and Ian surged forward like a shot. He started to throw a roundhouse kick, but Hugo blocked it and went for Ian’s stomach again. He was ready for him this time and he moved out of the way, avoiding most of it. He came back with a jab to Hugo’s ribs, knocking the wind out of him. He used that to his advantage and started throwing punches and jabs at his opponents face and body. Hugo took a few good hits, but stayed on his feet. He rushed in and tried to grab Ian, but once again Ian was too fast. He turned to the side and Hugo missed him, and then he came back with a kick that caught Ian in the ribs. The shock of the direct hit caused Ian to turn away and the second he did, Hugo pounced on his back and took him down. Ian was on his stomach with Hugo’s arm around his neck when the second buzzer rang. I let out the breath I’d been holding the whole time.
When the third bell rang Ian came out like a wild animal. He was throwing punches and connecting with Hugo’s sides until the other man staggered back and Ian gave him a hit…a chop maybe to the neck and caused him to stumble back. Hugo tried to manage a kick but he was already so off balance that when Ian blocked it, it caused him to lose his tentative hold and he tumbled back, hitting the floor with a loud thump. Ian was on him at once, pinning him with an arm to his throat and his knees driven into his sides. Hugo put up a good struggle and I thought Ian was going to give up his hold at one point. He didn’t though and after a bit, the fight was gone from the man underneath him and I watched as his right hand began to pound the floor. Ian looked up at the ref and then let go and stood up. The other man rolled onto his side, gasping for breath as Ian was announced as the winner. I was jumping up and down right along with the college guys, cheering for him before I even realized it. The adrenaline that was coursing through me was in charge all of a sudden and I loved the feeling.