My palm hits the entrance to my sanctuary right as a male reporter shouts louder than the others, “What were you thinking when you rose as though from the grave?”

“That I wasn’t ready to die.”

Andy has maneuvered his way through the horde, and he holds his arms up and shouts, “Okay, let the man wash that loser’s blood off his hands! You can quote me on that!”

“Nice,” I tell him under my breath, chuckling.

“No more questions. If you want to interview Tobias, you can call me to set up appointments. Andy Cronin! Extreme Five Gym!”

Shaking my head at his persistence, I head for the locker with my bourbon in it, and discover a tiny, fake-breasted female hiding to my right. She straightens and attempts a sexy expression that ain’t hitting the mark. Way too obvious. “I’ve been waiting for you, Champion!”

“Oh no no no, you’ve gotta go.”

She whines, “Don’t be mean!”

“Jeezus,” I mutter. “Andy, earn your keep!”

He ushers her out in no time, but she sticks her tongue out at me right before he locks the door. He’s used to girls throwing themselves at him, too, since he’s a trainer and he’s pretty ripped. There’s no envy or disbelief that I turned that fuck-toy away.

We both know a girl like that is trouble. Hiding in a locker room ticks off warning bells before she even opens her glossed-up mouth. She’s the type who’d poke holes in your condoms while she sucked you off to distract you.

“That beauty from the gym yesterday?”

“The one who threw the card out there?”

On a grin I say, “That’s the one. If she knocks, let her and her cousin in.”

“I’d like to let her cousin do a lot more than that.”

Grabbing the flask from my locker I take a warm, burning slug and rasp, “Damn, that tastes better than I thought it would.”

“When you’re a Champion everything tastes better!” Andy shakes his head with appreciation. “Shit, man, you did it.”

“I did. Throw me that towel.”

Swiping it from the bench he tosses it to me as I head to the shower. I’ve been doing this for a decade, so long that the pain barely registers now. These cuts and bruises would make a less experienced man cringe under the hot stream I’ll need to remove all this grime.

I’ll relish the pain.

It’s the cost I paid.

Every laceration.

Every bruise.

All the aches.

I want it all.

Vance lost.

I won.

Damn this pain feels good.

He did a dirty move. I don’t mind coloring outside the lines, part of the fun of the game, but when a man has his back to you, a worthy fighter doesn’t choose that moment to attack.

Over the running water I hear a knock at the door. Andy creaks it open and the loud volume from outside crashes in. From within the voices I hear Jonas, a bouncer and friend, tell Andy, “I’ve got Hannah and Sofia Cocker here.”

“Let ‘em in.” Andy then shouts at the press, “Call me at my gym! Extreme Five! No more questions ’til you call me. That’s final!”

From the diminished sound I know the door is closed.

She’s in my locker room. Just a few steps outside this shower. Waiting for me. I’m getting hard just thinking about it.

Bending my neck I let the hot water pour over my face, hair plastering to my forehead under the flow. Images of her holding that card up and shouting at me to end the fight flash like strobe lights before my mind. What a fucking rush that was.

She gave me power.

That woman called me to war and I heeded the cry.

A woman like that needs to be treated right.

And I’ve got a million ways I’d like to make that happen.

Turning off the faucet I reach for the towel and step out into their conversation, buck-naked in no hurry to cover up. Andy grins as Hannah’s eyes flicker with shock at my nudity. I close the towel and tuck it in place as her cousin starts laughing and hits Hannah in the arm. “Yeah, so that happened.”

A veil of detachment slides over Hannah’s face. “If you think vulgarity will impress me, you’re mistaken.”

A smile pulls at my lips as I unhook the towel again, holding it open and pointing to my cock. “I was hoping this would impress you. It doesn’t?”

Andy and Jonas cover their mouths while laughing. Sofia Cocker keeps her eyes averted and mutters, “Men are so fucking stupid.”

Hannah does not look away. She glances down and holds on the eyeful I’ve presented her with. “No, it really doesn’t.” She meets my amused gaze, hers green ice. “Congratulations on your trophy or whatever it is they give you. It’ll be the only thing you go home with tonight.” She turns for the door and pauses. Glancing to me over her bare shoulder, that hot-as-fuck, bright blue dress plastered to her perfect ass, she locks eyes with me and purrs, “I’m sure there’s some piece of trash out here who’d find your cock…iness very entertaining. Not this girl. Bye.”

Hannah unlocks the door to leave but it sticks. Her cousin is right behind her, ready to go. She shoots a look to Jonas. “Dammit, you struck out twice in one night. How’s that even possible?”

His smile vanishes.

I stroll over, wrapping the towel around my waist and tucking it so it stays. “Would you like me to open that for you?”

“I can get it.”

Sofia moves out of the way for me. I lean against the door, frazzling Hannah’s reserve as I say, “Ms. Cocker, would you do me the honor of dining with me tonight?”

Her sharp intake of breath is really sexy. “No, thank you.”

“You can bring your cousin.”

The two beauties lock eyes, but Sofia gives no encouragement.

Hannah fake-smiles, “I’m afraid you wouldn’t know how to use a fork and knife. With me you can’t eat with your hands.”

“Even pizza?” I ask, eyes wide.

Hers narrow. “Are you insane?”

“You’re too good for pizza?”

“I’m too good for you,” she snaps.

I don’t know why but that’s when I pull her to me and crush her mouth in a hot kiss. She slams her hands on my naked pectoral muscles, but then softens in my arms, hers slipping around my neck as her sweet-tasting lips respond like she’s wanted this moment the entire time I was in the cage. The adrenaline rush I feel with her in my arms is like nothing I’ve ever felt outside of a match. I just want to pull her closer.

The other three in the room start clapping.

Fuck, I could kiss this girl until our audience became a distant memory.

Pulling away I stare into her hooded gaze. In these heels she’s as tall as I am and I’m diggin’ it. More woman to love. I flash a smile at the group. “You hungry, guys?”

Andy and Jonas nod. “Yeah!” “Hell yes.”

Sofia cocks an eyebrow at Jonas. “You got new life again. Don’t fuck it up.”

His grin falters as he straightens his spine at the challenge.

We all gather our things and Andy throws me my new flask. “So, you got a new manager, hey? You giving me a shot?”

“No,” I chuckle, eyes locked on Hannah’s profile as she tries to regain her decorum. She steals a look at me and for a split second I see that sadness I glimpsed in the photograph. She turns and leads the way out.

Boy do I follow.