Branded

The announcer flips on the microphone and attempts to calm the crowd down as he begins introducing the next pair of fighters. He starts listing Dax’s stats and how long he’s been with the police department, while his brothers in blue scream and clap so loud I almost feel the need to cover my ears. Dax raises his arms above his head, pumping his fists in the air as he gives me one last smirk before jogging through the crowd and up to the ring.

“Ladies and gentleman, we’ve had a slight change in the lineup tonight. I’m proud to announce that we have a new opponent set to fight against Dax Trevino.”

Half of the crowd boos while the other cheers. I crane my neck to try and see through the crowd, wondering who will be the poor sap that has to go up against Dax.

“Hey there, hot stuff,” Finnley says with a smile as she steps around a few guys and bumps shoulders with me.

“Aren’t you supposed to be working the food table?” I ask, still trying to see through the crowd.

“I took a break. This is definitely a fight I don’t want to miss,” she laughs.

Before I can ask her why, the announcer’s voice booms through the microphone again.

“From the fire department, let’s give a big round of applause to DJ Taylor!”

Everyone from the fire department starts jumping up and down like kangaroos on crack, smacking each other on the back and chanting DJ’s name.

“You have got to be kidding me,” I mutter.

Finnley laughs, sliding her hand around my arm. “Collin almost shit himself when DJ agreed to fight a few minutes ago. We had a last minute cancellation from the guy in our department who was scheduled to fight Dax. He came down with the flu or something. Collin’s been begging DJ to fight for weeks and he kept turning him down. He barely had to say two words to DJ tonight and he jumped at the chance to fight Dax. So weird.”

Yeah, not that weird, my friend.

I watch as DJ easily bends down to slip under the ropes. He stands up to his full height and walks into the middle of the ring and my brain immediately drops right into my vagina. I’ve seen him without a shirt. I’ve felt his bare chest against the inside of my thighs, for Christ’s sake. There’s just something different about seeing him shirtless in the middle of a boxing ring with his dark blue work pants hung low on his hips and pure, unadulterated rage on his face as he circles Dax. The muscles in his chest and arms ripple as he smacks his gloved fists together. Just seconds ago, I watched Dax do the exact same thing and I rolled my eyes at his attempt to look macho. Watching DJ do it makes me want to drag him out of the ring and fuck his brains out.

Dax and DJ are matched for height, but DJ definitely has a few more pounds of muscle on Dax’s lean body. Where before I was worried about the man who had to go up against Dax in the ring, now I’m worried for Dax. Judging by the look on DJ’s face, this isn’t going to be a fun fight just for show to raise money for charity. This is a pissing contest and DJ just whipped his dick out.

“This is not going to end well,” I mumble, unable to take my eyes off of DJ as he stretches, twisting his torso from side to side.

I want to lick the indents in his hips so badly that my mouth waters, and I hate him for that. I shouldn’t want him, but I can’t help myself. He looks angry, mean and full of fury. Sex with him right this moment would be hard and powerful. The lace boy shorts I’m wearing under my leather skirt are so wet I could probably wring them out. I can practically feel him pounding into me so hard that I wouldn’t be able to walk for a week.

I want that man’s anger. I want to feel it like a living, breathing thing, slamming into me, want to take it away from him and into myself.

I fucking hate him for making me feel like this.

“For the last time, I’m not fighting in this fucking thing. I’m not even working with the fire department anymore,” I complain to Collin as I scan the crowd, looking for Phina. Collin said he saw her come in a few minutes ago, and I want to find her so I can kick her ass. She should be at home, in bed, recuperating after what happened this morning.

I see a flash of red hair on the other side of the room and I take a step away from Collin. He grabs onto my arm and yanks me back.

“Come on, don’t let me down, man. Douglas has the damn flu and I’m short a guy.”

I barely hear what Collin is saying. The crowd has parted enough that I can see Phina standing entirely too close to a shirtless Dax. I watch as she throws her head back and laughs and a growl rips from my throat. The skirt she’s wearing barely covers her ass and the green shirt she has on is hanging down off of her shoulder, giving me a perfect view of her creamy, smooth skin.

“It’s one round of fighting, that’s all I need from you. Ten minutes, tops,” Collin continues to plead.

My hands clench into fists at my side as I watch Dax lean in close to Phina while she stares up at him.

“You know the guy you’ll be fighting, so it doesn’t even have to be a real fight. You can just throw a few punches to make it look good for the crowd and then you guys can hug it out and have a few drinks,” Collin continues.

Dax wraps his arms around Phina’s body and pulls her against his chest. Her cheek rests right against his pecs and a ball of rage slams into my body so hard that it feels like my skin is on fire.

“Seriously, you and Dax are perfectly matched in size. It will be a quick fight.”

My head whips around to stare at Collin, processing what he just said. That motherfucking cocksucker is holding Phina on the other side of the room. I saved her fucking life today and I get the silent treatment while she lets him put his hands all over her.