by C. E. Black
Stone’s gaze scanned the crowd once before connecting with mine and holding. Of course it was intense, it always was and I knew something would happen soon. All this sexual tension was starting to get to me. And I could admit, Paul was part of it too. Somewhere, somehow, something needed to snap. And I was afraid that something would be me.
Bear snorted beside me and I hated to admit it, but I jumped. “You need to get that out of your system soon,” he said. “Or it’s going to interfere with the job.”
“I would never let that happen. He is the job. Nothing more.”
“What about Paul?”
My eyebrows drew together, as I broke eye contact with Stone to look at Bear. “What are you talking about?”
“If you don’t know, then you need to pay better attention.”
Oh, I was paying attention alright and it seemed everyone else was too. I did need to get control over the situation, that was true. It couldn’t be more than just sex. I didn’t roll that way, but I was pretty confident that once would be enough to put me back on track and my mind off my libido.
Bear’s question floated through my mind, though. What about Paul? Stone was easy, but Paul? I couldn’t sleep with a man I practically hated just for fun. But did I really hate him? Or was I holding onto a hollow grudge? The answers to those questions scared me more than I wanted to admit.
Stone made his way to my side and stroked a finger across the frown lines on my forehead. “What are you thinking about so hard?”
I smiled and shook off my useless musings. They were getting me nowhere. “Nothing in particular. Just over thinking things just like us women do.” He raised an eyebrow, but didn’t comment. “So what was the trouble?” I asked.
His sigh was full of exhaustion with a bit frustration mixed in. “One of my fighters is sick and I don’t have anyone to replace her.”
Lie. Bear’s eyes cut to mine briefly, confirming the accusations. If all of his fighters were shifters, as I suspected, then no one was sick. We didn’t get sick, only beat up or dead.
I looked back at the fight. A bell rang and the two men separated, going to opposite sides of the pit. Both were heaving and bloody, but not to the point of no return. End of round one.
“I’ll do it,” I said suddenly.
“What?” Both Bear and Stone shouted at the same time. My grinned focused on Stone. “This isn’t a fight to the death match is it?”
“No, but–”
“Then I’ll be your replacement. Looks fun,” I shrugged.
“Foxy, I don’t think–”
“You think I can’t do it?” I interrupted again. “Because you saw what I did to Thelma and Louise. I can handle myself.”
“I know you can. Look...” He glanced at Bear, then grabbed my arm, pulling me a few steps away. Like that would keep Bear from listening. “I know you can handle yourself,” Stone continued. “But there’s something you don’t know about the fights.”
Just then another bell rang and the fighters leaped back into their positions. This time, though, the shorts they were wearing before were gone.
“You mean they’re not human,” I said just before both men sank to the ground on their hands and knees.
Stone shot me an incredulous look, but I wasn’t sure I believed his surprise. “You know?” His words were drowned out by the roar of two male tigers showing off their dominance. Pussies.
“Come on, Stone, be real. You’re surrounded by shifters and from the looks of it, all the time. You mean to tell me you didn’t know I was one as well?”
His eyes turned cold and hard, just like his name. That’s what I thought. “Put me in, Stone. I’m volunteering.”
Chapter 11
Paul
Standing in the shadows and out of sight as best as possible, I leaned against the wall, watching Foxy as she talked with Bear. Even with my abilities, they were too far away for me to hear their words. But I could see the look on her face. So she knows Bear’s inside too now. I could only imagine what she was thinking. That probably no one trusted her. That wasn’t exactly true, but she needed to be kept in the dark for her own good. If Foxy knew she was getting help, she would have protested and put up the biggest bitch-fest, thinking she could do it all alone. I snorted at the image in my head. Her face red, her fist clenched, as she fought long and hard for her independence. It would have been beautiful. But, she needed to learn that just because you can take care of yourself, doesn’t mean you have to forgo support. It’s a hard lesson to learn. One I just recently discovered myself.
I stiffened as the tight-ass man approached them. Stone. I hated that Foxy had to get close to that son of a bitch. Something about him rubbed me the wrong way and I didn’t think it was because he was leading a pack of murderers and drug dealers, though, that was enough for me to want to kill him.
No, there was something else. He didn’t feel right. The fact that Foxy was attracted to him made it worse. I had no problem admitting my attraction to the saucy fox shifter. She turned my world on its axis. From the moment I saw her, at that first meeting with the Alpha Division, when it had all been a lie, I knew I wouldn’t be able to shake her.
There were many reasons for why I couldn’t go through with my father’s plan all those months ago. His ideas of a perfect, full blooded shifter world, of ruling them with threats, drugs and God knew what else, was wrong. I knew it before I even agreed to help him, but I just couldn’t say no to him. But when I saw Foxy, standing straight and proud as she shook my hand and welcomed me into her team – the way she looked at the men, with a sense of family, pride and loyalty – I couldn’t go through with it. I couldn’t follow his demands any longer.
My attention caught as I watched Stone pull Foxy away from Bear a few feet, obviously looking for a small amount of privacy. Their faces were too close for my liking and Stone looked like he was trying to get through to Foxy. She looked like she was about to drop to the floor laughing. He obviously didn’t know her well. Nothing got through to that woman. At least nothing Stone did or said would. I, on the other hand, had a plan to make her see what was right in front of her.
My dick hardened at all the breathtaking plans I had... To make her cum over and over, until she couldn’t see straight and submitted her pleasure to me and only me...
My wicked grin faltered, as the two made their way to the darkened entryway behind the arena. I had already checked out that area and knew they turned toward the fighter’s quarters. My eyes narrowed. What were they up to?
I glanced at Bear. He was watching the two leave as well. This didn’t seem right... Just as I was about to follow, Bear’s gaze caught mine. His face was pinched with disapproval, but he pulled up a hand, showing me the signal that everything was okay and to stand at ease. What the hell?
Though everything in me wanted to ignore Bear and go after Foxy, find out what she was getting herself into now, I stayed back and waited, not so patiently, for them to return.
Keeping one eye on where Foxy and Stone had disappeared, I watched the fight. It was almost over, as one of the tigers clutched the others throat in his jaws. He pushed him to the ground, the roar echoing off the walls of the warehouse, as he forced his opponent to submit. And the losing tiger did just that, laying down and giving up.
The bell rung and the winning tiger leapt away, prancing around the arena in victory. My brows drew down in confusion, as I waited for the killing blow, but it never came. The tigers shifted back into their human forms and left the ring.
So, it wasn’t a death match, I mused. I wasn’t sure what to think about that, but it really wasn’t important. It wasn’t what we were there for. If these people wanted to watch and bet on fights, that wasn’t any of my business. What was, was that humans were participating. That was a death sentence for the one who let out our secret. And as much as I wished that person was Stone, he couldn’t be touched by the law. He was human. Someone else was behind all of this. A shifter had to have hired Stone.
M
y thoughts were cut off when there was a sudden flurry of activity. Curses were shouted, as people rushed to the other side of the building where bets were being taken. I guessed the next round was about to start, but what was the upset?
My eyes scanned the arena and came to rest on the woman waiting to enter the ring. She wore tight black shorts, a hot pink sports bra and her brown hair was pulled up and out of her face. I couldn’t tell what animal she was from this distance, but it was obvious from the way she was bouncing on her toes at the entrance to the ring that she was about to fight. My eyebrows lifted appreciatively at the thought. My night might have just gotten a little more pleasant. Nothing like a good cat fight.
Just then boos filled the arena. Apparently whoever else was fighting wasn’t liked very well. I felt bad for the bitch, but it would be funny as hell if she won and cost all these people their money. My gaze sought after the tall woman’s rival, and when I saw her, my heart stopped.
Foxy wore something similar to the other fighter, though, her top was blue and green instead of hot pink. She cracked her neck from side to side, as Stone leaned down to whisper something to her. My vision blurred and turned red, as she nodded, her eyes focused on her challenger.
What the fuck was she thinking?
I shook my head and kept shaking it. Then I realized it wasn’t just my head. My whole body was trembling. My fist clenched at my sides and it took every ounce of my control not to leap down there and wring her neck, just before scooping her into my arms and fleeing the building.
Through the red haze of my anger, I watched as the two women stepped into the ring. The cage closed behind them, and in seconds the bell rang, starting the fight. They circled each other, looking for the right opening, and of course, Foxy jumped into it right away, swinging and kicking her opponent.
What the fuck was she thinking? I thought again. Actually, what hell was I thinking? This was Foxy. Did she ever do anything without thinking it through first? I knew that wasn’t fair to her. She was one of the best on the team, but damn that woman! I was going to kill her! And then I was going to fuck her six ways till Sunday until she promised never to do anything so stupid again. I was going to make her cum so many damn times, she would beg me to stop. But I wouldn’t. Not until that tart mouth of hers admitted her foolishness.
Oh, Foxy, Foxy, I thought, as my body flared with lust. When this fight is over and you’re running on the heady adrenaline of your win, I’m going to make you pay.
Chapter 12
Terry
My head jerked back as a solid punch landed to my jaw. Smiling, I ducked just as she threw a second swing, then jabbed at her ribs. She winced, but continued circling. I had to hand it to her, she could fight, but she really wasn’t a match for my training. I loved it, though. I enjoyed every minute, as my muscles stretched and burned – as my body released those lovely Endorphins. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face, it felt so good. She probably thought I was mocking her, and I could admit that I was a little, but really, I just loved to fight. Anything.
I had only one concern. In the fighter’s quarters, Stone explained to me that the first round was strictly in human form, but the second round, there were no rules. And because our most dangerous and powerful form was our animal, most fighters did shift. I was no exception. I would shift as well, and so would this bitch.
I’d recognized her immediately when I came into the arena. She was one of the women I saw hanging with the lion shifter. A lioness herself, she was going to be difficult to beat. I had her on skill, but her size alone would be killer.
My mind had wandered, thinking about the next round, when I should have been paying attention to this one. The bitch rushed at me and I bent down into a squat, twisted and kicked out, but it was too late. She jumped up, flipped and landed behind me. My arms were pulled behind my back, as I was slammed face first into the metal cage.
“Bitch,” I growled, as she laughed in my ear.
“You’re playing with the big girls now, little fox,” the girl teased.
As I rolled my eyes, my gaze took in the crowd. They were cheering, clearly happy that the cunt had gotten a leg up. It seemed I had messed up their bets and seeing how I was new to The Pit, no one wanted to gamble on me. I shrugged it off, because who gave a shit? I would laugh my ass off all the way home, when I cleaned the floor with this bitch.
“It’s gonna suck when you lose in front of your pussy ass boyfriend. Maybe he can lick your wounds when I’m through with you,” I laughed, catching a glimpse of her lion watching with his other two women.
My elbow flew backwards, but my opponent anticipated the move, sliding out of the way and slamming my face into the fence it again. Damn, that hurt. And that’s when something caught my eye.
I was pretty close to the back hallway and could see clearly the two men that came out of the fighter’s quarters carrying guns. No one else seemed to notice them, as they made their way to the offices on the other side. I scanned their features, storing them to memory. Both were dark haired and medium build, though, one stood out more than the other. His arms and neck were covered in tattoos and his hair lay long and straight down the middle of his back.
Both of them sported knuckles that were cracked and bleeding, making me wonder what was happening behind that secret door Bear had mentioned. Were they keeping Red in there? If he was the one they were working over, they were as good as dead.
The bitch landed a punch to my kidney and I sucked in a sharp breath. Okay, I was done with this shit.
The back of my head connected with her nose, and with her weight suddenly gone, I spun, securing a solid jab to her stomach. She toppled, and I lunged. Straddling her waist, I ignored the roar of the crowd, as I landed punch after punch. I counted three and was just about to land a fourth, when the bell rung.
Her face was bruised and bloody, but she still managed to glare at me, the heat of retribution in her eyes, as she pushed me off of her and stood. We separated to opposite sides of the ring and began to strip. As my top came off, the catcalls started up. The shifters were used to nakedness, so most of the ruckus was caused by the humans, but I knew the shifters were part of it too. It was the atmosphere that did it, but I didn’t have to like it.
I used the anger that was building up, pushing it into a nice neat ball for me to bring out later in the fight. I wasn’t sure why I reacted the way I did when someone stared at my nakedness. It just wasn’t a big deal to most shifters, but for some reason, I always felt vulnerable, like I was on display, an object to stare at and own. I knew it was silly and it wasn’t out of low self esteem. Hell, I knew my body rocked, but unless it was my boys on the team, I hated showing myself off to the world. I was pretty sure it was another trust issue. I had a lot of those.
I stretched my arms above my head and cracked my neck back and forth. As my head tilted to the side, my gaze caught on a small movement in the back of the arena, against the wall. People were in the way, and he was pretty far off, but then the light hit his face. That split second of illumination was all it took to recognize him – and his expression. Shit! Paul was pissed. Oh well, I’d deal with that later. Throwing him a wink, I bent over and set my fox free.
The bell rang and the golden lioness was lunging, but one of my best assets was my speed. I slipped easily away, time and time again, laughing at how she would fall and skid to a stop, before roaring out her anger. I pranced around, teasing her ruthlessly, shaking my tail, making her so irritated, I swore her eyes turned bloodshot as she chased me around the pit.
It was fun, but in the end, I couldn’t win that way. It was actually quite funny how fast the fight was over. I doubted anybody else had done it quite like me. All that cat and mouse chasing around the ring hadn’t been just for my pleasure. I wore out the bitch to the point she was shaking with fatigue, and the next time she lunged and missed, I leaped onto her back.
She twisted, trying to throw me off, but she couldn’t. And in fact, did exactly as I wanted. As sh
e rotated, so did I, until my teeth could clamp down on the inside of her neck, just at the artery.
As much as I relished every adrenaline pumping moment, I was ready to finish it.
There was nothing she could do, as her paws tried to claw at me and missed. Shifting easily into my human form, I released her neck from between my teeth, though I made sure to allow my sharp nails to stay formed on my fingers and dug in, using the strength in my leg and arm muscles to hold her down. I was hanging on, digging my claws into flesh, and she was too exhausted to do anything about it.
The bell rang, signalling the end of the fight. I jumped off the brunette with a wide grin and turned at the booing crowd. That should teach you, bitches! I thought, making sure to send Paul another mocking wink. Don’t ever underestimate me.
Chapter 13
Stone was silent the entire drive to the hotel. I couldn’t tell from his glazed expression if he was in shock that I volunteered to fight, or that I actually won. But he was definitely chewing on something in that mind of his. Shrugging it off, I kept my mouth shut for once and sat quietly beside him.
When we pulled into the parking lot, Stone leaned back, though he didn’t turn off the engine. I watched him, confused by the way he just stared straight ahead. The silence was deafening. Neither of us had turned the radio on and as I closed my eyes, all I could hear was the soft sound of Stones breathing, along with the thump thump of his heartbeat. His scent filled the small space, causing my body to react in the most pleasant way, but it was obvious he wasn’t in the mood.
“Thanks for the nice evening, I had fun,” I said and reached for the door handle.
A hand fell softly on my shoulder halting my exit. I turned, my head tilted in question. His eyes bore into mine, searching for what, I wasn’t certain, but it seemed he was looking for answers. Answers I couldn’t give him. I prepared myself for the lie that would come rolling off my tongue. I just knew he was about to ask where I trained, what my life was before landing in Cedar Hill. But Stone didn’t ask any of that. He never said what he wanted either. He showed me.
