The Beat and The Pulse Box Set 1

by Amity Cross

  I could still feel Ren clenching around my cock and I was keen for another go before we got up. I couldn’t tell him that, so I said, “No, it’s fine.”

  “I just wanted to let you know ahead of time that you’re in the Championship round.”

  “I gathered I would be,” I replied, but my skin began to prickle all the same. Knowing it was one thing, hearing it from the head honcho was another.

  “You’re up against Hammer,” he went on.

  “Good.” That was a given too.

  “Fuller, I know there’s shit between you two. Bad blood and all, but know you have my blessing to give the crowd a good show,” Max said and I instantly got the undercurrent in his voice. He knew what we were planning. He knew what was going to go down in that cage. He was giving me permission.

  I tensed up for a moment before saying, “Understood.”

  “If Reign’s with you, could you tell her that she’s in too? Next Thursday night. You’re Friday.”

  “Who’s she up against?” I asked and I instantly felt Ren’s hands on my back.

  “Fury,” he replied.

  “Rogue didn’t make it?”

  “She lost by a hair last night. There’s a point between second and third. Your girl got number one.”

  I reached behind me and curled my hand around Ren’s thigh. “Good, fuckin’ good.”

  “Good luck, Fuller,” Max said and promptly hung up on me.

  Staring at the phone as the call disconnected and went back to the lock screen, I sighed. A little in relief and a little something else. Turning to face Ren I said, “You got in.”

  Her eyes were sparkling, as much from our epic fuck as the thought of fighting her first real Championship. “Who am I fighting?”

  “Fury.”

  Ren nodded, her brow furrowing in thought. Probably already devising a strategy, knowing her.

  “Don’t think about it right now,” I murmured, dumping the phone and reaching for her.

  “Why not?” she asked with a wicked smile.

  “Because I want to have you at least a million times before then.”

  Laughing, she fell back onto the mattress, her naked body on show to me. Fuck, she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I told her as much as I covered her body with mine and didn’t think twice as I filled her with my cock again and again.

  The last six months had been all about gearing up towards this fight and now it was real. And now I knew time was running out and I wanted to savor her in the days I had left. Because it could be days or it could be years.

  Which one it was going to be was yet to be decided.

  Friday week was D-day.

  35

  Ren

  With the season pretty much over at The Underground, Ash and I spent most of our time training at Beat. Occasionally we’d go over to his house in Toorak and see Violet, who was always pleased to see us, and spend time at his home gym.

  Violet had told me that she hadn’t seen Ash happier, but I couldn’t get past that tingling feeling in the back of my mind that something was eating him up. When I asked, he just said it was nerves, but I knew Ash Fuller. Something was up, but we didn’t have much time to discuss it. After our first time together, no it was after our second on the same night, he’d chastised me for trying to use sex as a weapon. The last few days since we’d gotten the call from Max had been filled with steamy, hold on for dear life, sex.

  Couldn’t say I was complaining, but I saw it for what it was. A distraction.

  Ash had also taken it upon himself to up my training regime now that we knew I was up against Fury. She was my match in height, weight and skill more so than Claw had been, so we had to be smart and try new strategies to compensate. Our last fight had been close, I’d pipped her at the post, but it was only by a hair.

  He had me shadow boxing and testing my reflexes with a swinging punching bag, making me dart and weave, keeping me light on the balls of my feet. A boxing technique he told me. Dart in a jab with my left to test her defenses, and dart back with the dexterity to dodge her counter attacks. It was a hard workout and I was sweating like a pig after ten minutes.

  When I couldn’t take anymore, we moved to stationary punch repetitions on a medium bag to help with my upper body. No use being able to dart into range and jab if I couldn’t back it up with juice behind my right hook.

  Ash held the bag steady so I could do my repetitions without the swing back.

  “When is it your turn Maverick?” I said through a heavy breath as I drew my fist back. “You’re running me ragged. It’s only fair I give you a go.”

  “We can have a go on the mat later.” He sealed his dirty statement with a wink.

  “I need to work on my crunches,” I retorted, slowing as my lady bits began to churn.

  “Okay,” he said. “But that wasn’t an invitation to stop.”

  I laughed and began belting the bag again.

  We were still making foul sex jokes when the outside door opened. We both turned at the same moment Dad came through the door, dragging his suitcase, closely followed by Dean, Lincoln and Josie.

  “Ren!” she cried, dropping her suitcase and coming over to hug me.

  I threw my arms around her neck and squished her against me. “I’ve missed your crazy face.”

  “I’ve missed your…crazy.”

  “I would complain, but that about sums it up.”

  She let me go and began hopping from foot to foot. “I want a full report later, but for now I’ve gotta go pee.”

  I made a face. “Too much information.”

  She waved me off with a laugh and darted across the studio. My gaze caught on Dad’s back as he climbed the stairs. He hadn’t stopped to say hello, so I gathered he was still dark about me fighting at The Underground. Well, he just had to get over it.

  The Twins came over; leaving their bags by the door and each of them hugged me, ignoring Ash. Lincoln was the only one who waltzed over to my hulk of a boyfriend and shook his hand. I bet they had a lot of things to discuss. Violet being one.

  “I hear you’ve been kicking ass,” I said, shoving playfully at Dean.

  “It’s been brilliant,” he said with a grin. He eyed Ash over my shoulder. “How’s everything with, you know?”

  “The Underground?” I asked, quirking my eyebrow. “Or Ash?”

  “Both.”

  “Fine. Not without their trials, but fine.”

  He crossed his arms over his broad chest and I knew the lecture was coming. It was sweet that Dean thought of me as his little sister and all, but I had enough protectiveness from Ash.

  “Josie tells me you’re in the Championship,” he said.

  I nodded. “Yeah.”

  “I’m kinda surprised,” he said and I thumped him in the arm. “Hey!”

  I best not tell him about my KO then. “Told you I could hold my own.”

  “Was there any doubt?”

  I laughed as his face began to soften and shoved him playfully. “Never.”

  “So, when’s the big fight?”

  “Next Thursday. Ash is fighting on Friday.”

  “Against…”

  My expression tightened. “He’s fighting Hammer.”

  Dean nodded like he already knew…or suspected. He glanced over at Ash who was talking with Dad, their hand gestures getting wilder as they went. I could have a wild guess at what they were talking about and would probably hit the nail right on the head.

  “What’s that meant to mean?” I asked.

  “That guy’s had it coming for years,” he said. “I’ve never met the fucker, but even I want to serve him his ass for hurting you.” He glanced up again and this time he was watching his brother and I frowned.

  “Lincoln?” I asked, remembering that he’d reacted strangely the day everything came out and especially when Violet was brought up.

  “He won’t say, but I reckon he’s got a thing for Violet Fuller. Or had. It’s been five years or so since she
used to hang around here.”

  I turned my attention to Lincoln and realized he had been quiet the past few months. He was always the more level headed of the Twins and quiet by default, but this was different. With Violet being so…Violet, it was something I knew I had to stay out of.

  Deciding not to press it, I said, “Then he’ll be glad to know that Hammer will be getting everything he deserves in that cage and then some.”

  Dean placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “That’s if Fuller wins.”

  I tensed and shook his hand away. When Ash was in that cage he was like a hurricane of destruction, untouchable, uncontrollable…unbeatable. Outside of it was when he was vulnerable…where he was just a man. He had an unbeaten record this season and I’d already decided in my heart and mind that he was going to win. That we both were. But, I hadn’t thought of one tiny little detail. Ash hadn’t fought Hammer all season. Anything could happen once that cage door closed. Anything.

  I suddenly realized that’s why Ash had been feeling off. It had to be, because I couldn’t see any other reason for him to be so off kilter.

  Dean’s expression softened and he went to wind his arm around my waist, but I stepped away. “Ren, I didn’t mean…”

  “He’s going to win.” That was stubborn pride talking.

  As far as I was concerned, he had to. My heart began to hammer in my chest as I realized what needed to be done. Hammer couldn’t get away with it. If Ash didn’t come out of that cage the victor, then I would do what he couldn’t go through with the night he left me at Beat.

  If Hammer won the Championship, then I’d kill him myself.

  Three things happened over the next three days. Some expected developments and some very unexpected.

  The first was my debriefing with Josie about the season in Sydney. Ash and I had a lot going on, so we hadn’t seen any of the fights, but from what Josie said, the Twins both did really well in their weight class. They didn’t quite make their own Championship, but next year it was extremely likely. They’d been named the new fighters to watch going into the next round and I couldn’t be more proud of the meatheads. Especially Dean, who was the focus of the second thing on my list.

  It seemed the waters between him and Ash had settled, and I’d even caught them wolfing down their breakfast in companionable silence. It wasn’t until I saw them training together and laughing, that I realized that in typical bloke fashion they’d just let shit go. They thought women were complicated, but men…sheesh. How they could solve a disagreement with nothing but a grunt had me scratching my head every time.

  Still, I was glad they were getting along. I couldn’t imagine life without the Twins now.

  The third thing was a lot more expected. Dad still wasn’t pleased with me, which was what had prompted me to confront him on the third day after everyone had come back from Sydney. We’d made so much progress; it seemed like twenty steps back into old times.

  I knocked once on the office door and barged in.

  Dad was sitting at the desk, hunched over with his head in his hand.

  “Ren,” he said as he jumped at my abrupt entrance.

  “Dad.” I placed my hands on my hips.

  “Your mother got that look when she wanted to rip me a new one,” he said with a sigh.

  “I do.”

  “Out with it then.” His nonchalance started to piss me off.

  “You’ve hardly spoken to me since you got back,” I huffed. “Did you do that with Mum too?”

  “Shit.”

  Shit, indeed.

  “I’m in the Championship, Dad.” He blinked like he hadn’t believed I’d even get there in the first place and it kinda stung. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” I rolled my eyes.

  He sighed and rubbed his eyes. “I didn’t mean… That’s great, Ren.”

  “But?”

  “It’s just not the Championship I thought you’d be winning, is all.”

  I shrugged. “There are no trophies or accolades, just a big wad of cash. I told you this is what I wanted to do. After everything—”

  “I know,” he interrupted. “It’s just father mode coming into full effect.”

  Yet another person I was never ever going to tell about my KO, then. “Dare I ask if you want to come watch me fight?”

  Dad narrowed his eyes. I took it as a no.

  “Fine,” I said. “Josie knows the details if you change your mind.”

  I shook out my arms and rolled my shoulders.

  “Ren, wait a minute.” He stood and faced me, pinching the bridge of his nose.

  “It’s okay Dad. It’s not your scene, I get it.”

  “It’s not.”

  “Then don’t worry about it.” I waved him off, keen to get back out into the studio to talk more with the Twins about their stint in pro as much as I needed to get back into training with Ash.

  “Ren…”

  “You don’t need to explain yourself Dad. I know how you feel.” I closed the office door behind me and bounded down the stairs like hell was nipping at my heels.

  Dad had been extremely vocal in his displeasure about my fighting at The Underground. To expect him actually go? That was a flash in the pan idea if I ever saw one. Still, a part of me wanted him to see me in my first Championship bout considering it was his dream. It wasn’t the stock standard kind of fight, but it was where my heart lay. Bright lights and Ren Miller didn’t fit. Darkness however...

  There had been so many things Dad’d missed while I was growing up. School plays, award nights, graduation… The kid inside me, the kid that had missed out on having her dad at those stupid mundane events, wanted him to come to one of the most important of her life.

  Still, asking was all I could do. I couldn’t make him accept my decisions if he was against them that much. I’d still love him either way.

  That’s the strange thing about growing up. Eventually you learn how to accept the things you can’t change.

  As I joined the guys on the mat, I couldn’t help the disappointment that tugged at the edges of my heart.

  Maybe he’d come next time.

  If there was a next time.

  36

  Ash

  It was Wednesday, the day before Ren’s fight and she was distant.

  I couldn’t blame her because I felt much the same way. After so long building up to this…we could now count the time remaining on one hand. Everything was coiled, ready to spring…and the ending was unpredictable.

  Sensing she needed her space, I left her in Beat’s kitchen with Josie and retreated to the gym to run on the treadmill. Running outside was out of the question today, there was no way I was leaving Ren behind.

  “Ash?”

  I was sitting on the bench, taking a breather when I heard my name. I glanced up and smiled when I saw Coach at the door, but it faded when I saw the look on his face.

  “Can I have a word?” he asked, stepping into the gym.

  I gestured to the bench beside me. “Of course.”

  He sat beside me and I tensed, wondering how much of a tongue-lashing I was about to get. Coach was a hard-ass; he knew just how much shit to give without it ever being too much or not enough. There was a reason he was one of the best coach’s I’d ever seen in the business. Fuck, even in the pro leagues he was a gun.

  “How’s training going?” he asked and I blinked hard. This wasn’t the opener I was expecting.

  “Fine. Ren’s stronger than ever.”

  “And you?” He eyed me like he knew something was up.

  “Okay. I’m ready.”

  “Good.”

  I knew he wanted to talk about Ren and what was next for us. I knew he wanted answers, but I wasn’t sure I had them.

  “Have you sorted things with Monica?” I asked, trying to stall by asking the most insane question I could think of.

  Truthfully, I didn’t really care, it sounded heartless, but after what she’d done to Ren…that was unforgivable in my mind. We n
ever had a relationship outside of the studio and I never cared about starting one.

  “I never thought I’d see the day where my own daughter would do something like that.” Coach shook his head, the disappointment clear in his expression. “She let that man into Beat and he could’ve—” His voice wavered and he took a deep breath. “Maybe one day we’ll work through it, but for now…”

  “Dean said she’s living on the other side of Melbourne.”

  Coach nodded. “She’s working at one of those Fitness First gyms as a nutritionist.”

  I grunted, not wanting to talk about her anymore. She’d obviously lost a fuck load when she stepped in to own up to her mistakes. Maybe I owed her for that, but maybe it still wasn’t enough to balance out the shit she’d pulled. I knew Ren was better off without her at Beat. She didn’t need that reminder because having to see Hammer all the time at The Underground was far far worse.

  “I’ve become very close with Ren over the last few months,” Coach went on. “I should never have left her. I’m still her father and I’d do anything to protect her.”

  So, this was the crux of it. “I get what you’re saying Coach—”

  “Do you?” He looked me up and down. “I owe you for saving her when I couldn’t, but the way you handled things afterwards I will never agree with you on. You never saw her in the months you were gone Ash. I need to know that you will never do that to her again. I need you to promise you’ll protect her.”

  I tried not to let my sadness show on my face. I couldn’t make that promise. Like a selfish bastard I couldn’t guarantee it past Friday night. I knew he meant being there physically, financially it was something I could handle, but more than that? I couldn’t...

  “I promise, Coach,” I said, a twinge of pain shooting through my heart.

  “What are your intentions with my daughter?”

  “I’ve got plans,” I replied. “I want to be able to provide for her, to make sure she never has to worry about anything ever again, but I need money to be able to do that.”

  “By winning this Underground thing?”