“Fuck,” I muttered.

“Doesn’t feel so good, does it, Doc?” he laughed, before sticking his fingers in his mouth, licking them clean.

I glared at him. It was funny when I did it to him. To leave me like this now felt downright cruel.

“You’re a bastard.”

My entire body had been tense and he made it so much worse. I was wound so tight at this point I worried walking would cause me to orgasm. I ached that badly.

He patted my ass as he stood and wrapped me in his arms. The warmth of his naked flesh seared through my thin silk camisole. “We’ll finish after I win. I want to take my time with you tonight.”

I rubbed my cheek against the smooth skin of his pec. “I should hate you right now, but I can’t.”

“You two done in there?” Rob yelled, knocking on the door.

“He’s a pain in the ass,” I said, sighing against his chest.

“I know.” He kissed the top of my head, burying his nose in my hair. “Yeah, come in.”

Rob plopped down on the couch across the room and watched us.

“I better go, Michael. You have to get ready and I need to find my seat.” I peered up at him, getting a last look of his beautiful face. I worried it would be bloody and bruised the next time I touched it.

“I’ll text Izzy to meet you in the corridor.” His kiss burned my lips as he crushed his mouth against mine. “Thanks, Mia, for coming.” The smug asshole winked. “I know you hate the very idea, but you being here means a lot to me.”

“No other place I’d rather be.” I slid my hand down his arm, moving away from him. “Oh, and Michael?”

“Yes.”

“Kick his ass, handsome,” I said trying to help him relax.

He winked and his smile made my heart melt.

Fuck, I hated the thought of that beautiful face being hit. I hated everything about what was about to unfold before my eyes.

I waved to him with a faint smile as I left. I could hear the cheers of the crowd echo through the corridor backstage. I followed the noise, finding Izzy waiting for me near the arena entrance.

Her mouth moved as she waved for me to follow her, but it was so loud I couldn’t hear her words. I smiled and nodded before following her to the seating area.

“Down front,” Izzy yelled in my ear, as I look around the arena.

The crowd was larger than I would have expected for a MMA match. Not everyone had such great disdain for the sport as I did. I hated the idea of two men beating the crap out of each other for a title, but I promised Michael I’d be here.

The entire Gallo family, with the exception of Mrs. Gallo, sat in the front row looking as anxious as I felt.

“I found her,” Izzy said as we sat down.

They were a stunning family. The men were all cut from the same cloth. Handsome, rugged, and muscular and the sister was a spitfire. Even Mr. Gallo was classically handsome and didn’t show his age.

“It’s nice to see you again, Doc.” Joe said, a couple seats away.

“Call me Mia, please. I see you’re getting around better these days.”

“Physical therapy works wonders. I wouldn’t miss this fight for the world. Suzy would have had my balls if I didn’t bring her tonight.” He turned and kissed her cheek as she kept her eyes glued to the cage.

“Hello, my dear,” Mr. Gallo said, taking my hand, planting a soft kiss on it. “You’ve missed some matches already.”

I winced as I watched them clean the floor. There was blood and sweat everywhere. “This isn’t my idea of entertainment, Mr. Gallo. I’m only here for Michael,” I said trying to stop my stomach from spilling its contents. “Where’s Mrs. Gallo?” I asked.

“Oh, she hates the very idea of him fighting. She stayed home tonight to read. So, how’s he doing? Is he ready?” he asked.

I shrugged as butterflies filled my stomach. I hoped he was ready because I really couldn’t take watching him being beaten. “He seemed pretty calm when I left him to finish preparing.”

Our conversation was interrupted as the announcer spoke, “Ladies and gentleman, the heavy weight match you’ve all been waiting for is about to begin.”

The crowd stood and the screaming made my eardrums throb. Loud music began to play and I knew it was Michael’s song, "Bodies" by Drowning Pool. It had been playing in his dressing room before I left. I covered my ears as I stood, facing the back of the arena.

“Weighing in at two-hundred and sixty pounds I give you the one, the only, Michael ‘The Iceman’ Gallo.”

The crowd screamed before chanting Ice Man, Ice Man.

Michael wore a black silk robe as he entered through the dark curtain and started to walk down the aisle. The crowd went crazy as people tried to grab him on his way down the ramp into the arena. Blood curdling screams from female fans professing their love to him made me laugh. I could see how this could be an adrenaline rush.

I had the perfect vantage point to watch him. I stood with one leg in the aisle and leaned over to watch him. He stared straight ahead as he walked with his shoulders pushed back, looking bigger than ever. His lips were set in firm line and there was no happiness in his eyes. The sparkle had been replaced with fierceness. He looked mean as hell, but I knew the real man underneath.

Michael held his fists up to the crowd as he stopped in front of me, turning to face them. He glanced at me from the corner of his eye as a small smirk danced on his lips but quickly vanished.

The excitement of the moment wasn’t lost on me.

He walked into the cage, stopping dead in the center. He shrugged off the robe, exposing his beautiful physique and breath taking face. The cheers grew louder, mainly from the females, as he stood there bouncing up and down, moving his neck from side to side.

I wanted to run into the cage and jump in his arms and beg him not to fight.

“And now we bring you his opponent. Weighing in at two hundred and fifty seven pounds we give you, Tommy ‘The Heat’ Ramirez.”

All eyes in the arena turned as a man in a red robe emerged. He looked as big and scarier, maybe because I didn’t know him like I did Michael.

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat and my chest began to ache.

Both of these men would leave bloody and bruised before this was all said and done. I worried about Michael getting hurt and his male ego if he lost.

“Isn’t this exciting?” Izzy said, pulling on my arm.

“Captivating and scary as hell,” I responded before turning back to watch ‘The Heat’ enter the cage and mimic Michael’s previous movements.

“He’s going to kick Tommy’s ass,” Izzy said as she stared at the fighter.

“I hope so.” I gnawed on my lip as I watched Michael size up the competition.

He was ready and chomping at the bit to get his hands on the guy.

People jumped up and down as the men readied themselves for the fight. I sat there almost breathless and scared for what would unfold before my eyes.

Both men stood in the middle of the cage, staring each other down. It would be comical if I didn’t understand the brutality that was about to happen.

I was transfixed as I studied Michael’s every movement.

The men touched hands before the referee screamed, “Let’s get it on.” Before he moved out of the way quickly.

Ramirez lunged at Michael and kicked him in the thigh. I could hear the snap of the skin from the impact. I closed my eyes, cringing, before peeking to see what happened next.

Michael seemed unphased by the strike, hitting him back with an elbow to the face. Ramirez’ face lurched back before he shook it off and steadied himself. The men moved around the cage exchanging kicks and jabs and I could feel the lump inside my throat growing larger. I touched my throat, resting my hand there as I stared at Michael.

Michael looked magnificent as he moved around the cage and kept pace with Ramirez. He backed Ramirez against the fencing, holding him in place, striking him with the meaty part of his palm square in the chin. I grimaced when I saw blood drip from the corner of his mouth.