Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
I glanced over at Kit and Ella, who were standing to the side with Luke, both Littles armed with disinfectant spray and wipes. Ella had war paint on her cheeks, and Kit had a utility belt packed with lollipops, candy bars, and juice boxes. They were fucking adorable.
“If one fight ends without a winner, that couple moves to the end of the line to wait for their turn to try again,” Colt finished.
As Greer joined us to give a reminder about our medical station, I bent down and instructed Shay to take River aside and tell him about the bet.
I’d had Shay to myself most of the afternoon and early evening, and I could sense that River needed something too.
Shay nodded in acknowledgment, then stood up and grabbed River’s hand and walked off with him. In the meantime, Greer stressed the importance of being careful in the cages if it started to rain. The entire state was in need of a heavy thunderstorm to clear the air, and of course, tonight was the night it was in the forecast. But so far, not a single drop of rain. We hoped to finish the fights and move the party indoors before the cages became too slippery.
Then it was my turn to speak again, and no matter how much we prepared beforehand, it seemed we always had to go through fourteen fucking lectures before we could have fun. It was the downside of running a community, because you could never be selfish and just worry about yourself.
“Some of you have already noticed the lube dispensers right outside the cages,” I said. “In short, how you fight is up to you and your partner—with a few exceptions. No closed fists near the face. Backhanding and slapping are okay, but no punching. Avoid your partner’s throat, which includes choking. Asphyxiation kinksters will have to save that for another time. Same applies to those into ball-busting and other types of genitalia torture. Leave the privates alone for this event.” I cleared my throat. “Other than that, you spend those five minutes fighting however you want, with whatever protective gear you want. And if you defeat your partner in two minutes and feel like a quick victory fuck, go nuts. There’s plenty of lube.”
“Unless you wanna go dry,” Colt interjected. “That can be mighty fun too.”
“No, it can’t,” we heard Kit mumble.
I grinned, and to his visible embarrassment, many cracked up.
When everyone had refilled their drinks, gone to the bathroom, and Shay had returned to me with a big smile on his face, Lucas stepped forward from the sidelines to declare this month’s event underway.
He gestured to Shay and me next and smiled. “Gentlemen, you may enter the cage.”
Finally.
I dipped down and kissed Shay’s nervous-tinted smirk, and I could admit I wasn’t wholly assertive myself. I had some lingering worry about his reaction in case he lost, although…on the other hand, we’d cross that bridge if we came to it. Secondly, we’d gotten off on the wrong foot with this whole fight. It’d started with me riling him up in order for him to take the bait, but when push came to shove, I was by no means certain I’d win.
Since we’d begun working out together in the mornings, I’d learned he was a fast, agile little shit. I had the upper hand in the pool, because of technique and sheer strength, but if we went running, which we did many mornings, I was panting before he even broke a sweat.
River waited for us on the other side of the cage where the entrance was, and he pulled Shay in for a quick kiss. “Don’t go easy on him.”
“I won’t.” Shay threw me a grin over his shoulder.
I merely sandwiched him between us and rested my forehead against Riv’s.
He’s ours.
River drew a deep breath and let it out slowly, and he nodded minutely. “Put him in his place for this emotional roller coaster I didn’t sign up for.”
“Hey!” Shay protested.
I smiled and slipped an arm over Shay’s chest, hugging him back to me. “Let’s go, little fighter.”
I ushered him inside the cage, and River closed the door with a metal clang reverberating through the construction. And it changed the atmosphere in a single breath.
As I exchanged a look with Shay, I knew he felt it too. The shift was so tangible. Rain hung in the air. It felt darker, even though the space between the bars let in the firelight from the torches surrounding us.
Staying in my spot, I tracked Shay walking over to the opposing corner as Colt counted down from ten.
I’d half expected my years in the field would come rushing back; it hadn’t been that long since River and I were balls deep in thick terrain waiting for rebels to hand over information about an enemy insurgent. But nothing. This wasn’t Bangladesh or Mali. It wasn’t Belize or Syria either. This was new territory.