Fighting Lust: A Deadly Sins Novel by Jennifer Miller Read Free Book Online Page A

ticket,” Jax adds. “Got it?”
    Looking at them both briefly, I nod, then wait for the bell to ring signaling the beginning of round one. When it finally comes, I move forward and Zach and I circle each other a few times, measuring one another up, then take my first shot. We each get in a few punches and kicks, and after minimal sparring; we tie each other up in the center of the octagon, vying for position. His leverage and skill take me by surprise, and before I know it, his strength has taken me to the ground. Cursing internally, I’m angry he’s got top position and control. I’m fighting hard to defend against his elbows. One gets by me and connects with my forehead; it hurts like a son of a bitch. I can’t tell if the moisture running down the side of my head is sweat from exertion, or blood from the blow. Managing to hold him off and tie him up, he can’t do any more damage in this position. I’m thankful when the sound of the bell resounds through my pain.
    Angrily stalking to my corner, I sit as Coach and Jax immediately start in on me, “What the fuck are you doing out there? You look like a rookie! You want to get beat to shit?” Coach asks me making me glare at him. “Your looks have no effect on me pretty boy, he says to drive home the taunting of my opponent. Get your shit together.”
    “How are you feeling?” Jax asks as he pulls away a cloth from my face that’s covered in blood. That answers that question. Not sweat, blood. He begins covering the cut with wax to try and slow down the bleeding.
    “I’m fine,” I grit out as I avoid thinking about the sting above my eye and the pounding in my head, the unseen result.
    “Listen, do what we talked about before,” Jax says. “Stay on your feet. Keep him going to the left, and whatever you do, don’t let him get you to the ground. Got it?”
    As I nod, he finishes up, and the bell rings signaling for round two. I’m boiling. All of my training kicks in and I’m able to do what I want. I get him moving back with my jabs and to the left with my hooks. Continuing to push him back, I leverage him with my weight, and strike with continuous hits that are finding their way home. Zach raises his hands in defense, trying to fend me off. I continue to consistently land each blow right where I aim. This pace continues for most of the second run. When it’s all said and done, he hasn’t landed too many shots, but I once again feel blood running down the side of my head and eye. I do my best to see past the crimson curtain and keep focused.
    When the round ends, we drop our arms and stances immediately and go back to our corners. Breathing heavy, I listen as my team tells me I’m doing great and that we definitely won that round. “Go back and have another round just like that one,” Coach instructs.
    “Do it again and you’ve got this,” Jax confirms.
    Before the bell rings, I take a moment to close my eyes and let the energy and screaming fans around me seep into my pores like a mental adrenaline shot. The third round has both Zach and I showing evidence of ensuing fatigue, but I do my best to push through, still pulling on the energy from those around me. It’s clear Zach and I both know this last round is needed to win. Our aggressiveness is in high gear as we bound out of our respective corners. We’re both determined to win and end this. I’m swinging and throwing, trying to land punches, while keeping him moving back again. He’s trying to get to my knees so he can try to take me down. I’m able to block him by positioning my legs and hips so that he can’t get into a good position. I hear him curse under his breath with each failure and it spurns me on.
    Finally, I’m able to push him off, stay on my feet, and land another one two combination of punches to his face. Blood explodes from his nose and I feel profound satisfaction at the sight. I follow that up with a hard leg kick that hurts his knee. At this point, I know I’ve got