Finally, the bell rings, ending that round and I take a breath.
Levi’s heaving for air, face dripping blood again, and Harvey is back in his face. He holds a thumb up and I know it’s for me. I know he’s letting me know he’s okay, but my heart still aches.
Back out, both men are gasping for air. Both men have gashes on their faces. Both men are ready to end it.
Explosive punches are traded again, along with some wicked kicks and knees. Thuds. Leather connecting with skin. Skin on skin contact. I’m nauseated. The mixture of anxiety, adrenaline, the smell of blood…I’m green all over and worried sick to blink.
Ryker drops Levi flat on his back and is face to face. He looks possessed as he says something to Levi and then drops an evil elbow to his face. My heart slams against my chest, my lungs expel the last bit of breath. Levi isn’t in a good position.
Punch after elbow, Ryker leans down and says one more thing, and it sends Levi into turmoil. He roars, pushing Ryker in the chest and jumps to his feet.
I can’t hear what they’re saying to each other as they circle. The clock is at fifty seconds which normally detonates a crazy blowout for points.
Levi spits then comes in at a weird angle and tags Ryker’s right eye. Blood splatters and Ryker loses his bearings. Levi takes full advantage of it and strikes with a jab, shrugs off a sloppy punch Ryker throws, then tags another jab.
Their pace is much slower from when they started. They’re both tired. Levi’s eyes are dark and as I’ve seen it many times, watch him step into Ryker’s guard which sends him to his back with an uppercut. Immediately, Levi pounces and strikes several more times before the ref slides in and calls the fight.
The arena is nuts. Levi stumbles in disbelief and then it hits him. He’s won. He’s freaking won the championship! He jumps on the top of the fence and roars raising his arms.
I push past everyone heading toward the full ring. I leap into his arms and he spins me around, then sets me on my feet as the doctors make their way to his face.
Adam grabs my hand and pulls me away. “They have to announce the winner. Come stand with me.”
Levi gets his shirt over his head after the doctors pack the gashes and the referee stands with each man on either side. Ryker hasn’t picked his head up yet.
Once the announcement is made, Levi yanks me back to his side just as a commentator shoves a microphone in his face.
“What a hell of a fight, man,” the man in the hat says. “What were you thinking through it all?”
“That I wanted to win,” Levi answers breathless.
“The Leveler is now a champion and moving onto the pros. Do you know what’s next?”
“Damn that sounds good,” he chuckles. “I’m sure my manager has things planned for me. We’ll find out, huh?”
“Anyone in particular you have in mind?”
“No. Just a pro ‘cause I am one!” he yells.
“You started looking fatigued. What pushed you ‘til the end?”
Levi peers down at me. “Had a wager I wanted to win.”
He won. My boyfriend is now a pro fighter. I’m inundated with pride. He’s worked his ass off to get here. Traveling with him I’m sure will bring some interesting times, but I’m ready for them. This will be a journey together that I’m excited to take.
Epilogue
It’s been a month since I was granted champion. Levi, The Leveler, Stiles the Champ. Has a damn good ring to it, doesn’t it? Sponsors flew in, endorsing me. I’m not a little guy, trying to make it to the top anymore. I’m there.
Paige kept to her word. She told both her managers when I go, she’s going with me. Jim wasn’t happy and gave her a really hard time about it. I paid him a visit, quickly reminding him who he needs to respect. He better be happy I didn’t pummel his old ass in his office.
My fight with Ryker messed me up. I got five stitches below my eye, three above, and they ended up gluing my nose. I was black and blue for a few weeks, sore for one. Poor Paige was beside herself. She treated me like I was a porcelain doll, scared to even touch me. I proved her wrong several times, if you get the gist.
Still wondering what Ryker said to me? So is Paige. He spewed lies about him and her, and promised me it would be his arm she left on. Delusional little shithead. She’s not going anywhere. Her heart belongs to me and I’m confident of it.
Call me conceited all you want, but you’re not the one with the gorgeous sight of her in a long flowing white sundress with her hair sweeping in the wind as she looks over the railing at the clear waters. The wind pushes her dress up giving me sneak peeks of her sexy ass in a bikini. My cock is on fire to feel her.
I decided a few days after I healed, I wanted to take her on a vacation. Somewhere warm where she’d not need to wear many clothes. She deserves it. She’s put up with my ass for a while now, and I want to show her the “us” we’re going to be.
I sneak up behind her, wrap my arm around her waist and pull her into me, placing a kiss to her shoulder. She rests into my chest holding my arms and we stand molded into one another as the warm breeze blows around us. No words are exchanged. None need to be.
The waves crash softly against the pillars, the seagulls call out above us and the skies are blue. I don’t need to look. I know she’s smiling. She’s happy and that looks fucking impeccable on her. I don’t want to ever see her tears again.
I’m not dumb. I’m sure our journey will have its ups and downs, zigs and zags, but together we’re a team and together we’re going to make it. I never want to lose her again. She leveled me. My heart is only for her. She’s my Sunshine in the storms. She proves to me I’m capable of anything and shows me she’ll always support me.
And soon, I’ll show her where I want to be, when the timing is right.
It’s all about timing…
Thank you for reading UnExpected!
About the author
TC Matson loves to let her characters voices be heard. With a head full of stories, she puts her keyboard through a beating daily. Regularly, she visits the solidity of her writing cave, whether it be on the couch, at her desk, or in the corner hiding from her five-year-old.
She’s an avid reader and is known to devour books within hours. As a romance junkie, Matson sets her sights to try to find stories that are relatable and real. She’s not a fan of vampires, fairies, or any other out of this world fiction. And understanding that love isn’t always instant and full of flowers…her writing mirrors it. She isn’t afraid to push the envelope and touch the bases of uncomfortable situations.
Matson resides in the peaceful Piedmont area of North Carolina, where she stays hopped up on caffeine and chasing children. She has a relatively normal life managing her home, or as she calls it, her loony bin. Chaos is indefinite and a sense of humor is absolutely a must.
Connect with TC Matson
authortcmatson@gmail.com
www.tcmatson.com
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Warning
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
&n
bsp; Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Epilogue
About Author