Xavier Cold (Hard Knocks #2) (25 page)

The biggest question on his mind has to be whether he will be able to continue to harness that anger he feels and still be able to pull this match off.

The last thing he needs right now is for a repeat of what went on in Atlanta. If he loses it, it will probably be the end of his wrestling career with the largest company in the world. This job means a lot to him, and now with a baby on the way, he feels even more pressure to keep it.

I sit beside him and then lean my chin on his shoulder. The scent of soap and something distinctly Xavier wraps around me as I quietly sit with him, wanting him to know just like always I’m here for him.

Xavier blows a rush of air out of his nose and then whispers, “What if I fuck up again? What happens to us?”

“Nothing,” I say and he turns to look at me with those crystal blue eyes of his and I repeat. “Nothing, because you will be in control this time.”

“What if I don’t?” The question he’s really asking is if he doesn’t change will I leave him.

I need to keep reassuring him. It’s the small part I need to play in his role to Xavier being in a better mental health state and knowing he doesn’t have to lash out to express his fears—that talking to me is always a better choice.

“I believe in you.” I touch his cheek with the tips of my fingers. “I love you, Xavier. Nothing is going to tear us apart. You’re well on your way to showing the rest of the world the good man you’ve kept locked up all these years, that I knew was in there all along.”

He cradles my face in his hands. “I love you, beautiful. Thank you for being my angel in the dark.”

He presses his lips to mine, but before our kiss gets too heated, Al’s voice cuts into the empty room. “X, you’re up.”

Xavier pulls back and stares into my eyes. “I want you in my corner. You belong there.”

I smile. “Then lead the way.”

Pandemonium erupts as Xavier’s entrance music starts. The fans have been waiting anxiously for his return and now they are about to get what they want. Tonight’s sold-out crowd is insane, faces are everywhere I look as I stand back and watch Xavier do his thing. My eyes rake over him as he stands there staring out at the crowd, his chiseled arms are on full display, and the fabric of the black tank top he’s wearing straining against his toned chest.

His face shows no emotion, and it’s intimidating. Rex better be on his A-game because Xavier is all business.

Xavier crouches down, and then jumps up in perfect time as fireworks shoot up from the stage. He throws his shoulders and head back as his signature howl erupts from his throat.

My God. This gets me every time.

My heart flutters at the sight of my powerful man.

He grabs my hand and then struts down the ramp like a warrior entering battle.

“The following match is scheduled for one fall,” the man in the ring announces. “Making his way to the ring, from Detroit, Michigan, weighing two hundred and sixty-five pounds, he is . . . Phenomenal X!”

“Stay right here.” Xavier kisses my cheek and then climbs into the ring and continues putting on a show for the crowd by running from corner to corner throwing a victorious fist in the air.

The announcer introduces Xavier’s opponent. “Making his way to the ring, from Hollywood, California, weighing two hundred and thirty pounds, your Tension champion, he is . . . Rex ‘
Assassin’
Risen!”

Rex and Deena take their time making their way to the ring. Deena glares at me from the opposite corner as Rex steps inside the ring and holds the belt in the air.

The two men stare each other down and the crowd goes electric. Lots of signs with Xavier’s stage name written all over them. There’s no question who the fans are backing tonight.

Bright lights flicker overhead and a bell rings, signaling the beginning of the match. Xavier and Rex circle each other, and I grab the corner of the mat and shout encouragements to Xavier. My breath hitches the moment they lock up. Part of me doesn’t want to watch, but the other part of me wants to see Xavier unleash on Rex. Nervous energy passes through every inch of me because I have no idea what’s about to happen.

I just pray Rex doesn’t do something stupid and say something that will get him killed. Xavier has promised to work on his temper, but I think at this point his intension to keep a calm head can only be tested so much before he loses his mind.

Rex’s taunts earlier tonight didn’t help, but I have faith that somehow Xavier will dig deep inside himself and find a way to do this.

Rex twists around and catches Xavier in a headlock, but Xavier quickly shoves him off and grabs his wrist and lands a kick to his side.

This time it’s Xavier who wraps his arm around Rex’s neck and grunts as he pulls tight. Rex’s arms flail around wildly and then he elbows Xavier in the ribs, causing him to let go.

Xavier doesn’t give up though, because he grabs Rex’s arms and flings him into the ropes and lands a clothesline, knocking his opponent to the mat so hard the ring shakes.

Rex pushes himself up, and waves Xavier on. “Is that all you got?”

“Spear! Spear! Spear!” The crowd chants over and over, egging Xavier on to use one of his finishing moves on Rex.

Xavier bends at the waist and puts his hand on the mat in a football player three-point stance and then charges full speed at Rex. Cameras flash the moment Xavier makes contact and both men go flying.

A collective, “Ohh,” echoes through the massive room as Xavier tackles Rex down to the mat and then punches him once in the face.

Rex doesn’t make an attempt to get up, but Xavier isn’t finished with him yet. He crawls over to the corner of the ring and climbs up the turnbuckles until he’s balancing himself on the top rope. A six-foot-four man towering this high over the ring is really a sight to see. It’s spectacular.

Xavier stretches his arms out and then sends his body toward Rex. An audible crack echoes around the room, and I gasp. I’ve been around wrestling enough lately to know that sound means real pain, and I pray Xavier is all right.

I resist the urge to jump into the ring to check on him because doing that will stop the match, so I wait with baited breath to find out if Xavier is okay. I can barely watch to see what happens next.

T
he minute my elbow makes contact with Rex’s chest, he grunts in pain. Granted we aren’t trained to actually land with that much force on our opponent, but this motherfucker deserves all the pain I can inflict on him.

The lights overhead are nearly blinding when you stare up at them too long. The mats hard beneath me as I lay here attempting to catch my breath.

I roll over and then push myself up to my feet. Pinning Rex so early wouldn’t be good business. The fans are expecting a show, and it’s my job to give it to him.

I stumble over to Rex and grab his hair, forcing him to his feet. “On your feet, fucker.”

“Kiss my ass. I won’t help you take my belt.”

He grunts as I elbow him in the ribs. As much as I want to unleash my anger, I hold back and maintain perfect control of my temper. This asshole will not ruin this for me again no matter how much he tries to get to me.

Rex shoves me back, and I stumble back to sell it to the crowd. We face each other, both of our chests heaving, waiting on the other to make the first move.

“Come on!” Rex screams out of frustration as I rush at him.

Our arms hook up in a test of strength, and he tries to push me back. I plant my feet and a cold smile crosses my face when he realizes that I’m not budging.

His eyes widen as I slam a forearm across his chest. The wind gushes out of him as I pin him against the ropes and growl. “This is my house, motherfucker, and it’s time you respect that.”

I hit him one more time and he wobbles on his feet. It’s clear he’s losing the will to fight. It’s time to finish this.

I rush back against the ropes and bounce off of them with momentum that could rival a freight train. Rex braces for impact as I launch myself at him, spearing him to the mat with enough force to shake the whole ring.

The crowd chants my name, “X! X! X!”

He moans as he lies next to me, and I know he can’t take much more punishment.

Energy surges through me, and I seize the moment to hook my elbow around his leg, effectively pinning him to the mat.

The referee falls to the mat and smacking it hard as he counts out loud.

“One!” the crowd chants along with the referee.

“Two!”

“Three!”

I lay there stunned. I’ve finally done it. I’m finally the champion.

The referee hands me the belt and then helps me onto my feet. The gold on the belt glistens beneath the lights above the stage as I hold it out in front of me. I’ve worked so hard in my career, punishing my body to nearly its breaking point, all for this moment—the chance to hold this championship belt in my hands. I’ve earned this. I’ve went through hell for this belt and I finally feel like I deserve to happy.

“Your new Heavy-Weight Champion, PHENOMENAL X!” The announcer shouts over the crowd and my name echoes around the room.

Rex slams his fist into the ground like a spoiled child throwing a fit, but him being pissed over the situation isn’t my problem. This is how things were always meant to be.

I stare up at the crowd and every single person in the place is on their feet, cheering and chanting my name. It’s a fucking rush. I raise my hand in victory while I clutch the belt against my chest as I walk over to the corner of the ring. I extend my hand out to Anna. “Come on, beautiful. Share this moment with me.”

She takes my hand and I pull her up onto the ring.

She wraps her arms around me and I bury my face into her hair so I can say, “We did it.”

Anna pulls back and then shakes her head. “No. You did it.”

There’s no way I could’ve done this without her, and it’s high time she knew just how much she means to me.

I turn to the referee. “Get me a mic.”

Within seconds of my request, a microphone is shoved into my hand so I can address the crowd. “Last time I was in this ring, I left in handcuffs. This time I walk out of here as the champ.” The fans get so loud, I swear the roof of this place is about to blow. After a couple of minutes, they quiet down enough for me to continue. “Assassin tried to take away everything that was important to me, but that dumb ass couldn’t figure out you can’t mess with fate. I’ve got my belt, and I’ve got my woman.”

Anna stares up at me with a wide grin and mouths the words ‘I love you’ to me.

I gaze into her eyes, knowing this woman is my soul mate—the one I can’t live without—and it’s time to make this shit permanent for real. “This woman has brought me out of the depths of my darkness. She’s my light—my everything—and it’s high time the world knows she’s mine.” I drop down to one knee in front of a sold-out crowd and millions of people watching at home. “Anna . . . will you marry me?”

Her hands cover her face in shock. She wasn’t prepared for this moment, but she should know by now I never do what’s expected. Tears flow from her eyes as she smiles and nods, repeating the word yes over and over.

I hop to my feet and cradle her face in my hands. “I love you, Anna. Always have and always will.”

I thread my fingers into her hair, and crash my lips into hers and get lost in the moment.

Anna curls her fingers into my shirt and yanks me into the elevator with her. We’ve been celebrating my victory all evening, and it looks like the party is continuing in her room.

A
s soon as the doors close, I pick her up and crush my mouth into hers.

She wraps her legs around my waist and grips handfuls of my hair. “I want you.”

Fuck. I nearly come apart every time she says that to me.

This woman is fucking perfection. Everything she does turns me on like a fucking light switch and I can’t wait until I get her sexy ass in bed.

I glance up at the elevator numbers and realize we’re stopping on her floor and excitement for what I know is going to be amazing sex builds inside me. “Patience, baby. We’re almost there.”

The doors open and I carry her with ease down the hall. Her lips are still connected with mine when we arrive at her door.

I pull back. “Room key?”

She reaches into her back pocket and then slips it into the slot on the door. It opens on the first try, and we push inside.

The lights remain off as I walk over to the bed and toss Anna on it.

She scoots to the middle, her eyes trained on me while her hair is wild from our elevator make-out.

I crawl toward her like a predator. “Ever been fucked by a champion?”

She bites her lip. “No . . . but I have the feeling that I’m about to be.”

With a firm hand, I push her down onto the bed and then slide her tank top up. I kiss the warm flesh of her stomach and stare up at her through hooded eyes. “Did I mention how fucking sexy you looked tonight? You have no idea how tempted I was to drag you to a dark corner somewhere and have my way with you”

A blush immediately creeps into her cheeks. “I would’ve liked that.”

My tongue darts out and I lick around her naval. “Don’t tempt me, beautiful, or next time when I have the urge to take you, I’ll just do it and not give a fuck where we are or who can hear you scream out my name when I make you come.”