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  As he pulled into the gym parking lot later that evening, the last thing he wanted to do was go head–to-head with Anton Yenin. The man stood next to his car, leaning against the shiny chrome, his feet crossed at the ankles, his arms crossed over his chest.

  “Yenin,” Conner said, exasperated. He wanted to get inside, change, and beat the hell out of a punching bag. He did not want to have a verbal dual with Yenin.

  “Bascott.” The man’s voice penetrated Conner’s system, making him groan inwardly. Was it too much to ask for one evening of peace?

  “What do you need, Yenin?”

  “A fighter.” Anton pushed from the car and stood upright. The man had a fucking limo with a driver. Everything about him screamed dirty money.

  “I’ve told you a thousand times, not interested.” Conner kept walking past Yenin.

  Anton stepped in his path and halted him with a hand to his chest. “Need you. Big fight this weekend. Need to win. It’s important.”

  Conner growled. “Anton, it’s always important. And the answer is still no.”

  Yenin pursed his lips and firmed the pressure on Conner’s chest. “Trying to ask nicely, bro.”

  “I’m not your bro.” Conner stepped back a pace, narrowing his gaze. “And I’m not fighting for you.”

  “I have ways of forcing you to comply. It would be to your advantage to join my team willingly.”

  Conner stiffened and stood firm. He was a head taller than Yenin. Larger too. And Yenin was soft. Conner didn’t have a weak spot on his body. “Are you threatening me, Anton?” he growled.

  Anton shrugged. “Never said that.”

  “Sounded to me like you were threatening me.” Conner stepped closer, glaring down at Yenin. “Let me repeat myself. I. Am. Not. Fighting. For. You. Ever.”

  “We’ll see.”

  “Fuck you. You have nothing to threaten me with. I’m clean. I only play above the law. Now get the fuck out of my way so I can get to my workout.” Conner pushed past Anton, shoving the man to the side as he took several long paces to the rear entrance.

  He didn’t look back, though he was aware Yenin could shoot him in the back if he wanted. But it wouldn’t do the man any good. He still wouldn’t have the fighter he seemed desperate for. And he’d have a shit ton of problems shooting a man in the back in the early evening in a public place.

  No. That wasn’t Yenin’s style. The man had other means of getting what he wanted.

  As soon as Conner was inside, he leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. “Fuck.” He seriously hoped Yenin had been bluffing and full of hot air. The man did seem inordinately desperate, but surely he wouldn’t stoop so low as to blackmail Conner to get what he wanted.

  Could this day get any worse?

  Conner shivered at the thought. At this point, nothing would surprise him.

  •●•

  Ah, but his day could get worse.

  Two hours at the gym sparring with Zane and then lifting with Rafe only managed to take the edge off his frustration.

  Both men asked him a series of questions he wasn’t prepared to answer. Zane wanted to know what happened with the student whose ass he’d been ogling before following her down the hall. Rafe found this beyond fascinating and decided the reason for Conner’s disappearance Friday night must have had something to do with the sexy ass under the short skirt.

  Both men were right. And Conner had no intention of satisfying either of them. For one, he had nothing to say since Sabrina Duluth unceremoniously put him in his place and stomped away without looking back. And two, Conner wasn’t interested in a rehash of how the woman had spoken to him in the parking lot, both stiffening his cock to the point of pain while making him itch to spank her until she lost the same attitude that made him hard in the first place.

  Instead of facing the two other members of The Fight Club currently at the gym, Conner provided them with nothing more than a series of grunts and pretended to be interested in lifting weights and not talking. It wasn’t far from the truth. Ordinarily he would be glad to chat with the other guys while they lifted, but after the weekend and then day he’d had, he didn’t have the energy.

  When he finally got home, he grabbed a beer from the fridge and leaned against the kitchen counter to listen to his messages.

  He pressed Play on the machine while he took a long swig of his beer.

  The voice on the machine made him grit his teeth. “Fuck me.” It would never end. He was stuck in hell.

  “Conner. Darling. You’re avoiding me.” She giggled, a totally ridiculous sound coming from the mouth of a grown woman. Someone who should be completely professional.

  Dr. Tina Chang.

  Everything about her made him cringe. She was a faculty member. Ironically, considering her name was Tina, she was Chinese, and she was the head of the foreign language department. She had also been hot for him for several years. She pestered him endlessly. She was one of the few people from work who knew he frequented a BDSM club. She came there with a friend one time years ago and hadn’t ceased throwing the night in Conner’s face every chance she got.

  The fact that he belonged to Extreme wasn’t exactly a deep hidden secret. It also wasn’t something he advertised at work. It wasn’t against any rules. And it certainly wasn’t against the law. However, for everyone’s sake, it was easier for Conner to keep his private life just that. Private.

  Unfortunately for Conner, he got a little tipsy at a faculty party last year and was blindsided when Tina backed him into a dark corner and stuck her tongue down his mouth. She’d had him in her sights ever since.

  He tried to ignore her rambling on his machine. It wasn’t the first time she’d left him a message at his home.

  What he really wanted to do was enjoy his beer, take a long hot shower, and drop into bed to thoughts of Sabrina. Not Yenin, and certainly not Tina Chang.

  “…so I need you for this. It’s Saturday night. Six o’clock. I’ll pick you up…”

  What the fuck? Conner jumped to attention and rewound the machine to listen more closely. That crazy woman was trying to strong arm him into accompanying him to some sort of family function? Was she crazy? Again, what the fuck?

  Her sing-songy voice kept coming. “We don’t have to stay long, but I told my mom I was dating you, and she’s hounding me to make a public appearance. I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important. Okay?”

  What? Why on earth would that woman tell her mother she was dating him? One kiss almost a year ago and she thought she owned him. Fucking Jesus Christ.

  Conner tipped his beer back and downed the rest of the bottle without coming up for air.

  When he finished, he slammed the bottle on the counter and yanked open the fridge to grab another. He didn’t have enough beer in the house to sedate him enough to keep him from throwing something across the room.

  He popped the top on the second bottle and pulled his cell from his pocket. With great haste, he texted Dr. Chang.

  Tina, so sorry. I already have plans for Saturday night. Can’t help you out.

  He didn’t give a fuck what plan he came up with for Saturday, or none at all, he wasn’t going anywhere with that woman. Having his nails removed from their beds one at a time would be better.

  Yes, indeed, his day could get worse…

  Chapter Three

  Sabrina sat seething in the parking lot of the university. She was still so pissed after a week of anger she couldn’t control her emotions.

  Goddamn that infuriating man and his interference in her life.

  When Doug called her Sunday morning and asked her to dinner, she readily agreed. Anything to chase Dr. Bascott out of her head. It hadn’t worked, however. She spent the entire meal making comparisons and causing Doug to come up short in every category, with the exception of his pleasantness.

  She was shocked beyond measure when Doug casually mentioned his run-in with her professor after she left the club Friday night. The audacity of the asshole to su
ggest that Doug step aside.

  Really? She couldn’t believe how low he would stoop. And why? She understood on some level he was into her. She even convinced herself over the last several days the reason he’d been a dick to her all semester and then acted like a royal jackass at Extreme were both tactics he used to keep her at arm’s length, when in reality he was into her. Why then did he so easily fuck her one time and then leave immediately, never contacting her again?

  This knowledge didn’t do her a bit of good. But it was enough to cause her to check into his schedule for the fall semester, plant herself in the parking lot she knew from experience he used, and lie in wait for him to emerge from the literature building.

  She didn’t have a clue what she intended to do when she saw him, but she was fired up anyway.

  She wiped her palms on her jeans for the tenth time and gulped when Dr. Bascott came around the corner. He didn’t glance up as he walked to his car. His head was buried in his phone. It was a wonder he didn’t get hit by someone on his way across two aisles. She considered volunteering to be the one to hit him.

  Sabrina froze. She couldn’t get herself to exit the car. What the hell would she say? She had no intentions of railing on him in the parking lot of the university.

  Instead, she decided to follow him. It seemed like an excellent choice. Then she would know where he lived. At least she’d be that much closer to facing the object of her frustration.

  The man was infuriating. She was both hot and cold for him, and it pissed her off he had this effect on her. Damn him.

  As he pulled out of his spot, she started her car. Soon, she was following him out of the parking lot and down the street like a first-class stalker.

  They drove for several miles to the outskirts of town.

  Where the hell is he going?

  She’d assumed he lived nearby. Most of the professors owned or rented homes in the surrounding area. It was easy to get to work. And the neighborhood was nice.

  Either Dr. Bascott didn’t live in town, or he wasn’t going straight home.

  Shit.

  Sabrina had serious doubts about her decision to stalk Dr. Bascott as soon as she pulled into the parking lot of an arena. The marquee indicated there was an amateur MMA fight occurring.

  What the hell had she gotten herself into? She parked near Conner and watched as he exited his mid-life-crisis, deep blue Mustang GT. He got out, popped the trunk, and heaved a large gym bag out of the car. Without noticing her, he swung the bag over his shoulder and turned toward the arena.

  Sabrina was stunned. She watched his ass as he walked away. He wore perfect-fitting khaki pants and a maroon polo. He had been dressed similarly every time she saw him last semester. And those damn pants fit him so fantastically…

  He didn’t go in the front entrance, which made her more curious. Instead he rounded the side of the building and disappeared.

  Taking a deep breath, Sabrina removed her seatbelt and stepped out of the car. She had no idea what she intended to do, but she’d come this far, and curiosity ate a hole in her. Did he work at the arena in the evenings? Maybe he was a bouncer. He was certainly built for such a job, but why would he need the extra job? She figured university professors were paid well enough to enjoy life.

  Sabrina entered the front of the building, paid the admission fee, and then made her way into the crowded stadium. She’d never been to a fight of any sort, and the scene that greeted her was shocking. The arena was large, but packed. It was loud too. Everyone was screaming, though she couldn’t discern a single word. Her gaze rose from the throng of spectators to the fenced area in the center of the room.

  Two fighters were in the middle of a match, or whatever it was called. The spectators were on their feet, shouting at the two sweaty men who wore only shorts and gloves. They seemed engaged in a choreographed dance, hopping around each other.

  Until one of them threw a punch and knocked the other to his knees. The crowd screamed louder.

  Sabrina glanced around the room. There was no way in hell she would ever find Conner in this throng. Whatever his role was in this sport, she doubted she would glean anything tonight. She didn’t think he was there to watch. If he had been, surely he would have entered through the front door.

  Maybe he was a referee… Or, maybe he’s a fighter…

  She giggled to herself at the thought. He certainly had the body for it, but she couldn’t picture him inside the strange cage thingy throwing punches, or getting punched, by night while discussing all the most famous British authors by day. Too incongruent. Not to mention his interest in BDSM. The man was a total conundrum.

  She wandered down an aisle, determined to get closer to the action. As long as she was there and had paid admission, she decided she might as well see what all the hype was about. There were obviously hundreds of people who found this sport fascinating. And according to the sign out front, this was an amateur fight. She cringed, wondering what a professional match looked like. Anything more intense than this was unimaginable.

  As she maneuvered between the spectators to get closer, one fight ended and another began. She was glad for once she was small enough to wiggle between people, but she was also short, which put her at an extreme disadvantage since everyone was standing. Not for the first time in her life, she glanced at all the seats and wondered why people didn’t use them. If everyone would just sit, they could all see. Instead, the happenings of the world were only witnessed by tall people.

  At least she was dressed appropriately. Jeans and a tank top were worn by most of the women in attendance, and there were many. Perhaps half the spectators were women. They were as excited about the competition as the men.

  Suddenly, the room filled with the booming sound of the announcer describing the next two men to fight. She caught the majority of what they said as she squeezed into a small spot near the fence. Why she’d found it necessary to weasel her way to the center of the action she would never know.

  “…In the red corner, we have Rider ‘The Enforcer’ Henderson. Weighing in at one eighty-two…” The crowd cheered so loud she couldn’t hear the rest of the description. “…and in the blue corner, we have Gage ‘The Ranger’ Holland…” Again the cheering covered the announcer’s voice. The entire room vibrated from the loud speakers and the stomping spectators.

  Two women wormed their way next to Sabrina. They were smiling broadly and giggling.

  One of them, the one with long blonde curls, bonked into Sabrina and turned to apologize. “So sorry.” Her deep green eyes widened as she steadied herself by grabbing Sabrina’s arm. “It’s so crowded in here.”

  Sabrina smiled. “No problem.”

  “Who are you here to see?” the woman asked.

  “Oh, uh, no one in particular.”

  The blonde glanced around. “Are you alone? You just came to watch fighting by yourself?”

  Sabrina had to admit it was a bit strange, but it wasn’t as though she could tell this stranger the real reason she was there. Yeah, I’m stalking my lit professor from last semester. He’s a Dom, and I saw him enter the arena. I’m just hanging out hoping to see what he’s doing here.

  The other woman leaned forward to address Sabrina. She was shorter, closer to Sabrina’s height. She had blonde hair also, the soft curls making her look younger than she probably was. “Don’t mind Kayla. She’s new.” She reached out a hand. “I’m Emily, by the way. Do you come to these often?”

  Sabrina took her hand. How had she managed to make friends in this crowded, noisy arena? “Sabrina. And I’ve never been to a fight before.”

  Kayla looked shocked. But she twisted her head around when a bell sounded. It obviously indicated the start of the match. “Go, Gage,” she shouted, cupping her hands over her mouth.

  Emily nudged Kayla’s hip with her own playfully and followed the shouting with her own. “Yay, Rider. You got this.”

  Sabrina gasped. “You know them? Both of them?”

  Kayla sm
iled and nodded, but she didn’t take her gaze off the action. “Yep. Sometimes they fight each other. It’s damn fun.”

  Emily added, “For the one who wins.”

  Craziness.

  Sabrina focused on the fight. The men were evenly matched. They were almost the same size. Huge. And they both had muscles that made her drool. Sabrina had never considered herself a tattoo gal, but the tats on these guys were amazing.

  As the two men fought, their bodies quickly covered in sweat, Emily and Kayla shouted over each other. It was all in good fun, as evidenced from the smiles on their faces and the way they kept teasing each other with a gentle shove.

  Sabrina had no idea what the rules were, but there weren’t many it seemed. It was a combination of wrestling and boxing as far as she could tell.

  The announcer kept a running litany of what was happening, but it sounded like a jumble of kicks and punches and holds. After a few minutes, the bell sounded again, and both men went to their corner.

  “They get a break?” Sabrina asked.

  “Yep.” Emily glanced at her. “One minute. Always seems like five seconds, though.”

  “How many rounds are there?”

  “Three,” Emily continued. “Unless one of them takes the other down beforehand. Which isn’t likely to occur between Rider and Gage. They’re pretty evenly matched. Rider’s a cop. Gage is a K-9 trainer. They don’t mess around.”

  “I see.”

  “Now, the next guy up after them is another story. He’s never been knocked out. You’re in for a real treat. He’s amazing to watch. His opponent won’t have a chance.”

  Sabrina didn’t have any idea why she found this so invigorating, but she was actually getting into it. “Awesome.”

  Sure enough, the match between Rider and Gage was close. Too close to call. When it ended, the referee had to let the announcer know who had the most points. Gage was declared the winner, but Rider didn’t look too torn up about it. They left the room razzing each other.

  “‘The Gladiator’ is next,” Kayla said. “The crowd is always wild for him. As soon as he comes out, we won’t be able to hear ourselves think.”