Free Rebel: A MMA Sports Romance by Ashley Blake

and Lopez swung and got me in the side and then right in the jaw.  I doubled over, making the audience think he had really hurt me, and decided to let him get in a couple more before I finished him.  He hit me in the stomach and kicked me in the thigh but with the training Zach had taught me, it didn’t hurt one bit.  My body was as tough as Teflon and after that kick it was time to let him have it.
     
    I could tell that he was feeling a bit cocky and he dropped his defenses for a second, and that is when I roared in like a tornado.  I hit all of the key vulnerable spots; stomach, throat, thigh, kidneys, and face and it didn’t stop.  I went at him with one hit or kick after another and within two minutes Lopez tapped out.  The crowd cheered as I was declared the winner and as I gazed out at everyone, Kinsley’s gorgeous green eyes were smiling at me from the front row.  They were the prettiest eyes I had ever seen and I felt like a million bucks as those sparklers stared back at me.
     
    Zach ushered me back into my dressing room and the doctor stopped by to check me out after he checked on Lopez.
     
    “Is he okay?”  I always asked about my opponents because while I always wanted to win, I never wanted to kill anybody.
     
    “He’s fine, nothing is broken.  His eye will be swollen shut for a while and he’ll have some nasty bruising, but he’ll heal in a couple of weeks.  You on the other hand don’t look like you were in a fight at all.  A nice ice bath tonight will have you feeling great tomorrow.”
     
    “Thanks doc.”
     
    As soon as he left, Zach gave me a fist bump and rubbed my shoulder.
     
    “That’s my boy!  I knew you could do this.  You continue like this Lucas and you are going to be unstoppable all over the world!”
     
    “Thanks man.  Hey, you’re part of the reason I’m so good.  Without your training I know I wouldn’t be here so we are going to be unstoppable all over the world!”
     
    “For sure, dude!”
     
    “Hey, will you do me a favor?”
     
    “Yeah, anything.”
     
    “Will you go get Kinsley and bring her back here?  She was sitting front row center, so she’s probably around there somewhere.”
     
    “No problem.  Be back in a flash!”
     
    Two minutes later there was a knock at my door and when I opened it, she took my breath away.  I don’t know if it was because the pressure of the fight was over, or if it was because I knew we would have uninterrupted, stress free time together the next night, but I felt a different level of happiness in that moment.  I couldn’t wait to soak in the ice bath and move on to the next day.
     
    “You were amazing out there, Lucas.  I was completely mesmerized.  Did you get hurt when he hit you?”
     
    “Nah, it was part of the show.  I had to let the audience think he was winning because that makes for a much more entertaining fight.”
     
    “So you knew you could beat him?”
     
    “Yep, without question.”
     
    She cocked her head to the side and I could see the worry on her face.  “How long does it take for you to know that?”
     
    “Not to sound cocky, but I know it the second I get in the ring.  Losing is not an option.”
     
    “Well, I’m really happy you didn’t lose tonight and I’m even happier that you didn’t get hurt.”
     
    I pulled her toward me and wrapped my arms around her waist as I stared into her gorgeous eyes.
     
    “I’m really happy you’re here and that you watched the fight.  Thanks.”
     
    I gently kissed her lips lingering for just a couple of seconds.  I didn’t want to get myself worked up and I knew if the kiss had lasted any longer I wouldn’t be able to stop.  I couldn’t wait to be with her, but it wasn’t going to happen in my dressing room.  She deserved better than that.
     
    She smiled at me and my heart melted.  “You’re welcome.”  She wrapped her arms around my neck and held me close.  “I really am happy you weren’t hurt,