“I’m giving you my assistant. She’s great with babies and very organized.”
Raven frowned. “You can’t gift a person. Winnie isn’t your slave.”
“I know, fuckwit,” I growled then smiled at Lark as if her sister wasn’t pissing me off. “Winnie has trouble going to class with me because it’s full of people. Hell, most of the time I have nothing for her to do. I think she’d like taking care of the house, dogs, and especially you. She’s not afraid of Aaron either.”
Lark pulled me into a hug. “This is a great gift. Winona and I will have lots of fun together. Plus, Aaron won’t have to scramble so much handling work and the house. He’ll have more time to pay attention to me.”
“Are you sure you like my gift? I also have a non-person gift, but Winnie was the big surprise.”
“I need to stay off my feet and your gift will help me do that.”
Raven walked over and ruffled my hair. “Your slave gift is actually pretty sweet. I like when you go Hallmark on the world.”
“Shut up, bitch,” I said, hugging her. “Save your compliments for Lark. It’s her special day. Though feel free to praise me later.”
Raven acted like another wrestling match might ensue. Instead, she kissed her sister’s forehead and we returned to the cake. My friends rarely looked as happy as they did together that day. Love suited them all. For the first time, I knew how they felt.
Chapter Thirty ~ Nick
Bailey refused to watch me fight, but she agreed to hang out in Axel’s office until I was done. I imagined her soft skin under my fingertips and warm breath against my neck. All I needed to do was get through a single fight then I could return to her arms.
My opponent was a guy from New Hampton that I recognized from my freshman math class. Back then, he only attended a few days a week and always looked wasted. Based on his new thicker build, I assumed he added steroids to his personal pharmacy.
Even with his increased size, I wasn’t worried. My bulk came from training. I also had experience, so I knew winning was about more than size. Besides, I felt the luxury of not caring whether I won or lost. I had nothing to prove.
As Dragon, I was nearly unbeatable. The hottest girl in town loved all of me. Not only the winner in the Thunderdome, but the loser scared of thunderstorms. Bailey kissed my scars and soothed my fears. She even ignored my need to shower so often and clean the apartment more than necessary. Bailey loved me in a way no one had ever loved me before.
Wanting to intimidate me, my opponent growled before the fight began. I knew he was worried about losing. A guy with his drug habits needed money and winning paid more. If he thought growling might give him an edge, he really needed to cut down on the dope.
Staring into his hard eyes, I knew I would win. Yet the moment my fist smashed into his jaw, I also knew I was done fighting. The need to be Dragon felt temporary while my love for Bailey was eternal. Even as I dodged the punches and followed with my own, I lost the fire I normally enjoyed in a fight. Now the violence only reminded me of the suffering of my childhood. I wanted to break free of the pain.
The druggie dropped to the ground and didn’t get back up. Looking at my hands, I never wanted to see them bloodied again. No more wounds or violence. I was done.
Rushing out of the cage, I pushed past everyone to reach Axel’s office where I found Bailey watching TV on the couch. She jumped up when I entered. Her eyes were filled with worry over the bleeding wound over my eye. Ignoring her questioning gaze, I cupped her face.
“I love you and I’m ready to move into your apartment. All my life I slept like shit until I shared a bed with you. Everything feels different when I’m with you and I need that kind of different in my life. I’m not going to fight anymore.”
“I love you too. A million times yes at moving in together.”
Lowering my lips to hers, I remembered they were bloody. I tried to pull away until Bailey wrapped her hands around my neck and tugged me to her. She kissed me like we were the only two people in the world.
“Are you sure?” Bailey asked as I wiped my blood from her lips.
“I don’t need it anymore. I have you.”
“Yes, you do, Nick. I promise.”
“Let me clean up and we’ll go out to celebrate.”
Bailey’s eyes literally glowed with joy as I left her. I hurried to wash off the blood and get dressed.
In the past, I panicked at the very suggestion of giving up fighting. Now, I felt as if the choice was always so simple. Relief flooded me when I accepted I’d never walk into the cage again.
Chapter Thirty One ~ Bailey