plastic chair and downed the hydrating fluid in one long guzzle.
“Leo Ashlar’s official weight has been recorded and we have a fight.” Pete's announcement sent a rush of satisfaction coursing right through me. I had achieved the impossible. The first hurdle had been overcome.
I managed to get away with only doing one interview for the West Australian Newspaper. They asked a few questions about my fitness and general health. I couldn’t hide the fact I’d barely eaten all week. I was fading fast and I was grateful when Nick told me it was time to go. I glanced around the testosterone-charged room. Hungry and thirsty fighters were eagerly awaiting their turn on the scales to decide their fight readiness.
I was incredibly relieved to get the hell out of there. Desperate for food, we caught a taxi to what turned out to be a pretty decent restaurant. I didn’t speak once my food arrived. I quickly realised my eyes were far bigger than my stomach. I could only eat half my burger, but no burger had ever tasted better in the history of burgers. Nick had also ordered me a jug of lemonade, which I picked up and drank without bothering with a cup. I had no idea what damage I’d done to my body over the past week, but I’d made weight and that was what mattered.
“So from what I could work out from the hushed conversations I overheard, Pete never intended for you to stand a chance in this fight. He knows you’re a dangerous fighter, but you’re definitely the scalp.”
Juliette put down her fork and wiped her mouth. “What an arsehole.”
“There’s worse than him out there,” Nick said. “I still can’t believe you agreed to this fight.”
Juliette piped up. “Me neither.”
“Can you two leave me alone, please?” I didn’t need to justify my decision to anyone. I was a free agent.
“Let’s focus on the job at hand, shall we?” Nick waved his fork at us. “You’ll need to do exactly as I say from here on in. Okay?”
Nick talked all through dinner, barely pausing for food. His insight was invaluable. To compensate for my weakened state, I was going to have to change the way I fought.
“I need to go,” I said, wiping my mouth with my napkin. “I’m beat.”
“Get some sleep and take it easy tomorrow morning,” Nick said as we shuffled out of the booth. “We’ll have a light training session after lunch tomorrow and go over some strategies.”
We returned to the hotel and said goodbye to Nick in the lobby. He said he wanted to make a few phone calls and was meeting one of his mates in the hotel bar.
Juliette and I rode the lift in silence. My hand found hers and she melted into my side.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” I whispered, kissing the top of her head.
She looked up at me and smiled. “No place I’d rather be.”
As soon as we got back to our room, I headed straight for a much-needed shower. Juliette followed, stripping off her clothes on the way. As soon as I stepped in, I pulled her to me and my mouth found hers. The gentle touch of her hands on my body felt like therapy, massaging my aching muscles. I felt completely weighed down by total exhaustion.
“God, you’re beautiful,” I whispered against her lips before feathering kisses down her throat and neck.
While the water washed away the horrors of the day, her delicate fingers traced lines on my back that drove me completely insane with desire. Her breath hitched when I claimed one of her breasts with my greedy mouth. Without enough conscious thought, I grabbed her backside, intent on burying myself deep inside her. She placed her palms on my chest and gently pushed me back. “You can’t be serious, Leo.”
“Fuck.” I dropped my head back under the water and rubbed my face with my palms. “I actually feel like shit and can barely hold myself up.” I hadn’t been thinking clearly, and I might’ve actually dropped her if I’d followed through with my lust-fuelled plan.
She chuckled, kissing my chest.
“Leo Ashlar’s official weight has been recorded and we have a fight.” Pete's announcement sent a rush of satisfaction coursing right through me. I had achieved the impossible. The first hurdle had been overcome.
I managed to get away with only doing one interview for the West Australian Newspaper. They asked a few questions about my fitness and general health. I couldn’t hide the fact I’d barely eaten all week. I was fading fast and I was grateful when Nick told me it was time to go. I glanced around the testosterone-charged room. Hungry and thirsty fighters were eagerly awaiting their turn on the scales to decide their fight readiness.
I was incredibly relieved to get the hell out of there. Desperate for food, we caught a taxi to what turned out to be a pretty decent restaurant. I didn’t speak once my food arrived. I quickly realised my eyes were far bigger than my stomach. I could only eat half my burger, but no burger had ever tasted better in the history of burgers. Nick had also ordered me a jug of lemonade, which I picked up and drank without bothering with a cup. I had no idea what damage I’d done to my body over the past week, but I’d made weight and that was what mattered.
“So from what I could work out from the hushed conversations I overheard, Pete never intended for you to stand a chance in this fight. He knows you’re a dangerous fighter, but you’re definitely the scalp.”
Juliette put down her fork and wiped her mouth. “What an arsehole.”
“There’s worse than him out there,” Nick said. “I still can’t believe you agreed to this fight.”
Juliette piped up. “Me neither.”
“Can you two leave me alone, please?” I didn’t need to justify my decision to anyone. I was a free agent.
“Let’s focus on the job at hand, shall we?” Nick waved his fork at us. “You’ll need to do exactly as I say from here on in. Okay?”
Nick talked all through dinner, barely pausing for food. His insight was invaluable. To compensate for my weakened state, I was going to have to change the way I fought.
“I need to go,” I said, wiping my mouth with my napkin. “I’m beat.”
“Get some sleep and take it easy tomorrow morning,” Nick said as we shuffled out of the booth. “We’ll have a light training session after lunch tomorrow and go over some strategies.”
We returned to the hotel and said goodbye to Nick in the lobby. He said he wanted to make a few phone calls and was meeting one of his mates in the hotel bar.
Juliette and I rode the lift in silence. My hand found hers and she melted into my side.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” I whispered, kissing the top of her head.
She looked up at me and smiled. “No place I’d rather be.”
As soon as we got back to our room, I headed straight for a much-needed shower. Juliette followed, stripping off her clothes on the way. As soon as I stepped in, I pulled her to me and my mouth found hers. The gentle touch of her hands on my body felt like therapy, massaging my aching muscles. I felt completely weighed down by total exhaustion.
“God, you’re beautiful,” I whispered against her lips before feathering kisses down her throat and neck.
While the water washed away the horrors of the day, her delicate fingers traced lines on my back that drove me completely insane with desire. Her breath hitched when I claimed one of her breasts with my greedy mouth. Without enough conscious thought, I grabbed her backside, intent on burying myself deep inside her. She placed her palms on my chest and gently pushed me back. “You can’t be serious, Leo.”
“Fuck.” I dropped my head back under the water and rubbed my face with my palms. “I actually feel like shit and can barely hold myself up.” I hadn’t been thinking clearly, and I might’ve actually dropped her if I’d followed through with my lust-fuelled plan.
She chuckled, kissing my chest.
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