Chapter 2

When the clock buzzed and Avery scrambled into the ring, only a few members, mostly too drunk to move, slouched in some metal chairs ringside, along with Leonov, Curtis, and Matt. Reed joined him, taking in his un-taped hands and bare feet.

“A man after my own heart.” Reed’s soft, bouncy curls framed his face as he leaned forward, feigning a whisper, gaze flicking to Matt. “I don’t get being all fancy with the tape, but no accounting for taste.”

Tilting his head, Avery twisted his lips, letting flirty amusement show. “It wasn’t your heart I was after.”

“Mhm, figured that much.” Reed backed up a bit as Leonov came into the ring, grinning up at the man with no little hero-worship in his blue eyes. “Aww, you’re coming into the spotlight for little ol’ me?”

Leonov gave the younger man a dry look, though there was some fondness to it. “Something like that. You better impress me or I won’t do it again.” He motioned for them to bump fists, his size likely making the match he’d reluctantly agreed to ref look even more comical to the unimpressed onlookers. “I’m definitely biased.” His gaze went to Avery. “Deal with it.”

He couldn’t help it. The pointed sarcasm in his gaze flared, and he licked his lips. “I never needed an audience. Or your approval...sir.”

“Smartest thing I’ve ever heard out of your mouth.” Leonov walked away, then stopped as though remembering why he was in the ring. “Fuck each other up. Don’t die. Whatever.”

Eyes only for Reed, mind three floors up, Avery stepped in fast and hard, his uppercut and right hook in one-two lockstep. The first, Reed dodged. The second connected, but not with as much force as it would’ve if he’d gone left instead of right. Red bloomed on Reed’s jaw. His eyes lost a bit of their laughter, though he still pranced prettily on the balls of his feet.

Loose-fitting shorts low on Reed’s waist swayed oddly on one side. Well aware of the man’s signature backup move, Avery swooped around him for a grapple. Trapped his crossed-arms to fish the glitter bomb from his pocket.

Spinning Reed away from him, Avery danced back. Activated the glitter bomb with a flick of his wrist, tossing it toward Leonov and Curtis.

Hands up, Reed winced as he took in his Dom. “I didn’t do it. He disarmed me!”

Covered in yellow and purple sparkles that cascaded from his shoulder-length blond hair in a shower as he shook his head, Curtis growled.

“Don’t look at him. Look at me.” One fair warning, then Avery hooked Reed’s ankle with his own, following his opponent to the canvas. Flipped him facedown before straddling his hips.

A few feet back from Curtis, Leonov dusted flecks of glitter off his forearm. His lips thinned as he met Reed’s eyes. “You know better than that.”

The distraction was just what the moment required. Grinning, Avery captured one wrist and twisted, ducking back but not letting go when Reed went for his face with a backward arc of his hand.

“Give. I don’t want to hurt you...here.” Avery taunted, keeping the amusement in his voice, though there was little enough in his heart. Every instinct warned that he needed out of this ring and away from the Doms as soon as possible.

Gnashing his teeth, Reed bucked, using his size and strength to unseat Avery, relieving the pressure on his wrist and sending an elbow to his throat. “Fuck that, buddy.”

With a somersault to his feet, Avery kicked Reed’s ribs before the other man could stand.

Stomach muscles tensing with the impact, Reed rolled toward the ropes, gaining distance. He scrambled to his feet, teeth bared. “No. No. Please don’t. That tickles.”

Unconcerned, Avery laughed at the jibe. Closed in with just enough distance to execute a backward handspring, his bare heel kicking Reed’s head back so he sailed into the ropes. Flipping onto his feet, he followed the maneuver with a basic series of punches that snapped Reed’s head left then right.

Standing back, arms out, Avery caught Reed gently as he went to his knees. “Give?”

“Nuh-uh. Not yet.” Reed’s head lolled forward. “Gimme a sec.”

“Reed.” Curtis slapped the mat behind his sub. “You’re done.”

With a groan, Reed nodded. “Aye, Captain. I’m done.”

Vaulting into the ring, Leonov grabbed Avery’s wrist hard enough to leave a mark. Lifted his hand over his head, calling out his win before leaning close and speaking under his breath. “You don’t challenge him again, got me?”