Claim - Page 51

Of wanting to keep her longer than I should.

Of wanting more than I could have.

She came at me. I got my focus pads up just in time. Her hits made a solid connection.

We moved around the ring, doing all the combos I’d taught her. She moved well, and listened to instruction. She was a good fighter, and could read the cues.

“All right, drink break,” I said.

She grabbed a water bottle from the edge of the ring and chugged it back.

“Let’s make this more interesting.” I dropped the pads to the mat and pulled on my own boxing gloves.

She cocked her head. “Okay.”

“Let’s have a little fight to test out what you’ve learned so far. Each point scored means the other has to pay up.”

A groove appeared between her brows. “Money?”

I smiled. “No. A piece of clothing.”

Her pretty mouth dropped open. “Strip boxing?”

“Now who’s scared?”

“Not me.” She whacked her gloves together. “I’m keen to see you naked, Fury.”

I chuckled. “Let’s go then, angel, because you’re the one who’s going to end up naked.”

She came at me, and this time she was putting everything into it.

But I had the advantage of experience and longer arms. And I wasn’t above using either of them to my advantage. I scored a light punch and Bell huffed out a breath.

She toed off one shoe, and kicked it to the side of the ring. “Don’t go easy on me.”

“No plans to.”

We kept fighting. I lunged forward, and she dodged my swing nimbly, then planted her glove in my gut.

“Good girl.” I yanked my T-shirt off.

Her gaze ran over my chest and my ink in blatant appreciation.

“Don’t get distracted,” I warned. “It’s the first rule of fighting.”

Her chin lifted. She attacked.

As the fight progressed, I lost a shoe, while Bell lost her other shoe, both socks, and then had to shed her leggings.

She stood in the center of the ring in her sports bra and panties.

My smile was slow and cunning.

“It’s not over yet,” she said.

I gestured with my gloves.

She moved faster, her hits riskier this time. We moved around the ring, and I avoided her swings easily. I could see the frustration in her face.