X: The Hard Knocks Complete Story (17 page)

“Because it’s all scripted, right?”

He nods. “Yeah, but we get to improvise a little too. Brian and I are the best at that.”

I lean my elbow on the table and rest my chin in my hand. “So you already know who’s winning the match between you?”

“Yeah.”

I bat my eyes. “Care to share?”

He smirks. “Really? Like there’s even a chance it wouldn’t be me.”

“My, my. Cocky, aren’t we?”

“It’s not cocky when you’re that damn good.” He winks at me.

I roll my eyes and laugh. “So, what do we do now?”

“The show starts in an hour. I’m going to go do some cardio to get ready, and you’re going to watch.”

“You want me to sit there while you work out?”

He nods. “You don’t want to?”

My eyes trail down his cut biceps and chest, and I allow my mind to wander back to last night when he was doing push-ups. Even though he was in a bad place mentally, while he was doing it, he still looked damn fine.

I could watch that man work up a sweat any day.

“Of course I do.” I smile. “I love watching you.”

He grins and leans in and kisses my lips. “The feeling’s mutual.”

A shiver flutters through my entire body, and if we weren’t in a room full of children, I might be tempted to jump his bones. I’m so ready to go another round with him in bed.

He chuckles. “Come on, beautiful. We’ve got a busy night ahead.”

A little while later I find myself sitting on a metal folding chair in my shorts and t-shirt observing a room full of beefy men working out before it’s time for them to go on. While sitting here I’ve learned the guys who are just getting their foot in the door, so to speak, go on first—as opening acts, if you will—while the more popular superstars go on later in the show.

To each man, their match is serious. It’s scripted and all that, but watching exactly how much physical pain some of them are in when they return backstage alerts me to the fact that the physicality of their job is very real. Someone can really get hurt if control isn’t maintained at all times.

Most of the men are focused on their on pre-game routine. All but one, that is.

Rex “Assassin” Risen has been intently staring at me every time Xavier’s back is turned. Like right now.

Xavier stands in front of me alternating lifts with fifty-pound dumbbells, while Assassin leans against the wall, his arms folded over his chest, watching us with a mixed expression of curiosity and amusement.

It’s almost as if he’s planning something devious, and I don’t like that thought one bit.

I debate whether or not to alert Xavier to the situation, but decide against it so he can remain focused on his match. If his head isn’t on right, he could get hurt out there. I can’t have him out there worried about this guy, who is obviously a jerk. After the match is over—when I know he’ll be able to handle it without getting himself hurt—I’ll tell him.

The short man, wearing a baseball cap and headphones with a mic attached, who has been alerting the men when their match is up pops into the room. “Assassin, you’re on deck, man.”

Assassin pushes himself off the wall and strides past us. Xavier’s body stiffens, as if it takes all of his self-control to allow him to pass without saying a word to him. I know exactly how he feels. It’s the same feeling I get when Deena is around.

The area goes nuts when Assassin’s entrance music plays, and his name is announced. The cheers from the crowd are unmistakable, and I wonder if they would love him as much if they knew that he was a grade-A asshole?

Xavier sets his weights down and begins to stretch. “I’m up next. You can watch from the monitors by the wrestler’s entrance into the arena, if you want.”

I stand. “Actually, I’ve got other plans.”

He tilts his head. “You’re not going to watch me?”

“I am, but Liv is going to take me out on the floor so I get the ‘extreme fan’ experience.”

He laughs and wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me against his chest. “I also plan on giving you a phenomenal experience again, tonight.”

I giggle as he kisses my lips.

“All right, that’s enough, lovebirds,” Brian says as he approaches us with one arm around Liv, holding Kami in the other.

My eyes instantly widen as I take in the shiny, gold belt around Brian’s waist. “You’re the champ?”

Kami pats his chest. “Daddy champ!”

Brian smiles at us. “She really isn’t a fan, is she, X?”

Xavier laughs. “Told you.”

I shrug, feeling embarrassed that I didn’t know.

Liv takes Kami from Brian’s arms and then gives him a quick kiss. “Have a good match, babe.” She turns to me. “Let’s hurry and get our seats.”

Xavier pats my butt after I pull away. “I expect extra loud cheering from your section when I come out.”

I laugh. “You got it.”

Liv leads me down the hall and waves at the security guards, addressing them by name. She turns to me and hands me a laminated pass. “Here, keep this on. You’ll need it until the guys get to know you. The show’s on a commercial break, so outside the door will be packed. Stick with me so I can get us to our seats.”

I nod and do as she instructed while following her through a door leading out into the public concession area. People mill about in every direction, and their chatter is deafening. We head through a tunnel into the arena, and I’m awed by the bright lights and sold-out crowd.

We bob and weave through the fans, and I spot a few ‘Phenomenal X’ t-shirts along the way.
I need one of those
, I think to myself, and laugh at the thought of always having him so close to me.

Finally, we arrive at our section, and Liv walks all the way over to last seat near the barricade. “You sit here. They’ll come down that ramp to get to the ring.”

The metal stage is backlit by millions of mini bulbs and a monstrous screen. There are several men running around, checking things before the show resumes, and the excitement in the air is so thick I can nearly taste it. An overhead announcement is made alerting people to take their seats.

“Thirty seconds.”

“Are you excited?” Liv asks me, balancing Kami on her hip.

“Yes! This is amazing. It’s one thing to watch videos and stuff, but it’s another to be here in the moment.”

A man in a dark suit steps into the ring, microphone in hand and my whole body jitters with excitement.

The lights dim and the crowd roars the moment Xavier’s entrance music,
X Gon’ Give It To Ya
, blares throughout the arena. My eyes flit to the huge screen, ecstatic to be out here watching him in all his glory. Twenty-five thousand spectators are on their feet going wild. Banners and posters pepper the stands with the words ‘Phenomenal X’ written across them.

“Keep your eyes on the black curtain. He’ll come through that.” Liv adjusts the noise canceling headphones on Kami’s little head. “It’ll get crazy when the crowd spots him.”

I grip the railing and lean against it for a better look around the slew of fans, who are already waving their arms like mad. Smoke wafts around the stage, and the lights in the entire arena shut off. Red flashes speckle the stage, drawing everyone’s attention. The camera crew line themselves up on the ramp, ready to catch all the action for the millions of viewers at home.

The moment Xavier steps through the curtains I swear the noise in the place amplifies ten decibels. My eyes rake over him as he stands there staring out at the crowd, his chiseled arms are on full display, and the fabric of the black tank top he’s wearing straining against his toned chest.

There’s no hint of emotion on his face as red lights shine on him. The intense expression on his face causes my heart to flutter. It’s intimidating, and reminds me a lot of the time in the bar when he went after that man who put something in my drink.

Xavier crouches down, and I jump as fireworks shoot up from the stage surrounding him. More smoke clouds around him as he jumps up and throws his shoulders and head back as a loud howl erupts from his mouth.

My God.

My breath catches. He looks like a warrior ready for battle, not a guy about to take on a friend in the ring. Xavier is one hell of an actor, because even I believe him.

He struts down the ramp and makes his way over to the side of the aisle I’m standing on. Rowdy fans pat his shoulders as he walks by them, heading right toward me.

His dark hair appears even darker because it’s wet. He must have poured water over his head backstage at some point. Water speckles his shoulders as he stops in front of me and leans in over the railing to kiss my cheek for a second, allowing the camera crew to get a good shot of our brief moment of intimacy before he continues his march to the ring.

“The following match is scheduled for one fall,” the man in the ring announces. “Making his way to the ring, from Detroit, Michigan, weighing two hundred and sixty-five pounds, he is…Phenomenal X!”

I scream at the top of my lungs as Xavier pulls himself onto the ring and slips through the red ropes.

Liv elbows me. “Listen to that crowd. They love him.”

“I can see why. He’s amazing,” I say in a dreamy tone as I watch Xavier climb up the turnbuckles of the ring and flex his arms and howl.

There isn’t a whole lot of time between Xavier’s music and another song being played. It’s song with a very thick Latino sound, and the heavy bass beat pounds around the arena.

Brian pushes through the curtain, and Liv cheers and encourages Kami to do the same for her daddy as he flexes his pectoral muscles, making them bounce to the beat. The championship belt gleams against the flash of the stage lights, and it’s hard to miss the charisma of this man. I laugh as he makes his way down the ramp and winks in Liv’s direction.

The announcer introduces Xavier’s opponent. “Making his way to the ring, from Miami, Florida, weighing two hundred and forty pounds, he is…Brian ‘
Razor’
Rollins!”

Pandemonium erupts as Brian’s playful expression turns serious the moment he steps into the ring with Xavier and then holds the belt in the air. Both men stare each other down, making the crowd believe that they hate each other.

Bright lights flick back on overhead and a bell rings. Xavier and Brian circle each other, and I hold my breath. I don’t like the idea of the two of them hurting each other. I know it’s their job, but that doesn’t make it easy to watch.

Brian and Xavier step toward each other at the same time and lock up. It appears pretty evenly matched until Brian twists around and catches Xavier in a headlock.

Brian grabs his other wrist and grunts as he pulls his arm tighter around Xavier’s neck. Xavier’s arms flail about wildly for a second, but then he punches Brian in the ribs. Brian’s grasp loosens, and Xavier turns around in time to clothesline his opponent.

A collective, “Ohh,” echoes through the massive room as Brian falls down to the mat. Xavier doesn’t waste any time climbing to the top of the corner rope, standing tall as he towers over the ring. Camera flashes go crazy as Xavier stretches his arms out and sends his body flying toward Brian.

Brian kicks his leg in the air just as Xavier comes down on him, landing against the left side of Xavier’s jaw.

Xavier grunts and lands on the mat next to Brian. Both men remain motionless for a moment, and then Brian begins to crawl toward Xavier, ready to cover him for the pin.

Brian hooks his elbow around Xavier’s leg the referee falls down to the mat, and smacking it as he counts.

“One!” the crowd chants along with the referee.

“Two!”

The count is interrupted as Assassin flies through the crowd, hopping over the barricade and sliding into the ring. As soon as Rex is able to stand, he begins attacking Brian, ripping him off Xavier.

Liv gasps beside me and covers her mouth as the bell from the ring begins sounds, signaling the end of the match.

“What is it?” I question, thoroughly confused as to why she’s upset. “Isn’t everything choreographed?”

“This isn’t a part of the show. That asshole, Rex, has gone rogue.”

My eyes widen as I direct my attention back to the ring. The moment Xavier realizes what’s happening, he jumps to his feet.

Rex wastes no time sliding back out of the ring and walking backwards up the ramp while Xavier stares him down.

There’s a cocky smile on Rex’s face like he’s just rained on Xavier’s parade and enjoyed it immensely.

“Winner of this match due to disqualification, and
still
the heavy-weight champion…Brian ‘
Razor’
Rollins!” the same announcer calls out.

“I don’t understand. What just happened?”

Liv frowns. “Xavier was supposed to win the belt from Brian tonight.”

I gasp as my eyes flick back up to the ring where Xavier is kneeling beside Brian talking to him along with a doctor.

“Can Assassin do that?”

Liv shrugs. “He just did. Now the shit is gonna hit the fan. That asshole had better not have hurt Brian. We need to get backstage so I can check on him when he goes back there.”

I follow Liv to the backstage area and instantly we’re surrounded by loud chatter as the other wrestlers are trying to figure out what in the hell just happened. Rex is nowhere to be seen, but his is the name on everyone’s lips.

What will all this mean for Xavier? I know how much he wanted to win that belt. I don’t know who Rex thinks he is, but he just started a war—and Xavier isn’t the type to back down.

I
lean
against the brick wall and chew on my thumbnail as I wait for Xavier to come out of the locker room. As yet, there’s no word on how Brian is doing or if any damage was done.

The door across from me opens, and Rex comes strolling out. His dark hair is slicked back, and the t-shirt he’s wearing appears three sizes too small as the fabric strains against his chest. A huge grin spreads across his face the moment he spots me.

I shake my head. This man is a disgusting human being. I don’t understand how someone can be so happy after hurting someone like that.

“Hi.”

There’s a slick tone in Rex’s voice that reminds me of a slithering snake. It’s enough to make my skin crawl.

Rex leans his shoulder against the wall so he faces my side. I fold my arms across my chest and turn my head the other way, doing my best to pretend he’s not there.

“I’ve seen you around today. You’re the new X girl, right?”

I flinch. I don’t like that he’s implying I’m just some passing fad for Xavier. “Leave me alone.”

Rex chuckles darkly. “I can see Deena was right about you.”

I whip my head in his direction and stare at him while wrinkling my nose. “She knows nothing about me.”

He shrugs. “Maybe so, but she does know X and his track record when it comes to women. She says you’re not seeing your relationship with him for what it really is.”

I roll my eyes. “She knows nothing about our relationship. What Xavier and I have is—”

“Special?” I don’t appreciate the smirk on his face. “Don’t you think he makes all his women feel that way?”

“He doesn’t have women,” I fire back. “There’s only me.”

He shakes his head and sighs. “When he breaks your heart, Princess, you can come to me.” He leans in, but I move further away to keep him from actually touching me. “I don’t mind X’s sloppy seconds. He’s got great taste in whores.”

Before I can stop myself, I smack Rex across the face with as much power as I can muster. “Screw you. Don’t ever call me that.”

He grins as he rubs his face, completely unfazed by my actions.

I turn on my heel and storm away from him, refusing to stand there and listen to any more of his ridiculous attempts to get under my skin. A few feet away, I spot Xavier coming down the hallway toward me.

I run to him and throw my arms around him, willing myself not to cry.

He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls back to gaze at my face. “Everything okay?”

I shake my head. “I just smacked Rex across the face for calling me one of your ‘whores.’”

Xavier’s eyes darken. “Where is he?”

I grip his arms, attempting to hold him in place. I shouldn’t have told him, and had it not been for him catching me while I was still heated over the situation, I probably would’ve opted to tell him later, when Rex wasn’t around.

“Let it go, Xavier. I handled it.”

He shakes his head. “The fucker has it coming.”

He steps back, peeling me off of him in the process, and heads in the direction I just came from. I trail behind him, but his legs are so damn long it takes me twice as many steps to keep up.

Rex is still leaning against the wall in the same spot he was in when I left him, only now he’s talking on his cell phone. Xavier doesn’t say a word as he charges Rex and grabs him by the shirt, pulling him away from the wall and then slamming him back, causing Rex to let out a grunt. Rex’s phone falls to the concrete floor and shatters next to his feet.

Rex laughs darkly. “Do it, knock yourself out of your title shot—for the second time tonight.”

“That’s not what this is about,” Xavier growls.

Rex’s eyes flick over to me and then back to Xavier. “
Her
? She’s what’s got you so riled? This isn’t like you, X. That pussy must be something else.”

My mouth drops open, and my heart pounds against my ribs. Rex has no clue what he’s asking for.

Xavier rolls his fingers tighter into Rex’s shirt as he draws his fist back. Rex’s eyes widen as the growl emanating from Xavier’s throat echoes down the hall. Before Xavier can deliver the blow, Freddy comes up behind him and hooks his arms under Xavier’s, halting him from swinging, and yanks back.

“Don’t do it, X. He’s not worth it, bro. Settle it in the ring,” Freddy says trying to calm Xavier down. “Pull your shit together. Think about your fucking job.”

Xavier’s chest moves rapidly as he sucks in air through flared nostrils, his murderous stare fixed on Rex.

Rex shoves himself off the wall and pulls at his shirt casually, adjusting it back into place. “Yes, X, we’ll settle this in the ring. I’ve already had a chat with the writers. They’re going to make it happen. Save all that rage to give the fans a good show, yeah?”

“I don’t give a fuck about the about the show,” Xavier growls while fighting against Freddy’s hold.

“Then do us all a favor and quit. You know I’m the rightful champ.”

“You’re fucking delusional,” Xavier retorts.

“You’re the one who can’t see the big picture around here, friend. Throwing everything you’ve worked for away on a piece of ass…
that’s
delusional.” Rex laughs as he turns and stalks down the hallway, not giving Xavier any chance to reply this time.

Xavier fights even harder against Freddy, attempting to go free so he can go after Rex, but Freddy doesn’t loosen his grip. “Chill the fuck out or I’m not letting go.”

I take in the nearly seven-foot man who, even with arms the size of most people’s thighs, is struggling to keep Xavier still. There’s no way I would’ve been able to break up a fight between those two. I’m glad he came along when he did.

Xavier closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. “All right. I’m good.”

“You sure?”

Xavier holds his hands up in surrender. “Yes.”

Freddy slowly releases Xavier and then stands, blocking the hallway in the direction Rex retreated while Xavier readjusts his shirt.

Freddy points his gaze at me. “Get him out of here before he does something he will regret. This company isn’t big on second chances.”

I take Xavier’s hand, and his eyes soften a bit when he glances down at me.

“Let’s get out of here.”

As I pull him toward the exit, he doesn’t resist me like I expect. Outside, there is a driver standing by the open door of an awaiting car. Fans scream from the other side of the fence the moment they catch a glimpse of Xavier, and he waves without smiling before following behind me into the vehicle.

He’s quiet on the way back to the hotel. I keep glancing in his direction, but his face remains unreadable. I imagine he’s trying to decompress after all that, so I sit silently at his side and reach over and take his hand. I want him to know I’m here for him no matter what.

His blue eyes cut in my direction as he threads his fingers through mine.

I turn and stare out the window and replay the action of what just went down. Freddy’s words reverberate in my skull. I know Xavier was trying to defend me against Rex, but he has to stop trying to fight every guy who bothers me. It’s not worth putting his career in jeopardy.

Finally we make it to the hotel and Xavier wastes no time getting us up to our room. The bed is freshly made, erasing the crumpled of sheets we’d left after sleeping together last night.

I sit on the edge of the bed. “You’re going to have to stop doing that, you know.”

Xavier shoves his hair away from his face. “Doing what?”

“Defending me every time some jerk says something to me. Fighting them all isn’t worth putting your career on the line for.”

“Anna, when it comes to you, nothing else matters. No one will speak to you like that and get away with it. It’s not going to happen.”

I reach out and take his hand. “Don’t you see, that’s exactly what Rex wants. He wants you to lose your head. He’s threatened by you and would like nothing better than to see you destroy things yourself.”

I tug on his hand, and he resists for a moment before he finally sits down next to me. The mattress sinks under his weight.

“You’re right. That’s why he interfered tonight. In our pre-show meeting the writers informed us all that I would be winning the belt, and then I would have to give Rex a shot at winning it.”

I nod. Everything begins to make since. “He’d rather go up against Brian than you?”

“Yeah. Which is crazy because Brian is a strong motherfucker.”

I lay my other hand on top of his. “But he’s nowhere near as intimidating as you.”

His mouth pulls up into a cheeky grin. “You think I’m
intimidating
?”

I smile. “Have you seen
you
? You make grown men shake in their boots with one look.”

Xavier pushes a lock of hair back behind my ear. “That’s funny.”

I tilt my head. “Why?”

He stares into my eyes. “I don’t feel very threatening when a five-foot-five girl scares the shit out of me.”

“M—me?
I
scare
you
?” I stumble over my words while trying to figure that one out.

His finger traces my jaw and his lips follow along the same path with feathery kisses. “Mmhmm. I’ve never felt this way about a woman before.”

I close my eyes and lean my head back as he licks the sensitive skin below my ear. “And how do you feel about me?”

I know I shouldn’t press him, but I’m curious and want to hear him say he’s beginning to feel something just like I am. I want what’s growing inside my heart for him validated.

“You’re special to me, Anna, and I want to keep you forever,” he whispers.

Every muscle in my body trembles with need for him. Him admitting he feels
something
is a start. We’ve gone from him not wanting a real relationship, to wanting to make what’s happening between us last forever. Right now, that’s enough.

I stare into his eyes. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Promises like that are what worry me.” He presses his lips to mine. “Someday you might. When you see what I’m capable of, you’ll leave, and never look back.”

I shake my head. “Nothing will change how I feel about you.”

He leans his forehead against mine. “Promise?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

He crushes his lips against mine and works his hand underneath my shirt. His eyes are hooded with desire and there’s no mistaking what’s on his mind.

“We have to use a rubber this time. We’ve been cutting it too close with me pulling out. That doesn’t always work.”

I sigh and twirl a lock of his hair around my finger. “True, but I read online there’s only a few days a month a woman can actually get pregnant, and that’s shortly after her period. I’m due for mine in a few days, so I think we’re safe.”

He kisses my neck. “I want you to know that I don’t bareback with other women.”

I tilt my head. “Bareback?”

“Fuck raw—sex without a condom,” he clarifies. “I’ve only ever done that with you. I wasn’t expecting that first time to happen, and once I was in the moment all I wanted was to feel you. I wanted you wrapped around me with nothing between us. I know it’s stupid, but coming on you was my way of marking you.”

“Mark me? That sounds all caveman-ish,” I tease.

He shrugs. “Call it what you want. I wanted to leave my fucking mark on that pussy of yours. It’s mine. I know it, and so do you.”

I laugh at his Neanderthal ways but don’t disagree with him. “I have to admit, I like knowing you’re the only man who’s ever done that to me.”

Xavier grazes his top teeth over his bottom lip in a slow, deliberately sexy manner. “How about you let me do it again, since we’re official.”

My heart does a double thump in my chest. “
Official
? Are you saying that I’m your girlfriend?”

“Yes. I don’t want anyone else. Only you.”

The biggest smile known to man spreads across my face, and I wrap my arms around his neck. “You don’t know what that means to me.”

He kisses me again. “Yes, I do, because it means the same thing to me. What’s happening between us—this shit is fucking permanent. You’re never getting rid of me now.”

“I’ll never want to.”

I giggle as he pulls me down on top of him, and I’m more than ready for our next round. I can’t get enough of this man.

Both of his hands settle on my hips as my entire body rests on top of him. Xavier’s playful smile disappears as things become very serious while his eyes search mine.

“You’re so fucking sexy, do you know that?” His tongue darts out and he licks my bottom lip, causing my toes to curl. “You’re my addiction.”

His words play through my mind, and I smile as he presses his lips to mine. I feel his fingers slide under my shirt, caressing my skin. My mouth drifts open as he unhooks my bra and then in one quick movement, he whips my shirt over my head, exposing my naked flesh.

He quickly sits up, leaving me straddling him, while he kisses and licks his way down to my taut nipples. Heat from his mouth on my skin causes a shiver of pleasure to pulsate down my spine.

He unbuttons my shorts and unzips them slowly. “I need you naked.”

I pop up on my knees, allowing him to help me remove the rest of my clothes. I then grabbed the hem of Xavier’s shirt and pulled it over his head. My eyes roam over his chiseled chest contoured to perfection. All the time he spends working on his body clearly shows.

As my eyes roam, the tip of his thick finger slides against my slick folds. “You’re so ready for me.”

Xavier kisses my lips as he flicks my clit. “You want me?”

I throw my head back and moan, focusing on how good his touch feels. “Xavier…”

“Tell me you want me, and I’ll give you what you need,” he whispers against my lips.

“Oh, God.” My eyes roll back as he increases the pressure. “I want you, Xavier. So much.”

“Good girl,” he encourages me as his finger moves faster and faster, bringing me to the edge.

My entire body shakes as I come hard against his hand. I grip his shoulders and dig my nails into his skin as I ride the wave of euphoria.

Every muscle in my body relaxes as I float down from the high, and he chuckles. “We’re just getting started, beautiful.”

He flips me onto my back before standing over me. Xavier unzips his pants before shoving them, along with his underwear, down his legs before kicking them the rest of the way off, like he can’t stand them between us anymore.