“I have a feeling I’m going to be fighting more than my opponent tonight,” I hear Royce say from behind me. A little squeak leaves me when I’m lifted up and thrown over his shoulder. He slaps me on the ass before putting me back on my feet. I glare up at him, but he only leans down, kissing me and ignoring my stare.

His hand cups my ass. “Come on, baby. We gotta get going.” I pretend to be mad as I walk around his car. He opens the door for me, and I slip in. He reaches in and buckles my seat belt. I want to tell him I can take care of myself, that I know how to put my own seat belt on. But something about him taking care of me, just like in the shower, gives me a warm feeling in my stomach.

He slides in the driver seat and we take off toward the bar. “Do you get nervous before a fight?” I ask, because he seems completely calm. I would at least be a little jittery.

“Nope,” he says easily. “Been doing it awhile now.”

“Your face seems too pretty to fight all the time,” I tell him, earning me that cocky smile of his.

“I’ll try and keep it that way tonight. Wouldn’t want my woman thinking I’m not the best-looking guy in the room.”

I roll my eyes at his comment.

When we finally make it to the bar, I start getting excited. Everyone seems to know who Royce is. He keeps a possessive arm wrapped around me as we make our way through the crowd. It’s weird having a man hold on to me and stake his claim, but I like it. I know I can take care of myself, but it’s nice having his protective body telling everyone in here I’m his.

“You know you’ll have to let me go so you can get in the ring, right?” I look up at him. For once his face doesn’t have that smile. No, now he looks a little irritated.

“Yo, Rolly, who’s the girl?”

Royce’s arm tightens around me even more. I glance over to the man who called his name.

“She’s none of your fucking business. That’s who she is,” he throws back. The other man is big. He looks like he spends ten hours a day in a gym. I wouldn’t be shocked if someone said he was on steroids, but Royce doesn’t seem to care. “If I were you I’d watch myself. No point poking me before we get in that ring. Don’t make it worse for yourself.”

Jesus, he’s going to fight this guy? He looks like the after picture in a bodybuilder commercial, but Royce doesn’t seem to care.

“Never seen you on a girl before. Got me wondering.”

I look around and see other people are looking at us, too.

I go to say something, but Royce drops his arm from around me. “You need to go somewhere else.”