Burning Attraction (5 page)

             
"Where are we going?" I ask.

             
He winks before walking away from me, then waves his hand for me to follow. I obey him of course, I could never say no to Avery. We make our way back downstairs, and I don't even think twice about him not answering my question. When I see my parents, he walks over and whispers something to my mom, who then turns and looks me over before nodding yes to Avery. He then walks over to his mom and whispers to her, giving her a hug. I follow after him again once I see that he is heading for the door.

             
When I get outside I look around at all the fancy cars. I wonder which one is his. I can picture him driving a black sports car or something muscular. What I wasn't picturing at all was the midnight blue motorcycle, but now that I see him standing next to it, I'm breathless. It just adds to the sexiness of this man. "What are you waiting for?" he asks as he climbs onto the death trap.

             
"I'm not riding on that thing," I say, pointing to his bike.

             
Of course he laughs at me, clearly amused by my doubts. "Yes you are, come on." I walk slowly towards him, like you would to a stranger’s dog or something. I'm terrified, I've never been on a bike of any sorts before. Well, not one that is motorized. "Here," he says, handing me a helmet.

             
"Um," I say while looking at the helmet, "how do I put it on?"

             
Avery chuckles again, "seriously? I'll help." He puts it over my head and buckles a strap under my chin, adjusting it until it fits snug. My head feels pounds heavier, but I also feel a hundred times safer. That is, until I straddle the back of him. The only thing that is causing me any amount of joy is the proximity of Avery and myself. I squeeze my thighs close to him, put my arms around his waist and hold on tight.

             
The bike moves slowly backward, before it zips off out of my parents’ driveway and down the open road. I don't even look, I just keep my head as close as I can get it to Avery's back, while closing my eyes tight. What seems like hours later, but probably only twenty minutes, we pull into a parking lot. I finally open my eyes and take a look around. The place has maybe ten vacant cars in the lot, all scattered in different places, and the building looks like an old warehouse that no one has entered in ages.

             
When Avery stops, I climb off the back and manage to pull the helmet off without any help. "What are we doing here?" I ask him. It's creepy and isolated, I feel like I am in a horror movie.

             
He laughs once more, and I'm realizing every time he does this, I fall a little harder for him. He acts like a little happy boy, yet is a grown up, sexy man. A deadly combination. "You ask too many questions. You'll find out in a few minutes."

             
We walk over to the building together and go out in the back. A tall, heavy set guy is standing near an opened window. He eyes me before Avery, then nods his head towards me in question. I feel like I'm going to throw up, this is all a little too creepy and weird for me. I don't understand what is going on, and why I'm not getting answers. Avery on the other hand is acting like this is all amusing, which annoys me so bad! "This is Cassandra. Cassie, this is Porkchop."

             
I raise an eyebrow. "Uhhhh, hi, Porkchop?" I say it more as a question, because I'm unsure as if that is really his name and if I'm really supposed to call him that. It feels awkward leaving my mouth.

             
The Porkchop guy just grins slightly, "she gonna cause trouble?" He looks me over before looking back at Avery.

             
"Fuck no man, I wouldn't just bring any girl here. Cassie is special." His words cause me to get both nauseous and butterflies. I either want to know what is going on or get the hell out of here.

             
"Good," Porkchop states. He moves out of the way from the window.

             
Avery gives me a slight nudge with his elbow. "You first Angel. I'll climb in after, you'll need my boost to get in."

             
I'm honestly not sure why, but I listen. This could be some sex slave shop or something, yet, I trust Avery and walk towards the window. He helps me through it and comes climbing in after. The room I land in is just like an old office, with some chairs that have been there a long time, lined with three inches of dust on each one. Nothing else.

             
Avery walks towards the door in the room, so I follow after, making sure to stay extra close. We walk down three hallways before I start to hear people talking down the set of stairs in front of me. I stop and look at Avery. "You need to tell me what this shit is now. I'm not taking another step, I'm really freaked out right now."

             
He looks a little sheepish at my outburst. "Sorry Cassie, I didn't mean to scare you. I just didn't want you to back out, but I guess it's too late now anyways. I'm involved in underground fighting. I was champ in Port Angeles and in all the surrounding communities for the past two years, so it was easy to get set up down around here. Tonight I'm fighting a guy named Pierce Danielson, and if I win, I get a shit ton of money. He is champion in this area, and has been wanting to fight me since I entered town. It's going to get crazy down there, just a warning, so I want you to stick with my bud Mason, okay?"

             
"Oh," I state, "yeah, of course. Can I watch though?"

             
He smiles ear to ear, "I'd love that. You sure you want to?"

             
I nod, "absolutely! I knew you looked like a fighter, and quite honestly, it's-" I bite down on my lip and blush rapidly. The words came out before I could stop myself from saying them. I didn't finish my sentence but with the look of question on Avery's face, I have a feeling I'm going to have to. Damnit.

             
"It's?"

             
I look down to the ground. "Sexy," I mumble.

             
He chuckles softly as he places his finger under my chin, causing me to look up at him. He leans in and brushes his lips against mine. "I'm glad you're here." He grabs my hand without so much as a blink of the eye and pulls me with him. I'm in shock and don't even know how to process anything. Does he like me? Or does he naturally flirt? What is going on right now? Maybe it's just all in my head.

             
I meet a lot of different people before the fight, including Avery's friend Mason. I've seen him around campus a few times, because trust me, it'd be hard to miss him. He is just shy of six feet, has naturally tanned skin, muscles, blue eyes and brown hair. The best part of him though, is his very southern drawl, making him sound like a sexy cowboy. I've actually mentioned him to Aubrey a few times, telling her she should go for a guy like him. She always says she wishes but hasn't made a move on him. Now I'm going to play cupid without either of them knowing and try to set something up. He is being extra sweet to me, and is treating me like a little sister already, so it's easy to get along with him.

             
Mason and I are standing in a crowd of probably 150 people in the basement of the warehouse. My adrenaline is pumping like crazy as we surround the makeshift fighting ring on the floor. An enormous guy they call Mouse is standing on a soapbox, with his pockets full of money. He must be the lug that runs things, because he takes the megaphone and starts telling us to shut the fuck up. Most everyone listens.

             
"Tonight is going to be a fuckin' crazy night, so all you better fuckin' listen close!" Mouse's voice rings loud and clear, as we all stare at him, waiting for the fighters to be announced. "Tonight is the night to figure out who the fuck the real champion is. It's going to get ugly and rowdy. Got weak stomachs? Get the fuck out! This fight is for the men in the ring, anyone else starts a fight outside the ring, you’re out of here! I call it all, so when I throw down my towel, that's when the winner is announced. Bets are all placed already, so if you haven't placed a bet, you don't get to. I find out you place a bet behind my back, your legs will be broke, I promise that. Now, everyone should know the rest of the rules, so let’s get this shit started. Who's with me?"

             
The crowd goes wild, me included. I'm jumping up and down yelling "
yeah!"
alongside everyone else, and I can feel all sorts of nerves flaring through me. I'm scared a little, but I'm so excited in ways I never knew I could be.

             
Mouse continues when the roaring calms, "ladies and gentlemen, for the fourth time this year, let’s welcome Avvvvvverrryyyy "Kill Switch" Mannnninnnggg!" As Avery comes running out, I feel chills run up and down my spine. Never have I see him look better. He's in running shorts and a tight beater, making all his tattooed muscles bulge. The look on his face is fierce, but it turns me on in ways I can't explain. I'm screaming and cheering him on, and he looks me right in the eye and winks. Yum. "And now, our returning champion. Gentlemen, be jealous, ladies, get ready for your panties to dampen. Here comes Piiiiierce "Skull Crusher" Daniellllsoonnnn!"

             
I hate this Pierce guy already, just because he is the one fighting Avery, and I refuse to cheer. Then, he comes running into the ring and my mouth drops open. Holy. Fuckin. Shit. He gives Avery a run for his money, if that is even possible. He is maybe two inches taller than Avery, and I've never in my life seen someone so tall. If Colin Wayne had a few more tattoos, they'd be twins. He has a dazzling white smile, grey eyes that make you want to swoon, naturally darker skin, muscles that you just want to sink your teeth into. And his hair is a darker brown, just long enough that he can gel it, to look purposely messed up and absolutely sexy. He is wearing a matching outfit to Avery's, except his beater is black where Avery's is white. I swallow and try not to stare, but it's impossible.

             
When I can finally pull my gaze away I look at Avery, who is staring at me with a very pissed off look. I look back at Pierce, who is now taking in Avery's expression. He glances at me with a knowing grin. Pierce then leans into Avery, whispering something in his ear and I can see Avery's green eyes burn with hatred. Whatever was just said to him has fueled him right up, and by the way he is staring at me, I have a feeling I was topic of conversation. I don't know if that is a good thing or not. Shit.

             
"Alright, let’s get this fuckin' party started. You know the rules boys, no cheap shots, no hits to the dicks, and when I throw down the towel, your fists stop! On the horn assholes," Mouse says. He sounds the air horn and the fight starts. I'm instantly glued.

             
Punch after punch I feel myself in a mixture of emotions. I'm excited, turned on, scared, nervous, happy, and so many other things. I'm thrilled no matter what though. It's a fair fight between the two, and lots of blood has been drawn. Pierce uses his shoulder to knock Avery down then punches him twice in the face. Avery then throws Peirce backwards, stands up and punches so hard that blood squirts all over the place. Some of it landing on my sweatshirt but instead of squirming, I'm cheering louder than ever! The fight continues the same for a while, then I yell, "knock him dead Avery. Come on, kick his ass!"

             
I see the biggest smirk on Avery's face as the words leave my mouth, and with two thrusts to Pierce's face he is knocked out. Avery looks over at me and winks before looking at Pierce, pumping his fists into Pierce's face over and over. Mouse then throws down the towel, covering the bloody mess. "And the all-time champion of the arena is Averrrrrry!" he yells through his megaphone and the crowd erupts. I hear some boos being called out, but I'm screaming with excitement.

             
Avery walks around, pumping his fists up in the air, showing that he is now the champion. When he gets over by me, he picks me up and plants a big, bloodied kiss on my mouth. "You're so fuckin' sexy when you're cheering me on," he says as he pulls away. I don't even care that his face is swelled, bruised and bloodied, it just feels freaking amazing when he puts those lips on mine. His words instantly turn my belly into lava.

             
I swallow hard and look him directly in the eyes. "You're sexy as sin fighting. I'm so proud of you!" I kiss his nose, because that is the bravest I can be around this man.

             
Mouse comes over and says he needs Avery to come in the back room. Mason says he will keep an eye on me while he is back there. Peirce is off the ground and talking to a few people, and I can't help but stare at him. I don't want to find him attractive, I want to knock him out myself, just because he is the one who was opposing Avery. It's just hard because he is hypnotic. I'm a fool, I know, but I'm just a girl who cannot help what she likes and doesn't like. He must know I'm starring because he turns around and smirks in the most devilish of ways. I'm suddenly all butterflies as we walks over to me.

             
I can feel Mason tense up next to me when Pierce finally stops directly in front of me. I look up into his grey eyes and mine widen. "I'm Pierce," he says putting out his hand.