Page 9 of Facing the Music
I throw a bit more force behind my fists, following him to the stage floor as I wail on him, making sure that he feels the pain I want to deal Ada. Before I get my fill, someone is dragging me off, confused excitement erupting into the arena.
“Just me, Pav. Breathe. What the fuck are you doing here? Don’t answer that.”
Tia drags me off the stage and through a crowd, the chaos not dying down until I’m in a small room toward the back. She pushes me to sit on a bench, my gaze darting around the room as the pounding in my head increases. A large male steps in after us, his expression softening when he sees me. I’m not as nice, though, jumping to my feet.
“Is he the one who hurt you?” I grab the man by the neck and thrust him against the wall, wincing as a sharp pain explodes behind my eyes. I try to shake it off but that macho man in the ring must have actually done damage. It takes me a few moments to realize I have Cairo in front of me, the fighter letting out a moan when my fingers tighten.
His eyes darken with lust and I immediately release him, looking over to Tia for help. She lets out a bitter laugh, guiding me to sit down again. “Meet Cairo. My boyfriend.”
“You brought her down here?” I accuse Cairo, the man shaking his head. Tia isn’t really explaining anything and it’s becoming increasingly hard to think. Or blink. Or stay awake. “Tia?” I feel helpless and confused, unable to understand why she would be here but all those secret meetings with those suspicious men are starting to make sense.
Tia dabs at a cut above my eye, spending more time than necessary before speaking. “I told you that I wasn’t perfect, okay? I don’t have the nice little life you do and school doesn’t pay for itself. One thing led to another and I take care of the bets.” That doesn’t explain anything.
I weakly reach up to catch her arm. “The black eye,” I push out, finding it hard to form the words.
She sighs, sitting beside me and taking my hands into her lap. “Paval, I know that you want to protect me from anything and everything but I got myself into this mess. It comes with the territory.”
“Bullshit.Who?”
Cairo cackles as he approaches. “Goddamn, he’s like a rabid animal, I love it.” Tia’s man is confusing to me. He’s pretty. Likereallypretty up close. Those blue eyes and faded haircut make him look like he’s walked out of a magazine—not just out of a stage fight. He’s also larger than I am, muscles lining his shoulders, arms, and torso. And yet, his words are flirtatious and soft.
He’s warm and while I don’t want Tia anywhere near this world, he seems like the safest option. Cairo grins down at me, his tongue coating his lips as his gaze rakes over my body. A tingle of desire grows in my stomach before I push it down. I’m not sure I want to entertain that.
My heart is with Tia.
There isn’t anything left to give.
Chapter nine
PAVAL
Tia disappears, Cairo telling me that she has to settle the bets made on the fights this evening. I can barely move at this point so I give in, letting Cairo patch me up. His deep blue eyes are half-lidded as he places a bandage over my eye and then continues checking out the rest of me.
Unable to help myself, I reach forward, running my thumb across the split through his lip. His breathing quickens as his lids shoot open, his gaze meeting mine. For several seconds, neither one of us speaks, and then Cairo’s tongue meets the tip of my thumb. I hover there, waiting to see what he’ll do, Cairo sucking my digit into his mouth. My cock thickens in my pants at the thought of those pretty lips wrapped around something else before I snatch my hand back, wincing at the effort it takes to move.
I don’t know what this is or why Cairo did that. I don’t know why I want his lips wrapped around my cock as I sink my fingersinto his hair. Tia reenters the room, glancing at both of us before moving to my side and helping me to my feet. “Are you going to be okay to walk to your room, Pav? They said you got hit in the head a few times.”
Anywhere other than my room will raise questions. My fathers will kill me if they find out where I’ve been tonight, despite the adrenaline rush I so desperately needed to be quenched. “’M fine,” I mumble, letting Tia throw my arm around her shoulder, Cairo taking up my other side. It’s an awkward walk, most of the arena cleared out. The few stragglers congratulate me, Cairo shielding me from the hand clasps on the back.
Each step becomes a little more difficult but I push through it, pretending we’re one step closer to my bed. “You hit him, Heath, really hard, Paval but your eyes were unfocused as hell. What were you thinking about?” Cairo asks.
“Ada. I will protect my Tia,” I whisper. “She won’t get close to Tia.”
Tia snorts on my other side, gently patting my chest. “Babe, I should be fucking terrified of what you would do to my mother should you ever meet but I think the sentiment is sweet. Pretty sure you broke half of Heath's face.”
“Good.”
The chaos from the arena seems to have been moved to my fraternity, the brothers jumping into the hallways to intercept us. I’m dragged into the main room, everyone raising shots and red cups to my win. I had no idea how widespread the knowledge of these fights was and the spotlight isn’t nearly as exhilarating as the fight itself.
I might even want to do another one.
My body feels numb, the adrenaline completely wearing off and I feel no better for having decimated Heath on that stage. Ada’s mother is still out there and I haven’t protected Tia from anything. In fact, I’ve given her a reason to fear me, showing aside of me she’s never seen. There is no fear in her eyes but it’s only a matter of time.
I stumble to the side, Cairo steadying me. “Let’s get you to your room before you pass out. Fuck, Tia, go grab him some water.” I don’t like Tia being out of my sight but I don’t have much fight left, Cairo all but dragging me to my room once I point it out. Cairo crouches in front of me, helping me out of my shoes before his gaze raises to my face.
He stares for several moments before I grab his chin and drag him into a kiss. I expect him to fight me but he melts, immediately giving in. When I release him, he stands, running his thumb along his lips. “What was that for?” Cairo’s voice has morphed into a honeyed tone, lust coating his words.
“You… you keep staring at my lips.” I clear my throat, trying to get the words out as I blink a few times, pushing through the headache. “Thought I might let you know what they taste like so you can stop.” The problem is that he tastes as beautiful as he looks and now I’m really confused. Did I not give my whole heart to Tia?