Chapter Eleven

AVA

I stood by the edge of the training pen, watching a golden retriever nuzzle against Ryder's hand. He looked up, his gaze unexpectedly locking with mine. There was a vulnerability in his eyes that I hadn't seen before. It drew me closer, despite the fluttering in my stomach.

"I didn't think I'd see you here today," Ryder began.

"Neither did I," I admitted, letting out a slow breath. "I thought about leaving town after submitting the article."

There was an awkward pause, a space filled with unspoken words and tangled emotions, before Ryder broke the silence.

"About what happened at Carnage." His voice trailed off, and he glanced down at his scuffed sneakers. "I was angry and frustrated, and I took it out on you unfairly. You were only trying to help, and I pushed you away when I should have let you in. I'm never fighting there again. I regret that night more than I can say. If I could take it back, I would."

I nodded, my fingers brushing against the side of my jeans. "I pushed you away, too, and I'm sorry. After everything, I needed space to think."

"I get that. You did nothing wrong. I acted like an ass."

The air between us was charged. I could almost feel the heat radiating from him, and I wondered if he could sense the same from me.

"Your article," Ryder began again, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "You didn't mention the brawl. Thank you."

"Of course." I met his gaze, square. "What you're doing here, with these dogs, it's important. People should know about the good you're putting into the world."

He exhaled, a look of relief washing over him. "I thought you were gone for good." Then, with a hesitant step forward, he reached out and grasped my hand. "But I don't want you to go. Not now, not when... when there might be something worth staying for."

His touch sent a spark through me, igniting the embers of feelings I'd tried so hard to compartmentalize. His admission hung in the air, and I found myself unable to look away.

"Stay longer," he whispered, as if it were both a question and a plea.

I felt the corners of my mouth lift in a smile that mirrored his own, a silent acknowledgment of the connection we couldn't deny.

Ryder's honesty, his open vulnerability had stripped away the last of my defenses, leaving me exposed in a way I never felt before.

"Ryder," I started, my voice wavering as I took a small step closer to him, "I've been doing a lot of thinking and... I don't want to leave." My heart raced. The words tumbled out, each one laced with a truth I could no longer hide from. "Being here with you, getting to know the real you has made me realize how much I care about you. I'm drawn to you in ways I didn't expect. Ways that scare me sometimes, but I can't ignore them anymore."

His eyes widened, and something deep flickered within their depths. He stepped forward, closing the distance I'd put between us. His hand found mine, his fingers intertwining with my own. A perfect fit.

I breathed, letting myself lean into the touch that felt like coming home. "I want to stay."

The relief that washed over his face was real, and it mirrored the release I felt within my chest. Ryder's smile broke free, unrestrained and infectious, and I couldn't help but return it.

"Ava, that's all I wanted to hear."

We stood there, hands clasped, the world around us fading. I watched as Ryder's gaze dropped to our intertwined fingers, a look of wonder etching across his features.

"Thank you," he murmured, lifting his eyes to meet mine again, "for believing in me, in what I'm doing here. And for giving us this chance."

My throat tightened at his gratitude, emotion clogging my words. "No, thank you. For showing me what it means to persevere, to dedicate yourself to something greater. You've inspired me more than you know."

In that moment, the future stretched out, ripe with possibility. The connection between us, once a fragile thread, was now a strong cord, binding us together.

"Let's see where this goes," Ryder said, his voice steady and sure. As I gazed into his eyes, I knew without a doubt that wherever this journey took us, it would be worth every step.

ONE YEAR LATER

A year had whirled by like a fevered bout in the ring. The keystrokes were rhythmic punches on the laptop's keyboard as I pieced together my latest article for the sports column. My fingers danced across the keys, imprinting the tale of how Ryder, the thunder in the Fury Combat arena, continued to reign supreme as the heavyweight champion.

"Ryder 'Thunder' McKenzie defends his title yet again," I whispered to myself, reading the headline aloud, feeling a burst of pride. It was hard not to get swept up in the excitement of his world, the adrenaline-fueled spectacle that had first drawn us together. But there was another contender vying for the spotlight. Liam O'Connor.

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the screen. A photo of Liam filled the corner of the document, his posture speaking volumes about his defiance and raw talent. Could he really make a comeback in Fury Combat after his scandals in and out of the ring? Yet, my thoughts kept drifting back to Ryder, to us, and how we thrived despite the chaos of our careers.

It wasn't just about punches and knockouts; it was about the human spirit fighting its way back from the brink. That's what people wanted to read, what they followed me for, the gritty truth behind the glamor of combat sports.

As I wrapped up the final paragraph, my phone vibrated against the desk. Snatching it up, I couldn't suppress the smile that bloomed on my lips when Ryder's name appeared on the screen.

On my way. Don't start the party without me. The text oozed the playful cockiness that was quintessentially him.

Too late, champ. Already in the ring. I fired back, my heart skipping a beat as I imagined his reaction. There was always a thrill in our exchanges, a current of anticipation that never seemed to fade.

Shutting down my laptop, I pushed away from the desk and stretched. As I prepared for our dinner date, I felt a familiar flutter, the prelude to all the nights that had ended tangled in each other's arms, where the only thing that mattered was the electric connection between us.

The apartment doorbell rang just as I was stepping out of the shower, a cloud of steam billowing behind me. With a towel hastily wrapped around my damp body, I hurried to answer, water droplets racing down my skin. Swinging the door open, I was met with the sight of Ryder, his build more imposing than ever in a tailored suit that accentuated his champion's physique.

"Looks like someone's still in training," he teased, a twinkle in his hazel eyes as they roamed over my scant attire.

"Give me twenty minutes," I said, rolling my eyes playfully. "Make yourself at home."

I watched as he settled onto the couch, the lines of his face softening in relaxation. But as he shifted, a small box tumbled from his pocket onto the floor. Curiosity piqued, I asked, "What's that?"

Ryder glanced down, his movements suddenly deliberate as he dropped to one knee, retrieving the object. My breath hitched in my throat, every nerve ending on high alert.

"I was trying to figure out the right moment tonight, but since I'm already on one knee." He opened the box to showcase a diamond ring set in rose gold, simple yet elegant, catching the light in a way that made my heart stutter. "Will you marry me, Ava?"

Surprise, joy, a whirlwind of emotions crashed into me. "Yes," I breathed, tears of happiness spilling over. "Yes, I will."

He slipped the ring onto my finger and stood, pulling me close. His lips claimed mine with a fervor that spoke volumes, reaffirming our bond beyond words.

We broke away only for him to lift me, carrying me back to the couch. The towel fell away, forgotten, as he laid me down, his hands tracing the contours of my body.

His mouth descended upon mine once more as we melded together, the world outside dissolving into nothingness. It was a dance we knew well, bodies moving in sync, each touch stoking the flames higher. His hands were both tender and demanding, worshiping every inch of my flesh as if it were sacred ground.

I removed his clothes and felt him, hard and ready, pressing insistently against my thigh. With a shared look, that silent conversation we've perfected, there was no need for barriers between us. The trust, the connection—it was all-consuming.

As he entered me, a gasp escaped my lips, filled with the sensation of him stretching me. Ryder groaned, his rhythm unrelenting, each thrust pushing us closer to the edge. The couch became our altar, our bodies the offering, the crescendo of our pleasure echoing through the room.

And then, in a rush that left us trembling, we found our release, a testament to the love that had grown stronger with each challenge faced. In the aftermath, as we lay there, hearts beating as one, I knew without a doubt that this was just the beginning of our forever.

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