9. Chapter 9

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 fingers into 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 a side 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?

Or is this just the headache?

My head flops back, Cairo gently catching me and laying me down. "Tia's coming, okay? Deep breaths and keep those eyes open. I think we might need a doctor."

"What's going on?" Tia asks, the panicked sound of her voice telling me that whatever I'm feeling shouldn't be happening.

"I got kissed."

"Cairo—wait, what? No, I was asking about Paval. What's going on?" She hurries over to my side, her worried expression the last thing I see before darkness overtakes me.