On the Ropes (Fighting For Love Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

She sighs deeply, as she reaches his red knuckles. “I don’t know if I could like something that leaves you in this state.”
     
    Grayson feels a warmth in his chest that spreads through his body. The fact that she cares what happens to him must be a good sign. But at the same time he wants her to understand why MMA is so important to him; he wants her to see what it means; he wants her to be proud of him. As if she’s done that uncanny thing again of reading his mind, she drops her head so that her hair covers his view of her face.
     
    “You were amazing out there, Gray. You owned the ring, and the crowd was totally into you. There’s no question that you’re an incredible athlete.” Grayson feels himself smiling, like a kid who has just been given a good report card from his teacher. “It’s just…hard for me to watch you get hurt. I don’t know if I could do it again.”
     
    “But I want you to.” The words are out of his mouth instantly, heedless of playing it cool. “My next fight, you’ll be there, right? It’s the fight for the state title.” He wishes he didn’t sound so needy, but he can’t pretend that it’s not how he feels. Having her this close to him is making his head spin—but in the best possible way. He would give anything to stay like this forever.
     
    Adriana looks at him uncertainly, biting her bottom lip in the way that drives him insane. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
     
    Grayson feels his stomach drop into his feet like a lead balloon. “Adrie, I’m sorry about the other night. If you give me a chance to explain—”
     
    “It doesn’t matter, Gray,” she interrupts him, taking a deep breath as if she’s steeling herself for what she’s about to say to him. “It was a mistake.” The words hit him harder than any of Kong’s punches had. “Let’s just forget about it and start over…as friends.” She looks at him with eyes full of hope.
     
    Grayson is floored. Out of all the things she could have said, this was the last thing he would have expected. He had expected her to chew him out over the way he treated her. He had expected her tell him that if he wanted to be with her then he was going to have to shape up, that she wasn’t willing to take any more of his shit. But…friends? That wasn’t the first word that popped into his head when he looked at her.
     
    “Friends?” He couldn’t help repeating it like an idiot. He doesn’t think he’s ever been friends with any women, apart from his sister, and she doesn’t count.
     
    “Yes, Grayson, friends. You’re familiar with the concept?” Adriana laughs, as she looks at him in mock despair before her expression turns serious again. “It’s what we should always have been. The…other stuff just got in the way.” She doesn’t look at him, as she starts tidying the components of the first aid kit away, but he can see that her hands are shaking a little.
     
    Grayson reaches out and settles his hand over hers, feeling the familiar pull inside of him at the contact. He’s hyper-aware of how still her body goes at his touch, like she doesn’t know what to do. “Is that really what you want?”
     
    He dips his head towards her, acting purely on instinct, not thinking about the consequences. He pulls her towards him as he zeroes in on her perfect rosebud lips, only inches away, desperate to lose himself in her kiss, in her.
     
    “Stop,” she whispers so quietly that Grayson isn’t sure that he’s heard right. “Stop.” The second time her intent is clear, and for good measure, she steps away from him, forcing him to drop his hands from her.
     
    He looks at her in confusion. He knows that she responds to him the same way that he does to her. He can tell from the desire in her eyes and the way her face is flushed that she wants him as much as he wants her. So why is she pulling away from him?
     
    “I can’t do this again, Gray.” Adriana’s voice is small but full of