Read Online Against the Ropes by Sarah Castille - Free Book Online Page A

to practice a few new moves.”
    Torment’s abs flex as he twists and stretches. He has changed into a pair of red fight shorts with stylized dragons down each leg, and the deep cuts of his hip bones are clearly visible above his waistband. The fabric clings to every curve of his tight, muscular ass. At least I know where to look if I can’t watch them spar.
    Torment turns to talk to Jake, and the light reflects off the tattoos covering his back. Larger and more intricate than the designs on his front, the tattoos cover every inch of his right side down to his waist, including his arm. I remember the feel of soft skin over hard muscle when I traced my finger along the dragon’s tail. My cheeks heat. I should have kept going.
    Jake calls the start of the fight. For the first few seconds, Torment and Homicide dance around, feeling each other out, throwing occasional kicks and punches. Finally, Homicide breaks the pattern and lunges at Torment. Reacting quickly, Torment hits him in the jaw. Homicide’s head snaps to the side. My stomach clenches and I bend over and take a few deep breaths. So much for no one getting hurt.
    “Did you see that, Makayla?” Jimmy asks. “Torment pulled his punch. He could have really done some damage, but he held back.”
    “Yeah. Lucky Homicide.”
    Torment calls a time-out. He explains to the crowd what Homicide did wrong. His explanations are clear enough even I understand. He is a good teacher. Authoritative. Patient. Encouraging. Attentive. And damn sexy.
    They return to the center of the ring. Torment doesn’t waste any time. He rushes forward and knees Homicide in the stomach. Homicide staggers back into the ropes. He springs forward and into Torment’s chest. I wince, expecting Torment to fall over backward, but his massive body absorbs the blow and he doesn’t move.
    Rampage wasn’t the only one who set me up last week. Cheeky Torment pulled me down on purpose when we were in the ring. At least now I know I won’t have to go on a liquid diet.
    Homicide feints to one side and then dodges around Torment. He grabs Torment around the waist from the back and crouches down low. I tug on Jimmy’s sleeve.
    “He’s going for a double leg takedown,” I say, my voice filled with pride as I reference the only move I know.
    “Won’t happen.”
    Torment grabs Homicide’s arm, pivots, and spins. He drops to his seat on the mat and sweeps Homicide’s legs out from under him in a move worthy of any professional dancer. Homicide goes down hard and lands on his back. Torment throws himself across Homicide’s throat. Homicide taps the mat, and Torment releases him.
    “Nice rolling kimura,” Jimmy mutters.
    Torment explains the kimura hold to the assembled group and then he and Homicide show a few variations. I tune out and look around the gym. Despite the crowd gathered around the training ring, almost all the equipment is in use—treadmills, cross trainers, steppers, free weights, punch bags, a second training ring, and black human-shaped grapple dummies. Kinda like blow-up sex toys without the naughty parts.
    “Most of serious fighters train every day,” Jimmy says, following my gaze. “In addition to learning all the submissions, strikes, kicks, grapple techniques, and defenses, they also need to build strength, speed, and endurance if they want to have a chance in the ring. Most of them also take classes in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing, and wrestling, which are the dominant fighting arts in MMA right now.”
    “I didn’t realize it was so involved,” I say. “The fighters must be super fit.”
    Like Torment.
    I turn my attention back to the ring. Torment is still talking. Homicide Hank is kneeling on the floor with his back to Torment’s knees.
    “So from this position,” Torment says, “I can move to mount, transition to back, and then get a submission by rear naked choke.”
    Sounds dirty to me. From what I’ve heard so far, fighting seems to have a lot in