“Oh,” I whisper when he pulls away. “Is that how you shut babbling girls up?”

“Only the hot ones.”

Stunned, I can only stare. I was kissed by the Predator. He thinks I’m hot. Fangirl swoon.

“I don’t do that shit,” Ray says, all cool and calm as if he hasn’t just rocked my entire world. “Two women is two times the trouble. Got enough to do with work and training.” He hands me my phone, and my stomach clenches when I see his name in my address book. Ray. No last name. But I’m not complaining. Until last week, I would never have imagined Ray’s name would be associated with mine in any way. And cool. He’s not into relationships. Neither am I.

“I don’t know how you work your job, your bit on the side, and train.” I regain my equilibrium and pretend his kiss didn’t just fry my brain. “Tag struggles with one, and he doesn’t really train anymore. He just teaches.”

“Passes the time.” He slides out of my seat and tucks his phone in his pocket.

“‘Passes the time’?” My voice rises in disbelief. “You’re an amazing fighter. I’ll bet you’d shoot right up through the amateurs if you got on the amateur circuit.”

Ray’s face tightens. “Underground fighting is more my style. A real test of skill and strength. Push yourself to the limit and let it go. Freedom. That’s where it’s at for me.”

“That’s how I feel about art,” I say. “I see pictures in things, and I have to set them free.”

Ray strokes a finger along my jaw, sending a delicious shiver down my spine. “What about Fenrir?”

“Like I said, he wants to be free.”

Electric tension fills the space between us. Ray’s corded throat tightens when he swallows, and he drops his hand. “He’s not the only one.”

He leans down and for a moment I think—no, hope—no, pray he’s going to kiss me again. His breath is warm on my cheek. His lips brush over my ear. And then he whispers, “Tomorrow.”

Chapter 4

You scream sexy

“Hey, Sia! Long time no see ya!” Rampage ruffles my hair when I walk in the front door to Redemption, a converted warehouse in Oakland’s Foster-Hoover District—also known as Ghost Town—and one of the city’s premier MMA training facilities.

I give Rampage a hug and wrap my arms around his belly, clad in a yellow happy face tank top. “Boy, I missed this place. Tag—”

Rampage cuts me off. “Ring names only in the gym.”

“Sorry. I mean, Fuzzy banned me from coming here after what happened to Amanda. If it weren’t for the parties and the guys who come into the studio, I would have totally lost touch with what’s going on.”

Rampage’s face falls, bringing his scars into stark relief, and he leans his six-foot-two-inch super heavyweight frame against the wall. “Yeah. That was a rough time. Amanda hurt. Buncha idiots suing us for ten million dollars. But she sorted us all out, and sorted herself. You going to the wedding? Should be one hell of a party.”

My stomach clenches. “Uh…I’m not sure.” Amanda is marrying Jake a.k.a. Renegade, one of Redemption’s top-ranked fighters and yet another of my fantasy men. Things got awkward when Tag tried to set us up by asking Renegade to look out for me at parties when he wasn’t around. We definitely had chemistry, but after one kiss, I backed off. Not just because I thought I wouldn’t be able to handle more than one kiss from such an über alpha male, but because it was so obvious he was still in love with Amanda and didn’t know it.

Rampage gives me a sympathetic smile and walks over to the intercom. He knows everything about everyone at Redemption, and although he seems the most unlikely source of gossip, information always seems to find its way to him. “I’ll let Fuzz know you’re here.”

My breath catches in my throat. “Actually, I think I’ll try and fly under his radar. Ray…er…the Predator asked me to meet him here to show him some designs, and I’m pretty sure Fuzzy won’t approve.”

Rampage laughs. “He’s not gonna say no to the Predator. First night the Predator took Fuzzy’s Get Fit or Die class, he had Fuzz in a submission on the floor in the first five minutes. Didn’t like being told what to do. Earned Fuzz’s respect, which isn’t an easy thing.”

“Is the Predator here yet?” Butterflies flutter in my stomach. I still can’t believe I had the nerve to come to Redemption. But how could I not after the verbal thrashing I got from my bestie?

Last night, after scaring away the ultra-conservative, dull-as-ditchwater fireman with my tats and piercings, I called Jess. After hearing about Ray showing up at Rabid Ink, she threatened to disown me as a friend if I didn’t get my ass to Redemption. She also mentioned horrendous tortures she would inflict on me if I chickened out, most involving hiding my stash of potato chips or telling my mom about my secret piercings. In Jess’s mind, any attention is good attention, even if he’s got a girlfriend attached.

“Free weights. You can go find him if you like.” Rampage raises a curious eyebrow, and I change my mind about looking for Ray right away. Maybe I should take a few minutes to chill and relax. Get my game on.

“I think I’ll grab something to eat first. If you see him, let him know I’m in the café.”

“Sure thing.”

Taking a deep breath, I head down the main corridor toward the café, keeping a sharp lookout for Tag. The gym has undergone significant renovations over the last few years and now resembles a hi-tech military training facility. I pass the first aid room, equipment store, and a couple of workout studios before I spot Doctor Death heading my way. I contemplate pushing aside the plastic sheeting covering the entrance to what appears to be a new addition to Redemption’s already vast space, but instead manage to duck into the little café unseen. A quick check of the menu yields disappointing results. Protein shakes of all varieties made-to-order and a cooler full of healthy treats.