As the third round began, Adrian consciously pushed his own strength and confidence through the bond, willing Riley to feel his unwavering support. The effect was immediate—her movements became sharper, more decisive, her strikes carrying the kind of controlled power that separated champions from contenders.
The knockout came so quickly Adrian almost missed it. One moment Martinez was pressing forward, trying to land a desperate combination. The next, she was crumpling to the mat from a perfectly timed uppercut that showcased everything beautiful about Riley's technique.
The crowd exploded as the referee raised Riley's arm, and Adrian started shouting along with everyone else, his pride in his mate threatening to overwhelm every other emotion in his chest. Even the pride members were on their feet, applauding with respect for the display of skill they'd just witnessed.
Adrian was already moving before he consciously decided to leave his seat, pushing through the crowd toward the training area where Riley would emerge. He needed to touch her, hold her, make sure she was okay.
She appeared in the corridor just as he reached the entrance, her face flushed with victory and adrenaline. Without hesitation,Adrian pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply, not caring who might be watching.
"You were magnificent," he murmured against her lips.
Riley's laugh was breathless and exhilarated as she broke their kiss. "Did you see their faces? Your pride members looked impressed."
"They should be."
But before either could speak, Adrian caught sight of a familiar figure watching them from the shadows.
Darius stood with his arms crossed, his green eyes fixed on Riley with a piercing intensity that made Adrian's tiger snarl with possessive rage. The other shifter's expression was unreadable, but the predatory stillness of his posture spoke volumes.
"You need to get warmed up," Riley said, apparently oblivious to their audience. "Your match is in less than an hour."
"I know. I just need one more minute to celebrate your victory."
Riley rose on her toes and kissed him again, soft and lingering this time, her hand coming up to rest against his cheek. He caught Darius storming off in his peripheral vision, and Adrian realized his rival wasn't happy, but he couldn't bring himself to care at this moment.
THIRTEEN
RILEY
Riley guided Adrian through the maze of equipment and bodies toward the men's warm-up area, her hand resting possessively on his forearm. The contact sent little sparks of electricity through their bond, but she pushed the distraction aside. Right now, Adrian needed to focus on preparing for his first professional fight.
"Find a spot and start stretching," she instructed, gesturing toward an open section of mats near the heavy bags. "I'll grab you proper gear."
Adrian nodded, already rolling his shoulders to loosen the tension she could feel radiating through their connection. She threaded her way through the crowded training area toward Cameron Mitchell, one of her longtime sponsors who always traveled with extra gear. The middle-aged man looked up from his equipment bag with a familiar grin as she approached.
"Hell of a performance out there, Riley. That uppercut was poetry in motion."
"Thanks." She cut straight to business. "I need a favor. Can you spare a pair of men's shorts and a mouthguard? Size large."
Cameron's eyebrows lifted as he rummaged through his bag. "Since when do you outfit random fighters?" His gazedrifted across the training area toward Adrian, who was flowing through a series of stretches that showcased every muscle in his impressive frame. "And who's the mountain of testosterone over there?"
Riley accepted the gear Cameron handed her, trying to ignore the speculative gleam in his eyes. "His name is Adrian Kael. He hired me to train him for this competition—it's his first time competing."
Cameron let out a low whistle. "First time? Either this guy's got serious natural talent or he's trying way too hard to impress you. Please tell me he's not some rich man who thinks throwing money at you will get him a date."
Heat flared in Riley's cheeks, and she found herself bristling at the implication. "Actually, we are dating. But it's not public yet, so keep it quiet. I don't need my name splashed across tabloids right now."
"Relax, your secret's safe with me." Cameron's expression grew more serious as he glanced around the training area. "But you might want to prepare yourself. People are already starting to notice you two together, and you know how this world loves gossip. Headlines are probably inevitable at this point."
Riley's stomach dropped. More complications she definitely didn't need. Being a public figure in the kickboxing world was challenging enough without having her personal life dissected by every sports blog and social media account. The thought of seeing her relationship with Adrian—whatever it was exactly—analyzed and sensationalized made her skin crawl.
"Thanks for the warning," she muttered, already dreading tomorrow's news cycle.
She made her way back across the training area, dodging other fighters and their coaches. Adrian had progressed from stretching to shadow boxing, his movements fluid and controlled as he worked through combinations she'd taught him.Even without an opponent, there was something mesmerizing about watching him fight—a deadly grace that spoke of barely leashed power.
He must have sensed her approach through their bond because he paused mid-combination and turned toward her, sweat already gleaming on his skin despite the brief warm-up.
"Everything okay?" His sharp gaze searched her face.