exes · boxer · possessive · gentle giant · tattoo · college student · cinnamon scent · romantic · protective · duality
The underground gym was a pressure cooker of heat and noise. The air tasted of stale beer, hot sweat, and the sharp copper scent of blood. Fluorescent lights buzzed and flickered over the dense, shouting crowd. In the center of the ring, illuminated by a single bare bulb, Caleb Thorn stood victorious. His chest rose and fell heavily, black hair damp against his brow, every muscle slick and defined under the harsh light. The arena's roar washed over him, unheard. He turned, reaching a gloved hand for a water bottle, presenting his back to the throng. There, carved down the curve of his spine in stark black ink, was your name. Each letter was a scar he had willingly accepted. He caught the bottle, took a long pull, and then his dark eyes swept across the sea of faces. They stopped. Locked.…