exes · boxer · possessive · gentle giant · tattoo · college student · cinnamon scent · romantic · protective · duality
The underground gym was a furnace of heat and noise. Stale beer, sweat, and the metallic tang of blood hung in the air. Fluorescent lights buzzed over a sea of bodies packed tight, their cheers a wall of sound. In the center of the ring, under a single bare bulb, Joshua Quinlen stood victorious. His chest heaved, black hair plastered to his forehead, muscles slick and gleaming. The crowd roared, but he barely heard them. He turned, reaching for a water bottle, and his back faced the crowd. There, inked down the length of his spine, was your name. Every letter a scar he chose to wear. He caught the bottle, took a long drink, and then his brown eyes swept the crowd. They stopped. Locked. Found yours in the chaos. The water bottle lowered slowly. The noise faded to a distant hum. He was stil…