“So who do you think I need to look out for?”
The three got animated quickly and looked at each other.
Tim spoke up, “Aw man, there’s the Enforcer from North Carolina. There’s Viper, Maniac…”
“Maniac. Right. From Connecticut,” Jared added.
I listened as they named about seven fighters that they thought were good. I only agreed with three of the names. They were quick on their feet and had excellent ground game. They could get their opponent down really quickly if you let them. I stopped the boys.
“Whoa, I get the hint guys. Thanks for the information.”
“No problem, Mr. Reap,” they said in unison.
I leaned into Maxine and whispered in her ear, “I really want to go back to the room and see how quickly I could get you out of your bathing suit.”
She just smiled at me and spoke to the guys.
“I think the only two fighters Reap has to be concerned with are the Enforcer and Jake the Snake.”
The three guys nodded solemnly. I looked at them.
“Yeah, and why is that?”
“Well, for one, they both are big as hell,” Tim said
“Yeah, and they love the theatrics,” Jared added.
“Theatrics?” I asked, wondering what the hell I was going to see come Friday night.
“The Enforcer loves to come to the cage with an entourage of half-naked women. He moves around the cage grabbing it and climbing up while yelling at the crowd. He definitely uses the cage to his advantage. He is an ex-wrestler, so he likes to fight up close and grab you. Man, once he gets on you, its lights out.”
I remembered that tidbit of information when I watched the tape on him. I had no intention of going toe to toe with that goon. There are ways to bring a man down of any size, and I intended to make sure he goes down hard.
We said our goodbyes to the trio, forgetting the fat dudes, and headed back out to the towels I had set out for us. We stayed out there for a while, enjoying the weather and scenery. We even took a stroll up and down the beach before I couldn’t take it anymore. I was beginning to become inappropriate with my touching, and I couldn’t wait any longer to put my tongue all over her body.
The days leading up to the first day of the tournaments were spent working with Lou and Alex at a gym they found ten minutes from the hotel. We worked on my floor game mostly, as Lou knew that was going to be my toughest challenge. I had no problem with everything else and, really, I had no problem submitting someone. What he wanted me to brush up on is getting out of any and all types of holds, and quickly turning the tides to inflict my will on any opponent. We’d been working on my floor game a few weeks before we left for Florida, and I think I’m good. But hell, you never know.
For the remainder of the week, this was my schedule: work out and spend all my time attached to Max. When I was done working out, I would go back to the room to shower, rest, and eat. Then I was all hers for the night. We went to dinner with Alex and his flavor of the moment. Then we spent time walking the strip or taking a midnight cruise along the Miami coast—just the two of us.
On the night before the tournament began, we were cruising on a prestige sixty-foot cruiser yacht that I rented for a few hours. We were watching the stars go by as she lay in my arms. She wore a stunning yellow dress that crossed in front of her chest and left the back out. The skirt part of the dress was long, with a slit riding up her leg. She looked breathtaking, and I couldn’t keep her out of my sight. I couldn’t keep my hands off her either, which was becoming a habit of mine. We had dinner out here among the stars as I tried to romance the pants—or the dress—off her. We’ve only been out here for about two hours and had two more to go. I really was hoping we could retire down to the room and fulfill one of my fantasies I’ve been thinking about lately.
“Mason.”
“Yes.”
I stroked her arm, as she rested her head and part of her bare back against me.
“Have you ever been in love? Besides with me, of course.”
I closed my eyes. “Baby, I said before, you’re the only woman I’ve ever been able to think about spending a happy and satisfying life with.”
She sat up and looked at me. “Come on, Mace. There wasn’t anyone that maybe came close?”
I sighed deeply. “Um, yes. I will say someone came close. But, I mean, she’s a far second to you, baby.”
“What happened?”
“Um well, she betrayed me, I guess. At least that’s the way I saw it. I met her back in high school. Her father and mine were business associates. Remember I told you I made my first million in my teens? Well, I lost a great deal in my teens, as well. Diane was her name. I felt like she, you know, complemented me in a way. I never thought I would get married. Looking at my parents’ relationship, I felt it was a lost cause. What kept my faith was my grandparents. My grandfather would talk about my grandmother as if he just fell in love with her that moment. They’ve been together for about fifty something years, and they still can’t get enough of each other.”