Chapter 1 1

Chapter One - Fifteen Years Earlier

Sutton's POV -

"Come on, Sutton, it's just one night! Your book will still be there when we get home. Just try and have some fun, okay? You always have your nose in a book when there's a whole world to explore."

Ruby, my older sister and personal pain in the ass, tugs on my arm, pulling me through the swarm of people packed into the underground fight club.

I huff. Loudly. "I would much rather be reading about dragon shifters finding their fated mates than standing in a warehouse filled with sweat, beer, and testosterone."

She rolls her eyes. "God, you're such a nerd."

I glare at her. "Excuse me? I am not some glasses-wearing, corner-hiding nerd. I just... prefer other worlds to this one."

Ruby grins like she's won. "Which is why you need this. Trust me, Sutton, it'll be worth it."

Doubtful.

But here I am.

She's been harping at me for weeks to come with her, and since her boyfriend, Lane, is already inside waiting for us, I gave in.

We weave through the sea of bodies, pushing closer to the cage in the center of the warehouse. The air is thick-sweat, adrenaline, the metallic tang of blood.

"Ugh," I mutter under my breath.

Ruby doesn't care.

She grabs my hand, dragging me closer. "Hurry up! This is the main fight! They're supposed to be badass. This one guy, Iron, is so hot."

I groan. Wonderful.

Lane spots us as we get closer, a cocky grin stretching across his face. He wraps an arm around Ruby's waist, kisses her quickly, then turns to me.

"Hey, kid. Glad you came."

I narrow my eyes. "Kid? Lane, I'm only five years younger than you."

He laughs, ruffling my hair like I'm some little sister he's tolerating.

I slap his arm, chuckling. "You're twenty-four, not forty. Stop acting like a grandpa."

Ruby snickers.

But then-the announcer's voice booms through the speakers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, your main event of the evening-"

The crowd erupts, bodies pressing in tighter.

"In the red corner, weighing in at two hundred and twenty pounds of pure destruction-IRON KANE!"

The energy in the room shifts.

A heat slides down my spine. Anticipation. Excitement.

And then I see him.

I forget how to breathe.

Oh. My. God.

The man stepping into the cage is straight out of a fantasy novel.

Tall. Built like a god. His entire upper body is inked, tattoos covering his chest, creeping up his neck, curling down his arms like shadows.

His black hair is messy, like he ran his hands through it before stepping into the ring.

His face-sharp jaw, full lips, dark, unreadable eyes-is absolute sin.

And his body?

Fuck.

Broad shoulders, rock-hard abs, thick, powerful thighs beneath low-slung black shorts. He looks like he was built for destruction.

The tattoos make it worse-or better.

They look alive under the lights, twisting with every flex of his muscles.

"Wipe your chin, you're drooling," Ruby teases, nudging my side.

Damned if I don't actually wipe my chin.

But who could blame me?

Then it happens.

One second, I'm looking at his side profile, taking in every devastating inch of him-

And the next?

I'm staring into his eyes.

My entire world tilts.

His gaze locks on me, burning into my skin like he just decided I belong to him.

I freeze.

The crowd disappears. The noise fades.

It's just him and me.

Jaxon Kane takes a slow step forward, moving toward my side of the cage like he's drawn by some invisible force.

I swallow hard.

Then-he points at me.

My stomach drops.

I glance behind me, confused.

No one else is looking.

I turn back.

He shakes his head. Smirks.

Then points at me again.

My fingers hover over my chest. Me? I whisper.

He nods.

And then, using two fingers, he gestures for me to come closer.

My heart slams against my ribs.

Lane nudges me. "Holy shit, Sutton. Go."

I take a slow step forward.

Then another.

Then, somehow, I'm crouching beside the cage, close enough to see the sweat dripping down his inked skin, close enough to smell leather and cedar and the lingering trace of cologne.

He bends slightly, lowering his voice so only I can hear.

"What's your name, beautiful?"

I malfunction.

My brain stops working.

My tongue betrays me.

"I-uhh-I'm..." I swallow. "Sutton."

A smirk tugs at his lips, and damn if I don't feel it between my legs.

"Sutton," he repeats, like he's tasting it.

His voice is low, rough, dripping with amusement.

"You got a man, Sutton?"

I shake my head. "Um. No. No man."

His grin deepens.

"Good."

I blink. "Why?"

Jaxon lifts his hand, cups my chin, tilting my face to the side.

He points past me. "See that door over there?"

I nod slowly.

His fingers tighten just slightly before he tilts my face back toward him.

"Meet me there after the fight."

His mouth brushes against mine.

Just barely.

A whisper of a kiss. Soft. Gentle.

A promise.

Then he pulls back.

And I swear, I forget how to exist.

"See you soon, beautiful."