Jayden frowned and took a slug of beer.
“Still got trouble in paradise?” Wyatt asked. “Skylar giving you hell again?”
“None of your fucking business,” Jayden snapped. “But as it happens, Carter, we’re good, me and Skylar. She’s hot, hot and tight as a virgin.”
“Which you know she ain’t, right?” Carter laughed and cupped his groin. “A virgin that is.”
“You’ve just got a tiny dick.” Jayden held up his hand and wiggled his pinkie. “Now she’s got a real man.” He looked to his left. “And there she is now. Excuse me, guys.”
“Holy fuck,” Taff said when Jayden walked away. “He protests too much. She was screaming like a banshee at him yesterday. Ain’t no one got time for that.”
“Yeah. She’s hot and sexy one minute, but then the next she stings like a scorpion,” Carter said. “But if he wants to pretend they’re fucking loved up, who am I to stop him?”
“You and Skylar were an item?” Belle asked Carter, working her gum into a ball.
“Yeah, suited me when I’d just got out.” He shrugged. “A guy has needs.”
“Too damn right,” Taff said. “Right now, I need this big guy to win so I double my bucks.”
“You think he will?” Wyatt asked. “Baz isn’t a damn pussy.”
“Fuck, that don’t matter. Have you seen the size of Teddy?” Taff laughed. “Yeah, he’ll win.”
Teddy was strutting around the makeshift ring, arms in the air, head thrown back and shouting. “Where is he? Where is this runt who thinks he can take me on? Me! I’ll fucking kill him.”
Baz was in the corner, leaning on a barrel as someone smeared his eyebrows with grease. His faded jeans hung low on his hips, and his solid torso was a mass of tats, including the club one on his back.
Teddy was doing a good job of winding up the crowd. They were clambering for the beating to start, braying for blood. The testosterone-heavy air seemed to vibrate with impatience.
Belle’s ears rung with the volume of the deep male voices surrounding her. She squeezed closer to Wyatt as they found a viewing point.
“Hey,” Rigor said, appearing at her side. “You good?” He glanced at Wyatt.
“Yeah.” She smiled. “I am.”
He nodded once, briskly, then his attention went back to the ring.
She smiled. That was as much of a thumbs-up as her brother would give her regarding her choice of a new fella. But that was okay. Rigor would get to know Wyatt and then he’d see that he was a solid guy with a heart of gold.
“Tear his fucking head off, Baz!” Wyatt shouted, then cheered along with the rest of the crowd. His arm aloft, fist clenched.
Baz was circling Teddy now. It was clear he was lighter on his feet, but he was still a big guy. He sent a few jabs into the air, as if warming his muscles.
Teddy approached, quickly, and went for a head punch. Baz dodged it and threw a kidney punch Teddy’s way … missed.
The crowd bellowed for more.
Again, Teddy approached, steely determination drawing his eyebrows together and narrowing his eyes. He moved fast, his weight seeming to propel him forward. He struck out and caught Baz on the chin.
Baz staggered to the left as the crowd cheered. He quickly recovered and caught Teddy’s abdomen with a sideswipe.
Teddy didn’t appear to notice. It was as if an insect was bothering him. He swung around, arm arcing with his momentum, and landed a solid hit on Baz’s temple.
Again, Baz staggered, this time into the ropes.
Excited bikers shoved him back into the center of the ring. He shook his head then ducked just in time as Teddy sent another right hook toward him.
He shuffled to the left, fists up, and managed to glance one off Teddy’s shoulder. But it was as if he’d poked and angered the bear. Teddy gathered his strength, rising up, his fist in an uppercut that hit Baz square on the chin.