Passing His Guard (Against the Cage #2) Read Online Free PDF

away with wearing. Her deep, fiery locks looked almost black in this darker lighting, but once she got into a brighter setting, her flaming tresses could really clash with her clothes if she wasn’t careful. She’d chosen a dark green sleeveless cowl-neck with a lace-patterned back and a black above the knee pencil skirt. Her matching shoes had a modest one-inch heel. She’d chosen something to give her average five-six height a little boost, but not tall enough to scream “I’m easy.” A lot could be said about a woman by the shoes she wore, and Ryann did not want to give this fighter the wrong idea—though she suspected from their last interaction that he might have come to that misconception all on his own.
    She gasped when Aiden took a hit to his cheek and then found herself cheering as he shook it off and shot for his opponent’s hips, taking Mallenger “the Mauler” to the mat. The fighter hit the ground hard, and in a matter of seconds he was past Mallenger’s guard, whatever that meant—but it must have been good, judging by the commentator’s excited yelling. Aiden rained fists and elbows onto the man’s face. The right one apparently connected, because a moment later the Mauler was no longer defending himself. The ref pulled Aiden off his opponent, held his arm in the air, and declared him the victor by KO.
    Aiden’s team flooded into the octagon, jumping and cheering. They picked him up, spun him around, clasped him in back-slapping hugs. The energy in the room was contagious, and Ryann found herself wanting to join the melee, to congratulate him on an amazing, well-fought fight. A part of her was actually looking forward to seeing him at the after party—until she remembered why she was there.
    Not wanting to get caught up in the crowd, Ryann slipped into the aisle and made her way out of the arena. The celebration was supposed to continue on the fourth floor. She’d get there early and hopefully find a few private minutes to speak with Aiden alone.

    Where in the hell was she? Aiden searched the crowd for the redheaded beauty and found her seat was empty. The disappointment at discovering her gone resounded solidly in his gut. Ever since she’d walked into that gym two days ago, he’d scarcely thought of anything else. He hadn’t been kidding when he’d told her she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, though he’d gotten the distinct feeling she hadn’t believed him for a second. That she might not know how gorgeous she was, he found sexy as hell. Her seeming lack of vanity was refreshing. Most women who approached him were ridiculously vain and superficial, and so cosmetically enhanced that if they’d possessed any natural beauty, it was long dead and buried.
    But not this woman—there was something special about her. The moment he laid eyes on her he could tell she was nothing like the others. His attraction to the beguiling redhead had surprised him, a swift and guttural response that just about took him out at the knees. She’d caught him so off guard that, rather than stand there staring at her like a complete dumbass, he’d donned his famed Disco persona and treated her just like every other cage banger that walked into his gym—except this one he wanted to see again.
    She intrigued him. Not only was she stunning, but intelligence lit those verdant eyes that reminded him of brilliant emeralds. Brains and beauty—a rare combination found in the circles he ran. When he’d glanced over and found Del Toro talking to her, a wave of irrational jealousy had surged up inside him and grabbed him by the balls—and it had yet to let go.
    Wanting to see her again, Aiden had impulsively given the woman front row tickets to the fight and a pass to his after party. He had the spare seats, the ones reserved for family he would never invite—not that they’d ever come, even if he did. Sen. Bennett Kruze and Lady Madeline wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this. If you