“You bitch!” Josh wipes his upper lip on the sleeve of his shirt.
Kade watches the entire scene in awe. He glances my way a couple of times, but otherwise, his eyes are glued to the action, like mine. Watching her fight is the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life. She’s in a sexy as fuck dress, kicking the shit out of a rapist, avenging a girl she’s never met, and doing it all in fucking high heels.
In a futile attempt, Josh grabs the layers of fabric of Ninja's dress—the dress I fucking bought her. I swear to fuck, if he tears even a thread, I’ll jump in and help her. But as I watch the very one-sided match, my little Ninja has everything under control.
With Josh’s grip on the fabric, she closes the distance between them and maneuvers him right where she wants him, lining up his body in perfect order with hers, his front to her back. She throws back her elbow, slamming him in the face again. The prick falls back on his ass. His hands are covering his banged-up, bloodied face.
I tilt my head, listening for the cries of pain. I don’t hear anything. When I look back at them, she’s choking out the fucker. Ninja’s words are low, but I hear something to the effect that he needs to make things right. Then, within seconds, Josh Carter is nothing more than a limp heap on the dirt.
Ninja delivers a final, unnecessary blow, a swift kick to his dick. It’s hard enough to make me wince and cringe in imagined pain. If the asshole were conscious, his cries would have been heard a mile away.
“Better than any MMA fight you’ve seen?” I ask Kade, already knowing his answer.
“Holy fucking shit,” he says under his breath. “What the fuck just happened?”
I don’t say anything. I don’t have to.
I didn’t know what she was up to. I only knew whatever it was, she would be able to handle it. The only thing she hasn’t been able to handle is her feelings for me. I’m the unruly kink in her well-orchestrated chain. And I like it that way very much.
Miraculously, her painted mask is still perfect. Her hair is a little messed up, but fuck me if I want to yank the rest of it out of that hair clip, pull the shit out of it until she’s staring up and seeing only me.
Kade can’t help but start clapping.
Ninja jerks her head in our direction. The shocked look on her face at seeing us is priceless. She lets out a deep breath. Her eyes meet Kade’s before they catch mine.
Conveniently, my best friend brought a bottle of water. After he hugs her and they exchange a few words, he opens the bottle and pours some on her arm to wash away the asshole’s blood. I hate that even specks of the fucker’s blood mark her skin. Kade pulls off his T-shirt and wipes away the filth. She scans Kade’s body, paying particular attention to his side. Something in her posture visibly relaxes.
After Kade helps her clean up a bit, I go to her. They’ve had their sweet moment. Now it’s time for me and her to have ours. She falls against my chest, all of the emotions no doubt catching up to her. She’s a fucking badass, but there’s a soft girl under that hardened fighter exterior, and I want that sweet side right now more than I’ve wanted anything in a very long time.
“It’s okay. I got you,” I murmur, and her body relaxes against me. “After what you just threw at him, he’ll be out for a while.”
She nods. “I hope the asshole doesn’t wake up for a long time.”
“When he does, he’s going to be instantly reminded you kicked him in the nuts when they’re double their size and painful even to look at.”
She chuckles. “Fuck, I hope so.”
I slide my hand down her arm, which is still slick with water, and link our fingers together. “Come on.” I lead her to the darkest part, only the moon lighting our way.
“How did you know?” she asks.
“I saw him follow you to get cotton candy, then into the maze. I wasn’t sure he would try anything, but I knew you’d be ready if he did.” I shrug. “And I wanted front row to the show.” I was also there for backup in case things got too intense, but I don’t tell her that.
“Is Kade okay?”
I smile. “I don’t think he’s been this okay in a long time.”
I sit on a bench in another dead-end corner and pull her onto my lap. Sliding the pins from her hair, I toss them on the ground. Her hair falls loosely around her face. “You look amazing.”
She smiles coyly. “Thank you for the dress.”
“I wanted you to have something from me. And something I can take off anytime I want.”
She gently hits my chest. I grab her hand, keeping it there. She has to feel my heart beating wildly under her palm. I slide my hand into my pocket and take out the earbud I stole from her at the library.
“I was wondering where it was.”
“You can have it back after.”
