Page 137 of Snow

Her name rang out over the speakers, loud and clear, but it barely cut through the noise of the crowd.

Snow stood there for a moment, watching her in the ring, her hand still raised, her chest rising and falling as the reality of it settled in.

She did it. After everything—she did it.

Pride hit him hard, sharp and overwhelming, filling his chest until it almost felt too big to contain. He dragged a hand over his mouth, shaking his head slightly as a grin broke through.

God, he was so damn proud of her. And all he could think about now was getting to her.

Snow took his time getting down to the corridor that led toward the locker rooms, though not entirely by choice. The arena still pulsed with energy.

Nova had been swallowed by cameras flashing, reporters pressing in, fans calling her name like she had already become something larger than life. He had hung back, watching it unfold from a distance, a quiet smile tugging at his mouth.

This was her time right now. Later, though, she would be his.

By the time he finally reached the guarded entrance, flashing his pass to security staff, the reality of the situation settled in. The hallway beyond wasn’t quiet or exclusive; it was crowded, humming with people hoping for a glimpse of her.

Joaquin met him halfway down the hall and walked him to the private locker suite that felt more like a luxury lounge. It had plush seating, soft lighting, and polished surfaces that gleamed under the overhead glow, not to mention the food laid out.

“Can you believe that?” Joaquin said, barely containing himself.

Snow shook his head. “She did good.”

Before Joaquin could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, already turning away. “I’ve gotta take this. Nova’s in the back, showering. She said she wanted to see you the second you got here.”

Snow huffed out a quiet laugh under his breath, shaking his head. But he didn’t need to be told twice.

He crossed the room, pushed through the door, and found himself in a quieter, narrower hallway. The sounds of the arena dulled to a distant murmur. He had barely taken a few steps before the next door opened.

And there she was.

Nova stood framed in the doorway, hair still damp and clinging to her shoulders in dark, wet strands, droplets tracing slow paths down her neck. A towel was the only thing covering her. Her skin was flushed from the heat of the shower. The scent of her body wash hit him, filling his lungs like a drug.

Her eyes went wide the second she saw him, and then that grin broke across her face.

“Gabe!”

That was all it took. He closed the distance in a few long strides, hands finding her waist without hesitation, lifting her clean off the ground like she weighed nothing.

She managed a small laugh before his mouth was on hers, cutting off anything else she might have said. The kiss wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t meant to be. Weeks of tension, of watching her push toward this moment, of holding himself back—it all snapped at once.

Her back met the wall with a soft thud as he pinned her there, still holding her up, her legs instinctively wrapping around his hips to steady herself. His hands tightened at her sides, fingers digging into damp skin as he kissed her deeper, slower now, savoring it.

“Jesus,” he muttered against her lips. “You have no idea how proud I am of you.”

She huffed a small laugh, breathless, forehead pressing briefly to his. “Yeah? You look like you’ve got something else on your mind too.”

He dragged his mouth down along her jaw, teeth grazing just enough to make her inhale sharply. “Watching you out there… bouncing around that ring like that…” His grip flexed, pulling her tighter against him. “Got me worked up in ways I wasn’t prepared for.”

Her head tipped back against the wall, a grin slipping into something more dangerous. “Oh, is that so?” she teased.

She slid her fingers into his hair and gave it a gentle tug, bringing his attention back to her. Snow’s gaze searched her face, lingering on the flush in her cheeks before settling on her eyes. For a moment, he didn’t move. Then he slowly lowered her until her feet touched the floor, keeping himself close without crowding her.

“So what’s next now?”

“What do you mean?”

“For you. What is your next plan?”