Claire Beaumont vs. Valley Doll - Vive l'arèna!

The pain was intense, her leg was burning from the inside out, but somehow, through all of that, Claire's laugh made Valley laugh along. Oh, it was a painful, croaking, hoarse mockery of a laugh that barely peppered through her frequent cries of pain, but it was a laugh. The alluring giant had a calming way to her that was winning her over, and having those teasing and talented fingers playing under shorts made the moment even easier. It was like she was in heaven and hell at the same time.

It was a strange sort of fun, but her body couldn't take much more of it, so she wasn't exactly sad when the referee broke it up and finally set Valley free. Oh, she'd miss the lovely scratching that Claire did while she was making  her way to the ropes, but she still had a match to win. And she seriously doubted that would be the last time Claire touched her in a special place, either.

The crowd was behind her, cheering her on, but she didn't have much to satisfy them with, yet. She was down. She was hurt. Valley expected Claire to follow up immediately and hit her wtih a body slam, maybe throw her into the corner and work her in the turnbuckle. Instead, what she got was a talk, almost as if she were cutting a promo in the middle of the match.

Not that she was complaining. The more Claire talked, the more time Valley had to recover, the longer she could fight. Heck, she'd gladly add to the conversation.

"A tempting offer, and I'm inclined to accept." Valley rolled over to her back and sat up, then grabbed the middle rope for support. "But my heart's already reserved for another."

Claire was gorgeous, sexy, funny, everything Valley or any sane woman could ask in a mate...but she wasn't Haley. Despite everything that had happened, she thought the two of them still had a chance to be together in the end.  She had to believe it.

That being said, though...

"I can't give you my heart, but the one who it belongs to hasn't reclaimed it yet." Valley pulled  herself up with a sharp tug and grunt, making her way up into a crouch under Claire's looming shadow. "Until she does, though? You may borrow it as long as you wish. All day. All night."

Valley suddenly stood up straight and threw an uppercut into Claire's stomach, aiming it right in the middle. She was no fistfighter, but she knew how to throw a few punches, and she needed a quick stun on the formidable Frenchwoman. It wouldn't be much of an attack, but she had to start somewhere.