Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 152853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 764(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 510(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 764(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 510(@300wpm)
Did Jeff send someone to look for her, and if he did, how the hell did they find her?
I can't seem to think about anything else, and even as the sun peeks over the horizon, I'm still thinking about it. I've done everything I can to protect her, yet somehow, it seems like I'm letting her down. She mewls softly in her sleep, her body molding against mine, and I don't have the heart to move away.
CHAPTER 22
TATUM
"Self-defense is easier than you think."
We're standing in the middle of the basement dressed in shorts and T-shirts, facing off like we're about to do battle, and this is how he chooses to lead off my first self-defense lesson. I tip my head to the side. "Seriously? Self-defense is easier than I think?"
His jaw works and I know I'm in trouble, but really. He's had days to think about this, and that's all he could come up with? Good thing he never considered a career as a motivational speaker. "Could you not? We haven't even gotten started yet, and you're already picking at stupid shit and wasting time."
"Sorry, sorry." He's right. I mean, I'm not going to say that out loud, but he is. I'm nervous about this. Ever since he told me to be ready this afternoon for my first self-defense lesson, my stomach's been in knots. Not because I'm nervous about learning some moves but because I knew it would mean being close to him.
And I want to be. My whole body craves his touch so much that I have to fight not to lean in closer when he steps up until we're toe-to-toe. It's not enough to feel the warmth of his body, just like it wasn't enough to fall asleep with my head on his shoulder a couple of nights back. I haven't been able to get it out of my head. His musky scent, the way it filled my senses. The firmness of his shoulder, the way his chest rose and fell with every breath. How I longed to press my lips to his bare skin. How I longed to do so much more than that. Looking back, I'm glad I fell asleep as quickly as I did. Things could have gotten very awkward, very fast.
"Now." He's breathing slowly, his blue eyes locked on mine and threatening to erase every conscious thought from my mind. "I'm going to take you through a few basic lessons in anatomy."
Not exactly sexy, but that's for the best. "I thought you were going to teach me self-defense."
"And first, you're going to learn about the weakest parts of the body."
"I already know about that." I lower my gaze to his crotch and ignore the hunger that stirs in my core.
"That's not what I'm talking about."
"So I could kick you in the balls right now, and it wouldn't matter?"
"Would you focus?" he grits out. "There's work I could be doing right now."
"Oh, pardon me. I don't want to get in the way of your important work." If anything, I'm glad he said it. He reminded me of my place. I'm just another job.
"Sure," he continues, rolling his eyes. "It would hurt like hell if you kicked me in the balls. But that's obvious. And an attacker is going to expect that, so he will pull his hips back until you can't reach that part of his body." He places his hands on my shoulders then pulls his hips back. "Go ahead, try it. Try to kick me in the balls."
"Are you kidding?"
"Give it a shot."
Well, he asked for it. It's not like I've never fantasized about how much I'd love to deliver a good kick where it would hurt the most. Except he's right. When I lift my knee, he pulls his hips back and increases the pressure on my shoulders. "See, what happens is, I end up putting more force on you to keep my balance. Did you notice?"
"A little. But I can just duck real quick and get away." And I do, dropping to a quick crouch and hopping backward while his arms fall to his sides. "I'm a ninja."
Would it kill him to crack a smile? "That was only for the purposes of a demonstration. If I were doing this for real, out in the world, I wouldn't do it like that."
"How would you do it?"
"I'd have you up against a wall."
Ooh. Wrong choice of words. Obviously, he could have meant it in a totally innocent way, but right away, I remember the wall at the club. The wall he held me against while he fingered me until I cried.
I'm starting to think this was a bad idea.
"Like this?" I rest against the nearest wall, and the cinder blocks are cool against my back. I am entirely too heated up. "What would you do to me?"