Gabriel gave Luke a scorching look, to which he shrugged. “Not my fault you smell like the asses that’ve been wiped along the bottom of this cage. Next time, keep on your feet.”
“Thanks, Gabriel,” I said stepping in the cage in between him and Luke before Gabriel got tired of Luke’s taunting and said something back.
Gabriel nodded at me and snorted before walking off.
Turning to Luke, I said, “Cocky, much?”
He shrugged. “I have reason to be. That’s my third take down in two days.”
“It’s almost as if you’ve got a good trainer or something.”
I let out a laugh when he pulled me into his body. “She’s a pain in the ass but she might be on to something.”
There were only a few students left in the dojo and Aeryn had gone home for the day an hour earlier. As I stared up into Luke’s eyes, my body warmed from my belly up through my chest. I dropped my gaze to his lips, hating that’d it’d been weeks since I felt them on mine. Though I was proud of myself for sticking to my rule of no sex during this training. I wanted Luke to focus and to take this time and me seriously.
“What’re you doing tonight?” He asked.
Lifting a brow and cocked my head to the side. “Not you.”
He chuckled. “Bullshit you aren’t. Tonight, is our last night in San Diego. Final day of training. Six weeks are up, Syd.”
Grinning, I replied. “So, it is. You had something in mind.”
“There’s one of those axe throwing places a few miles from here.” He jolted his head toward the corner of the dojo where a few of the remaining students sat around. “A few of them went the other night.”
I nodded. “Romeo’s Axe Throwing. I know it.”
“You been?”
I shook my head.
“Good. We’re going tonight.”
“Is this you asking me?”
“Yeah, asking, whatever. Have your pretty ass dressed and ready in an hour.”
I gasped when he smacked my backside and gave me a wink before exiting the cage. I started to remind him of my no sex rule, but I stopped when I remembered he was right. That was our final night in San Diego, and truth be told, I wanted to go out with him, in a capacity other than being his trainer.
Which was how I found myself, an hour later standing in front of my hotel’s mirror, studying my profile, ensuring the jeans, boots, and low-cut top I’d chosen fit perfectly.
***
“You’re becoming quite the gentleman,” I said as Luke held the passenger door open for me get out. I laughed at the look he gave me.
“Get out of the damn car,” Luke said.
The drive to the axe throwing spot had taken only about fifteen minutes.
“Thank you,” I said stepping inside of Romeo’s Axe Throwing while Luke held the door open.
We were greeted by loud yells as patrons at the far end of the building cheered for someone or something. Seconds later, the loud thump of what I presumed to be an axe hitting one of the wooden targets, sounded.
“You wanna throw or eat first?”
“Throw.” I was ready to get my hands on an axe. I’d seen a few of these axe throwing houses in Los Angeles but hadn’t been to one yet. Romeo’s had spaces for the axe throwing at the far end, while the main entrance entered the business’ restaurant and bar section.
It had a rowdy sports bar feel to it. Many of the patrons who were eating, either sat at the bar and watched one of the mounted televisions or danced to the EDM playing in the background, at the far end of the bar.
