The slight flare of his nostrils indicated I asked a question he didn’t like. “Why would he be upset?”
My gut warned me to tread carefully when I answered, although I had no idea why.
“Because you’re supposed to be focusing on your training and I… I’m supposed to be working. I haven’t finished yet for today. I think maybe he isn’t too happy.”
“I’myour boss, Sophie. Not Lance. Not Trevor, and not Elton. Me. So you should only worry about what I think.” His statement was straightforward, but I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a coded message embedded in his words. “Now, are you ready for your last lesson?”
Something told me I’d constantly be learning lessons around this man, but instead of voicing such a thing, I simply nodded.
“Although you have more strength in your legs, even if you wrap them around me, you won’t evade my attack. Go ahead and see for yourself.” He placed his hand tentatively around my throat at the same time I wrapped my legs around his middle, barely able to lock my ankles. I squeezed. Harder. No reaction from him. I held on tighter and still nothing. “See?”
“So, what do I do?”
“We’ll walk through this move a few times because it might seem complicated at first. I picked it up right away when I learned it. I have no doubt you’ll do the same.” His words of praise swirled through me, making me feel even more confident in my abilities.
Jackson lowered the top half of his body until we were almost nose to nose, a mere few inches separating us. His warm breath fanned my face, and all I wanted to do was close my eyes and breathe him in. But, of course, I did no such thing.
“I’m ready when you are,” I said, a sense of confidence whirling through me. Whether it was fake or not was yet to be determined.
“Cross your arm over your chest and grab my forearm. Now put your other hand on the side of my neck.” He moved my arm from the left side of his head to the right. “Put your foot on my pelvis. Good. Now pivot. No, this way,” he instructed, positioning me. “And raise your other leg so it rests high above my armpit. Higher. Good. Now move this leg.” He tapped my foot resting on his pelvis. “Wrap it around my head and lock your ankles together.”
It took me a second to figure out the move. “Like this.”
“Perfect. You’re not going to flip me yet. I want you to practice each step a few more times before we move on.”
And we did, each time with me focusing on remembering where to put my feet and hands, and which way to turn my body to lock mine around his.
After the third time, we moved on.
“I knew you’d catch on quickly.” He didn’t smile at me like he had before, but his expression wasn’t hard either. “After you lock your ankles by the side of my head, move your hand from my neck down to my forearm where your other one is. What you’re going to do now is raise your hips and use your legstrength to put me on my back, all while still holding tightly to my arm, which you could break if you needed to when the move is complete.” A brief pause followed. “But don’t break my arm. I kind of need it.” Again, with the lighthearted comment. I could get used to this side of him for sure.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Ready?” Another nod from me. “Do it.”
Following his detailed steps, I managed to flip Jackson onto his back. With his arm extended and me perpendicular to his body, I understood how I could end up breaking his arm. He tapped my thigh, and I released him, moving so we were now side by side.
“You did great,” he praised, and while his lips remained straight, there was a lightness shining behind his eyes.
“Have you ever used that move during a fight?” I asked, curious to see if he would open up a little about his experience in the ring.
“More than a few times.”
“Ever end up breaking someone’s arm?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my God. Really? Is that even allowed?”
“It is if the other guy doesn’t tap out.”
“Has anyone ever broken your arm?”
Jackson moved into a sitting position, and I did as well.
“Not like that, no. I dislocated my shoulder several times during a fight. After the first time it came out of the socket, it was unfortunately easier to pop it out afterward.”
“Ow.”
