“The damage was minimal,” she says, “it was put out almost instantly. The window was replaced this morning. Really, the annoyance from the neighbors is more tiresome to deal with.”
Picturing Cameron shouting over his fifteen-foot wall at an irate neighbor almost makes me laugh until I remember how helpless I felt last night.
“I want to learn how to defend myself, and Natalia refused, indicating that Cameron wouldn’t allow it. How would you handle this?” Miss Kevin is the only one in this house who doesn’t seem either afraid of, or disgusted by me.
“Well…” she allowed, “I would not presume to put myself in your place. But I do feel that sometimes strong emotions, such as anger, can be a compelling addition to one’s argument. It is not always helpful to be demure and ladylike in a Scottish family.”
I question if I am either of those things, but a grin stretches across my face. “Miss Kevin, you are my personal hero and guiding light.”
One elegant brow arches, “That is rather a lot to expect, but I shall endeavor to live up to your vision, Madame Morana.”
Chapter Ten
In which Morana is vanilla pudding and Cameron is dark chocolate whorebag.
Cameron…
When my bride walks into the gym the next morning, her anger is almost big enough to enter first.
“Why won’t you let me learn to defend myself!”
Giving a nod, I watch my lieutenants who had been working out with me scatter from the room like roaches under a flashlight.
Morana’s fists are clenched as she storms over to me and I wonder if she’s ever thrown a punch before.
“Really, what can you possibly be afraid of? That I’ll shoot you? Stab you in your sleep? I’m not even completely surewhereyou sleep in this place! I just want-” She pushes all that thick blonde hair out of her face, trying to get the words out. “I just don’t want to be helpless when they come for me!”
At first, I’m insulted that she thinks I’d let Stepanov or that bastard father of hers come near her. Did she listen at all when I gave her my word to protect her?
“Okay then…” I take the tape off my knuckles, pulling off my shirt to wipe the sweat off my face. As I throw it away, I notice she’s staring at my chest, her pretty violet eyes wide. “Let’s do some work.”
“Huh?” She flushes painfully as her gaze darts back up to mine. “You’ll let Natalia teach me?”
“She’s doing some work for me right now, and I’m available,” I say, spreading my arms out to indicate the empty gym. She bites her lip and the sight makes me groan silently. I want to be the one biting that lip, running my tongue along the seam of her mouth and-
Concentrate, ye’ arsehole!
“What level are you at now?” I ask, “What kind of training did your bodyguards give you?”
Her mouth tightens, and she won’t meet my eyes. “None.”
“They didn’t teach you any self-defense or evasion tactics at all?” I ask incredulously. Everyone in the MacTavish Clan, young and old, male and female, learned hand-to-hand combat and proficiency with at least one weapon.
“No,” she snaps, “it was forbidden. I’m pretty sure my father wanted to keep me as weak as possible.”
Her father’s a fool. There’s nothing weak about Morana.
“Then let’s start with some basics,” I nodded. I beckoned her closer with two fingers. “On the mat.”
Kicking off her shoes, she steps closer, rubbing her hands on her yoga pants. I think that’s what they’re called. All I know is they’re tight and stretchy and frame her spectacular arse. Too well. I should insist that she can’t wear them around anyone but me.
“Here’s some basic points, as a beginner. One of the quickest ways to incapacitate an attacker is with the nose or throat punch. You’re left-handed, so hold up that hand and flex your wrist a little.”
She’s so serious, it’s almost endearing.
“Now, you’re going to use the heel of your hand to strike.” Taking her by the wrist, I show her the move. “The trick is to recoil your strike, pulling your arm back quickly builds the momentum that’ll knock the attacker’s head up and back.”
We practice the move for a few minutes, and she’s so focused that I get to enjoy the curls coming loose from her ponytail, and the excitement radiating from her. The late afternoon sun is slanting through the windows, highlighting her glowing skin.
