"Yeah. I heard all the heavy breathing out here and thought you'd finally made a move on Merry."
I lost my grip on the staff mid-twirl and it swung around to smack me in the back of the head before it fell on the ground.
Callum laughed so hard that he spilled some of his coffee. "You should see the look on your face."
I picked up the staff and placed one end on the ground. "Watch your step."
He drained the cup and set it on the patio table. "Or what?"
"I'll teach you how to keep your mouth shut."
His eyes sparked with humor and devilry as he came down the steps onto the grass a few feet from me. "Haven't you figured out after nearly two thousand years that it's a losing battle?"
"There's always a chance that this time will finally be the one that breaks through your thick skull," I answered.
"Planning to use that stick to do it?" he asked, holding his hands out to his sides.
I tossed the staff onto the ground and barely had time to step back as he rushed me. I turned, letting him go past me, and smacked my elbow in the back of his neck. It was a light hit, just enough to get his attention.
Quick as a snake, Callum twisted with the blow and swept my legs from beneath me. I fell on my back but managed to kick him away before he could land on top of me. Callum grinned and danced lightly on the balls of his feet as I rolled to mine.
"You're slow this morning," he drawled.
He'd barely finished speaking when my fist landed on his chin. We exchanged jabs, low kicks, and a few knees and elbows, looking for openings and not providing any to each other.
I heard the back door open and I realized that Merry must be up. That moment of inattention cost me because Callum took me down hard and landed on top of me. Grappling was his strength.
He tried to shift his grip and I knew he was going to try for an arm bar. If he got me, I would never be able to get out. He was too damn slippery. I lifted my knee to knock him forward and then lowered my leg to bridge my hips and threw him to the side, rolling with him so that I was on my knees.
Callum clamped his legs around my ribs and lifted his hips to shove me back before I could land a punch. Then, he jerked me forward and managed to avoid my strike before he locked me down into a chokehold.
I aimed a blow at his ribs but he just grunted and tightened his grip on me.
"Want me to make you look good?" he murmured as he tried to cut off the blood flow to my head.
"Fuck. That," I growled.
Instead of trying to pull out of the hold, I shifted more of my weight onto him and ground both of my elbows against the inside of his thighs. It loosened the hold of his legs just enough for me to put space between us.
Before I could break his hold, ice-cold water splashed over us.
I yelped and tried to scramble away as the stream hit the back of my head. Callum released me and a high, piercing scream at the same time.
We rolled apart and stared up at Merry in shock.
She released the lever on the spray attachment connected to the garden hose and nodded once.
"Now, y'all play nice," she said.
I was suddenly very aware of how cool the morning air was against my now soaked skin and pants.
"What the hell, Mer?" Callum asked, getting to his feet to follow her as she rolled the hose up and then turned off the water at the faucet.
She faced him, pressed the lever again to release the water still in the line, and he jumped back. "You were being an ass. I could tell just by the way you winked at me when I came outside. I figured you needed something to cool you down."
"You're right," he said. Then, he held out his arms wide. "How about a hug to make up for it?"
He lunged forward as though he intended to grab her. Merry dropped the hose, shrieking, and darted around him. "Don't you dare!" she yelled, running toward the back door.
