“Then do it. Don’t let me get your wrists.”
He jumped off me, and I tried again. I wound up with my arms locked above my head, my legs hooked around him.
“Don’t spread your legs.”
“Youspread my legs.”
He rolled his eyes. “Obviously. Your goal is to keep me from doing it.”
My brain stuttered.
Because…
I didn’t think that was my goal at all, and wasn’t that just proof of my infinite lunacy?
We did it again. I managed to keep my legs closed, but I was still trapped beneath him.
Again and again.
I would have stomped my foot if I’d had the mobility. “I’m smaller than you, and I will never be as strong.Show mehow to beat you.”
“Slide your right hand above your head.”
I did.
“Plant your right foot outside my ankle.”
I did that too.
“Now push your hips up and roll.”
We rolled together and our positions reversed.
I scowled. “Why couldn’t you start with that?”
Impatience flittered across his expression. “I’ve shown you this before. I was hoping you’d figure it out on your own. You need to learn to fight dirty. You’ll never be stronger than the man attacking you. You’re on top now. Find your knife. If you don’t have one, hit my face. It wouldn’t take much for me to get you on your back again.”
“Okay. Here I am. How do I get away?”
“Think about where your knee is. Jerk it up.”
I started to, but he twisted to avoid it. “Don’t actually do it. Jesus!”
Chagrined, I pulled back.
“I’d still like to be able to use that portion of my anatomy when we’re done.”
Blood rushed to my face, staining my skin, as images poured through my mind of himusingthat portion of his anatomy.
“Sorry,” I muttered, then mimicked the move. He fake-flinched, his grip loosening. I scrambled to get away, darting to my feet. At the door, his hand gripped my ankle, and I fell hard onto my stomach. After sliding me toward him, he leapt onto my back, his weight pressing me into the carpet. I wriggled in vain and gave up with a sigh.
When he laughed, I jerked my elbow back, catching him hard in the side. Heoof-edand chuckled.
“Get off me, Luke!”
“Ah, have we officially reached the nickname stage of our relationship? Can I call you Soph now?”
“I hate you. Get off.”
