“I can see that,” she said, taking a drink.She’d already worked up a light sweat.“I can’t imagine going after someone and trying to hack them to death.But I sure can picture myself trying to fend off an attack.”
“Another way to use a knife is as a distraction,” he said.“Just like with your firearm, you should draw your knife only if you intend to use it.And if you’re threatened, you could attempt to intimidate.To bluff.”
“Bluff?”
“Draw it and say, “This is my Ka-bar knife given to me by a Navy SEAL, my tactical knife instructor.I keep it nice and sharp.You sure you want this?”
Encouraged both by her progress and his praise, she set aside her water.“Let’s go again.I’m gonna get you this time.”
He grinned.“I like your fighting spirit.”
Again, they circled one another, and this time Sarah was able to let go of some of her fears.Knives were scary because they could be used to maim, to kill.
But around the ranch, for her entire life she’d seen her dad utilize his pocketknife for a thousand different purposes.As Ben had told her, a knife was a tool.
Managing to mark his shoulder and chest, she backed him toward the wall.Each time she caught him, he let out a yelp, as though she were wielding a true weapon and not a simple pen.“That hurts!”he said, clearly pretending.“Ouch,” he cried out again, showing her that she was learning to find opportunities.Several black ink streaks covered his flesh.
Raising her arm up high, she prepared to deliver the killing stab.
Instead, and as before, he snared her wrist with one hand.With the other, he forced her around so instead of the wall at his back, now it was at hers.Her shoulder blades pressed to the hard wood.Holding her wrist over her head, he splayed his other hand over the small of her back.Before she could think, he thrust one booted foot between her feet and brought their bodies together.
His hips aligned with hers, his chest pressed to her breasts, his mouth hovered above hers, inches away.
She breathed hard, her chest heaving.
The only things separating them were her thin t-shirt and sports bra.Their eyes locked.
“Told you,” he whispered on a low growl.“Don’t raise your arm high in the air.It leaves you vulnerable.”
“N-no ...I don’t want to be vulnerable to anyone,” she whispered, wholly unable to move.She could feel his strong heart beating against hers.Thudding in her body, her heart answered.
“Unless...”He didn’t finish.
“Unless, what?”She could barely be heard.
“Unless,” he said, “it’s to me.”He lowered his lips to hers.
