“Please, I want to practice some more. We’re sorry.” Ari’s tone was far too innocent, and I glanced up, hoping Giant would say no, but he was such a nice guy he simply smiled.
“This is why couples shouldn’t practice together. It’s okay, it’s fine, sure.” He dropped his bag and came over to Ari, but my killer was viper fast and latched onto him, putting his foot on Giant’s knee and using it like a knot in a tree to get higher on the huge man’s body. Ari drove his elbow down hard onto the back of the man’s skull in a move that would be illegal absolutely anywhere legit, and Giant fell to the mat, shaking his head as if trying to clear away cobwebs. Ari jerked him around like he was a rag doll and got his arm in the wrist lock they’d been practicing. It all happened so fast, and he was so fucking beautiful I didn’t get my mouth open before I heard thecrackthat echoed around the room.
Giant howled in pain, and Ari shoved him away, springing to his feet with his hands up, ready for more action.
“See, I told you that I would do worse things to people who aren’t you. I like this, though.” He glanced at Giant with interest as the big man yelled in pain. “Can I learn more?”
“Get me a fucking ambulance,” Giant yelled and flopped onto his back. “What the fuck? Why did you do that?”
“It was an accident,” Ari said, voice flat, and I snorted as I called 9-1-1.
“Yeah, he’s a newbie, how did he get one over on you?”
Giant scooted away from us and got to his feet, holding his arm. He went over to lean against a wall and kept both eyes firmly fixed on Ari.Smart man.
A full hour later, after the drama of getting Giant into an ambulance was over, we were back in the truck and on our way home. Ari kept sending me small smirks, and damned if I didn’t think they were cute.
“We can’t hurt our friends,” I said, without much heat.
“That man wasn’t your friend.”
I sighed, and he chuckled.
“You’re in trouble for that stunt.”
He let out a small hum.
I groped my hand toward him, and he took it while I drove.
“I’m sorry I didn’t trust you. That was fun, Master.” The warmth in his tone wrapped around my heart and made me want to give him an endless line of people to destroy. I kissed the heel of his palm.
“You’re forgiven for that, but you’re still in trouble. I’m going to make you wait to come tonight.” I glanced at him.
He stilled and his bottom lip popped out. “How long?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out.”
He glanced around and finally smiled at me. “I learned my lesson. I trust you... with everything.”
“Fine, maybe half an hour.” I kissed his hand again, and he laughed. I had no idea how I’d survived without him.
16
ARI
The atmosphere was electric.Screams from the crowd had my blood pumping and I hadn’t even left the locker room yet, but I couldn’t sit still, bouncing on my feet as pleasure zinged through me. My fingertips tingled. It was the same feeling I got while I killed someone.
“You all right?” Jules gave me a lopsided grin from where he sat on one of the long wooden benches. The room reminded me a lot of high school.
“Fucking ready,” I said with a smirk, rocking my head side to side to get any lingering kinks out of my neck. “I was born for this.”
Jules laughed and crossed his arms. “You’re wired.”
“Listen to them, Master.” I held out my arms. “I have an audience for my work. They’re about to get the best show they’ve ever seen.”
He nodded and stood, moving over to me and placing his big hands on my shoulders, and I glanced up at him, taking in his square jaw and gruff appearance.
“Soon they’ll be cheering for you.” He ran his knuckles over my cheek, and my arms fell to my sides. I breathed in his scent, the muskiness of his cologne teasing my nose. I associated him with home now, and it was weird yet comforting. He was the one I turned to for guidance, which was something I’d never expected to need.
