That gets a belly laugh out of him. His arms loop around my waist, pulling me into his lap. “Did you? What did you tell her?” His deep voice rumbles against my ear.
“I told her to stay away from me and my husband.” I shake my head at myself. So embarrassing.
“Mm. Feeling protective of me,cara mia?” His nose sweeps along my neck. “You’re my heroine.”
“I feel like an idiot.”
“Don’t. You’re no fool. I swear Portia’s a demoness. She’s excellent at reading people and finding their weakness, then using it against them. Don’t feel sorry for yourself.” He sighs. “I’m glad to have ruled her out. But that means whoever’s sabotaging us—and trying to kill us—is still out there. I’d feel better if I knew you could protect yourself.”
I glance up at him. “What do you mean?”
“Come with me.”
“If someone comes at you from the front, you have a few options on how to strike them.” Maximo’s dressed down to slacks and a T-shirt, the cotton fabric clings to his broad chest and biceps. I try not to drool.
Frontal attack. Right. Focus.
“Okay,” I say, waiting for him to continue the lesson.
We’re beneath the garage level, standing in an expansive gym. This is where he must disappear to when he works out. I didn’t know the place was down here until just now.
Instead of changing into workout clothes, Maximo insisted we do this in our regular daily outfits. Something about realistic limitations. So I’m standing in my dress and heels while he gives his lecture.
“Eyes, throat, or groin. Those are the only three regions you need to memorize for a frontal attack. Whichever one you choose, put your all behind that hit because it might be the only one you land. Then you run like hell.” His gaze drops to my stilettos.
“I can take them off and run. Not like I haven’t done that before.” My tone holds undeniable sarcasm.
His aqua eyes find mine, a smirk touches his lips. “Yes, yes you have. I’ll be the first to admit you’re a damn fast runner, especially barefoot.”
I giggle. When did we go from me sprinting from our wedding to joking about it?
“Now, if you’re attacked from the back, you don’t have as many options. However, this is where those shoes might come in handy. You want to stomp down on top of your attacker’s foot. Hard.”
I nod, taking in the lesson.
Without warning, Maximo comes barreling at me. My pulse spikes. Are we really doing this right now?
I curl my fingers into a fist and make a jab at his throat. Since I don’t want to hurt him, I don’t put a lot of force behind it. He takes my hand in his, a grin on his face.
“Good.” His praise ripples through me. “You can use your fist, your elbow, or any kind of weapon to strike any of those three areas. Thumbs are best for the eyes. Knee or a bat to the groin.”
“Got it.”
“Now let’s try the other way. I’m going to grab you from behind.” He spins me around, trapping my back to his chest. His warmth sinks through the fabric of my dress. “Cara mia, you’re not fighting me off.”
“Hmm?” I moan, leaning further into him. His cologne swirls through my senses. I love the way he feels against me, I can’t get enough of him.
He chuckles. “Stomp on my foot and I’ll make you come.” He doesn’t have to ask twice. I shove my pointy heel down and he grunts in pain. “Good girl.”
Turning in his arms, I press my lips to his. He grabs my ass, lifting me into the air, and my legs wrap around his waist. My back hits the wall.
Our kiss turns feral. We lick, suck, and bite, lust thickening the air around us. My hands are in his hair, around his neck, as my heels dig into his ass. I want this. I want him.
He tugs my lower lip between his teeth before releasing it. “One last lesson. If you need to kill a man, either destroy the brain or sever the blood flow. Okay?”
“Yes,” I moan, dragging my tongue across his lip.
He moans. “What did I just say?”
