“Everyone should know how to defend themselves from an attacker. Even once this threat from your stalker is over,what about when you’re walking home from work and someone tries to mug you or something. Just let me show you a few moves.”
“I said no,” Fiona growled.
Vincecame at her from behind, locking her in a headlock, not giving her a choice.
“Get the hell off of me,” she screamed, trying to elbow him and wiggle out of his hold, to no avail.
“The first thing to do is always stay calm.”
“Fuck you, let me go.”
“I’m trying to teach you how to get out of this. It’s a common hold assailants use. Now calm down.”
Fiona huffed but did as instructed.
“Now stand straight, head up.”
She did.
“Now foot behind mine, put us hip to hip, then duck under my arm.” He showed her where to put her foot, sliding hers back, and helped her out of the hold.
Fiona pushed from his grip with a proud smile on her face. “Again.” And so he did.
For the next hour,Vinceshowed her numerous moves how to break out of different holds, and where to strike her assailants to cause the most damage.
“Do you think I’ll really need to know all this?” she asked, wiping sweat from her brow.
“It’s better to know it than to be helpless.” He shrugged.
“It’s so strange; up until a few months ago, I had such a boring life and then a stalker and the Congo.” Fiona chuckled at herself. “I used to complain how boring my life was. Now I’d give anything to get it back.”
“Soon,” he vowed.
“Any word from Squeaker?” She asked, sounding hopeful.
Vinceshook his head. “Not yet, but if she said she’ll have something today, she will.”
“You’re putting a lot of trust in a woman who can’t even legally drink yet.”
“Young or not, she’s never let me down.”
“What’s her story?”
“She’s pretty private. She got caught by the FBI, trolling through their systems and then she tried accessing our base records. A team caught her and put her on a watch list. We’ve used her a few times for discreet things. It was all military-approved, but some things theydidn’twant leaving a paper trail.”
“Oh.” Fiona fell silent, looking around the room. An awkward silence fell between them.
“I should get changed,” she announced.
“I’ll make breakfast.” They both moved at the same time, bumping into each other.
Fiona reached out reflexively to steady herself, her hands landing on his stomach.Vincesucked in a harsh breath, feeling her bare hands on him. It was ten times better than the last time she touched him yesterday morning. His hands rested on her elbows, holding her there. Just a moment and then he would step away.
Fiona stared at his chest, her breasts rising and falling heavily with every breath she took. Her fingers stroked down his stomach to the top of his shorts before roaming back up to his pecs.Vincewatched her movements in rapture. Her touch leaving a blistering trail in its wake. He had never been so turned on in his life, just from a touch. All reason left his head. Only a single thought kept repeating like a steady beat of a drum. Kiss her.
Fiona looked up at him as if sensing his thoughts. She lifted up like she was going to kiss him.Vinceleaned down to meet her in the middle. He closed his eyes just before their lips would have touched. Then…nothing. He opened his eyes to see Fiona staring up at him in confusion before pushing herself away. “We can’t,” she stammered.
“Fiona—” He didn’t know what he was going to say. His emotions were all over the place. He wanted her when he knew he shouldn’t. When they were in close proximity, he was drawn to her like a magnet.
