I need to stay out of her way. Keep her safe. Do the job. Send her home.
Easy.
“I can’t.”
She’s panting, bent over, shaking her head. Covered in a sheen of sweat from head to toe, Lena rests her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. This girl never fails to amaze me. In the past week, we’ve been at the range twice, and both times, her shooting has impressed me. She’s not afraid of the handguns, and she hits the target every time.
We’re in the ring this morning, and I’ve put her through the paces, but she’s having a hard time getting out of a chokehold.
Ironic, since . . . same.
Of course, my chokehold is metaphorical.
Hers is literal.
“You’re too strong, Gideon.”
I shake my head, pacing the ring.
Since I heard her getting off in my shower a week ago, I’ve kept my distance. We work out every day, we eat meals together, but aside from that, she does her thing, and I do mine.
Her face was flaming red when I walked out of my office that day, and I simply told her to lock her door from now on.
She said nothing.
If we’re going to get through this without me being inside her, this is how it has to be. Having my arms around her while we’re sparring is torture enough.
“Youcan. Don’t say that shit again.”
“Stop being so moody.” She reaches for her water and takes a long sip, her throat muscles working with every swallow.
I have to look away.
“I’m not here to be your bestie. I’m here to train you.”
“Actually, I’m quite sure my mother never asked you to train me. But okay, big guy.”
Big guy.
That’s the first time she’s called me that in a week, and it pisses me off that it soothes my prickly skin.
Get a fucking grip, James.
“Again.” I crook my finger at her, motioning for her to come closer. “Let’s go.”
“Fine.”
I have her walk past me as if she’s striding down the sidewalk, and I attack her, wrap my arm around her neck, holding tight.
She stomps on my foot but only catches my toes, not hurting me at all. Then she tries to dig her elbow into my stomach, but I arch back.
“Damn it,” she grunts, and finally, she digs her fingernails into my forearm, and when I jerk, my hold loosening, she bites my arm.
“Fuck.”
I drop her, and she swings around triumphantly. “I got out!”
“You fuckingbit me.”
