Page 83 of Rules of Association

Leaning into Ceci’s ear I asked, “You like her too?”

She just grinned, and I couldn’t help my laugh. Happiness bloomed throughout my chest at the sight of her goofiness. It had been missing lately, even before the incident I’d been missing it.

I was glad to see it back.

Ceci led us to stand at the back of a group of mostly women. I wasn’t oblivious to the eyes that followed me as I followed her, but I didn’t mind. I was used to being somewhat of a spectacle, especially around women. I didn’t let it get to me. Especially when I had my little guard dog with me.

True to form, when we settled into a good spot at the back of the group and Ceci happened to notice people looking at me, she crossed her arms over her chest and glared. Making eye contact and curling her nose up.

Essentially sneering.

Leaning into her I smirked, “Down killer. This class is about defense, not offense.”

“I’m defending your delicate honor,” she said quietly, her own mouth wobbling with humor. I pinched her hip and her smirk grew into a smile.

My heart relaxed even more because here was my Ceci. Talking shit and taking no shit. Just how she was meant to be.

“Alright everybody!” At the front of the room, the pink-headed instructor clapped her hands together. “I think that’s all of us. Let’s get started.”

She was met with a series of grunts and apprehensive head nods. Ceci was a head nodder, her ponytail bobbing over her shoulder as she did.

“Welcome to Basic Self Defense. My name is Jenny and I will be instructing you throughout this short course.” As she spoke she moved along her station at the front of the room. “Over the course of our sessions we will go over the fundamentals of self-defense, important musts to remember in all situations, not just dangerous ones, and of course some moves to disengage yourself from potentially dangerous situations.”

Grunt, nod, grunt, nod.

“For the majority of this class we will work in pairs, but occasionally I will ask for volunteers—maybe the big guy in the back if he’s up for it.”

I shrugged, knowing I could only be the big guy mentioned. Ceci, however, grabbed my wrist and pulled me behind her. As if protecting me from things I might not want to do.

God. She had to stop being so—she just had to stop.

I bit my cheek to stop myself from feeling the rush of rightness that fell over me just by the little things she did. These were the things she’d always done, and I’d always been okay with pushing down my reactions in return. But lately, since having her in my arms, my bed, my grasp, I hadn’t been able to stop the wanting from bubbling up.

Jenny just laughed at Ceci’s protectiveness, “But from the looks of it, I’ll have to work on the bodyguard first.”

Another smirk, triumphant this time, graced her face and I shook my head. Only Ceci would take pride in being called a bodyguard to a guy that had over a foot on her. I couldn’t resist reaching forward and squeezing her shoulder though, because I was grateful for her even if she didn’t realize what she was doing.

Absently, she touched light fingers to my hand and fell back to my side. Claiming me as her partner as she sunk her hip into the side of my thigh, leaning on me.

While Ceci couldn’t keep her eyes off Jenny as she explained the breakdown of the class, I wasn’t sure if I would make it through this class learning one thing. Not if this was how she was going to be. All clingy and bright eyed and possessive. Experiencing her like this, I was having a hard time putting my attention on anything else.

“Alright.” Another clap from our instructor knocked my attention away from Ceci and back to the front of the room. “Before we get into any demonstrations or partner work, let’s go over some basic instinctual rules of self-defense. Can anyone tell me what you think those might be?”

Someone up front raised their hand enthusiastically. Jenny, whose eyebrows climbed up her face, smiled politely as she gestured toward the man, “You don’t have to raise your hand, but go ahead anyway.”

“The best tool of self-defense is knowing your surroundings and not putting yourself in danger in the first place.”

Beside me, I noticed Ceci stiffen, but her attention stayed fixed up front. Jenny nodded. “You’re on the right track.”

The guy jutted his chin into the air proudly and beside me Ceci rolled her eyes. Mumbling to no one in particular, “Teacher’s pet.”

I bit back the stupid grin threatening to split my face. So she wasthattype of student. Figures.

“Prevention is the number one rule of self-defense. If you can prevent an altercation from happening, or even prevent a situation from escalating, you’re going to want to do that over anything else,” Jenny started. “You want to use tools that are innate to us as humans. That feeling you get in your gut when something just isn’t right—listen to it. That urge to take a step away when someone is making you uncomfortable—heed it. Our bodies are our number one defense against off situations. They will let us know when the vibe is not good.”

Slowly, almost unconsciously I noticed Ceci’s steps drifting forward. Her attention rapt with what our instructor was saying. Like a puppet on a string, I shadowed her. Not intruding on her space, but never too far away that she couldn’t reach me if she needed to. She might stand in front of me, but I always had her back.

Up front, Jenny continued.

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