Page 32 of The Fighter
“What are you doing this weekend?”
Placing files on top of different piles, Raven spoke without looking at me. “Mila and I have plans tonight and Saturday I’m taking a shift for Laura at the school.”
“What school?”
“The one where I grew up. Laura teaches fight training there and since she and Magni are going to the east coast to visit Laura’s sister, I promised that I’d do it for her.”
“The kids have school on Saturdays?”
“No. It’s an advanced class that’s voluntary, but there’s always more than ten who show up.”
We were standing only a few steps apart when she turned and went for another pile of files.
“If you want, I could help you train the children and we could spar after.”
Raven wrinkled her nose. “What is it with you and Cameron? Did you know he asked me to spar with him less than an hour ago?”
“I’m just trying to be helpful.”
Raven moved closer and leaned her head back to look up at me. “Is your type of woman someone who can kick your ass? Is that why you’re being weird right now? Did it turn you on when I wrapped my legs around your neck and squeezed?”
“Very funny.”
“No, it’s a serious matter because if you’re into that sort of role-playing you probably shouldn’t fight for Mila. I doubt she could handle a man who needs to be submissive to get off.”
I pushed my chest out and spoke in an offended tone of voice. “You know I’m not submissive.”
Tilting her head, Raven gave me a skeptical once-over. “Then why do you keep begging me to spar with you?”
“I’m not begging, I was offering because we both know that you need all the fucking help you can get.”
“Is that right?”
We stood head to head, neither of us blinking.
“I wish we were in the gym so I could take you down right now. I’m not submissive, Raven.”
“Then what are you?”
Taking a step forward, I spoke in a low gruff voice: “You wanna know what I am? I’m more man than a young girl like you can handle.” I knew my mistake the moment I said it.
“Hmm, in that case I should warn my friend. I doubt Mila can handle you if I can’t. She’s a year younger than me, you know.”
“That’s different.”
“Why?”
“Because Mila is sweet and she doesn’t rile me up all the time.”
Raven had a sly smile on her pretty face when she rose up on her toes and whispered in my ear. “Admit it, Leo, you love it when I rile you up.”
I folded my hands into fists, refusing to admit the obvious. I was down here because I had become a fucking addict of her riling me up. There was no one like Raven. The attention she gave me could be negative for all I cared, as long as she wasn’t indifferent to me.
“No? Are you too proud to admit it?”
“Be happy that we’re not in the gym or I would put you in your place.” The rules that allowed us men at the station to touch Raven only covered fight training, where it was necessary.
She didn’t back down. Her pupils were dilated and her stare challenging. “What would you do? Huh, Leo? How would you put me in my place?” Knowing that I couldn’t touch her, Raven began circling me slowly, while looking up at me. “Would you throw me to the ground and pin my hands, huh? Would you get on top of me and use your larger body to keep me in my so-called place?”
