Page 18 of Pike
“I know. Subtlety is my specialty.” His smile was contagious, which was the only explanation for what I said next.
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
The smile he flashed was pure triumph, which shouldn’t have been as sexy as it was.
Chapter Twelve
Pike
“Ready?” It was a question I should’ve been asking myself because if I thought Chloe needed to put on a few pounds, I was wrong. Really fucking wrong and learning it now, as she stepped out of the cabin in a pair of green shorts and a white tank top that showed off every dip and every curve of her body, was a mistake. She had curves for days, despite her slight frame. Her tits were full, and her waist was so fucking tiny I could probably circle it easily with both hands. But it was the way those hips flared out and led to shapely legs that made my cock stand up and take notice.
Down boy.
Those big green eyes watched me, hesitant and scared. Her hands clasped in front of her and every step forward was slow and wary. “No, I don’t think I am ready.”
I flashed a smile that I hoped would relax her, but I felt like a fucking creeper with wide eyes trying to focus on her face. On nothing but her face. “You can do this.”
“Yeah Mommy, you can do this.” Gemma’s cheerful encouragement seemed to help.
Chloe stepped forward until she was on the grass between the house and the dock. “I’m scared,” she finally admitted when less than a foot separated us.
I tried to focus on her words but her scent, shower fresh with a hint of something flowery, was distracting as fuck. “Don’t be, I’m not going to hurt you.”
She took another step forward and then looked over her shoulder to where Gemma sat with her attention already back on a book. “It’s not that. I mean it’s notonlythat.” She sighed and shook her head. “This is why I didn’t want to do this Will. I can’t burden you with the specifics, but I can’t get around it if we’re going to be this close.”
When she said those words,this close, it felt like something else, the kind of something else that sent all the blood in my body rushing to my cock. “If I need to know you should tell me.” T-Bone and Faith had given me a small glimpse into what she was hiding.
“My marriage wasn’t easy,” she began, the words rushed out of her as if she was afraid she might lose her nerve. “He was abusive. Really abusive that sometimes moved into torture. And it was constant.” She shook out her arms as if that would erase the memories. “I might be jumpy when you touch me, and I can’t guarantee I won’t freak out.”
“I’ll be gentle,” I promised.
She shivered and her whole body flushed.
It was adorable, and sexy as fuck.
“I took a few classes before I had Gemma, not that it helped considering what happened later.”
I laid both of my hands on her shoulders. “Sometimes the best thing you can do in a fight is survive it. Knowing when you’re beat and retreating is just as effective as beating the fuck out of someone if you can.”
“Yeah,” she nodded quickly. “Okay. Let’s do this.” She pointed a finger at me. “But you’ve been warned.”
“I have.” I’d already taught her some of the basics, including projecting confidence and using a firm voice. But today was about the physical methods. “But what you really want is to quickly disable someone bigger just enough to give you time to get away.”
Fear flashed in her eyes, but she nodded. “Yeah. Right.”
“Seriously.” I stood in her personal space. “Eyes. Nose. Throat. Those are weak points you should target. “Solar plexus, knees and groin. More weak points.”
“So poke ‘em in the eye and kick ‘em in the nuts?”
“Exactly. Don’t try to go hand to hand with a guy my size. A throat punch and a kick to the knee will give you the time you need.”
Chloe stood taller with her shoulders squared and a determined look in her eyes. “So, what?”
“I’m going to attempt to grab you, and you aim for those spots.”
I darted forward a few times, and she targeted my weak spots. I came at her from the side and she smiled when she effectively protected herself. “Good job.”
She rolled her eyes. “Sure.”
