Reckless Retribution (West Warriors Book 1) (7 page)

Luckily, Cam has been fine with me and talked to me like nothing had happened. Jamie had been… well, Jamie. He nodded at me as he came into the gym, so I took that as he was okay with me too.

Kal came over to the desk, obstructing my view of Jamie where he sat on the bench working on his impressive arms, and informed me that Cam had offered to do my self-defense training. Dread filled me. I really didn’t want one of them doing it. Kal was a gentle old man—well, not old, but he wasn’t a young cage fighter who brutally beat people for a living. I started to worry Cam would accidentally hurt me by being too rough. But I didn’t want to sound ungrateful, so I just thanked him and looked over to Cam, who was at the speed bag repeatedly throwing quick, powerful blows at it, and my stomach tensed. Pushing my worries aside, I carried on printing out the diet sheets I was asked for.

The guys soon went home to rest, and I cleaned the equipment down while they were gone. Two hours later, they came back and got stuck into training again. Cam approached the desk with a weird look on his face. I frowned, wondering what he wanted.

“Hey, Lauren, um, I can’t train you after all tonight. I have to pick my sister up from the airport. Is that gonna be a problem?”

I was actually relieved. “No, it’s fine, honestly.” I could leave work earlier now, and maybe Kal could do it sometime instead.

He drummed his fingers on the raised desktop then began to look around the room before turning back to me. “I can have a word with Jay and see if he could do it?” he offered.

I shook my head. That, I was not okay with. “No, I’ll wait ‘til you’re free.” I hoped I didn’t sound too desperate. I really didn’t want to go anywhere near Jamie at the moment. He was quiet and moody, and as Jake said, most likely hotheaded. What if he snapped at me if I got a move wrong? No, it was too much risk. Yes, he was hot with an amazing body, and I got off watching him clean his truck that time, but that was it, as far as it went. I was not interested in him training me. At all.

He nodded and walked away. Right up to Jamie. I widened my eyes in horror as I watched him. What an ass, after me blatantly telling him no.

As if on cue, Jamie rolled his eyes, and I was mortified that I was able to see the whole thing, and he obviously didn’t give a damn I was watching.

Cam walked back over looking somewhat happy with himself.

“Why the hell did you just do that?” I asked him a bit too harshly, gesturing in Jamie’s direction.

“I didn’t want you to miss out.” He shrugged, his green eyes soft and warming.

I couldn’t stay mad at him. “I would rather miss out than spend an hour with misery guts.” I glanced over at Jamie, who was carrying on with his training.

He laughed. “You’re not happy, he’s not happy, now you both have something in common.”

“This isn’t funny, Cam.” I shook my head at him.

“He’s a nice guy, honestly. It’s just a front.”

“I don’t care.” I turned back to the computer screen.

“Be ready at five.” He smirked.

I groaned in displeasure, and he playfully shook his head at me then walked away from the desk. My stomach twisted in anticipation of having to deal with Jamie, and I wondered if I should just cancel it. But knowing how desperate I needed the training, it was more important over my feelings about having to deal with a moody boy.

Right at 5 p.m, he walked over to me, and I held my breath as he stood before me at the opposite side of the desk.

“You ready?” he asked, keeping his tone low and quiet. His eye contact with me was brief, like usual.

I nodded, remembered to breathe, and stood from behind the desk with slightly shaky legs. The walk over to the cage seemed to take a lifetime as I slowly followed him. It was like time stood still. Going into the cage itself felt weird like I was about to fight for my life or something. I looked around the hexagon pit, running my hand along one of the padded yellow intersections, which felt squishy beneath my fingers. Then I ran my hand along the metal wiring encasing it all. It must hurt like hell to be thrown against it.

He stood watching me curiously, hands on his hips, and a slight frown forming a V between his eyebrows. When I’d finished exploring it, I looked at him, and he was waiting in the center, standing on the West Warriors logo. I walked over to him cautiously, like a lamb going to the slaughter, stopping a yard in front of him. His stance was confident. His golden body was well-built and ready for battle. His closely shaved head and brooding expression all made for a heady combination. Previous thoughts that Jake had put in my head melted away as I stood before him. When our eyes met, my stomach twisted in anticipation. Those were not the feelings I had a minute ago when he approached me. Where had the fear gone? That’s what I was supposed to be feeling.

“Have you done any martial arts before?” he asked.

“No,” I said quietly.

“I’m gonna take you through some Krav Maga.”

I nodded, taking in what he was saying.

“There are certain pressure points on the body, weak spots if you like, that could practically bring a man to his knees.”

A small snort escaped me when he said that. I found it childishly funny. What I wouldn’t give to be able to bring a man to his knees with one touch, jeez!

He tilted his head to the side slightly, and the look on his face said he was about to walk away. “Look, if you’re not serious about this, I’m not gonna waste my time.” He narrowed his eyes at me.

I dipped my head and instantly composed myself. I apologized to him in the most sincere voice I could, looking up at him through my lashes, scared I was in trouble.

He carried on with his talk. “There are a number of different pressure points on the body….”

He started to name them, but I got lost again drinking in his good looks. I knew the features of the other three guys by heart now, but he always stayed the farthest away, so I was never really able to get a close look at him. Except at MusicFest, but that was neither the time nor the place to be blatantly staring at him. His eyes were a lovely deep chocolate brown, framed by short, dark lashes. His nose was perfect—well, perfect for a fighter. It wasn’t bent or broken. His jawline was very angular, and his lips were set into a heart shape. His bottom lip was plump, and the way he held it sometimes made him look like he was pouting. He was clean-shaven, which I loved. His skin looked silky smooth—

“Do you remember that?” He snapped me out of my daze.

Shit! What had he just asked me? “Can you repeat it again to make sure?” I asked quickly.

Using my body, he touched and pressed each pressure point, labeling them as he did, and boy, did it send electric pulses through my body. I was aware my breathing had quickened at his touch, and I hoped he hadn’t realized.

“Foot.” He stood on top of my foot gently.

“Groin.” He indicated to himself, and I smirked. I couldn’t help it!

“Ribs.” He touched the bottom of my ribcage.

Again, heat flooded through me. I swear it was getting hotter in here.

“Solar plexus.” He placed his closed fist underneath my breasts in the center point.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his, and I began to bite my lip. I realized this as his eyes lowered to my mouth. I thought about what it would be like to kiss him.

His eyes met mine again. “Close your fist,” he said quietly. His voice was less firm now.

I did as he asked, and he clasped his hand over mine then pulled my hand to his solar plexus, indicating where it was on a man’s chest, sans breasts.

I couldn’t believe I was touching his chest. Holy hell! It was solid. I could feel the quick rise and fall of it as I pressed against it. Yet, he appeared calm.

I looked up to meet his eyes again. “I need a drink,” I croaked. My voice was hoarse and my throat was dry. I took a big swig of one of the cups of water he had brought in with him then set it down and walked back to stand in front of him.

“Temple,” he continued, and put his hands on either side of my head, lightly putting pressure on it with his thumbs. After a few seconds, it started to make me feel fuzzy. “You feel that?” He noticed me wincing.

“Yeah.” I remembered the feeling all too well, when my dad’s hands were round my neck, pressing tightly before I passed out. I blinked the memory away and focused back on him. His fingers gently slid down the side of my face before settling into position on my neck. Ashamedly, I started to breathe out quiet, short breaths of air—or at least I hoped they were quiet.

“And neck,” he said, as he gently pressed his thumb into my neck where Dad gripped me. I knew the touch from Jamie was different. He wasn’t trying to hurt me, so I felt safe. I felt more than safe. His eyes left his thumb that was still placed on my neck, and he looked me in the eyes for a few seconds before I saw him swallow. “Let’s try some blocking.” He broke contact and released his hand from my neck.

My emotions were all over the place. I was supposed to be taking in the self-defense moves, but I was too distracted by him to concentrate. I was standing here in the cage for a reason, to learn how to protect myself from my violent, aggressive father, and I needed to get my head and my priorities straight.

“How rough do you want?” he asked, with a look on his face that I couldn’t place, because I could never read him. But the corners of his mouth were turned up slightly, so I guess that was his crack at a smile. I couldn’t help but worry at his comment. I didn’t want him being rough with me at all. “I don’t want you to hurt me.” I shook my head.

His look dropped instantly and he raised his eyebrows. “I’m not gonna hurt you. I was just gonna throw you around a little,” he said, before giving me a gorgeous grin.

Heat instantly went to my nether regions. That smile was pantie-dropping, and it was doing crazy things to my lady parts. I tried to keep my cool and make out like his stunning grin hadn’t affected me at all. I gave him a playful warning look, and he put his hands up defensively.

Back in serious mode, he demonstrated some moves jutting out his arms in different directions, as if to fend off imaginary punches being thrown at him. “Right, I’ll throw some punches, and you block them.”

This, I was good at. I had plenty of practice blocking Dad’s. Jamie punched and I blocked the best I could, and he sometimes stopped and lifted my arms higher to where they should be.

“Good,” he praised.

Putting his arms down, he took me through the next part of training. “Right, if a man was to attack you, one thing you could do is jab them in the eyes.” He demonstrated the move with his fingers. The thought of doing that to someone, especially my dad, made me feel sick. “Then kick them in the balls and run,” he added.

I nodded. Jab then balls. Got it.

“I’ll take you through some wrestling moves to show you how to overpower someone.”

As soon as he said that, panic set in. I was a wimp, and I didn’t want him to launch me to the floor. I’d just told him I didn’t want him to be rough with me.

He walked back over to the center of the cage and lifted his arms out in front of him a little. “Try to take me down.” He beckoned me with his hands.

I widened my eyes in shock. “What? You’re six feet of pure muscle,” I pointed out, stunned as to why he would even have me try to ‘take him down’.

He pursed his lips, shook his head, and beckoned me over again. “Just come at me.”

I did as I was told and walked over to him. I wrapped my arms around his waist and tried to pull him over, but he didn’t budge. His scent filled my nostrils; he smelled amazing, despite the fact he had been in the gym most of the day.

“You’re huggin’ me.” He puffed his chest out so he could look at me.

I released my arms, taking a step back, and crossed them over my chest. “This is stupid.” I felt awkwardly embarrassed. I didn’t know if he was doing this on purpose just to make me look like an idiot.

“Will you think it’s stupid when a man is pulling you to the ground to rape you?” he said bluntly.

That question silenced me. I knew he was right. The thought of that happening made me want to vomit. I wasn’t even thinking about how I could get attacked by just about anybody. “No,” I said sheepishly.

“Right, then come closer to me.”

I stood in front of him again, and before I could blink, he managed to hook a foot behind mine and pull me backward onto the floor in one swift movement. A shocked yelp escaped me as I was put flat on my back. Jamie still stood in the same position like he hadn’t moved a muscle.

I lay there, catching my breath for a few seconds, while my heart beat furiously in shock. Jamie watched me, somewhat amused. When I was confident I wasn’t going to have a heart attack, I started to sit up. Jamie quickly knelt down next to me and put his palm on my stomach to still me.

“Stay there,” he commanded.

I did as I was told, and he walked around to stand at my feet then slowly lowered his body over mine, resting his hands on either side of my shoulders so he was planking over me. The way he did it was almost enticing. I lay there paralyzed, watching him. He looked down at me in a way that made heat spread between my legs. We were in quite an intimate position. I didn’t know why he was doing it. I’d never seen this being done at a class before, and I’m pretty sure Kal wouldn’t have done this.

“Fight me off,” he said sternly.

His look had hardened, but my head was no longer in training because of the last few minutes. I had the urge to test him and see what he’d do if I refused to do what he asked. I wanted to see what his reaction would be. Even if it meant him yelling at me. Maybe it was the sudden mix of feelings I had for him. I didn’t know.

“No,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.

He furrowed his eyebrows and looked down at me, confused. His eyes searched mine, silently questioning me. My heart was pounding against my chest as I kept my eyes fixed on his.

“Fight me off,” he spoke again. His words caught in the back of his throat, making them sound softer.

Not wanting to give him any further reason to question me, I decided to just try to move him off me. I placed my right hand on his T-shirt at the side of his ribcage. His breath was deep and quick as he watched me. My left hand went to his hip and instantly connected with his exposed skin, where his T-shirt had gaped away from him because he was hovering over me. I let my thumb brush his taut skin, which felt like silk.