I increased the speed of my figure eights,brought theboup over my head,and swung hard at his neck. He blocked and the energy transfer mademy hands throb as they absorbed the shock. Suddenly, his speedincreased, and I found myself working harder to block and dodge hisattacks. My offense was starting to diminish, as I had no time tocounterattack; all I had time for was to block each never-endingblow. Fuck, he really had been holding back.
I pushed my aggression further and tried tothrow more strikes at him, but the strength in his deflection wasenough to practically consider it a strike. I couldn’t believe thespeed he had while wielding a heavybo. It pissed me off that he was strong enough to managesuch speedy techniques. Stupid fucker.
After a few short minutes, I found myselfgetting tired, and I did everything I could to deflect and stallhis attacks, but he was relentless in his assault. Finally, hisbosmacked hard against myback, thenagainonmy stomach, and finally at my thighs. I criedout at the contact, the pain radiating through mybody, butshook it off as he continued to circleme. He cameatme again with suchspeed, I almost didn’t block the blow that would have landed at myribs, but then he switched it up and threw a reverse kick into myside, sending me flying to the ground. Before I allowed myself todwell on the pain, I rolled upfromthe floor and grabbed at my now pulsing ribcage.
“Give up yet?” he said, striding towardme.”
I was hurting, but I wasn't donefighting. I never would be.
“Stupid question,” I groaned aloud.
“Stupid answer,” he growled.
I dodged another strike, ducking under hislatest swing at my head before deflecting again, and it took somuch more strength to muster his blows. My energy was depleting,and I hated that he seemed so in control of himself, even though hewas sweating and breathing heavy.
“Sorry, love, but I think it’s time tofinish this.”
He closed the distance and swung. Iredirected, but as I countered and brought thebodown to his head, he grabbed the tip of myboand held it in place. Iinstantly pulled, but it remained clutched in his hand while atwisted smile crept across his face. Son of a bitch. I didn't waitanother second before kicking him right in the gut, but he pulledmybodown and elbowed me right inthe temple.
I stumbled back, and he ripped theboout of my hands and swung at mylegs hard, tripping me and causing me to fall backwardontomy back. My head was spinning from theblow, but I rolled over and crawled away from Darren, determined tostand back up. I was exhausted, and it suddenly occurred that hewas beating me.
No, no, no! This was my chance, and I waslosing!
“I admire your strength, Jaden, but it’stime to surrender,” he said, slowly walking toward me, droppingbothbosto the floor. “You'refinished.”
“No,” I growled, and forced my body tocomplete a perfect kip-up, bringing me back to my feet, my hands atthe ready. “I’m not done.” My body was throbbing in pain, but Iwould never let him see it.
“Yes, you are. Look at you. Did you reallythink you could ever compete with someone like me? You barely evencome up to my shoulder, for fuck’s sake.”
I snarled at him. “You and I both know thatsize doesn’t mean shit in a fight. I think you could stand to giveme a little more credit than that. You are sweating, afterall.”
A cool evil chuckle vibrated up his throatas he watched me and it made the scowl on my face only growwider.
“As much as I would love to give you all thecredit in the world, Jaden, I unfortunately can only give you somuch. You’re impressive, there’s no doubt about that. You’re evenbetter than some of my own men. But none of that matters because inthe end, there’s only one person you have to get through, andthat’s me. So if you think size doesn’t matter here … you’re goingto have to prove it to me.”
I gave him a knowing smirk.
Challenge accepted.
His last comment somehow managed to summonmy last bit of energy because when Darren stepped toward me, Ithrew a reverse hook kick at his face, following through with aroundhousekick when he dodged thehook. But before my last kick touched the ground, he thrust hisopen palm straight into my chest, knocking the wind from my lungs,and sent me crashingtothe floor,tears involuntarily peeking out from my lids.
Fear crept into me now as I coughed up theair that no longer existed in my lungs. I was done. I could feelit, but I didn’t want to be. I wanted to keep fighting, but I hadnothing left. Even as I tried to rise from the floor, my bodyrefused to let me.
What would Darren do to me when my bodycould no longer sustain his attacks? Would he just hurt me more?Rub itinmy face? Make me admitmore self-damaging things I didn’t wantbelieve? I hated him so much. Hated him for his strength.For his speed. For his size. But what I hated him most for was hisability to make me feel like I was nothing. Like no matter what Idid, it wouldn’t even put a dent in him. I probably couldn’t evencompare to his shadow.
Darren squatted over me then, resting hisforearms on his knees. “That was a good try, Jaden, but you and Iboth know who the victor is.”
“Fuck. Off,” I said, trying to roll and getback up, but he pressed my shoulder back down and slapped my facehard.
The shock sent splintersintomy stomach, and my cheek screamed as Icould feel the heat of my blood rushing to the point of contact. Hegrabbed my throat and lifted my head from the floor to hisface.
“I’ve had just about enough of thatdisrespectful little mouth of yours. You lost, Jaden, just as Isaid you would. However much a threat you think you are, you arenothing compared to me. I am the only threat there is now, so Isuggest you start to accept your place if youwant tosurvive my wrath.”.
I just glowered at him, so pissed at hiswords that all I wanted to do was scream. His grip on my throattightened even more as he cut off all my oxygen. My hands clutchedathis wrist to hold myself up toprevent furtherchoking.
“I could literally crush you, Jaden,” hesnarled through clenched teeth. “It would be so easy, like snappinga twig. That’s how much of a threat you are to me. No matter howhard you try or how much you train, you will never beat me. Thereis no escaping me, so stop fighting it. You belong to me, littlegirl, and now, I’m finally gonna take what’s mine.”
Releasing my throat, he flipped me overontomy front, reached under mydress and ripped my thong from my hips. Terrorfilledmy heart as I fought to get him off me,but my bodywas completely drainedoff all energy.
