Page 57 of Vow Of Fire

Evelyn came out in black leggings and another figure-hugging sweater, this one in olive green, that exposed at least half an inch of smooth, bare stomach. She’d tied her hair into a messy bun at the nape of her neck. On her feet were the running shoes she’d pulled on when I’d abducted her.

“Fuck me,” I muttered, gesturing to the center of the clearing. She looked both adorable and sexy as hell.

“Are you sure this is necessary?” She placed her hands on her hips.

I tried not to notice the enticing curve of her waist, or how the sweater hugged her breasts. Why the hell couldn’t she have worn a shapeless, oversized shirt and saved me the mental gymnastics? It was like the woman was put on earth to taunt me.

“Yes, it’s necessary,” I barked, willing my body not to react. “Hands up.”

She huffed into the middle of the space and lifted her hands, fingers spread like she was warding off a stray dog.

“Not like that,” I said, sounding more pissed off than I felt. “Make a fist.”

She balled her hands into fists. “Oh. Well, why didn’t you just say that?”

I rolled my eyes as I closed the space between us. She still wasn’t doing it right.

“Keep your fists loose, not white-knuckled.” I bent her thumb to where it needed to be then closed my hand over hers and pressed her fingers closed again. “On the outside, never tucked underneath your other fingers.”

Christ, she had small hands, so soft and warm under my big, hard ones. I had a vision of those same hands locked around my neck last night, clinging to me as she came apart. Like she’d needed something solid to hold onto. Needed me.

And damn if I didn’t like it. More than I should have.

“Like this?” She was gazing up at me. So close, I could smell the scent of her shampoo.

With a curt nod, I took a step back.

“We need to get one thing straight,” I said as she held her position. “I am not teaching you how to defend yourself. That’s what they teach you in classes at the gym.”

“But I thought⁠—”

“The men who are after you won’t give you that choice,” I cut in. She stopped talking. “I’m going to teach you how to maim. And if we have time, I’m going to teach you how to kill.”

Those lovely eyes widened. “There’s a big difference,” she whispered.

“Exactly.”

She hesitated, then gave a tight nod. “Okay.”

I nodded. “Good.”

Rolling my shoulders, I worked out the stiffness. I wasn’t built the way I used to be. Fast movements had consequences now.

“Hurting someone buys you time,” I told her as I warmed up. “Killing them makes sure they never get back up again.”

She gnawed on her lower lip, then nodded again.

“First thing you learn is the soft targets.” I stepped closer, pointing to each place as I spoke. “Eyes. Throat. Groin. Knee. Instep. In that order. Say it.”

Those green eyes fixed on me as she repeated the words.

“Good girl. Remember, you don’t hesitate, you don’t apologize, and you don’t stop until he’s on the ground. You got that?”

Another nod.

“You go for the weak spots. We call them the seams.”

“The seams?”