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And then, just for an instant, she felt a flicker of fear. She didn’t even think. Her hand shot out, aiming for his eyes.
Thank god he was quick. She almost got him. But he ducked to the side and deflected her blow with his forearm.
Then his face broke into a smile. “Hey. Nice.”
She flushed, pleased despite herself.
“What else you got?” he said.
Becca had a pretty strong feeling she should quit while she was ahead. She could barely remember half the stuff Paul had shown them in class. But Hunter’s closeness left her a little breathless, a little euphoric. Her heart was still kicking like they’d been running.
She shook her hair back from her face and looked up at him. “What else you got?”
His eyes widened—just for an instant. Then they filled with resolve. He looked fierce and gentle, if such a combination was possible. He moved until he stood close enough to share secrets, to dance. To kiss.
“Choke me,” he said.
She jerked back. God, she’d been staring at his mouth.
She coughed to cover her nerves. “I’m sorry—what?”
He smiled, not fooled for a second, then reached out to take her hands and place them on his neck.
The warmth of his body reached across the space between them. She could smell whatever detergent his mom used, something fresh and soft, like baby powder and lavender. With her hands against his skin, she felt the beginnings of stubble under his jaw, the muscles in his neck flexing under her fingers.
The position reminded her of those silly dances in middle school, the way girls would hook their hands behind a guy’s neck and kind of sway to the music.
“Now what?” Her voice almost cracked.
Breathe.
“I’m going to make hooks with my hands—” He demonstrated. “—and catch your wrists to spring your hands free. Don’t let go.”
Becca nodded, gazing up at him, thinking his eyes were exactly the color of the grass here.
Now they flickered with challenge. “Don’t. Let. Go.”
She tightened her grip, but he reached into the gap between her wrists and snapped her hands free.
Hey! Her eyes narrowed. “Do that again.”
He did it again. And a third time.
She felt warm, her breaths coming quickly again.
“There’s no counter leverage,” he said. “I’m just using your strength against you. Want to try?”
She nodded before thinking of how his hands would be around her neck, strong and secure, his thumbs brushing her chin, reminding her too much of the way a guy would pull you close to kiss you.
Touch was funny like that. How one movement could choke you and kill you, but another meant nothing more than a caress and an invitation. How sex and rape were just a few motions apart.
“What are you thinking?” He’d stopped moving, his hands loose now, almost on her shoulders instead of her neck. She couldn’t figure out his expression, but she didn’t want to try too hard.
Becca shook her head and looked right back at him. “Nothing. Do it. I want to try.”
He did. She broke his hold on the first try.
She grinned, pleased. This was a bazillion times better than learning from Paul. “I did it.”
