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“How do you feel?”
“A little sore, but not too bad. Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Well, you’re going to be even more sore after what I have planned for you.”
“As sexy and concerning as that sounds, do you think we can go another roundafterbreakfast?”
I smirk, rising to start toward the door. “I’ll get us something to eat, but I wasn’t talking about sex.”
Raquel straightens. “Then what were you talking about?”
“Just you wait and see.”
Chapter 19
Raquel
Gabriel spoils me with all sorts of buttery pastries from the continental breakfast bar downstairs near the hotel lobby. I sit on the edge of the bed and eat my fill, abnormally hungry thanks to our workout. Gabriel busies himself by pushing furniture out of the way, clearing a wide space in the living room area of our suite for us to use.
My eyes linger on his wide body as he works, shirtless with his glorious tattoos on full display. I’ve always known how handsome he is, but especially so today now that I can see my claw marks streaking down his back. An odd sense of pride rises in my chest.Idid that and I’m not even sorry.
I’m not going to say anything cheesy like how I’m a woman now because that’s enough to make me cringe.What I will say is how grateful I am to Gabriel. I wasn’t sure how things would play out, but he made sure to take care of me. He never rushed me, never demanded more than I was ready for. And myGod, did he make me feel good.
10 out of 10 would do again.
I’m feeling braver. Braver than I ever have before. I know I have more pressing matters to attend to, but I can’t stop thinking about how I want to jump his bones. I want his dirty words in my ear again. I want his big hands roaming my body. I want to bring him every ounce of pleasure he gives me and then some. Next time, I want to be the one on my knees taking him into my mouth and—
“Okay,” Gabriel says, interrupting my thoughts. My dirty,dirtythoughts.
Ignoring the rising heat in my cheeks, I ask, “So what kind of training are we talking about here? Because as far as I’m concerned, all you’re doing is tidying.”
He beckons me over. “We need to work on your self-defense skills. No offense, petit oiseau, but your fighting capabilities are abysmal.”
I hop up off the edge of the bed and join him in the center of the living room. “I take offense to that. My job doesn’t require physical strength, just dexterity.”
“True, but that changes today. You need to be able to handle your own.” His expression is serious, his eyes dark. “I can’t always be there to rescue you.”
“Who says I need rescuing?”
“Might I remind you of the library incident?” he asks, raising his eyebrows. “Not to mention the train and your near miss at town hall…”
“I would have been fine,” I say, even though I know I’m being a big fat liar.
“I’m not trying to give you shit, Raquel. You excel in a multitude of different things. Defending yourself from bigger opponents is, unfortunately, not one of them.”
Putting a hand on my hip, I tilt my head to the side. “And you’re going to… what? Teach me how to do just that right here?”
“Precisely,” he says, totally serious. “If there’s ever the chance that we get separated and I can’t get to you in time, you need to be able to protect yourself. Now, get into a fighting stance.”
I oblige him, placing one foot in front of the other shoulder-width distance apart. I raise my fists, mimicking what old Harry taught me back when I first joined the Red Ravens. It was Harry who taught me the basics —a solid jab-punch combo and even a couple of kicks— but Dad and the rest of our team were always there to look out for me while I got to cracking. It was never my job to be involved in fights, only to slip away unnoticed so I could do my work.
“I want you to land a punch,” Gabriel tells me.
“Are you serious?”
“Do I sound like I’m joking?”
“What if I hurt you?”
