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We danced around each other, spinning, kicking and charging.
Cole let out a series of punishing blows, all of which I blocked, before he dove at me. I tried to escape, but his hard body hit mine. His arms wrapped around me as if to pin me down, and we fell to the ground together, hard.
I couldn't breathe, pinned beneath him like that. My heartbeat was roaring in my ears, and the frantic pounding of Cole's pulse echoed just as hard in my chest. His arms locked around me, holding me in place.
"Amelia," he whispered into my ear, and even though Stone was right there, the word was a plea.
"I give up," I whispered back. "I yield."
The words felt raw, unbearably so. I didn't want to fight him, not only because he was so much stronger than I was but because when I was near him like this, I felt like I was home. The realization hit me like a punch in the gut.
He scrambled up off me, his face a mask I couldn't read. He usually wouldn't allow me to give up; he made me fight until one of us was hurt, blacked out or too exhausted... although I was the only one who ever grew so tired I couldn't raise my fists in front of my face anymore. I could feel Stone watching us even though neither of us looked his way, and the way that examination burned through us both. Cole offered me his hand, and I let him pull me to my feet. Although we only touched for the briefest second before I was standing in the grass once more, I was keenly aware of how Cole's hand was strong, firm, and warm. The heat of his skin seemed to linger, and so did a slow burn that started in the pit of my stomach and spread outwards.
Stone strode toward the two of us, his face unreadable.
“You can go,” Stone told Cole tautly.
Cole’s first impulse was to obey, I could tell that but he paused. “What do you want with Amelia?”
Stone’s brows arched dangerous, and even though I believed he would never hurt me like Nathan did, my stomach still bottomed out.
“I want to talk to her alone,” Stone said, his voice a dangerous rumble. “And I want you to go. Is that clear?”
Cole bristled, his chin lifting. “Yes, it’s clear.”
But he looked to me. “Are you done training, Amelia?”
“I’m fine,” I promised. “Maybe I can get Stone to agree to let me to practice my throws. If I can get him onto the ground, I can take down anyone.”
Cole grinned, despite Stone’s bristling, and ruffled my hair as he headed past me. “You’ve got this.”
Stone stared after Cole as he left as if he were wondering what the fuck that all was.
Then he turned back to me. “Do you really want to spar with me?”
He sounded deeply amused.
“Oh yes,” I said.
My fight with Stone would be short. I knew that.
But he seemed like he’d wanted a show, so I was determined to give him one now.
I attacked him with all the fierce anger that coursed through my body. I was a woman fighting for her life, always, and I was going to fight like it was the end of the goddamn world every time.
He let out a bark of surprised laughter, his eyes widening as if he was pleased with me, as he hastily blocked several blows, giving up ground. He clearly hadn’t expected much of a fight, and his eyes danced as the two of us circled each other.
I caught his arm with my left hand, stepping inside his grip. He tried to pull his arm back, but I twisted, pivoted, and knocked him to the ground, even though I couldn’t help stumbling against his body in the process. He smoothly hooked my legs with his and dropped me to the ground. I slammed into the grass on my shoulder, and I immediately scrambled to try to get on top of him. The two of us grappled, and I kept trying to buck him fiercely even though his powerful muscles felt impossible to escape.
I soon found myself on the ground under his massive muscular weight, even though I could tell he was holding himself carefully off me.
“I’ll have to have Teresa work with you more.”
I still wondered why Shaw had kept my secret from him about how I’d killed Cliff. I wasn’t as harmless as I looked; I just knew I had to take a different route than these men with all their brute strength.
He was too close to me, with his body still braced over mine. His eyes seemed to look right through me and strip away all my defenses. I was stuck feeling his warmth, the way my vulva turned into an ache of need; the way his scent mixed with the scent of my desire, which made my core pulse.
“I’ve come a long way,” I said defensively.
