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I held her tightly to me, and I felt my own eyes fluttering shut.
Then I flicked my eyes open as she spoke, slight amusement in her voice. “I broke his fucking vase.” She said.
I chuckled, “I broke his…” And then I realized I didn’t need to list the various bones and body parts I’d broken. She’d had enough trauma for a lifetime.
“You can say you know, I’m not going to freak out.”
I slipped my hand up under the arm of her T-shirt and massaged her neck. “I know. I know you won’t.”
* * *
I awoke several hours later,and Emma lightly stirred against me. We’d fallen asleep and hadn’t budged. Each of us was thoroughly exhausted.
Emma’s eyes finally flickered open.
“How are you feeling?”
She groaned. “My arms are asleep.”
I gave her a pointed look.
She sighed and her shoulders sagged. “I don’t know… I’m as good as one can be, I guess.”
I’d had this idea last night, and I didn’t want to wait a moment longer. “I want to show you something.” I winked at her.
“Now?” she pulled back in surprise. “I just woke up from the worst drug induced nap.”
“We can wait until tomorrow.” I offered.
“Ugh.” She sighed. “Now you’ve got me curious. What?”
I motioned for her to follow me with my finger, and she rolled her eyes.
I stood waiting for her a few steps down from the stop of the stairs, and she slipped onto my back, and I carried her piggy back downstairs with her arms tightly wrapped around my neck, and her head resting in the crook of my neck.
I kissed her arms in front of me and then plopped her onto the armchair.
I went and pulled the couch cushions off the couch and lined them up on the floor, creating a DIY crash mat.
Emma winked, one eye shut and made a face. “You want todo iton the floor?”
“Come here.” I grinned at her. She stood up, and she closed the gap between us and I grabbed her wrists tightly. “Try to get away.”
She pulled, and I didn’t budge. “I can’t.” She rolled her eyes.
“Really try.”
“Come on, Mace, we both know I’m not going to be able to.”
“Just try.”
She huffed and made a minimal effort. “See?”
“I’m going to teach you how. You should know some basic self defense, and I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Ok.”
I let go of one wrist and while I held the other, I used my free hand to guide her elbow up, pivoting it to ninety degrees. “It’s all about leverage, using someone's body against them. See.” I lifted her elbow all the way up, and she twisted her wrist out.
