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“Free yourself.”
I stare at him.
“Now, Ravenna.”
“You’re more than double my weight,” I mumble.
“Closer to triple, probably, but that’s not important. I’m not asking you to knock me out. Just to get out of my hold.”
“Why?”
He bends, closing in on my face. “Because knowing you can escape will help you keep your cool. And getting free will allow you to take control of the situation.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Alessandro’s hands remain around my neck, and I like them there. “Even if I free myself from Rocco’s hold, he’ll catch me, eventually. And it’ll only be worse then.”
“Look at me.”
When I open my eyes, Alessandro moved even closer, his forehead almost touching mine.
“I already told you. Your husband will never put his hands on you again.” He’s so near I feel his breath on my skin. “This is not about Rocco. It’s about you, Ravenna. So, you don’t ever feel helpless and can always protect yourself. Now, try to get out.”
I regard him—his scowling face and those dark-blue eyes, then wrap my hands around his wrists, pushing them to the side. Nothing happens. Not even an inch of movement.
“You are competing strength for strength with me,” he says. “Most men will be larger and stronger than you.”
“So, what then?”
“Fight against my weakest points. My thumbs.” He lifts his right hand off my throat and places it at the top of my head. “Step back with your right leg. Then bend.” He pushes my head down and guides it under his left arm. His grip on my neck disappears. “You’re free.”
“Your hold was loose.”
“It won’t be next time. Again.”
His fingers come around my throat again, but his clench remains lax. “Leg. Bend. The whole body, Ravenna, not just your head. Again.”
I keep practicing, but only a small part of my brain is concentrating on the actual move. The rest is too focused on Alessandro’s hands on my neck. His fingers in my hair as he guides me when I don’t dip low enough. The closeness of his body.
“Do you need a break?” he asks after the twentieth or so time.
Yes. No. I’m not sure. My brain is foggy, and I’m not certain if it’s from repeating the same move over and over, or because of him being so close. I think it’s the latter. And I want more of his touch.
“Let’s do it a few more times,” I breathe out.
Alessandro nods and places his hands around my neck. I don’t make a move to bend. Instead, I lift my hands and wrap my fingers around his wrists. Or try to, at least. His wrists are thicker than my ankles.
“We’ve already established that approach won’t work, Ravenna.”
“I remember,” I say and hold his gaze. Alessandro’s eyes move down to my lips. God, I want to feel his lips on mine again—so much.
His hold of my neck relaxes, and his hands move up to cup my face in his palms. His expression is completely unreadable, utterly contrary to the dangerous look in his eyes. By all appearances, he seems unperturbed at having us so close to each other, but I see the truth in his burning gaze. My heart rate doubles under that stare. Those dark-blue orbs look like they want to eat me alive—a big, hungry, wild cat ready to pounce. And I wouldn’t object.
I slide my hands up his forearms, feeling the taut muscles under my palm. He shifts his stance, and my heart skips a beat.
“Let’s try something else,” he says abruptly. The next instant, I find my back plastered to his front, his arms locked around me. “This is called a rear bear hug. What would you do?”
I shake my body left and right, but it doesn’t budge his purchase. His arms stay tightly wrapped around me.
“I’m bigger and stronger, and in a position of advantage with no weak points you can exploit. I’m controlling your whole body. You need to make it harder for me. What should you do?”
