Chapter 16
Blade
I sit on the edge of a training table in the athletics room, my foot tapping anxiously against the hard surface. Fuck, I feel so torn apart right now.
According to Amelia’s schedule, she just got out of a class and has a three-hour break before another, so I sent her a text to meet me in the athletics training room.
Will she come? Who knows.
Now I’m left to pace back and forth, replaying the events from two days ago in my mind like a broken record.
As much as I wanted to rip her door off the hinges with my bare hands that night, I forced myself to give her a bit of space. Didn’t mean I wasn’t still following her, though—just keeping to the shadows, out of sight this time. But after two days, I couldn’t take it anymore.
What the hell was I thinking?
I wasn’t fucking thinking, that’s the problem. I should have known better.
I could feel the weight of her hurt when she ran away, and it gnaws at me. I don’t want to be like her father, another voice that makes her feel small, another person who sends her scrambling for cover.
My emotions at any given moment are solely dependent on her. If she’s happy, I’m happy. If she’s sad, I’m sad. If she’s in danger, I’m pissed the fuck off and shaking with the rage of a thousand suns. I know it’s unhealthy, but it’s my reality.
Then, like a miracle from fucking God, the door creaks open, the bell above it rings, and my head snaps towards the entrance.
There she is.
My pretty girl.
“You have five minutes, and that’s it.” Her voice is clipped, sharp. But the way she exaggeratedly crosses her arms is a small crack in her armor, giving her away. She wants to be mad, but she also wants to forgive me, so she’s overcompensating—it’s a defense, a show.
I can work with that.
I step forward, eating up the space between us, and my hand moves on instinct. My thumb brushes against her cheek, gently, and fuck , I missed touching her soft skin.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur, and her eyes lock onto mine. “I promise… I’ll never raise my voice again. I shouldn’t have done that.”
Her breath hitches, and a faint hum escapes her throat, just for a second, but her face stays neutral. She doesn’t lean into my touch, but she doesn’t pull away either. Like she’s restraining herself.
I let my hand fall, dragging the warmth of her skin with me for as long as I can. “You can be mad at me. But you need to know how to protect yourself.” I reach into my pocket and pull out a small, closed knife, tossing it to her.
She glances down at the cold steel in her hand, furrowing her brows as she flips it over, studying it.
“It’s a knife,” I say.
Her eyes widen. “What’s it for?”
“In case you’re ever in a shady situation again.”
She blinks, then shakes her head. “That was just Jacob. You’re overreacting.”
Just Jacob.
Hearing his name come out of her mouth sets my blood on fire. But I can’t—and won’t—be another version of her father, so I shove the anger down, deeper, until I can barely feel it, and force my voice to stay calm.
“When you sent that text… telling me someone was following you, I nearly lost my mind, Amelia.” She glances away, biting her lip, but I keep going. “I know you don’t think it’s a big deal, but I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you. Just in case. I can teach you a few tricks too. What’s the harm?”
She stares at the knife in her hand, and for a second, I think she’s going to say no again. But then she sighs, her shoulders dropping a little. “Okay. Just a few tricks.”
Fuck yes.
She agreed.
The relief that floods through me is immediate, but I don’t show it. I simply nod and take the knife from her. I flick my wrist, and with a metallic click , the blade snaps open. The whole process takes less than a second. “Open it like that,” I say, closing it and handing it back over.
It takes her a few tries to get the hang of it, but by the last flick of her wrist, she’s basically a pro at it.
“You make it look easy, you’re doing such a good job,” I praise.
She looks at me with bright eyes. “I like it when you do that,” she mumbles softly.
“I’ll do it more often then.”
She hums, and for a moment, everything goes still. There’s a beat of staring. The air thickens, charged with something we both feel but neither of us wants to break first.
Amelia straightens. “If you think I’m going to start kicking ass in this dress, you’re mistaken.”
I smirk. “You’d be surprised what you could do in a dress.”
We move to an open space in the training room, and I guide her through some basic stances. “First, stance. You want to stand firm, feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. This gives you balance and mobility.” I demonstrate, feeling the ground beneath me. “You need to be ready to move at all times.”
She mimics my stance, a small frown creasing her forehead as she tries to find her balance. “Like this?”
“Exactly. Now, if someone comes at you, the key is to stay calm and focused. Let’s pretend I’m the attacker, okay?”
“Okay,” she replies, a hint of excitement breaking through her earlier uncertainty.
“Now, if I grab your wrist like this,” I demonstrate by gripping her wrist gently, “you can break free using your body weight and leverage.” I show her how to twist her wrist, using her other hand to push against my arm. “Pull your wrist down and twist away.”
She follows my lead, and I can see her confidence starting to build as she breaks free of my grip with ease. “That’s it. Now, if someone were to get really close, you need to create space.”
“Create space? How?”
“By using your elbow.” I step closer, simulating an attack. “If I were coming at you like this, you can bring your elbow up to hit my jaw.” I demonstrate, my elbow catching the air sharply. “Let’s try it together. I’ll come at you, and you hit me with your elbow, aiming for my jaw.”
“Got it,” she says, determination flashing in her eyes.
I approach her slowly, and just as I reach her, she brings her elbow up with surprising force. It connects with my shoulder instead of my jaw, but it’s enough to make me wince.
“Fuck, you’re strong,” I say, feigning a stagger back. “But remember, aim for the jaw or throat. It’ll disable someone faster.”
“Right,” she replies, biting her lip in concentration. “Let’s try again. I’m liking this. Now I’ll know how to beat Cata—uh, someone I know.”
We practice a few more times, her skills growing with each attempt. “Now, if you ever find yourself in a situation where someone tries to grab you from behind, this is what you do.” I step behind her, loosely wrapping my arms around her waist. “Don’t panic. Take a deep breath.”
She stiffens at first but then remembers my advice and breathes out slowly. “What next?”
“Kick back with your heel into their shin as hard as you can. It’ll cause them to loosen their grip. Then, you can elbow their jaw and run.”
I let her practice, and when she kicks back, I can’t help but admire the ferocity she puts into it. “You’ve got this, Amelia. You’re not just strong, you’re smart, and that’s your biggest asset.”
“Thank you,” she says, her smile lighting up like a thousand stars against the night sky.
“You’re welcome. I’m going to get you a whistle too. Sometimes the noise can deter a guy. And also, if you find yourself losing, you’ll need to start fighting dirty. No matter what it is.”
“Fighting dirty?”
“Yeah, like karate-chopping someone in their throat, stabbing them in the eye with the knife, kicking them in the balls, slamming their head on the concrete, kicking their kneecaps, using any object nearby to knock them over the head, especially those big statues all around the campus. Fighting dirty. Your best asset will be to seduce someone, get them off their guard, and then go in for the attack.”
“I think I’d love to kick someone in the balls,” she laughs, and I instinctively cover mine, wincing as I almost can feel it.
“Okay, one more trick,” I say, stepping back and giving her a moment to gather herself. “It’s called the hip toss . It’s a way to use your body weight and leverage against a bigger opponent.” I position myself beside her, demonstrating how to grip the opponent’s arm while using her hip to throw them off balance.
“Alright, now you try. Grab my arm,” I instruct, and she does. I guide her through the motions, helping her shift her weight and prepare for the toss. “Now, use your hip against mine and pull me down.”
With a swift motion, she yanks my arm and steps into my side, pushing with her hip. The world tilts as I stumble, caught off guard by the sudden force. I lose my balance and feel myself falling.
Time seems to slow as I crash forward, my hands instinctively reaching out to catch myself. But instead of the floor, I land directly on top of her, pinning her against the soft mat. Our faces are inches apart, and I can see the surprise in her eyes, but there’s something else, something electric crackling between us.
“Uh… sorry,” I mumble, trying to regain my composure, but the heat radiating off her body makes it hard to think straight. My heart pounds louder in my ears as I realize how close we are. I can see the tiny flecks of gold in her green eyes, the way they shimmer under the studio lights.
Amelia’s breath catches, her cheeks flushing a delicate shade of pink, and for a moment, we’re suspended in time. It feels like the world outside has faded away, leaving just the two of us in this intimate bubble.
“Aiden,” she breathes.
“Yeah?” I reply, my voice thick with something I can’t quite name. I don’t want to move, I don’t want to break this moment. I want to stay here, feeling the warmth of her body beneath mine, looking into those eyes that I’ve missed so much.
And I do just that.
Without breaking eye contact, I begin kissing my way down her jaw, trailing featherlight kisses along her neck, savoring the taste of her. She shivers beneath me, a soft gasp escaping her lips as I find that sensitive spot just below her ear. I take my time, my lips exploring the curve of her shoulder, moving down her arm, relishing in each small reaction she gives.
I kiss along her collarbone, feeling her muscles tense and relax under my touch, before traveling down her torso.
My lips brush against her stomach, following the gentle rise and fall of her breathing. When I tease that sensitive spot just below her ribs, she squirms, and I smirk against her skin.
“Are you ticklish?” I tease, my breath hot against her stomach.
“No!” she protests, but I can see the way she flinches when I hit certain spots.
“Let’s find out,” I whisper, continuing my path downward, planting teasing kisses on her skin until I reach her inner thigh. I pause there, letting the anticipation build, teasing her with soft, lingering kisses that make her squirm.
“Aiden, please...” she breathes, her voice laced with desperation.
I chuckle softly, loving the way she reacts to every kiss, every bite l give her. I find that sweet spot on her inner thigh and suck—hard—her back arches and her mouth falls wide open.
“You like that, don’t you?” I murmur. “Me leaving marks all over your body?”
Her cheeks flush with color, and the way she bites her lip drives me wild.
Amelia’s breath hitches as I draw closer, my lips hovering just over her cunt. “Aiden,” she whispers. It’s a plea, a challenge, and a spark that ignites something primal within me.
I smile against her skin, enjoying the power I have in this moment, the way she quivers beneath me. “Ask for what you want, baby,” I murmur, my lips brushing against her pussy lips.
She whines.
“Ah, ah, ah. If you want it, you’ll have to ask.”
A flicker of shyness crosses her face, but the heat in her eyes says she wants this as much as I do. “Please eat me,” she whispers, her hips bucking against my tongue as I begin running agonizingly slow circles along the length of her lips. “Please.”