Chapter 8 #2
“Oh, you got it bad.” Aaron dove forward and Ethan used his own momentum against him, swinging him around and throwing him to the ground.
“I don't think so.” Ethan stood over his friend and grinned. “Besides, we'll see how you handle it when Celine gets here.”
Aaron jumped to his feet and barreled forward, slamming his shoulder into Ethan's stomach.
He let out a whoosh of air and then immediately started raining blows down on Aaron's back.
They broke apart, Aaron's grin just as vicious as Ethan's.
“I'm just glad to know I'm not the only one panting after a hot piece of tail.”
For some reason, Aaron's comment pissed him off and Ethan reacted on pure instinct. He threw out a straight jab, going for Aaron's mouth. Aaron ducked back, barely missing losing a few teeth.
“Oh, I struck a nerve. You really do like her.”
Aaron's words fueled him, the irritation spurred through his body. Kate had struck a chord in him – an immediate tightly wound cord that she had no business touching. “She's weak. She needs to learn how to control herself.”
He'd been able to read every individual flicker of emotion that flashed across her face, from the way her pouty lips turned down at the corners, to her overly bright green eyes that belied every thought.
Including her pity at his slip up about his past. God, he was losing his mind.
“Why don't you give up? You never seem to come out on top in these matches.”
Aaron's smile stretched wide, showing a flash of bright white teeth in his bearded face. “I have a feeling today is going to be my lucky break.”
“You said that the last time and I believe I kicked your ass then, too.” Ethan embraced the free flow of adrenaline their bare knuckled brawling brought on. Even more so when Ethan took his fellow teammate to the ground.
Aaron stopped moving and stared past Ethan's shoulder. Ethan growled, “Come on man, don't wuss out now.”
“Look.”
“You really think I'm falling for that?” Distraction was literally the oldest trick in the book.
Aaron continued to stare as if transfixed. “Oh man, I'm going to enjoy this.”
Ethan finally gave in and glanced over his shoulder, keeping Aaron in his peripheral.
He caught a glimpse of black tights and a formfitting black shirt that displayed a generous wealth of cleavage.
Ethan's brain blanked. A jolt of awareness shocked his system into a semi-comatose state. The loose pants suit she’d worn earlier had hidden her form, a crime in itself.
His gaze continued up to her eyes, which were narrowed on him.
Had she been standing there the whole time? Ethan fought the urge to groan. Freaking Aaron had known and baited him.
Ethan tried to mentally shore up his defenses against the undeniable spark between them, and then she smiled, transforming her entire face. The air left his lungs in a whoosh at the transformation. She was undeniably the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on.
He needed her.
No, he didn’t need her – he wanted her. Despite the fact she didn’t have any kind of place in his life, he wanted her.
Ethan sized her up. Maybe he could have her.
They’d be in close contact for two weeks and while he never stayed with anyone that long, he might not mind it so much with Kate.
She definitely wasn’t his normal cup of tea.
That would be long enough for him to get her out of his system and not worry about attachments.
He’d have a clear cut reason to leave in the end.
She seemed pretty independent. Maybe she’d like that kind of arrangement herself.
Footsteps pounded behind him, and before he could defend himself, Aaron took him to the ground and shoved his face in the mat. His hands were ripped behind his back and Aaron pinned him down with a thick elbow at the back of his neck. “Thanks for the assist, sweetness. I owe you one.”
Kate stepped into his line of vision, and Ethan caught a glimpse of toned calves before Aaron shoved him back down.
Kate squatted in front of him, “I didn’t do anything.”
“Trust me, sweetness, you did,” Aaron said.
Ethan had thought distraction the oldest trick, but he’d forgotten about the one that had been around since before Christ. Women.
And this one seemed intent on paying him back, something that he honestly couldn't fault her for if she'd heard his earlier comments. Ethan relaxed, letting his cheek rest on the soft blue matt in Noni's backyard.
Aaron dug his elbow a little harder, “Ready to admit defeat?”
“Too bad you're not the one training me,” Kate said.
“You and me both, darling. Why everyone thinks this brute is such a better fighter than me I'll never figure out.”
Aaron shifted his weight slightly, an inch of pressure relieved off Ethan's back. Ethan could practically feel Aaron swelling with pride.
“It’s obvious they were wrong,” Kate smiled.
Aaron laughed. He thought he’d won. Not for long.
Ethan roared to life. He shoved up and twisted into a powerful flip, throwing Aaron to the ground. Ethan shoved a knee into Aaron's back and pinned him down. “They think I'm a better fighter because I am a better fighter.”
Ethan stared at Kate without blinking.
He was unwilling to let go until Aaron admitted defeat. “What do you say?”
Aaron mumbled something incoherent.
Ethan dug his elbow into his back. “What was that?”
“I give.”
Ethan rode the wave of satisfaction and glanced up to see Kate watching him with an unreadable expression.
Ethan winked, “Thanks for the assist, princess.”