Chapter 9
Her heart skipped a beat. She’d been prepared to deal with the serious Ethan – not playful Ethan. His shift from stern to sweet threw her plan to keep him at arm’s length right out the window.
He hopped to his feet and grinned, instantly smoothing out the chiseled hard lines of his face and she had to fight to keep her expression blank.
If he’d pulled the least little male-macho routine with her his triumphant would have pissed her off, instead he melted her control.
She couldn't help but admire his quick thinking and his brute strength.
Warm heat licked up her spine and she quickly looked away before he sensed her desire. He obviously didn’t have the least bit of interest in her. His lesbian statement earlier let her know exactly how he saw her. And she’d pissed him off prying into his past.
The thought of him having any hint that she was even semi attracted to him made her slightly nauseous.
Come on Kate, you’re a badass. You train all the time. I mean look at him. He looks like he hasn’t had a haircut in a year.
And with that big goofy grin on his face…how was she supposed to let him touch her and not melt?
“Sure you don't need me to stay out here and help?” Aaron held up a hand and Ethan pulled him to his feet, both of them grinning and clapping each other on the back like they'd just won some big prize as opposed to fighting in the dirt like a couple of school boys.
Kate sent up a silent prayer that Ethan might allow that to happen, although she doubted he’d ever ask anyone for help.
Ethan shook his head. “No, I've got this.”
“Alright, just scream if you need me.” Aaron passed Kate on the way back to the house and whispered, “Give him hell, sweetness.”
Kate silently watched her last hope of a buffer from Ethan disappear into the kitchen.
The backyard fell into thick silence. She could feel Ethan’s gaze on her back like a heat wave in July.
“Getting cold feet?”
“No.” Yes, in fact, she was. With her solid plan to deal with him standing on shaky ground, she really did want to run inside and hide. Not only had her boss crapped on her career, now she had a seemingly uncontrollable attraction to a man who had no interest in her whatsoever.
What was wrong with her? It wasn’t like she hadn’t been attracted to anyone in the past. She’d had relationship a outside of work when she’d had time.
Tim was a super smart accountant who worked in downtown D.C.
that had never been anything but respectful of her and the fact her career had come first. But Tim didn’t have stacks of cut muscles filling out his suit or insanely intense blue eyes that made her toes curl in her tennis shoes.
He’d been normal. He’d been respectful. He’d been boring.
Ethan was anything but boring.
“Kate?”
She blew out a silent breath and schooled her features. Remember – he doesn’t like you so you can’t like him. Kate slowly spun, knowing she was in trouble the minute Ethan came into view with his crossed arms making his biceps bulge with mouthwatering perfection.
That and his gentle smile.
This was the Ethan she didn’t know how to handle. If she had a prayer, she’d have to tip the scales back into her favor. She’d only seen one other mood come out of him – sour. She could deal with that.
“Does it make you feel like more of man tackling him to the ground?” She spat.
His lips dropped and she could practically see his jaw tighten beneath his beard. Kate let out an inward sigh of relief.
Ethan stood at the edge of the blue padded mat, irritation and anticipation flooding his senses. How could she make him want to pull out his hair and kiss her all in the same instant?
She stood suspended a couple of feet away. “You don't have to do this. Really.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Aaron could just as easily take your place.”
A jolt of jealousy hit him at the thought of Aaron’s hands anywhere on Kate’s body. He ground out, “I’m your trainer.”
“It's obvious you don't want any part of this. I’m sure he won’t mind.” She took a step toward the house.
“Get on the mat, Kate.”
His harsh tone had the intended response. She stiffened and spun back to him, her hands balling into fists at her sides.
Damn she was cute with her cheeks all flushed like that.
“Don’t talk to me like that,” she bit out.
“Alright, try this on for size. You either get on the mat and we start working or you’re off the mission.
” Although he’d rather stump his toe right now rather than see her leave.
If he’d thought taunting her like that would driver her away, he wouldn’t have done it.
But she got so spun up at his goading, a woman with her spirit wouldn’t back down.
“Col. Grey is the only one with the authority to do that.” Kate crossed her arms and glared at him, the action pushing up her plump breasts to test the top of her shirt.
Ethan’s irritation edged up. “And he find someone else if you refuse to do what I say. As far as you’re concerned – I’m in charge.”
“You’re an ass.”
Instead of rising to her bait, he simply waited right where he was. She was either going to do this his way or no way at all. Improperly trained operatives winded up either dead or injured and he had no intention of allowing anything bad to happen to her.
Finally, after a whole minute of stare down, she blew out a loud breath and stomped over to him. “Fine.”
When she got on the mat, she cast him a trivializing look and arched a black brow.
Ethan’s blood started to boil in response. He really did not like that look. “You ready?”
“I’ve been ready,” she retorted.
His hand shot out and wrapped around her firm bicep. Heat sizzled up his arm.
“Let go of my arm,” she said.
“Make me.”
His hand slid down, unconsciously testing the silky texture of her skin. Kate's lips parted, drawing Ethan's gaze to her mouth. There was no way in hell he'd make it through training her without tasting those lips.
Ethan gritted his teeth and fought for control.
Allowing himself to become distracted by his throbbing hard on wouldn’t do her any good.
Grey had briefed on the past few years of Kate's life, including the fact that the closest she'd been to physical combat was at a computer. He knew she would have had to pass basic training at the Farm for any position at the CIA, but she’d be rusty.
Kate wind milled her arm in a large arc, broke his grip and caught him by surprise.
He'd been so focused on her mouth he'd forgotten his own challenge.
She dropped, sweeping her leg in a wide circle and caught him on the side of his shin.
He barely felt her kick, but Kate dropped to the mat and grabbed her foot. “Ow.”
Amusement tinged his words, “Good idea but terrible form.”
She frowned up at him and rubbed her leg, “Bite me. I was just warming up.”
He held out his hand, but she ignored him and got to her feet without his assistance.
“Why don't we start with you showing me what you know?”
Ethan took a step forward and Kate countered with a backward step, keeping at least a foot space between them.
“Good, but you're too stiff, bend your knees, raise your hands up.” She followed his instructions, but her movements were wooden and unnatural.
She'd fall as soon as anyone got close. Ethan circled her, taking the time to study her form and getting distracted by the curve of her perfectly round ass in those tight pants.
“What are you doing?” Kate asked between clenched teeth.
Ethan coughed and cleared his throat. “Be ready.”
“Come on. Attack.”
Ethan kept circling, showing Kate with his own body how he wanted her stance. After a few seconds, she relaxed into the crouch the way Ethan wanted. “Good, that's better. Keep your hands like mine, ready to block.”
Ethan waited until she followed his instructions and darted behind her, snagging an arm around her neck, exerting enough pressure to hold her in place but not enough to actually hurt.
Kate reacted, dropping her chin, but too slow, obviously knowing what to do but severely out of practice.
“Focus. Break my grip. Strike my weak points.”
Kate strained against him and tried to nail his shin with her heel. Ethan read her move and side stepped. She snarled and tried again, and again he countered. Finally, he let go and she stumbled, catching herself before she face planted on the mat.
He came at her again, the same move, snaked an arm around her neck, but this time Kate froze instead of fighting.
“That's it, now concentrate on breaking my hold.” Ethan felt every inch of her body pressed to his. “You need less than an inch to breath.”
Kate’s hands flew to his wrist. She yanked in one quick motion, gulped in a breath and threw back an elbow jab, catching him in the side beneath his ribs. Pain shot up his side and he released her instantly.
Kate circled round at the ready. “How was that?”
“Better, but next time I want you to follow through with a knee to the balls. You need to temporarily disable your attacker long enough to grab Caroline and escape.” Ethan straightened to his full height, admiring the sight before him.
Kate practically glowed at her small victory and seeing the pleasure light up her features made him want to give her more. Even if it meant a few bruised ribs.
“You’ve got skills, but they need some sharpening.” An attacker wouldn’t give her or Caroline a second chance
“You’re right. I could feel it when you came at me. My instincts have gotten lax.” Her easy agreement surprised him. He’d expected her sharp attitude to come back out front.
“Your instincts are good, and you did the right thing the second time, you just need some hands-on training.” With him.
“Well, let’s get to work then.” Kate gestured him closer.
He was going to enjoy this after all.