Page 64 of Pure Killers

He touches his jaw, seeming to test its movement. “Having the time of my life,” he says without inflection. “I feel like I’m fourteen again.”

Stupidly, I almost apologise for that, a thing I have no control over. Instead of apologising for the thing Idohave control over, which is my own stupid mouth.

“Time to break some holds,” Gillian announces in a much too loud voice, considering he’s standing right next to our mat. “Lancaster, let’s start with the choke grab.”

Dirk tilts his head towards the officer. “Really?” he sighs.

“Yesreallydetective.”

“Fuck’s sake.” He grumbles under his breath. I have to smile. That’s the thing about Dirk. He’s always Dirk. Whether he’s angry, tired, or playful, he’s still justhim.

Dirk steps towards me, and I lift my chin a little as his hands, feeling very big, come up to my throat, loosely holding me there. I feel my cheeks redden as the touch, oddly intimate, immediately makes my mind go elsewhere. Knowing eye-contact right now will make this even more suggestive, I try to avert my gaze, an act made difficult by how much of my field of view he's taking up.

“Remember your training, Ginsburg.”

Dirk has basically let go by the time I bring my arms up inside his, supposedly breaking the hold.

“I’ve seen fish with a better grip than that Lancaster!”

“Yes sir,” Dirk groans.

“Mean it, next time!”

Don’t tempt him,I want to say.

“Alright, on the ground.”

By the time we’re on the ground, me resting back on my elbows and Dirk sat near my feet, waiting for when we need to get in position, Gillian has moved on to shout at another pair.

Since the timing is already terrible, I decide to make it worse. Clearing my throat, I start, “About what I said...”

Dirk gives me a look over my bent-up knees likenow? Really?

“About you being…”

“You don’t need to specify,” he cuts me off. “I remember.”

“I know, I just…”

“This ain’t the time for chit-chat, detectives!”

Jesus, this guy. I sigh, shifting fully onto my back.

“Pin hold Lancaster!”

“I got it,” Dirk grumbles, and right then it occurs to me that if his hands around my throat felt sexual, then him being on top of me is going to be… interesting.

Dirk takes hold of my wrists, circling them easily before pinning them against my chest. My knees are pulled back against my own body, feet up against his stomach as he kneels in front of me. Almost subconsciously, he twists his hips, dislodging my feet and working himself between my knees, pushing my legs open around his hips as he leans over me. The movement, and the result, send a thrill through my chest.

I shift, uncomfortable for reasons other than the pin hold. I’ve never actually seen him shirtless, but now I’m imagining it. And with his bare shoulders, and the singlet loose enough to hang down slightly and leave a view down from his collarbone, it’s not hard.

I’m supposed to break his wrist-hold, then do something else. But I’m having trouble remembering that move, especially when my eyes catch on the front of his pants, pulled taut by the open position of his knees.

“Any minute now, Ginsburg.”

Right. I definitely don’t do the move properly, Dirk just rolls and I end up on top of him like I’m supposed to, straddling his hips. Seriously, who invented these moves? This is the last position I want to end up in with a guy attacking me. And it’svery warm sitting over Dirk, him looking up at me, dark hair fanned around his head. I scrabble off him, flustered.

“Keep making it a walk in the park for her Lancaster, and you’ll be doing laps of the park.”

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