Page 53 of Reckless: Collision

“How is it that music that loud knocks you out?” I cross my arms, studying the way exhaustion wars with defiance on her face.

“Drowns out the thoughts.” She grumbles and stands, stretching in a way that makes me look anywhere else.

“How long have you been in here?”

“Couldn’t sleep.” She rolls her shoulders, and I catch the slight tremor in her hands. Tech withdrawal, probably. Or maybe pure stubbornness.

“You need to find a way to sleep.” I struggle not to let alpha command seep into my voice. My instincts scream to force her to rest, to take care of herself. But that’s not what she needs. Not what will make her strong enough to survive.

“Excuse me?” The mockery in her tone hits every alpha button I have.

“If you refuse your body sleep, you’re worthless on the mat and in the field.” I meet her glare head-on.

“Well, alpha man, I’m not in the field.” She smirks, and something in me snaps.

“Fucking trouble.” I rush her without warning. Baptism by fire—the only way to see someone’s true instincts.

She comes alive instantly, dodging with a grace that makes my blood sing. That smile—sharp and deadly—curves her lips.

“Tsk, tsk, big guy.” She taunts, circling. “Just because you’re big doesn’t mean?—”

I take her legs out with a sweep. Her body hits the mat with a satisfying thud, air rushing from her lungs. I expect anger. Frustration. Maybe fear.

Instead, those green eyes narrow, and her smile turns feral. Before I can react, she executes a perfect roll, legs locking around mine in a takedown that leaves me staring at the ceiling, wondering what hit me.

That should not be as arousing as it is.

“Jujitsu.” I manage to gasp out, eyes caught on the flex of her thighs as I roll to my knees.

She shrugs, that crooked smile doing things to my pulse. “Just using my body structure to its advantages.”

“Alright.” I wipe my hands on my sweats, reassessing. “What else are you hiding?”

“Now why would I give away all my secrets?” She winks, and I decide it’s time to hit where it hurts.

“The report on the other night just came in.”

Interest flickers in her eyes. “Which report?”

“Quinn’s report on the night you hacked Sterling Labs and decided to jump between buildings.” I let contempt color my voice. “You ran instead of fighting.”

“Excuse the fuck out of you.” Anger blooms on her cheeks. “I was up against two assassins. I know when to get out of dodge.”

“And yet if you were properly trained, you wouldn’t have run.” I circle her slowly, watching her track my movement. Testing.

“Like I said, I know when to pick my battles.”

“And if you were properly trained, you would have taken out those assassins, and you wouldn’t be here.” Before she can retaliate, I spin her in a circle and stop suddenly, pointing her at a wall. “What can you use as a weapon in here?”

“What?” Confusion bleeds into irritation.

“Weapons. Now!” I bark, my voice reverberating off the walls as shoulders around the room instinctively straighten.

She spins to face me, jabbing my chest with one finger. “What the fuck is this?”

“Situational awareness.” I get right in her face, using my height to make her focus. “Assess your environment. Weapons and exits under duress.”

She rolls her eyes—one day I’m going to spank her for every time she does that. “I got out of there. This is a waste of time.”

---