Page 61 of Knot Beneath the Mistletoe

She nods, determination replacing the nervousness in her amber eyes. When I tug on her wrist, she moves exactly as I showed her—stepping to the side while rotating her arm and pulling down. The movement breaks my grip cleanly.

“Perfect.” Pride mingles with desire as I watch her face light up. “Your timing was excellent. How did that feel?”

“Like I actually did something right.” She laughs, brushing escaped strands of hair from her face. “Can we try it again?”

“Of course. This time, I’ll grab a little harder. In a real situation, they won’t be gentle about it.”

We practice the move several more times, her confidence growing with each successful attempt. Her smile gets broader, more genuine, and the way she looks at me after each success tightens my chest.

“You’re a natural,” I tell her, and her answering blush is worth any amount of restraint it takes to keep teaching instead of pressing her up against the nearest wall and licking her all over.

“One more time?” she asks, practically bouncing on her toes now.

I grab her wrist, and she executes the move flawlessly—but this time, she adds a little twist of her own, using the momentum to step inside my guard. Her free hand comes up to brace against my chest, and suddenly, we’re toe to toe, her face tilted up to mine.

“How was that?” she asks, slightly breathless.

Dangerous woman. “Creative.” My voice comes out rougher than intended. “But now you’re in range for this—” I slide my free arm around her waist, pulling her flush against me. Her small gasp shoots straight through me. “An attacker could easily grab you like this.”

She’s so tiny against me, fitting perfectly under my chin. Every point of contact burns—her hands on my chest, her hips against mine, the sweet curve of her waist under my palm. I want to slide my hand lower, grab her ass and lift her up, pin her to the wall and?—

Damn it.

“So, what’s my move here?” she asks, looking up at me through those lashes. She has to know what that does to a man.

“First instinct might be to push away.” I tighten my grip slightly. “But I’m stronger. Instead—” Fuck, her scent is intoxicating this close. “Instead, you want to drop your center of gravity. Bend your knees.”

She follows my instruction, but the movement just makes her body drag against mine in all the right ways, mostly her rubbing against my groin. Wrong ways. Focus on the lesson.

“Now, remember how we used momentum before? Same principle, but you are twisting away from me.” My voice has gone hoarse. “Your elbow—” I guide her arm into position. “It goes here, into their solar plexus. Quick jab, then spin out.”

“Like this?” She demonstrates the movement in slow motion, her body rolling against mine. Has to be deliberate, the way she does it.

“Faster,” I manage. “Element of surprise is crucial.”

She tries again, this time with more speed. The elbow comes up—still pulling the punch, but better—and she spins away. But she’s smiling over her shoulder at me as she does it, and that smile is pure trouble.

“How was that?”

“Better. But a real attacker won’t let you go that easily.” I reach for her again, this time catching both her arms from behind. “They might grab you like this.”

She fits too perfectly against me, her back to my chest, her ass pressed against my cock. I have to grit my teeth against the urge to grind against her.

“Now what?” Her voice has gone breathy.

“Stomp down… not now, just demonstrating,” I quickly add as she shifts. “Hard as you can on their instep. Then throw your head back into their face.”

“Into their nose?” She demonstrates the movement in slow motion, her head barely brushing my chin. “Like you got hit?”

I chuckle darkly. “Exactly like that. Though I’d prefer you didn’t demonstrate that one at full speed.”

“Scared I’ll break your nose, tough guy?”

“Scared I’ll do something entirely inappropriate if you keep wiggling against me like that.” The words I hadn’t intended slip out.

She goes still in my arms, but her scent spikes—sweet and wanting. My hands flex on her arms.

“Like what?” she whispers.

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