Page 44 of Until You're Mine
Brooklyn tilted her head, shooting me that same exasperated expression she’d given me dozens of times in the past month. “You’re a professional fighter, Shane. He’s not getting into the cage with you.” She even stepped in front of him, shielding him from me—he definitely wasn’t qualified to protect her. And I thought he should know that.
“Not me.” I jerked my chin at Brooklyn. “Have you seen your girl in action? You should get into the cage with her and let her show you a few moves.”
He chuckled and placed his hands on her shoulders, increasing my desire to break every one of his fingers. “I wouldn’t want to hurt her.”
“Yea—wait. What?” Brooklyn glanced over her shoulder at him. “I’ve had a lot of training. I pretty much grew up in this gym.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist and tucked his chin on her shoulder. “I know, angel, but I outweigh you, and men are just physically stronger.”
I couldn’t write this shit and hand him more perfect lines to piss her off. Her jaw tightened, and any second her eye would start twitching.
“Hmm,” I said, nodding and putting on my most overly-contemplative look. “I guess I never thought of that. What about you?Angel?”
“I’m… I don’t…” Now she turned the sharp smile on Trey. “You don’t think I could show you a few moves? I’ve had a lot of self-defense training.”
“Yeah, but I don’t think those work much in real life situations.”
“Okay, then. Let’s just see.” She walked over to the cage and gestured her boyfriend inside. I moved closer, and she poked her finger through one of the links to jab me in the chest. “You… Justgrr.”
“Now is that any way for an angel to behave?”
“After I show him how well my self-defense moves work, I’m going to come test out yours, and I hope you’re ready, because I’m planning on murdering you.”
“Can’t wait.” I blew her a kiss, riling her up a bit more for good measure.
While the other guys had hung back, they began to crowd closer, and there were even a few jeers and cheers. Sounded like all of us wanted to see Preppy Boy hit the mat.
“Okay, so come at me,” Brooklyn said.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
Brooklyn’s entire demeanor drifted into patronizing territory. “Trust me, that’s not something you should be afraid of.”
A muscle in his jaw flexed—finally, one of his buttons had been pushed. That would make this even more satisfying.
He moved closer and then reached out to grab her. She wrapped up his arm, and put her other hand around his neck, halting his progress toward her. Then she took it up a notch, executing a flying arm bar and rolling him onto the ground before he even knew what the hell he’d gotten himself into.
Jeers and a few snickers traveled through the captive audience.
Preppy Boy stood up, his face bright red. “In a real attack, I wouldn’t come at you so slow. I’d—”
“Less talk, more walk,” Brooklyn said, her fiery side out and fully in control.
He came at her, harder this time. She dove for his leg and used his weight against him, executing the same sweep she’d gotten me with the first night we’d stepped in the cage. Thesmackof his back hitting the mat sounded extra loud in the quiet.
The gym erupted.
The fire drained from Brooklyn’s features as she glanced around, remorse taking its place. I hadn’t meant for that part to happen, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy watching her school the guy. “So, um, yeah. Those defensive moves really do work.” She stood and offered her boyfriend a hand up, and the crybaby didn’t take it. Once he’d pushed himself to his feet, Brooklyn wrapped her fingers around his upper arm. “Let’s get out of here and grab some dinner.”
“Sure,” he said, tension brewing in the air between them. I tried to feel bad about causing it but couldn’t bring myself to. What could I say, she’d turned me into a jealous asshole.
She dug the keys out of her pocket and tossed them to him. “The Mustang’s in the parking lot behind the gym. I’ve just got to grab a few things, then I’ll be right there.”
I could practically feel the frustration wafting off her as she brushed past the sea of onlookers. They scattered, but I didn’t have good survival skills, so I followed her.
Her purse caught on something under her desk, and when she yanked it, everything spilled out and went flying. I bent to help, and she snatched the items out of my hand and stuffed them in her purse. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“You did it, and I’m proud as hell. He needs to know what you’re capable of.”
