Page 49 of My Undead Heart
“Josh! Stop harassing my client!” Matt calls from across the room and only then does his stare meet mine for the first time this evening.Hot. Much like the temperature in this space. I can’t seem to glance away first. I attribute that mostly to my competitive nature. Only a tiny part is because Jared put filthy, sexy ideas into my head and now I can’tnotimagine them.
Matt takes a few steps closer, the two young men at his sides.
“Hey, Matt.” I wave.
“Mia, give me a few minutes. I’ll meet you on the mats.”
“Sure.” I slip my jacket off my shoulders and toe my shoes off before stepping over to the center of the workout space. Josh Grossy-grosser-son leaves without another word and I’m thankful Matt asked him to bug off. Not because I can’t turn him down, but more because I wouldn’t have been so nice. But it’s not my intent to cost Matt a client.
Matt jogs over. “Thanks for waiting. Sorry we ran late tonight.”
“It’s no problem. Your guys are looking good.” Not that I know anything about fighting, but from their effort and the sweat drenched clothes I’d think they had a good practice.
“Yeah, we’ve got a big fight coming up. Five of my guys are competing. It’s semi pro, and for some of them it’s their first time in the octagon. For others, it’s their chance to shine and get a ticket to the big leagues.”
“That’s awesome. You seem really invested in their success.”
“Yeah, it’s not entirely altruistic. The better the fighters are who come out of my gym, the more money and business for me, and as their coach, I’ll get a cut of the winnings. But even if I didn’t need the money I’d still be doing this. If I can’t fight, I might as well give back to those who can.”
I wonder why exactly he quit. If it was just his time or if there’s an age limit to a career in MMA. Not that Matt’s old, but I can’t imagine getting knocked around for sport is good on the body. I open my mouth to ask but before I can, he interrupts.
“Today we’re gonna work on escapes. I need you to trust me.”
“Trust you?” My brow lifts because I already hate the sound of this.
“Look, an attacker, a real one, isn’t going to give warning. He’s not gonna be nice. You’re doing great with training, so we need to move on to real life scenarios.”
“Okay ...” Apprehension pricks my nerves because I remember exactly how that feels, and how unprepared I was last time. Matt’s somber expression only heightens my fear.
“Trust me,” he says and I take a breath, nodding once.
He charges and my ass hits the floor before I see it coming. My first instinct is to run, but I can’t because his body weight presses me to the ground. I try using my heels as leverage against the mat but I go nowhere.
“Come on, Mia. What did I teach you?” Matt growls into my ear and it’s enough to knock me out of my surprise and into action.
“Help! Help! Get off me! Let me go!” I scream and my hands, free at the moment, grab his head and pull it tight to my chest so I can claw at the skin on Matt’s face. I almost feel bad, but then again, he started this. He also taught me the move.
Matt grips my wrists and pulls them from his head easily before springing back off the ground. “Good.” He holds a hand out to help pull me up.
“What the fuck was that?” Adrenaline surges through my body, and I’m left with a good dose of irritation and anger.
“I told you. That’s what we train for. The real thing. I do you no service by going through step-by-step drills if you freeze up when it’s go time.”
“I didn’t freeze up! I didn’t know you were going to do that!” I say but he only lifts his brow and meets my stare. “Okay, fine. I see the point. But I can do better. Let’s go again.” This time I back up a few steps and put my hands out wide so I can try and keep him from knocking me on my butt.
His lips pull into a smile that eventually fills his face. “Yes, ma’am. Let’s go.”
For the next thirty minutes Matt comes at me, sometimes unexpectedly, others with plenty of time to combat his advances. With each turn my movements become more natural, and Matt applauds my effort.
“Okay, I’m going to change things up on you now. You’ve got this.”
I nod, but once again he’s already charging forward. He grips one of my wrists but I get out of it. My smile only lasts a split second before he dives at me so quickly my back hits the floor and my breath releases in a rush. Matt’s hands press my wrists down on the mat. It shouldn’t be any different than all the other times we’ve run this drill. I know what to do, or what to try in order to get out, but the air charges between us. There’s a sexual current that only magnifies with his ragged breath.
I’m supposed to shout, lift my hips and thrash out until he loosens his hold, but instead my body has other plans. Lust, powerful and sudden pulses through my veins, replacing the adrenaline there earlier. Of their own accord my legs wrap around his hips. It’s not the first time we’ve fit together like this during training, but the other times were clinical. This is different. This time my body aches with need and it’s all I can do to not pull his body toward me and erase every inch of space between us.
Matt releases his hold on my wrists, his movements deliberate and restrained. Placing one hand beside each of my shoulders, he lowers himself closer, like the reverse of a push up in slow motion. He stops when there are only millimeters separating us and holds his chest above mine. His eyes are hooded and his mouth parts as he waits for my next move.
My fingers, now free, can’t help but skim down his chest and along his sides. His muscles are taut and strong. I stop once my hands rest on his abs, unsure of whether to continue my exploration or stop before things go too far.Do I want them to go too far?He’s so damn sexy, and kind, and funny too. But I’m not looking for another momentary hookup, and there’s no way he’s relationship material. Not for me.
