Page 38 of Fall to Me
“Okay,” I say, stepping back. “I know you’re already hyper-aware of your surroundings. Usually, people don’t notice what’s right in front of them until it’s too late. You, on the other hand, are constantly registering threats, so you’re already ahead of the game.”
Holding her hand in mine, I show her how to form a proper fist. Her hand trembles, so I dust my thumb across the top of her knuckles to help calm her nerves. I instruct her on how to throw a punch, then we go through palm strikes and a couple of basic moves: breaking wrist holds and using her hips to shift her weight.
We work through different scenarios for half an hour before I take her through palm strikes again. After a few uncertain tries, she ends up landing a palm strike to my chest, just like I showed her, and the force of it takes me by surprise.
I chuckle as I catch my breath. “Look at you, little badass. See baby, you’re so much stronger than you think.”
Her entire face lights up. There’s more confidence in her smile this time. “Thank you.”
“You’re the one putting in all the hard work,” I call over my shoulder as I walk over to grab her water.
When I make it back to her, I place the water bottle into her hand and look into her eyes. “I know what you’re capable of, but I’m glad you’re finally seeing it. Now that you have that down, you ready to move onto something a little more intense?”
Her chest rises and falls, but her breaths stay even. Good sign. Pride swells in my chest.
She’s remarkable.
Sweat beads along her brows, and she brushes a loose strand of hair sticking to her forehead with her arm, then passes the water bottle back to me.
“Let’s go,” she says, getting into position.
That’s my girl.
I set her water bottle down and guide her shoulders, encouraging her to turn around.
“Alright,” I say as my hand trails from her shoulder to her elbow. I don’t miss the hitch in her breath or the goosebumps that pebble her skin, but I continue anyway. “If someone grabs you from behind, drive your elbow back.”
She drives her elbow back as I instruct, but her movements are too slow, like she’s afraid of hurting me. I step in closer. Close enough for my chest to press against her back.
“Is this okay?” I murmur next to her ear.
She nods, leaning into me. “Yeah,” she says a little breathless.
Guiding her through the motion again with my hand loosely curled around her arm, she brings her elbow back into my ribs.
“Very good. Alright. I’m gonna wrap my arms around your front, and I want you to give me everything you got.”
My arms go around her. This time, the force of her elbow knocks the wind right out of me. She turns to face me as I bend down, trying to catch a breath.
River places a hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay? I’m sorry.”
Fuck me. That’s gonna leave a bruise. I gasp a breath and right myself, rubbing the spot on my ribs and grunting out, “Yeah. I’m good.”
After I catch a full breath, I chuckle. “Damn, baby, you have a lot of power. I’m fucking proud of you.”
She steps in close, pressing her body to mine, wrapping her arms around my waist, and burying her head in my chest. “Thank you. I can’t remember the last time anyone other than my family has said those words to me.”
Even though the words try to claw their way out of my mouth, I swallow them down. It’s probably not the best time to remind her that we’re family—she’s the most important person in my life—my wife; accident or not.
When I kiss the top of her head and give her ponytail a playful tug, she leans back, her gaze flicking back and forth between my eyes and my lips.
I want to kiss her. God. I really fucking want to. And it would be so easy. She’s giving me all the signs and staring up at me with a look in her eyes that I haven’t seen before.
But instead of kissing her like I want to, I take a step back.
“Lesson’s over for today.” I brush past her, heading up the stairs and calling over my shoulder, “Same time tomorrow.”
She’s vulnerable right now, and any praise or attention that I give to her is gonna feed her dopamine and possibly confuse her feelings for me. She may want to kiss me now, but if I know anything about River, it’s that she’d probably regret it within ten minutes.
