Page 42 of Dating After the End of the World
He tries to shrug her off, but her grip is far too strong, so he acquiesces to her affection instead.
“This isn’t wrestling. This is combat training, and it’s serious.” Blake lifts his chin. “Now, everyone, line up.”
I huff and do as he says, taking my place next to Tessa.
“The key to dealing with an enemy is to remain calm and remember to always fall back on your training. Right now, you have none.”
“I do,” Greg argues.
Blake eyes him momentarily. “Like I said, right now you have none. But when I’m done with you, you will.” He paces back and forth in front of us, his arms behind his back, one hand gripping the wrist of the other arm.
Tessa leans over and whispers, “This is probably his sexual fantasy—to role-play as a drill instructor.”
“Can you imagine him in bed?” I whisper back. “The key to sex is penetration; right now you have none, but when I’m done with you, you will.”
Tessa bursts out laughing.
“What’s so funny over there?” Blake looks to us as we try to contain our amusement.
“Nothing,” I say, before pressing my lips firmly together to contain my laughter. Blake’s gaze lingers on me with an intensity I haven’t noticed before. Did he hear what I said? Does he think I picture him in bed? Because I don’t. Well, aside from that weird dream I had this morning. But that’s just a subconscious thing, probably from all the stress. My palms start to feel clammy, and my heart rate increases at the thought of him thinking that I do picture us in bed. But I can’t. I couldn’t even picture him picking me up, my legs wrapping tightly around his waist while he grabs my ass, my fingernails raking across his broad back ... it’s unfathomable. I shake the thought away.
“We’re going to start with the basics of hand-to-hand combat,” Blake says, continuing to pace. “This is a last resort if you’re disarmed or caught off guard without a weapon, which will happen at some point. Would someone care to come up and demonstrate an exercise with me?” He scans the group, waiting for a volunteer.
“What’s he gonna do? Beat the shit out of Elaine to teach the group?” I whisper to Tessa. She cups her mouth to hold back laughter.
“Casey!” Blake points at me. “How about you come on up?”
I give Tessa a strained look.
“Looks like he’s going to beat the shit out ofyouto teach the rest of us,” she says with a laugh.
Blake beckons by curling his finger.
I let out a sigh and make my way to the front. It’s quiet, save for the grass crunching beneath my feet as the group waits on bated breath for the spectacle that’s about to take place. I take my place a few feet from Blake and wait for his instructions.
“Thank you for volunteering, Casey.” He smirks.
“I didn’t volunteer. You . . .”
“Let’s give Casey a round of applause, everyone!” Blake turns to the group and starts clapping. In response, clapping begins but in off beats with muted slaps.
“Go, Casey,” Elaine cheers. She’s the only one displaying any sort of enthusiasm, but I think it’s because she’s just happy to be doing something different from gardening and cooking.
“All right, so for this first exercise, I want Casey here to try and take me to the ground. She doesn’t have to pin me, she doesn’t have to get me to tap out, she just needs to make my feet leave—”
I drop my shoulder into Blake’s side while he’s still explaining the instructions and drive through the tackle, taking him to the ground.
“Ufff,” he moans, hitting the hard dirt.
There’s a mix of muted laughter and gasps as I lie on top of him, grinning.
“You didn’t wait for my go-ahead,” he says.
I climb off Blake’s muscular torso and get to my feet. “Is that what usually happens in combat? Does the enemy call outI’m ready?” I chuckle.
Blake stands and brushes off the grass and dirt clinging to his pants, staring at me tight-lipped. “What I meant to say was well done, Pearson. The element of surprise is a powerful tool indeed.”
He comes across like a mix between a game show host and a karate instructor, clearly trying to hide his anger and embarrassment. I already know my next bout with him will not be so easy.
