Page 60 of Mafia Daddy's Christmas Bride
“Okay. I should change.”
“Someone who is attacking you isn’t going to wait for you to put on gym clothes. You’re fine. We'll start with the basics. How to break a hold, where to strike to incapacitate. With your size, you'll need to be quick and precise.”
I nod, suddenly grateful for his foresight. For his protection.
For the way he's making me feel valued rather than just watched.
“The first rule of self-defense is awareness,” Roman says, circling me slowly. “Most attackers rely on surprise.”
I nod, remembering the man in the park. I’d been expecting Agent Blackwood, so I didn’t think anything of the figure heading toward me.
“Keep your awareness on me.”
He continues to move, and I try to focus on his words rather than the way his muscles shift beneath his shirt.
Roman stops behind me, close enough that I feel his breath on my neck. “If someone grabs you from behind…”
His arms suddenly encircle me, one across my collarbone, the other around my waist. He tugs me against him, my body pinned against his. I gasp at the contact.
“What do you do?” he asks, his voice low in my ear.
My mind goes blank, hyper-aware of his chest pressed against my back, his hands firm but careful not to hurt me.
“I… don't know.”
“Drop your weight,” he instructs. “Bend your knees and drive your elbow back—here.” He guides my arm to position. “Then stomp on their foot and run.”
I try the movement half-heartedly, and Roman sighs.
“You need to mean it, Isabella. Again.”
This time when he grabs me, I follow his instructions with more force, driving my elbow back, although still pulling it, and mimicking a stomp.
“Better,” he says, releasing me. “Now, if someone comes at you from the front…” He steps toward me, and I instinctively back up until I hit the wall. Roman places his hands on either side of my head, caging me in without touching me.
“What now?” he asks.
I stare up at him, pulse racing, although it’s not from fear. Heaven help me, I’m turned on by him. “I could… knee you?”
His eyes darken. “Yes. But first…” He takes my hands, places them against his chest. “Push hard against their solar plexus, then knee. Creates distance.”
I press my palms against his solid chest, feeling his heartbeat quicken beneath my touch. The training session suddenly feels like something else entirely.
“Like this?” I whisper.
Roman's gaze drops to my lips. “Yes. Just like that.”
We stand frozen, my hands on his chest, his body inches from mine. The air between us crackles with tension that has nothing to do with self-defense.
“Do you really want me to knee you?” I don’t want to hurt him. I want him to use that part of his anatomy.
“I want you to try.”
I look down at his groin.
“You have to act fast. You’ve given me way too much time to restrain you or kill you.”
I look up into his face. His dark eyes watch me. “Act fast?”
