Page 8 of Allure

Declan takes his time walking over, a smug look on his face.

“Have you had any karate training before?” Sensei asks.

“None.”

“Would you feel comfortable trying to get to positions grappling with Declan? I just want to see what you know.”

I gape at Sensei. I just told him I have no training whatsoever. This is going to be embarrassing. Declan has one of those lean but muscular builds that suggests he could easily pick me up and throw me over his shoulder as if he’s a caveman and I’m his woman.

Which I am not and will never be.

“If you aren’t willing to,” Sensei starts.

“She’s not,” Declan says, his tone almost gloating.

What the fuck is his problem with me? Why is he always trying to cut me down to size?

Although, despite his being an ass about it, he did motivate me to get into that stretch deeper than I would’ve thought possible, and my back is properly stretched out to the point that I don’t have any back pain.

“I am,” I spit out, glaring at Declan and lifting my chin. I’m the only one sitting out of the three of us, but I refuse to look intimidated.

Declan can’t hurt me.

"Would you prefer to start in guard or in mount?" Sensei asks. "Normally, when we grapple, we'll start in position with one knee up and the other down, and you attempt to take control from there, but this is merely to gauge where you are."

I nod and don’t hesitate. “Guard.”

Declan throws back his head and roars. He has perfect teeth. Braces, I bet, and probably expensive teeth whitening procedures.

He gets down, and I wrap my legs around him.

“Hook your ankles,” Sensei advises. “Let her pull you in close. Yes, like that. And now away. Do you see? If you have control of the hips, you have control of their entire body. They’re limited if they can’t control their hips.”

“Okay.”

“Now, just try and see if you can force Declan onto his back so you can mount him.”

Holy fuck. I have my legs wrapped around the guy as it is, and now I have to mount him? Who knew that karate could sound so damn dirty?

I’m flushed already, I can tell, but I don’t let that stop me, and I try to pull him close.

“Hey,” he says.

“Piss off,” I grunt and try to force him back.

Only he doesn’t go anywhere.

“Hey,” he repeats, smirking wider now.

Frustrated, I try to shove him away with all of my might, and he doesn’t budge, not until he glances at Sensei. Then, Declan lets me move him back, but how does that help me? I need us to flip, and the only way I can think about doing that is like in the bedroom, when you’re changing sexual positions, so I draw him in close again, wrap my hands around the back of his neck, and bump my hips. I have to try a few times, but I finally get us to roll over.

Only my legs are now pinned beneath him. This isn't the mount position at all. I screwed up. I try to get my legs free, but Declan is already rolling us back over, so I'm in guard again.

“Can’t you tell me—”

“Declan, don’t answer her. Let her try. I want to see how her mind works,” Sensei says.

Fuck. What’s the harm in either of them telling me what to do and my trying it? I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. And besides, I had been asking Sensei for help, not Declan. I don’t think that fucker would give me a hint if his life depended on it.

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