Page 61 of Daddy's Bodyguard

“And you’re all about positive.”

“You know me.” I flash her a smile. “Always trying to find the sunshine on a rainy day.”

I get her in a good stance, promise not to hurt her, then teach her basic self-defense. She can’t flip me or anything, but after the third hesitation to hurt me and how light she’s going, I pick her up and pin her on the floor. She squirms and actually fights against me.

“Jasper! Let me up!”

“When we’re doing this, I’m not Jasper. I’m someone who’s trying to hurt you. Are you going to lightly tap their instep? Are you going to hold back when you elbow? You know I can take a shot and keep going. Don’t. Hold. Back.” I growl.

I let her up, and she glares at me before throwing her hair in a bun. “I was trying to be nice.”

“I like you mean and determined,” I remind.

She shakes her head. “If I hurt you, and you can’t do your job …”

“Then I must be shit at my job, to begin with. No holding back.”

“You’re going to be on your ass.”

I grin. When I grab her from behind, she jabs her elbow into my side but then switches it up, kicking my inner leg. Unfortunately for her, she chose the wrong leg to do that with. I end up falling forward and taking her with me.

She groans, then laughs. “Well, that wasn’t your ass.”

I roll her over and pin her arms above her head. “Now what, hellcat?”

She kicks at me but can’t get anywhere. I straddle her, which pisses her off even more. “Where’s all that bite?”

“Come closer, and I’ll show you,” she threatens.

I chuckle, and we keep going until we’re panting, sweating, and I have at least six bruises from her. She manages to get away the last time, turns like she’s still expecting me to come at her, then she laughs.

“I did it.”

“Mmhmm.” I rub my shin. “You did.”

Sofia does a little happy dance that’s so fucking cute and terrible I can’t help but smile. She sticks her tongue out at me, then tries to tackle me. I catch her and pin her to the floor. She groans as her body relaxes in surrender.

“No points for being cocky.”

“Well, obviously, if it were a real situation, I would have kicked him while he was down and run away.”

“Don’t go in for the kick,” I murmur, hovering above her. “Anyone conscious is going to grab your leg and pull you down. Take the extra seconds to run and get a weapon.”

“What weapons are in this room?” She looks around as if it’s obvious.

“Besides the ones I brought? Two lamps with cords that can be used to strangle. The chair. The very heavy TV. A pillow over their face. You can wrap a towel and use it to choke someone. The vase, one of the paintings.”

She blinks at me a few times. “Seriously?”

“Everything is a weapon if you know how to use it. And you can throw plenty, even as a distraction.” I brush my fingers across her cheek. “Useeverythingto keep yourself safe.”

“Okay.”

“I like you in one piece, and if you have to defend yourself, the goal is to stay alive. No matter the cost to the other person.”

“Until you can save me?”

“No matter what,” I say seriously. “Fight until you can’t … or until they’re dead.”

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