“We’re in this together, and I’ll help in any way I can, Hannah.”
And because the school had already written her off as a promiscuous whore, Eric slammed on the brakes, reached for her and planted a firm, reassuring kiss on her lips.
She melted against him, clutching his shirt.
“You’re going to get through this,” he murmured against her lips. “Stoddard Wentworth won’t win this one.”
“Thank you. I think I needed to hear that.” She sighed. “I’m going to have a lot of time on my hands, being on leave, so I’m going to do some digging into his past. Find any skeletons in his closet that I can.”
That unease was back. “Be careful.”
“Of course.”
“And I want to work out tonight.”
His brow arched as an image filled his head.
“Not that kind.” She slapped his arm lightly. “Or yes, that kind. But I mean, I want to go to the dojang and let off some steam first. Kick the heck out of that hanging bag.”
“I’m in. For both of those.” He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip as need rose swiftly in his blood. “But for now, since I’ve got the rest of the day off, let’s get back to your place and do some digging on this scumbag.”
*
Hannah hadn’t realizedhow much pent-up anger she had until she slammed the side of the weight bag in the dojang with a sidekick.
There was the loud slap of her bare foot connecting with the leather before it swung back, higher than ever before.
Apparently, rage was a good source of tapping extra strength.
When it was time to spar, she wasn’t timid or uncertain. She held nothing back. And when she was paired up with Eric, it seemed he felt the same.
They sparred with a fierce focus that left her with the deep-down feeling he was preparing her.
She didn’t want to imagine the possibility of what for.
“People aren’t going to fight fair,” Eric said after class on the drive back to her apartment. “You need to be prepared for that. Be prepared to fight for your life. That’s why I was harder on you tonight.”
“I know. And I appreciate that.”
When they entered her apartment a short while later, she closed the door and pushed him against it.
“I appreciate you. More than you’ll ever know.” She rose on her tiptoes to instigate the kiss this time—claiming him with a confidence and hunger on a level she’d never felt before.
He groaned, sliding his hands to her ass and squeezing. “Shower?”
“Shower,” she agreed.
He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist, the stiff fabric of their uniforms snapping like they were back in the dojang.
Once they were naked and under the hot spray of water, her need for him had swelled to a pulsing ache. One he quickly released with a few knowing strokes of his finger.
He was always so giving and thoughtful as a lover. The way he’d teased her to release with his tongue endlessly over the weekend still left her breathless. She wanted to do the same to him now.
She pulled her mouth from his and sank to her knees, kissing his chest and tangling her fingers in the coarse hair there.
Then moved lower.
“Hannah.” His fingers eased into her hair, pulling the hair tie free and letting the strands fall down her back under the stream of water.