“Hold out your hand.” I extend my arm palm side up, and hetsks. “No, like this.” He flips it over and begins wrapping it in red tape. When he’s finished, he does the other. “You want a piece of me? Let’s do it.” He unlatches the door and ducks inside.
“You can’t be serious,” I say as he hops on the balls of his feet, stretching his neck from side to side.
“Show me whatcha got, princess.” He smacks his fist into his palm. “Unless, of course, you’re scared.”
I square my shoulders. “I’m not scared.” When I don’t move, he clucks like a chicken. I roll my eyes. “You’re such a child, youknow that?” But Jace must know me better than I give him credit for because I find myself inside the octagon, caged in on all sides.
He waves me over with both hands. “C’mon.”
I jab in his direction.
Jace’s laughter echoes in the empty space. “You can do better than that.”
I drop my arms to my sides. “This is stupid.”
“Fine. Whatever.”
He throws his hands up and moves toward the door, but the nerves tumble in my gut when I finally realize what this is about. Jace is sharing himself with me. He’s showing me a small piece of who he is, and I’m shitting all over it. If I want to get to know him, this is where I have to start.
“Show me how to punch.”
He looks over his shoulder before turning around. “Raise your fists like this. Always protect your face, right?” I imitate his fighting stance. “Good.” He comes behind me next and grasps my hips with his large hands. “Bend your knees a little.” His breath tickles my neck as he leans in behind me, pressing his strong body against my back. Still gripping my hip in one hand, he uses the other to guide my punch. “You got that?” The question is a hoarse whisper floating past my ear. I pull a deep breath into my lungs, but his scent comes with it, disturbing my sense of calm.
“I think I’m okay now,” I say, but the sound of my own voice is alien. It’s breathy and light like the flutter in my chest when he backs away, taking his heat along with him.
This time, when I throw a punch, it makes a connection. Jace doesn’t blink from my force, but I can see in his face that I did a good job. When I throw another, he leans to the side, and I end up catching air. Right, left, right; I begin my attack.
A sheen of sweat breaks out on my skin. I advance on him with my heart and soul, all the pent-up anger pouring from myknuckles with each grunt and groan. I fight with everything I have, against everything I’ve lost. My mother, my friends, my life … I pound it to dust and don’t stop until my muscles ache and my throat burns. There’s freedom in each punch, redemption in every kick. I lose myself in the fight, but in return, I find something new. A strength I never knew I had.
Gazes locked, we circle the octagon. I try to trick him by faking right, but Jace catches my arm and pulls me in. I smack hard into a wall of muscle with anoomph. He sweeps my legs out from under me, and we tumble to the mat. Flat on my back for the second time today, Jace hovers above me, pinning my arms over my head. “You give?”
“Never.” I kick my leg out and wrap it around his waist to flip him over. I press my palms flat on his heaving chest, straddling his thighs.
“You think you’re tough now, huh?”
“A little.”
“You forgot the most important rule.”
Before I have time to ask, he sits up and tackles me backward. His arms hook under my knees. Pulling them forward, he slides up my body and anchors my biceps. I’m trapped in a spread eagle with Jace on top of me.
“You didn’t secure my arms.”
Heavy breaths beat together. Pressed against mine, the solid lines of his body hold me captive. I have no choice but to claim defeat. “Give.”
But Jace’s unyielding hold doesn’t falter. Instead, a devious grin splits his face. “I think I prefer you like this.” He runs his nose up my jaw. “Helpless. Under my control.” His arousal begins to take shape, his hard length pushing against my dampening core. “Why do I get the feelin’ you like it, too?”
I wriggle in an attempt to escape, but it only makes him grind into me. A whimper falls from my lips. Fire explodes in Jace’sgaze. A burning, blue ember twisting and roiling that makes my soul quiver. “You wanna get up, princess?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Say it.”
“I-I wanna get up.” The words rush from my mouth with a single breath. I arch my back, the feel of him thick and ready making my eyes roll beneath my lids.
He leans in closer, his lips brushing my lobe. “You don’t seem so sure.”
“Please?” Although, I’m not exactly sure what I’m begging for. My hormones are a runaway train. I have lost all semblance of control.