by Taylor Lee
He leaned closer. His eyes were dark, intense.
“Lexie, let us handle this. I promise you, I will keep you informed every step of the way. You don’t have to put yourself in any more danger than you already are.”
Lexie shook her head. She met his gaze and held it. She needed him to understand. She wanted him to support her even though she was sure he wouldn’t.
“I can’t, Jake. I can’t let you ‘handle’ this. I loved Anthony more than anything in the world. I will not stop until I find his killer. You won’t either, Jake. You would never step aside and let someone else run this investigation. Don’t ask me to do something you wouldn’t.”
She stood up, wavering slightly. Jake jumped up, catching her. He held both of her arms and pulled her close.
“Dammit, Lexie. You can barely stand. You have to take better care of yourself.”
Lexie leaned against him. She wanted the comfort of his arms. She longed to hold him. Have him hold her. But she knew if she gave in to her need, Jake would not let up until she agreed. He was too strong, too powerful. She had to resist him. She pressed her hands against his chest and looked up at him, meeting his fierce gaze.
“Please, Jake. Please go. I can’t talk about this anymore tonight. I need to go to bed. I…I’m exhausted. I think I can sleep tonight.”
Jake peered at her pale face. She looked so fucking fragile. He didn’t know how he could let her go. Christ, all he wanted to do was pick her up and carry her in to bed…and crawl in beside her. He took a deep breath and nodded.
“Yeah, Lexie. You need to sleep. Promise me you’ll call if you can’t sleep? Promise?
“And, Lexie? This conversation isn’t over. Uh uh, sugar, we’ve barely begun.”
Lexie blushed. “Thank you for being with me today at…at your office. And thank you for tracking me down tonight. I appreciate it.”
She looked down, not able to meet his hard stare. She hesitated, “|I … I wish I could be the kind of person you want me to be, Jake. But…but I can’t….”
Jake’s eyes narrowed. He shook his head and chucked her under the chin.
“Ah, darlin’ you don’t have to change a damn thing.”
~~~
Closing the door behind him with a sigh, Jake nodded to Brady in the shadows.
Brady stepped forward, pinning Jake with a knowing glance and gave a low whistle.
“Damn, Jake. I dunno what to say. Sure as hell didn’t expect you out here so soon. Given that scene at the bar, I assumed this was gonna be an all-nighter.”
Jake shook his head and grimaced. His voice was strained, curt.
“Did you ever think that maybe I’m not as much of an asshole as you think I am?”
Brady frowned. He was quiet for a moment and then said solemnly, “I’ve never thought you were an asshole, Jake. You’re the most honorable man I know.”
Jake glanced up in surprise. He nodded and gave his friend a rueful smile.
“Thanks, Brady. I just wish I could explain it to my dick. He’s not into this honorable crap. Can’t figure out what the hell is going on.”
Brady whistled again. “It’s gotta be tough, big guy. That is some woman in there. Looks that have every guy in the room hitching up his trousers and a feisty attitude that’s gotta drive you crazy, especially a protective son of a bitch like you!”
Jake gave a heartfelt sigh. “I gotta tell you, Brady. She is driving me crazy. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me. She’s got me ass over elbows and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it!”
He stopped for a minute then glowered. “Know what I found out tonight? That fucker not only was in her room at the motel, but he was pawing through her underwear! Playing with it! And he left it in a way to make sure she saw it, just to torment her.”
Jake hesitated trying to quell the red haze settling over him. His voice was whisper soft. “And she didn’t bother to tell me about it.” He added with a disgusted snort. “Oh, no, she just planned to handle it herself.”
Brady shook his head. “That’s hard, big guy. Not to pile on, but you haven’t exactly been approachable these last couple of days.”
Jake looked up, surprised, then shook his head in agreement.
“You’re right. I’ve been an overbearing prick. But, dammit, she won’t listen. She’s as stubborn as a mule after a fresh load of hay. She’s impervious to the danger. No matter what the threat, she’s convinced that she has to go it alone. Christ, Brady, you and I both know the message that perverted fucker was sending. Playing with her panties! They’ve marked her. She’s on their list.”
Jake’s stomach heaved. He choked back the bile rising in his throat. Fighting for calm, he shook his head.
“Do you want to know what that bar scene was about tonight? You ready for this, Brady? She’s putting herself out there. For bait. She’s almost at the place we are in the investigation. She knows Anthony was focusing on Senora Travieste and according to her ‘sources,’ the pimps and hookers on the street, the drug operation is using the girls at the strip joint. She figures if she gets hired on at Senora Travieste, then she can get the girls to trust her.” Jake’s voice rose. “And then all by her little itty bitty self, all 120 pounds of her, she’ll take down the drug lords and whoever else killed Anthony and plans to kill her.”
Jake stopped his rant and ran his hands through his hair. Pacing up and down the sidewalk, he didn’t know when he had been more frustrated.
Brady gave another of his low whistles. “Well, if her goal was to get noticed, she was a stunning success. Hell, that little show tonight will be the talk of the base and the impetus for a hell of lot of jerk offs for months to come.”
He sighed and gave Jake a sympathetic grin. “Yeah, Jake. I don’t know when I’ve met a more determined, independent minded woman than that one. I’d say you more than have your hands full with that feisty little minx.”
Jake grunted, a deep frown creasing his brow.
“You’re right, Brady. Independent doesn’t begin to describe her. Damn. She puts that chin of hers up in the air and I don’t know what I want to do more, turn her over my knee and paddle her ass or take her against the wall.”
Brady quirked a surprised brow then said with a salacious grin, “Yeah, man. I can see where that would be a hard choice.”
Chapter 16
Ignoring the gasps and gapes of the men who parted to let her through, Lexie sauntered to the far end of the dojo, staking out the punching bag in the corner. Tugging on her leather practice gloves, she slipped off her sweats and tossed them on top of her duffle bag. She yanked on the bottom of her abbreviated shorts to make sure they covered her butt. She’d long ago eschewed the regulation gi. An exercise bra and shorts allowed the unrestricted movement she needed for her rigorous practice. No matter what she wore, the men around her ogled her. May as well be comfortable, was her theory.
All Jake needed to find her was to follow the line of military grunts with their tongues hanging out and their hands discreetly over their groins. Across the huge room, he saw her blond ponytail and headed her way. Standing at a distance, he shook his head in admiration. He didn’t see how that bag could hold up under the fierce barrage of her feet and fists. He was so taken by her skill that he could almost ignore the fitted exercise bra and boy shorts that had every guy he passed refusing to meet his eyes. He thought with a satisfied grunt, at least he had done something right last night. After that exhibition at the bar, he doubted there was a soldier on the base that hadn’t heard about his outrageous claim. He grimaced. Nothing like marking your territory. He knew he should be embarrassed, but looking at the gorgeous woman attacking the bag with fierce determination, he wasn’t. His claim stood. Glancing around, he dared any man to cross into his territory.
She was so absorbed in her practice that he was sure she didn’t hear him approach.
He chuckled. “As Grandpa Peter John used to say, ‘leave some of that bag for the buzzards, darlin’.”
Her voice was curt.
“What are you doing here, Jake? Are you following me?”
He grinned. “Yep. That’s exactly what I am doing.”
He moved up next to her.
“I came to spar with you.”
Lexie started and stepped back. Giving her head a dismissive toss, she turned back to the bags and said over her shoulder, “Too bad! I didn’t come to spar today. I‘m working the bags.”
Jake arched a brow. His voice was soft. His eyes narrowed.
“That wasn’t an offer, sugar.”
He motioned to her duffle. “Get your things, Lexie. I’ve reserved a practice room for us.”
Lexie drew herself up to her full height and glared at him. Looking around, she saw the surreptitious glances of the fighters near them. Lowering her voice, she spit out a harsh whisper.
“Do you honestly think you can come in here and order me around like some flunky private?”
Jake flashed her a brilliant smile.
“The privates under my command are well trained. They rarely need orders. Now, you on the other hand…” He chuckled and reached for her bag.
“Let’s go, Lexie. The room is down the hall.”
She flushed, indecision warring across her face. She glared at him, then apparently deciding she couldn’t win, she reached over and grabbed the sweat pants out of her duffle.
Jake drawled, “Those aren’t necessary, darlin’.”
“Like hell they’re not,” she muttered as she pulled them on.
He grinned. “Too bad. Like every other guy in here, I’m kinda partial to those shorts of yours.”
He led her across the dojo to one of the private sparring rooms Master Wong set aside for training classes.
When they got inside, Jake closed the door behind him and leaned against it. Lexie’s eyes sparkled with anger.
“What are we doing, Jake? Why are you here?”
Jake studied her from half closed eyes. He worked hard to keep his anger at bay, instead said quietly, “Well, tell you what, Lexie. It’s like this. Since you’ve decided to take on the world single handed, I want to check out your skills.”
She stepped back in disbelief. “You want to test me? Fight me?”
He nodded with a teasing grin.
“Scared?”
He winked at her and dragged his t-shirt over his head baring a torso the likes of which she had rarely seen. She gasped and tried to swallow, but her mouth was long past spit. He was a perfectly proportioned male animal, muscular, hard -- and gorgeous. The black curly hair on his chest arrowed down his taut belly and below. The muscles on his chest and back rippled under his sun tanned skin. She couldn’t look away. She bit her lip, struggling against the sensations rioting over her when she saw the twinkle in his eye.
Tossing her head, she scoffed, “You really do think you’re hot stuff, don’t you?”
“Uh uh, darlin’, I don’t think it. I know it! Just like you know that you’re the hottest thing that’s been in this place since it opened. But, sugar, that’s beside the point.”
His grin faded. He moved away from the door toward her, a sleek dangerous panther.
“I’m serious, Lexie. You plan to prance into the world of murderers, drug lords, and scum of the earth? I want to see what you’ve got.”
Lexie glared at him, furious. Then her competitive gut clicked in. She jerked her chin toward the mat.
“You wanna fight, soldier? Fine. Prepare to get your ass kicked!”
A smile tugged at the corner of Jake’s mouth.
He kicked off his shoes and flexed his bare feet. He moved toward her and flicked his hand, motioning her to begin. Furious at his assumption to control the match, Lexie shrieked a fierce warrior cry and attacked. She spun in a circle and flew at him her heel landing a hard blow to his shoulder.
He grunted in surprise, then ginned in appreciation.
“Hot damn, woman! Let’s get it on!”
For the next five minutes, Jake evaded and deflected a fierce onslaught of kicks and strikes mixed with acrobatic flying leaps. She combined front and back flips with wild spins and vicious strikes. He was astonished at her aerial ability. Even among the Asian warriors he’d fought who made flying attacks their signature trademark, he had never seen anything like Lexie’s range of artistry. God, she was talented. And, it was a damn good thing that he was prepared and didn’t underestimate her because with any one of twenty different strikes she could have taken him down. But he knew the telling point was his superior strength. For most of the match, he played defense, only occasionally taking her on full force. Biding his time, he waited for a precise moment to catch her at a disadvantage. Turning one of her spectacular aerial leaps against her, with a practiced turn, he caught her high in the air, then flipped her over like a turtle on its back and pinned her to the ground.
She shrieked and fought against him. He saw the blind panic in her eyes, but rather than letting her go, he settled his large body over her and held her quietly not moving. He rested on his forearms his face inches from hers. She briefly struggled against him, then with a soft moan she gave up and relaxed into him. Jake felt her heart pounding wildly in her chest. He heard her soft raspy pants. Her cheeks and chest were flushed a rosy pink. There was no way he could hide his raging arousal. He didn’t try. Instead he went to the issue at hand.
His voice was hoarse. “You can’t stand to be pinned?”
She closed her eyes tight and rested her hot cheek against his hand. Her nod was barely perceptible.
He continued. “That’s what causes the panic?
She buried her face against his shoulder. “How did you know?”
He nuzzled her ear. His voice was soft, gentle. “I‘m a country boy, darlin’. I grew up hunting animals. I know the signs of panic when a vulnerable creature thinks it’s the end.”
When she didn’t answer, he waited for a moment to see if she would respond, to see if she would confide in him. When she was silent, he pressed further.
“Does this always happen when someone gets you down on the ground?’
She hesitated. “Not like before. And…not if it is you.”
He allowed himself to settle over her for a minute, to let her feel his calming strength. It was no mystery what hideous events in her past caused her terror reaction. He longed to wrap her in his arms and never let her go. If he could he’d spend a lifetime hunting down and killing the animals who had done this to her, he would. With a soft groan, he rolled off of her and sat up. He lifted her up and sat her in front of him.
She swallowed hard, then looked up and met his gaze.
He reached out and stroked her cheek. His voice was firm. “Okay, Lexie, we’re going to need to deal with this.”
She nodded.
He got up and went over to a small cabinet and grabbed two bottles of water. “Here, sugar, drink this.”
She took a deep swallow and sat quietly sipping on the water.
He settled back down next to her. “Want to tell me about it?”
She shook her head fiercely.
“Okay, then. How about this? Did Master Wan work with you on it?
She murmured, “Yes. And Anthony did. I’m much better than I was. It only happens if I’m caught off guard. Then, sometimes … I…I panic.
“Then what?
“In…in the beginning it would take three or four people to calm me down.”
Forcing himself to deal with the issues before him, he persisted.
“So in a fight situation, as long as you are in control, you are okay?”
She nodded.
He got up and started pacing across the room. He motioned to her to stand up and come over to him.
He chucked her under her chin.
“First off, L
exie. You are one hell of a fighter. You have moves, talents I‘ve never seen before. You are a formidable woman. The only way I was able to take you down is because I outweigh you by a hundred plus pounds and am nearly a foot taller than you are. Like you, I have been trained by the best. You’ll kill most fighters you encounter with your eyes closed. The problem is that three quarters of the grunts on this base are mixed martial artists like us. And every fucking gang member is not your average street thug. They are vicious, dirty fighters. They get a whiff of your panic and you’re dead meat.”
She lifted her chin dismissively. “So all I need to do is stay in control.”
Jake grinned at her defiance. Hell, no wonder she’s as good as she is. Nothing kept her down.
“Precisely. I’m gonna show you a few moves that are as dirty as any that will be thrown at you. I trained women in combat situations. Taught them self-defense moves to use against highly trained fighters twice their size. I’m glad to say that those moves saved more than a few lives.”
He waited a minute and when she didn’t answer, he said, “How about it, hotshot? Want to learn the dirtiest tricks in the business?”
She hesitated, then gave him an impudent grin. “Can I use them to beat off 6 ft. 4 inch hunks who annoy me?”
He held up his hands in mock defeat.
“Darlin’, you can take those guys down just by twitching that saucy ass of yours. It’s a guaranteed hunk killer.”
~~~
After four hours of rigorous training, Jake dropped her off at her house. As he turned to go, he called back over his shoulder.
