No Holding Back

by Lori Foster

  * * *

  THE NEXT MORNING, wearing snug shorts, a clingy tank top and battered sneakers, Star looked entirely different—and downright edible. Cade watched as she twisted her long hair up onto her head. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. No matter what she did, or how she dressed, he found her irresistible.

  But like this? Her body clearly outlined under the close-fitting clothes, those long, toned legs on display... He wasn’t a saint. Far from it. And right now, he’d rather take her back to his room, where they could both get naked.

  The more he had her, the more he wanted her.

  It was like an addiction—Cade’s first, since he avoided vices. This vice, though, sating himself on Star’s unique brand of sex appeal, he didn’t mind at all.

  The plan was to spar here in the privacy of his father’s private gym so he could assess her ability, fine-tune what she already knew and teach her a few new tricks.

  Most important, she had to be able to defend herself. If anything should happen to him, which was unlikely but still possible given his vocation, he needed to know Star would be okay.

  “Quit primping,” he finally said, knowing it would rile her. “If someone attacks, you won’t have time to put up your hair.”

  She snorted and strode out to the middle of the mat. “You might have to pay for that.”

  Banking a grin, Cade joined her, then easily ducked the swing she threw and followed it by tripping her to her back.

  Instead of being annoyed, she stared up at him with a smile and a droll “That was slick.”

  Little by little, he got used to her attitude. She got angry when someone tried to take over, him included, but she was always up to learn something new and didn’t mind being instructed.

  Or tripped to her back.

  Cade held out a hand. “Your turn to try it.” He showed her the moves, when to pull, how to use her feet in combination with her hands and body, and by the third try, she nailed it.

  “Good job,” he praised as he rolled back to his feet. “Especially since I’m a lot bigger.”

  Her mouth twisted to the side. “You let me do that.”

  “To see if you could, yes. While I’m coaching, that’s the best way. We’ll get to the hard-core stuff soon, I promise. One step at a time. Okay?”

  “If you say so.” She got into her stance. “Ready when you are.”

  For the next hour they practiced hard, and by the end, Star was a lot smoother. No matter how many times she hit the mat, she didn’t get frustrated or angry.

  She brushed herself off, asked pertinent questions and tried again.

  She had so much moxie it made him want her even more. How was that possible?

  Groaning, she rolled to her back. “I think I finally understand it. Thanks for not losing your patience.”

  Amazing. How many women—or men, for that matter—would thank him for repeatedly tossing them to their backs? Star was unique because her motives were unique, and they aligned with his in a way he hadn’t expected to find. Definitely not with a woman he desired.

  She wanted to be highly trained to successfully attack, defend and rescue those in need, even against the most insurmountable odds. Her mettle impressed him, as did her dogged attitude.

  “Hello,” she teased. “Yoo-hoo, Cade. You still with me? You’re just staring.”

  Shaking his head, he squatted down beside her and got back to the business at hand. “That’s one move,” he explained. “We’ll work every day until you have a cache of ingrained responses. The idea is for it to be automatic. What one person does triggers what you do, preferably without you having to think about it.”

  “That’s what you do, huh? The other night at the bar, it amazed me how easy you made it look.”

  Drawn by the way her sweat-dampened shirt stuck to her breasts, how the waistband of her shorts rode low to reveal a strip of her flat, damp stomach, he felt himself stirring.

  “Bad example, because they weren’t much challenge at all. With trained men, it’d be a little tougher.”

  Her lips quirked. Still breathless, she pushed a hank of hair off her temple and asked, “Tougher, but not impossible?”

  Cade couldn’t claim an ounce of modesty, not when it came to his ability. “I’m good.”

  Her voice dropped as she purred, “At many things.”

  That did it. He started to reach for her, but she utilized the move he’d taught her and lunged for him instead.

  Laughing, he countered it by catching her to him, then rolling her to her back to come down over her, pelvis to pelvis, his hands holding her breasts but his elbows catching some of his weight.

  Eyes gone heavy, she asked, “Is this a legit move?”

  “Damn right,” he said, devouring her mouth with a kiss that made him forget about further lessons. Star always tasted so good, and now her exertion had intensified her scent. As he breathed her in, it added to the sudden onslaught of lust.

  When he moved to kiss her throat, she whispered, “Then I’m glad it’s you teaching me instead of your brother.”

  Reyes? Jealousy slammed into Cade, and he reared back to scowl at her—only to see her barely repressed grin. He should tell her that joking like that wasn’t allowed. He opened his mouth—

  Taking swift advantage of his distraction, she bucked him to the side and straddled his hips.

  Laughing in triumph, she said, “That was a joke, for crying out loud.”

  “I’m not sure it’s funny.”

  She only laughed harder. “All’s fair in love and war.”

  Thoughtful, Cade caught her waist to keep her still and asked, “Which are we?”

  Her expression shut down at the question. “Um...”

  Yeah, maybe he shouldn’t have asked that. Star was still skittish about any references to their relationship. He knew he had to go slow, to give her plenty of room.

  Every day that got a little harder.

  For now, he slowly grinned, then flipped her again and said, “You’re too easy.”

  “Jerk.” She smacked his shoulder, then blanched and carefully pulled aside the neckline of his shirt. “I keep forgetting you’re wounded. Maybe because you don’t act like you are.”

  “I forget myself. It doesn’t hurt anymore.” When he was this close to Star, his physical need blunted everything else.

  He started to kiss her again, but she protested. “No. I’m gross with sweat. Let’s go shower first.”

  Clearly she was getting used to being in his father’s house. One of these days he’d have to tell her that he had a place of his own. He hadn’t yet because he didn’t want her to insist on leaving.

  If Star weren’t with him, he’d be home alone right now, but Mattox’s last threats had been extreme and they didn’t yet know what was going on with Adela. He hadn’t said it to Star, but they’d take care of that soon. Another reason to stay here. Being in his father’s fortress during a sting was not only the safest place to be, but it also provided the quickest way to get info.

  While they were still sprawled together on the floor, the door opened and Reyes and Madison stepped in.

  Seeing them entwined, Reyes quipped, “Not sure that form of defense will be effective.”

  Maybe he needed to teach his brother a new lesson, Cade thought as he moved away from Star. She sat up but didn’t yet say anything.

  “Got any gas left in the tank?” Reyes asked her.

  She rolled her shoulder. “Could be. Why?”

  “I want to give it a go.”

  “Nope.”

  “Chicken?” Reyes asked.

  Slowly, Star looked up. “If you persist, I’ll agree. But I strongly advise you wear a cup, because I’ll go after your vulnerable spots full force.”

  Scowling, Reyes tucked his hips back, his hands protectively folded over his junk. �
��That’s not how you spar.”

  “That’s how I spar—with you.” Her smile looked evil. “I have wicked knees.” She clenched a hand. “And my fist isn’t too bad, either.”

  “Damn.” Reyes turned his accusing gaze on Cade. “What the hell are you teaching her?”

  Already grinning, Cade held up his hands. “I’d say the animosity was taught by you.”

  “Men and their precious jewels,” Madison complained. She kicked off her shoes and stalked closer. “Come on. I’ll go a round or two with you, and the boys can observe.”

  Star’s smile slipped. “I don’t think—”

  “I’m trained,” Madison promised. “But I’d prefer not to get my lady parts wounded, so how about we make this a teaching moment? Cade and Reyes can then offer suggestions. They are good at this sort of thing, you know.”

  Brows up, Star looked at him for confirmation. Cade nodded. “Madison knows what she’s doing, and she is good, so why not?” He gave Reyes a shove that nearly took him off his feet. “Even my brother occasionally has valuable input.”

  Under her breath, Star grumbled, “It’s the audience I object to,” but she got to her feet and quickly tucked loose hairs into her topknot. With a glare at Reyes, she said, “No color commentary, got that? Just pertinent facts.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Then he said to Madison, “Go easy on her.”

  Star drew a big breath, got in a stance—and barely stopped Madison when she shot in on her.

  Standing next to Reyes, Cade watched Star deflect one move after another. To his brother, he said, “She’s actually better than I realized now that she’s with someone closer to her own size.”

  “She’s fast,” Reyes agreed. Then with a sideways glance at Cade, he added, “But how often will she get attacked by someone smaller?”

  True enough. Madison was shorter than Star, though both were tall, but she was probably thirty pounds lighter. Where Star was sturdy, Madison was delicate.

  His sister compensated for that with speed and agility, and a refined skill in technique. He could see that both women had forgotten about the men watching while they enjoyed the combat.

  Star, especially, looked invigorated. She even laughed a few times, either when she missed Madison, or when she caught a hit or kick.

  Reyes stepped closer, calling out to their sister, “Wrong leg. Left...now the right.”

  “Block it,” Cade countered to Star. “That’s it. You have to immediately move.”

  “When she reaches for you, grab... Yeah, that’s it.”

  Star had tried grabbing Madison’s wrist, but Madison knew that move and how to counter it. She locked her own hand over Star’s and pivoted, and Star ended up with her arm twisted behind her, forced to her knees.

  Cade briefly stepped in to show Star how to avoid that trick. He encouraged them to go through the same scenario three more times before he was satisfied that Star had it down.

  Once she’d nailed it, he had them reverse so that Star knew how to use the move to subdue an attacker.

  “She’s a quick learner,” Reyes said.

  Without taking his eyes off the women, Cade nodded. “A natural survivor. Always has been.”

  “Didn’t have a choice?” Reyes asked without his usual caustic humor.

  “No, she didn’t.” Distracted, Cade said, “You’re being defensive, Star, instead of offensive. Don’t try to escape until you have control.”

  This time Reyes demonstrated, and with him in teacher mode, Star didn’t seem to mind.

  Life would be easier if those two got along. Ignoring him wouldn’t do her much good, would in fact only encourage Reyes to ramp up the taunts. So far, Star had managed by giving as good as she got, and Cade had a feeling she’d earned Reyes’s respect because of it.

  More kicks were thrown, punches blocked.

  “How about another lesson?” Cade asked. “That is, if you’re both up for it?”

  “Sure,” Star immediately said, rolling her head to work out a kink in her neck, shaking her hands to loosen them up again. “I’m game.”

  “Fine by me,” Madison agreed.

  “This one might work better if Reyes takes part.” He beckoned his brother to the mat.

  Reyes stepped in with a grin, rubbing his hands together. “Which one is my victim?”

  For that comment, Madison kicked his feet out from under him. Since Reyes wasn’t expecting the attack, he went down, but he shot right back up with a laugh, pointing at his sister and saying, “Sneaky. And you already know payback is hell.”

  While he shared that silly threat with Madison, Star got an impish look in her dark eyes—and copied his sister’s move so that Reyes went down again. This time he sprawled out with a chuckling groan. “They’re ganging up on me, Cade! Get control of this lesson already.”

  “You’re a good sport,” Star said, her wide smile proof that she was having fun.

  As if requesting help, Reyes raised a hand to her, but she backed away shaking her head.

  “We’re not both fools,” she laughed.

  Loving the way Star fit right in, Cade drew her close for a quick kiss, then explained what he wanted them to do. “Reyes is going to behave himself for this demonstration, isn’t that right, brother?”

  “Me? Maybe you failed to notice that I’m the one on my back?” Saying that, he rolled to his feet and gave both women a try me look. They snickered but didn’t engage.

  “Reyes is going to invade your space.”

  “You got it,” Reyes said, knowing the lesson and stepping in close to Star—at least until she leaped back. “Hey, I can’t show you if you don’t let me get hold of you.”

  Rife with suspicion, Star asked Cade, “Why can’t you demonstrate?”

  “You’re too comfortable with me.” He thought of the expression on her face after she’d joked that all’s fair in love and war. And without thinking, he’d replied, Which are we?

  She’d looked ready to bolt, and it bothered him, because Star didn’t run from anyone or anything. Love? Yeah, he was there, but clearly she wasn’t.

  Not yet, anyway.

  He’d sway her eventually by building on their shared inclinations and showing her how great they’d be together.

  With that goal in mind, he gestured for Reyes to continue.

  This time, Star went stiff, but she allowed him to put his arm around her and crush her close into his side—just like a creep would do.

  “Now,” Cade said, walking her through the process of freeing herself. It took a few tries, especially since Reyes wasn’t making it easy for her. Then she nailed it, getting a firm grip on his brother’s wrist, ducking under his arm and, in the process, twisting his hand up behind him. Immediately, she put her foot to Reyes’s ass and shoved him forward, giving her the opportunity to flee...if she’d been in real danger.

  Madison applauded.

  Reyes did, too, actually, but Cade tried to keep it on point by saying, “If you try that move, be ready to race away as fast as you can, but keep in mind that it’d only work if you’re in a congested area where you can quickly find help.”

  “Or if your attacker is severely out of shape,” Madison added. “It’s a disgusting reality that just fleeing isn’t usually the best option.”

  “So let’s give me a weapon,” Reyes suggested, “and you can show her how to take it from me.”

  Intrigued by that, Star held up a hand while breathing hard. “Give me five. Then we can try that.”

  That’s how they ended up working an hour more, with all of them involved in one way or another. Twice she’d successfully taken the dummy knife from Reyes. The concept was the same with a gun, and eventually they’d practice that, too.

  But for now, before Star completely collapsed, Cade called a halt. He and Reyes were fine, but then, they took physical traini
ng to an extreme. The women, however, looked completely spent.

  Hands on her knees, sucking in air, Star said, “That was invigorating.”

  “Right?” Madison agreed, gulping her own breaths. “I got more of a workout with you than I ever do with my brothers.”

  “You two are more evenly matched,” Cade said. “That’s a good thing, but also problematic.”

  Reyes stepped forward to offer them each water. “You did great, Sterling. You have a natural ability, but Cade’s right. Next time we need to wear protective gear so we can really push it. You were both holding back. Cade and I sometimes do the same for simple sparring, but the best way to learn is to go full force.”

  “Sweet,” Star said, accepting the water and chugging it down. “What kind of gear?”

  “Headgear and face protector, for starters,” Cade offered. “It’ll ensure against broken noses or cracked jaws while you practice face strikes. Mouthpiece to protect teeth. Some pads would help, too.” His family always took self-defense seriously.

  “Sounds good.” Star finally straightened, still breathing hard, yet smiling. “The better prepared I am, the more I like it.”

  Madison grinned, too. “My sentiments exactly.” She tossed a towel to Star. “Give it a few days, and then we can work on marksmanship, as well.”

  And speaking of that... Cade took Star’s hand. “You can shower in a minute, but first I want to show you one more thing.”

  As they crossed the length of the lower level, all the way to the other side, Reyes and Madison followed along. It made Cade wonder if Parrish knew they were congregated downstairs. No doubt he did, because not much slipped past his dad, but he wouldn’t take part in giving Star the tour of their armory. Later, perhaps over lunch, Parrish would weigh in with his thoughts—and no doubt judgments.

  Didn’t matter. Star would be working with Reyes and Madison, and that’s what he’d wanted.

  Things with Mattox would come to a head very soon. Madison kept a log of movement. They wouldn’t stay hidden long, and they all needed to be prepared.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  NEVER IN A million years would Sterling have guessed that she’d one day be in a freaking mansion practicing lethal skills with three totally badass people. Talk about unbelievable things to happen... This one would top her list.