Both men stood, ready to run into the dojo.
Kat stepped in for a stomach punch aimed straight at his solar plexus. Adam stepped forward at the same time, taking the punch, but hooking her leg at the same time. He took her down to the ground and landed on top of her.
Adam took a deep breath, “Oh, Kat. You take my breath away,” and kissed her on the mouth.
Kat was stunned. She could feel his erection against her but couldn’t move for a moment.
The door to the dojo flung open. Adam jumped up instantly and offered Kat his hand.
She took it and jumped to her feet. I’ve fucked up.
Adam bowed. “Well done, Kat. I think your bosses need you for something. We’ll spar again soon. You are fantastic.”
Kat bowed. “Um, thanks. I better go.” Kat ran over to Damon and Connor.
Damon tried to keep his eyes down. “We’ve got a new client we need you to take through a program. Let’s discuss it in the office.”
As soon as the door shut to the office, Kat looked at them both with big, green eyes, “I’m sorry.”
Damon spoke softly, although his eyes were still blazing. “It’s not you we’re angry at. We both want to kill him. That must have been dreadful for you? Are you okay? We can get Laura to come in if we need to.”
“I’ll be okay. He just stunned me. I can take the class, and I can finish this mission.”
“No!” both men exclaimed at the same time.
Damon stepped towards her, his eyes no longer blazing. “It’s too dangerous, Kat. I’ll just take him out.”
Kat shook her head. “He’s got me exactly where he wants me. We can use that. He won’t be backing off in a hurry. He’s more invested than ever.”
Damon blinked a tear away. “Him kissing you after what happened on New Year’s Eve must have terrified you.”
Kat nodded. “It definitely stunned me. I didn’t expect that. It’s what I signed up for, though. I knew he’d want to. I’m not going to let him have sex with me. I’ve got to train harder and learn how to beat the crap out of him and far worse than him.”
Connor shook his head. “I don’t like it, Kat. It’s too dangerous. Physically and emotionally. Damon’s military. Let him deal with him.”
“No!” Kat screamed, tears filling her eyes. “I need to do this. If he tries to rape me, Sensei Damon can stop him and…but other than that. We need to work out what to do next. I want to take him down. Please?”
Damon and Connor looked at each other and nodded.
“If he hurts you, he’s mine.” Damon’s eyes sparked.
Connor’s muscles bulged. “If he hurts you, I’ll rip his head off myself.”
“I’m not exactly sure, but I think he’ll do stuff like he did today. Aggressive but not exactly illegal.” Kat bit her bottom lip, her nerves getting the better of her.
Connor nodded. “I think you’re right. Are you okay with that?”
“Yeah, I think so.” Kat moved her hand to her earring. “I’ve always got my get out of jail free card.”
Damon shook his head. “Today, you froze. I doubt you could’ve touched either earring in time. You did let Connor know first and reminded him about the earrings. Well done for that. We watched everything until we ran in. We need to stop you from freezing.”
Kat raised an eyebrow. “You’re going to train me against things like today?”
Damon nodded. “We’re not going to kiss you, but him lying on top of you would have had to freak you. I’m guessing the only time that would’ve happened before was when you were attacked?”
Kat nodded. “Yeah.”
Connor’s brown eyes looked kind. “You wouldn’t have had too much experience kissing before you were attacked and none since until today. That’d have to hurt more than the punch.”
Kat nodded. “They both stunned me. Tommy, the boy who led me into the trap, was my first kiss. I’ve stayed away from boys since. Dating’s the last thing on my mind. Making this world safer for others is the first thing.”
Connor smiled. “Me too these days, thanks to you.”
Damon nodded and smiled, unintentionally highlighting his dimples. “You and our cause give me purpose, a reason to be here and make me not feel as sorry for myself. We need to de-stress you before your class in twenty-five minutes. How are you feeling about tomorrow?”
Kat laughed. “I completely forgot. Oh, Jeez, I’ve got a test tomorrow!”
“And a day off this place and far away from Adam. I’d give you a lift, but your parents are almost as excited as I am,” Damon grinned.
Kat giggled. “You just don’t want to supervise me in the aerobics room with all the girls gawking at you anymore. At least they still think you’re gay.”
Damon chuckled. “Very true. I could get Connor to do it, but as my name’s on the paperwork…”
Connor grinned devilishly as he cut in. “And the girls know I’m not gay. I just won’t date girls here.”
Kat brushed her loose hairs back without touching her earring. “That must limit your options.”
“Yeah, but…I don’t actually know how to say that line around you.”
Kat giggled again. “I can say it. You don’t crap where you eat. You can say that. It’s not that bad.”
Damon smiled. “Well, Connor’s love life or lack of it and my homosexuality certainly have lightened the mood. You better get ready for class, Kat. Sensei Connor and I should start signing students in. Poor Dereck will be overloaded shortly.”
Damon walked out of the aerobics room with Kat. “You look happy. Are you up to some serious training, or would you like to wait till Wednesday?”
“Now’s good. I’m a bit nervous about being on my own tomorrow. I’ll be okay, but more training will help unless I totally f-stuff it up.”
Damon laughed. “You’re allowed to swear, Kat. I’m just not.”
Kat smiled and shook her head. “You hate men swearing around me, or maybe women in general.”
“Women and children, and you’re both. Have a drink while I see if Sensei Connor’s available. Otherwise, it’s just you and me.”
“Great. I’ll check my phone in the office while I have a drink. Chelsea usually has something funny to tell me.”
Damon smiled. “Your friendship with her is fantastic. Meet you in the dojo.”
Kat took another mouthful of water from her drink bottle and walked into the office. She giggled as she looked at her phone. Three messages from Chelsea, two from her parents and one from an unknown number. Who could that be? She opened that first. “Our kiss was magical. I can’t wait to do it again. Love Adam.” Fuck!
Kat walked into the dojo holding her phone and looking like she’d just seen a ghost.
“What’s wrong?” Damon asked.
“Are you okay?” Connor said gently as both men approached her.
“Adam texted me.” She handed them her phone and watched Damon’s eyes blaze and Connor’s muscles bulge and fists clench. “What the fuck do I, I’m sorry, what do I do now?”
Damon put his hands up slightly. “You have my full permission to swear any time you feel the need. I called you a child earlier. That was a mistake. You’re certainly not dealing with normal childhood or teenage problems, or if they are, we need to stop them. It’s just easier to think of you as a child when we’re about to jump on top of you. I want to kill him, but that’s not the plan.”
Connor stepped forward and put his hand gently on Kat’s shoulder. “Swear as much as you like, Kat. His eyes don’t blaze when you swear. You have every right. If you’re not up to training now, we fully understand.”
“I’m okay to train, but should I reply?”
Connor sighed. “Probably. We should find out if he’ll back off if you’re not interested. That’ll mean he has some sort of human decency or self-respect.” Connor typed into Kat’s phone: “I’m sorry if I led you on. It should not have happened and can’t happen again. Kat.” He showed Kat and Damon the phone. “What
do you think?”
Kat nodded. “Yeah, I like it. We need to let them know it’s not okay and only punish them if they do the wrong thing.”
Damon nodded. “Agreed.”
Kat took her phone off Connor and hit the send button. “Let’s train.”
Damon grinned at Connor. “You’re bigger. You get to attack me, and we’ll show Kat what to do.”
Connor grinned cheekily at Kat, put his hands up and pretended to shake. “Ooh, I’m scared.”
Damon rolled his eyes. “Hurry up and attack me, funny man.”
Connor smiled and winked. “Floor or wall, Sensei? Kat should’ve already learned the wall in class, but we can make it more real.”
Damon smiled and nodded. “You’re right. We should do the wall first.”
Connor pushed Damon up against the wall but used his body, not his hands, to hold him in place. “This is much closer than we’ve done in class.”
Kat nodded. “Absolutely.”
“Hey, beautiful,” Connor said with his mouth two centimetres from Damon’s.
“Move away from me, please?” Damon replied.
“You don’t want me to do that.”
“Please, let me go!”
“Now would be the time I’d kiss him, but I’m not going to do that,” Connor said, making Kat giggle.
Damon chuckled. “Please don’t. The push-pull method we use in class is harder this close up but will still work. The trick is bringing your hands to his shoulders. What else could work?”
“A head butt or knee to the groin,” Kat answered.
“A head butt would work for me and Connor because we’re similar heights. If a man is bending down to kiss you, a head butt may or may not work. With Adam’s training, it’s doubtful but combined with a knee to the groin, it could work. That would also depend if Adam tucks his groin out of the way for protection.”
“He didn’t when he was lying on top of me,” Kat replied.
Connor let go of Damon. “You could feel him?”
Kat nodded. “He was hard.”
Damon’s eyes were murderous.
“It’s okay, Sensei Damon. We already knew he wanted to have sex with me. It freaked me out, but thinking about it, it’d be weird if he didn’t have an erection.”
Connor’s eyes were kind. “Are you okay, Kat?”
Kat nodded. “Yeah, I am now.”
Damon frowned. “I don’t like you being the bait.”
“He picked me, remember. So did Josh and those bastards on the beach. I wasn’t the bait for any of them. When I am the bait, it’ll be to stop a monster like them from attacking someone like Courtney. If we can save one life, it’s worth it.”
Damon gave a half-smile. “It’d be so much easier for me to sniper the bastards.”
Kat smiled. “We’re trying to be vigilantes, not serial killers, Sensei. This way we’re giving them the chance to do the right thing.”
“But me being a serial killer means you won’t be in danger.”
Connor looked at Damon in a way that told him how wrong he was.
“I’m sorry,” Damon said before Kat or Connor could say anything. “Wanting to protect you from Adam made me forget how much you need to do this. It’s your purpose, as it is mine.”
Kat smiled. “Yeah, it is. Thanks. My turn?”
“Your turn, but first, what do you do if a man tries to push you up against another man?” Damon asked as he approached her. He attempted to grab her shoulders and push her against Connor.
Kat dodged and pivoted so that Connor was on the other side of Damon and not a threat to her. “Just like fighting, only fight one man at a time.”
“Well done, Kat. See the wall as a man. Don’t let him in to fight you. You can’t beat the wall or make it move. You need to stay away from it or use it,” Damon replied.
“Thanks, Sensei.”
Damon tried to grab her to push her against the wall, but she was too fast. He failed a second time. The third time, he didn’t bother trying to take her to the wall and took her to the ground, landing gently on top of her. Kat was shocked and froze for a moment. This wasn’t what we were going to do.
“Are you okay, Kat?” Damon asked, still on top of her.
She felt his weight but no erection. Kat wasn’t sure she even felt his groin. “Um, I’m okay now. You just surprised me, that’s all. I thought I was evading you and the wall, then next minute…”
Damon jumped up and offered Kat his hand. “The bad guys aren’t going to follow our plan. We need to be versatile. You weren’t expecting Josh to kick you in the back of the head yesterday, yet you defended yourself perfectly. You can do this. Having a man on top of you may take a bit of getting used to. We’ll do more of this on Wednesday. You’ve had enough for today, and we should probably get some work done.”
Kat hugged her mum and dad. “Goodnight.”
“Sleep well, Princess.”
“I hope so. I’m a bit nervous about tomorrow.”
“Don’t be, baby. Your classes are amazing. You’ve got this.”
“Thanks, Mum. I love you both.”
Kat jumped into bed with a million thoughts racing through her mind. Her phone rang.
“Hello.”
“Hi, Kat. This is Adam. I’m calling to say sorry and make sure you’re okay. You act so mature; I often forget how old you are.”
“Um, okay. Thanks.”
“Let’s work on kata tomorrow and maybe kumite?”
“I’m not going to work tomorrow.”
“How come?”
“I’ve got my course, and I’m getting tested for my aerobics certificate.”
“That’s fantastic! I’ll come and watch.”
Kat took a big breath and exhaled. “Thanks, but it’s actually a closed-door exam not like grading. Not even my parents or Senseis will be there.”
“I’m sure you’ll smash it. You don’t need them for strength, remember.”
15
Kat put on her Knightly Karate tank top, shorts and jacket and packed her tracksuit pants, towel and a spare change of clothes. She walked into the living area, “I’m ready to go.”
Eric smiled goofily, “You do know you’re not going to work today, right?”
Kat chuckled. “I know, Dad. I’m just more comfortable wearing this. It’ll be like I’m teaching a class at home, not being tested, I hope. Plus, a workout after I pass would be a good way to celebrate.”
“We were thinking of takeaway Chinese and having Chelsea over, but sure,” Eric grinned.
“There’s no rule saying we can’t do it all. I’ve never heard Chels say no to a workout. You look perfect for today, baby. You’ve got this.” Dominique put her arm around her daughter.
“Thanks, Mum. The test I can handle, just classes all day with people I don’t know…I’m a bit nervous.
“If you want to come home after your test, we can pick you up early,” Eric offered while walking to their Outlander.
Kat gave him a quick hug. “Thanks, Dad. I hope I’m fine, but an out if I need it sounds great.”
Eric parked in front of the college. “Have fun, princess. Call us if you want to come home early. Remember, you’ve always got your earrings if you need them.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“We’re proud of you. You’ve got this. Love you, baby.” Dominique threw her arms around Kat.
“Love you both.” Kat waited for her Mum to get back into the car, walked into the college and checked the map. She needed to go to the third building. She walked past a large cafeteria and into the third building. Kat looked at all the free weights to her left. This is definitely the right place.
A man about twenty with curly dark hair and great biceps walked up to Kat and smiled. “I haven’t seen you here before. I’m Evan. Are you new? I’m doing the Diploma of Fitness. What course are you doing?”
Kat beamed. “I am too! I’m Kat. I’m doing a traineeship, so I do most of it online or at work. I’ve got a test a
t eleven, but class in L1 and A1 first. From the map, they’re to the right.”
Evan smiled and nodded. “I’ve got those classes too. I’m not getting tested today. Aerobics isn’t really my thing, so I haven’t got my hours yet.” He started walking with Kat to the lecture room. “We all eat together at the cafeteria for lunch, and some of us go to the pub at the end of the day. You should join us.”
“For lunch definitely. I guess you need to be over eighteen for the pub?”
“Yeah, how long till you’re eighteenth? It can’t be far off.”
Kat gave him a half-smile. “Two years.”
It was almost like Evan took a step back. “There are a few your age all doing traineeships. I’ll introduce you when they get here. The full-timers like me are over eighteen.” Evan stopped himself from sighing with relief when a few others walked in. “Kat, this is our instructor, Trina.”
Trina beamed at Kat. “Katerina Chase?”
“Yeah, that’s me.”
“Your marks are fantastic, and so are your classes. Laura sent me a few videos. She’s done a few courses with me over the years. I love how you put karate into them. Today’s just a formality. You’ll smash it!” Trina was tall and lithe with long dark ringlets streaked with gold. Just like Laura, her smile was infectious.
I hope that smile’s not a requirement. I don’t think I do that. “Thanks. I love karate and aerobics. Mixing them together is so much fun.”
Trina glanced at the back of the room. “I was going to get Evan to introduce you to a few people. He knows them way better than I do, but…”
“He’s done a runner. I told him I was sixteen, and he kinda freaked out.”
Trina gave Kat a warm smile. “You’re stunning. I bet you get that a lot.”
Kat shook her head. “I wish. There’s one guy with a thing for me, and he’s older than my dad.”
“Oh no. Are you okay? How can I help?”
“He goes to my gym. Sensei Damon, Laura and my parents are aware, so it’s all good. I’m just glad to have a break from him today. It’s just funny how different some people are. Evan seems like a nice guy.”
“He is. He’s our social butterfly and looks after all the newbies, or at least newbies who aren’t sixteen and gorgeous. Come and meet some of the trainees. They don’t come here often either.”
Our Cause (Let the Monsters Live in Fear Book 1) Page 12