by Marie Wathen
“I decided to go ahead with my cover job here this week when I ran into Shaylyn this morning. I mentioned that I was available for consults if you guys needed me and she told about a client with some interest. So I accepted her offer and she booked me for this afternoon.” Kole’s bouncing with excitement now and hands me the key fob to the front door and his business card.
“Great, it works out perfect for all involved then. Well, here’s your key and my new number. Had to get my number changed after a stalker snagged my phone during a workout then blew up my text messages with some crazy sex scenarios she wanted to try on me. When that didn’t get a rise out of me, she cloned my number and sent out a mass text of a fake nude picture of me. Apparently she’s some computer guru from MIT and hacking phones are her specialty. I called her in. Turns out she has a criminal history longer than my arm, dude. I didn’t want to take her in, but she sent that shit to my mom. I swear some chicks go insane over this body, but it’s a curse that I can live with,” he mocks as he flexes his upper body muscles. He knows the women join his club for his attention and it’s shocking that he’s only had one creeper in the last five years of owning this place. Either that, or he hasn’t turned them in before.
“Ouch, your mom must have freaked.” I shake my head and hold up the key fob and card. “Thanks for these. If you have room for me now, I want to get in a little workout before my client gets here.”
I need to focus and stretch. It’s been three days since my last workout and my muscles are in desperate need for this release. I enter the locker room and find my old locker still has the combination lock I left on it four months ago. I scroll through the numbers and pop it open to find my iPod and heart monitor remaining where I left them. I pop in the ear buds and the first song on my workout playlist stirs a long forgotten feeling that has me trembling, along with a rush of anxiety, causing me to sway. I grab the counter to keep from falling while I’m ambushed by the memory of meeting a redhead devil-woman in a gym similar to this one a year ago.
After the flash memory of meeting Elise possesses my mind, a hard shove causes me to bounce off the row of lockers and brings me back to the land of the living. I steady myself on my feet and find Kole grinning at me.
“Uh your client just walked in man,” he chuckles then quickly pulls a serious look. “I’m just going to give you fair warning on this one. She is off limits, no questions asked. Understand?” His arms are crossed tightly over his large chest and he is glaring at me, waiting for my agreement.
“Sure man, I understand. Wait, so what is she like your girlfriend or just a prospect?” I joke. He shrugs and walks out of the locker room. His face gives away a look that clearly says she isn’t his, but a definite prospect.
He glances over his shoulder, “No, she’s too young for me but I don’t want you messing with her. You’re a great guy and all, one of my best friends, but she’s sweet and innocent and I would kick your ass if something happens and she gets hurt. So don’t fuck with her.” He adds the last part with a very determined stare.
I raise my hands in a surrender style suggestion. “She’s just a client and she’s young. I understand.” I laugh at his threat.
We walk to the front and standing there, hip leaning against the front desk, staring at me open-mouthed and panicky is the most beautiful brunette I have ever laid eyes on. My eyes are locked on hers and I can’t look away. I don’t want to look away from her dark gray eyes that now possess confusion. She’s here and I’m fucking happy as hell about it too.
Without considering that I’m supposed to be meeting a client here, I instantly gravitate to her. Kole sees my movements and stops walking beside me. I continue toward her as she shifts her weight to stand away from the support of the desk. I move close but she shifts away from me. I feel compelled to take her in my arms this very instant, but I see fear flash across her face and I gruffly stop my actions.
“What the hell are you doing here Breesan?” I grumble realizing that my body has just responded to her in a way that I’m not used to. The anger begins to roll off of me. Her bravery, or stupidity, causes her to move in close to me. She places both hands on her hips and lifts her head up so her eyes are now locked into mine.
“Excuse me? You act like you own this place and I know that you don’t. So if you’ll just get the hell out of my way I’ve got shit I need to do,” she snaps and walks around me to where Kole stands, arms open and with a big shit eating grin on his face. She leans into him and he seizes her, pulling her soft sexy body into his hard one. I’m suddenly enraged with jealousy.
“Marcus, I guess you two already know each other, huh? From the looks of things you go way back.” He laughs and releases his tight hold on her but keeps a hand around her back in a possessive way. I feel my body tighten. Why the fuck does he need to touch her?
“No, I just met him last night Kole,” she responds before I have a chance to answer him.
“Yeah, she was Morgan’s date last night for his welcome home party,” I add.
“Really, No shit? I didn’t know you knew either one of the Walker twins.”
“I didn’t. I don’t. It was a blind date. Tristan and Anna screwed me. It was a trick from the beginning. I really didn’t enjoy myself. It was full of stuffy rich asses and that’s just not my style.” She crosses her arms over her chest in a definite action. “That’s where I met him.” She gestures with her hand toward me.
“Well good, no need for introductions then. I can escort her back if you don’t remember which room we use for the dojo room,” Kole says to me and I look at him confused. He recognizes my look and offers an explanation. “Breesan is your new client.”
“What?” she growls out at the same time I do.
“I don’t understand,” she presses.
“Marcus is the new jujitsu instructor. He is a Grand Master Breesan, a certified instructor under the Gracie Academy. If you want to learn for sport or street safety then he’s your man. He’s professional and the best I’ve seen so you don’t have to worry about his skills,” Kole says proudly in my defense.
Her face twists with anger, “Yeah, I’ll bet. But is there someone else on staff that could teach me that maybe doesn’t necessarily have his kind of skills?” she blurts out.
Kole’s body shakes with laughter. “No, you know there isn’t. What’s the problem Breesan? Is there something going on between you two?” He abruptly stops laughing and is pinning me with an irate stare. He set me up. He knew she would be my client. So why did he fail to give me all the information?
“There is absolutely nothing going on between us, and never will be,” she states, clearly upset with me. I’m relieved that she understood my attempt to keep distance between us. It’s for her own safety, even if she doesn’t understand it. She would be thankful if she knew.
“She’s right. But Breesan if you’re too uncomfortable learning from me, it’s fine. I wouldn’t blame you for quitting.”
I’m hopeful that this approach to dissuade her from training with me is effective. Maybe I’ve pissed her off enough that she will take the bait and leave. Being her instructor for the next few months is not something that could remain completely innocent with the way my body is already responding to her while she’s mad as hell.
“Oh no! I’m here and I’m learning jujitsu and you will teach me,” she turns, snapping at Kole, “I want this and you know it. So make him teach me!”
She is really upset now and Kole is flashing a glare between us. He takes her hand and turns her body toward his, effectively blocking me out but not bothering to lower his angry, loud tone.
“What’s wrong? I’ve never seen you this upset. Even after you’ve had your ass handed to you in the boxing ring with Deb’s sucker punches, you kept your shit together. What did he fucking do last night to piss you off like this Breesan?” The dominating concern filling his words successfully calms her down, but his influence, along with his familiarity of her, pisses me off.
�
�No, I’m sorry Kole. It’s just been crazy and I’ve had a lot of shit going on, but it’s nothing really. I’m here to learn. I don’t care who teaches me even if it is him.” She waves her hand at me.
“Thanks,” I mock.
“Just stop okay?” Kole adds. “Man, what did I tell you when we were in the locker room? Can you just do this for me? She’s an excellent student and she should have already been training in jujitsu, but we lost our instructor last winter when he went off to play with the big boys.” He is now mocking me and I’m glad he didn’t reveal to her that he is talking about me.
I consider his words and try to think through the idea of training Breesan every day. In one aspect, it works out perfect for me in my surveillance. However, my desire for her is yelling at me that this is a lethal idea.
“Alright, I’ll train you,” I say to her, “but we’re doing this on my schedule and you’ll work harder than you have ever worked in your life or we’re done. No excuses and I demand respect in the dojo.” I stare down at her with my arms crossed over my chest and watch her expression run through several different emotions. Finally, she settles on restrained annoyance.
“Fine!” she spouts.
She looks frustrated with herself and I breathe out a silent breath of relief realizing that I was actually hoping that she would agree with my offer. I shouldn’t be so happy about this. We are walking to the private room and will be spending a lot of time in here together. Alone. Now I’m really frustrated.
“We’ll use this room,” I indicate, extending my hand toward the open doorway of the private classroom.
“If you want to go ahead and put your stuff down in the corner and take off your shoes, we’re going to get started with the nonphysical contact first in your training. After that, I’ll get you on the mat for your first positions.”
Trying to ignore the sexual tension squeezing the life out of me, I remove my shoes and begin bouncing on the balls of my feet and shaking my hands in an attempt to shake out some of my stress. She pulls off her running shoes, slips off her socks then turns her back to me. I’m watching her now that she can’t see me. She slides down her jogging pants and pulls her t-shirt over her head. She turn back shyly to face me and I now see she’s only wearing a pink and black sports bra and matching tiny spandex boy shorts. My body comes alive and I turn away from her before she sees how much she affects me. Shit I’m going to have to tell her that she has to wear a gi during these classes.
How did I fool myself into thinking that I would be able to handle being this close to her and not be affected? Damn it. I want to take her so badly but it is not a possibility. She made it clear that she is not interested, so why can’t I accept it and get over her?
“First you will learn the fight flow chart; four points to winning. Point one: close the distance with the enemy. Point two: execute the takedown. Point three: achieve the dominant position. Lastly is point four: finish the fight. Each category will list different techniques you will learn thirty six techniques total so you can win or defeat your opponent.” I maintain a level of professionalism and keep direct eye contact with her the entire time. This is the easy part. Getting on the mats with her will surely unman me. Ohgod. I begin nervously rubbing the back of my neck and turn my back to her.
“OH! Yeah, the flow charts. Cool,” she says enthusiastically.
I whip around and look at her curiously. “So you’re familiar with the chart?” I ask, impressed with her response.
“Yeah, but don’t be impressed. I Goggled it and watched a few YouTube videos so it’s just crap knowledge. I want to learn the skills.” She shrugs, pink coloring rises up her neck and she averts her eyes from me. She’s embarrassed but I’m still impressed and that damn pink is making me twitch.
“Ok, we will start with arms. I need you to get down on your knees on the mat in front of me. I’m going to lie on my back then you will crawl between my legs and grab my upper arms. Ready?” I look at her with fake confidence.
She fidgets before she drops down on her knees in front of me, causing me to swallow hard and let out a ragged breath. Jeez, I can’t possibly have her between my legs without her being able to feel how attracted I am. Shit this was a bad idea. Fucking Kole!
Temptation
“Sh-shouldn’t I be on the bottom…and um you on top…of me so I can try to get free?” she splutters.
“Not this time Baby,” I joke then wink. “You’re going to learn how to execute the arm bar from the guard. I’m going to demonstrate the position then we’ll switch for you to practice.”
Her pink cheeks are going to be the death of me. Deep cleansing breaths aren’t doing a damn bit of good. I start thinking about stupid shit so I can focus on anything other than Breesan Fucking Maxwell. I run a hand over my face and begin the distraction process; puppies, Great Danes, Queens guard, Prince Harry, British Royal Air Force. Great, this is helping. I smile inwardly and move to lie on the mat. I wait just a moment after laying down then lift my head to look at her kneeling in front of me. I lift an eyebrow, expressing that I’m waiting for her to move closer. She’s chewing on her lip. Now that’s all I can focus on and I lose my restraint. I groan, drop my head hard back on the mat, and raise my eyes to the ceiling in defeat. I cross both arms over my head, cover my eyes, and start the distraction process over.
“Great Danes, the freaking Queens guard…” Her laughter interrupts my rambling.
“What are you talking about Marcus? Why are you yelling about dogs and guards? Wait… never mind I don’t want to know. I need to…Ohgod, Marcus you need to know that I’m nervous about all of this.” She waves her hands between us and continues, “it’s so intimate and I have never been like this with a guy.” She stands up and backs away from me with her head bowed. I watch her retreat then I move to a seated position. She draws her body in, wrapping her arms around herself. I consider her silent stare and defensive posture and realize that it doesn’t mean she is uncomfortable with me; it’s more like self-preservation.
“Breesan, I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. I know that you are aware of the proximity of opponents during grappling. Is this about the closeness of positions or me? Because I am a professional and you don’t need to worry about being anything except for my student and I’ll be your teacher. Understand?”
I watch her body relax and eventually she moves back over to me. She drops down to her knees in front of me again. Her eyes are downcast and she is taking deep calming breaths. I take one of her hands in mine and she lifts her eyes. I offer a smile that I hope isn’t creeper-style, but really her vulnerability adds to my desire for her. Fuck why does she have so much power over me?
“I’m alright now.” She half-ass smiles at me, proving she is still nervous.
“Self-confidence is the key to being successful in jujitsu, as well as in life. I know you are a strong, confident woman who can tell off anyone better than I have ever witnessed. I also can tell that it’s a smokescreen for the true emotions that you bury deep inside here,” I tap a finger to my temple, “and here.” I place my hand on my chest over my heart. “I want you to draw from right here.” I move my hand to make a fist over my stomach, stressing my meaning. “I want you to focus your energy on every one of those damn emotions that you have stored so fucking deep inside you away from everyone, grab hold with both hands then pour that shit out on this mat.” I slap my hand hard on the mat, emphasizing my point. “Now, are you ready?”
She smiles at me so big and proud then nods her head. “I’m ready. Let’s do this!” I drop back on the mat face up, knees bent, and feet spread apart. She moves between them and I take her hands, placing them on my neck in a choking position.
“You have me in the guard position. Whether you are a large opponent or not, in a typical fight you could be effectively choking me in this position and have the upper hand. However, size and strength isn’t the major factor in jujitsu. Rather, it’s about skill and perfecting your technique. I’m going to show
you five moves that will render your opponent defenseless.” She nods.
As we begin, the training remains serious and professional. Her confidence returns now and the awkwardness we both felt earlier melted away. We run through the technique with me demonstrating from the bottom until she confirms she has the moves down well enough to attempt them.
“You are a natural for this form of fighting because you are analytical. I’m impressed with your ability to analyze the circumstances and then change your tactics accordingly. Keep in mind that for every move, there is a counter move and as a competitor you will be thinking about and processing all aspects of a fight at once. Remember to remain calm and don’t let your mind stray from the situation at hand. Stay in the moment,” I offer honest praise at her skills.
An hour later, we are both sweating and panting from the practice. As she is downing the last of her water and I’m packing my gym bag, I notice she is texting. I see Morgan’s name on the screen and it instantly fuels a jealousy in me that I have never felt before. I can’t stop myself from reading over her shoulder.
MORGAN: HEY BREESAN
CHG UR MIND ABT
DINNER 2NITE MORGAN
BREESAN: HOW DID U GET MY #
MORGAN: I STOLE IT FROM TRIS CELL :D
BREESAN: SO NOT COOL!!
MORGAN: SRY? SO DINNER 2NITE
BREESAN: NO!
“So, you and Morgan huh?” I ask after she catches me reading.
She tucks her cell phone in her bag and wipes sweat from the back of her neck with a towel. Her eyes flash and she hesitates answering while she slows her breathing, or maybe she’s processing my question with the right answer.
“If you are asking if we are dating then no we’re not.” She looks daggers at me.
“Ok, just friends. That’s good I suppose. Morgan can use more friends.” I shrug and laugh. “He did just move back home so he doesn’t know many people here.”
“Yeah, that’s what Anna told me yesterday. And you’ve been here for a year or something like that I think she said…I…I don’t remember what she said about you actually.” She stumbles over her words then abruptly trails off. The flush from her workout hides the embarrassment stain but I know it’s under there and it has me adjusting to keep her from noticing again. She begins putting her stuff in her bag and suddenly I become aware that I don’t want her to leave.