Ethan shook his head, exhaling. “You must be more determined in your actions. Focus!” He got closer, hands stretched out, eyes conveying sincerity. “Don’t attack. You never attack. You run if you have the chance. You only fight when forced. If there’s still a chance to get away, you do just that.”
Jazmin looked up at him and dropped her fists deliberately. “I can’t count how often—”
“If you fight, make it quick and final. When close, you aim for his chin and nose. Nose means your opponent’s eyes tear up immediately. Do it with all the strength you have. And then you run.”
“If I have the chance to knock him out—”
“If he’s a step away, you aim for his private parts and, if that fails, kick his kneecap.”
“Still, he can aim at me with a pistol.”
Ethan let out his breath on a sigh. The mere thought of his wife being in danger was too much to bear. “Then all bets are off. If that guy’s aiming at you, your chances to get away unharmed are small.”
“You can deflect such an attack.”
“Yes, I can, maybe. If it’s one man and if he’s not out to shoot at once. But I’ve got years of training and... experience.”
Jazmin’s gaze held impatience and a touch of anger, but he loved her even more. “You could teach me that.”
He lowered his chin, careful to not stoop because she considered the gesture condescending. “I can teach you to get away and hope you stay unharmed.”
She turned away from him, blowing air up onto her forehead. “Great. So what’re we doing here?” She glanced over her shoulder with an expression that made him smile. “Wasting my time?”
Ethan didn’t focus. His gaze was glued to the snug derrière of his wife in short pants. Her back kick hit his belly with full force. Grimacing, he made a step back, annoyed he’d been sloppy. After a half turn, her right leg came up for a roundhouse kick to his waist. This time he caught her calf. Jazmin pulled up her left leg, aiming for his private parts. She had taken him at his word to spar with him without holding back, and he was happy he was wearing a cup. When he didn’t let go, she aimed for his knee, and he jumped to evade her foot, dropping her leg. She fell, rolled backward and was on her feet quickly. He stepped out of reach when she immediately brought up her fists for a jab and punch to his face.
“You’ve got to be faster!” he yelled, deflecting the blows. She jabbed his palm before she exhaled and stepped back. “And right now, you’d better be ready to run!”
“Without the protection, you’d be out for the count, down on your knees. And I’d have kicked your face!” She put her hands on her hips, looking lovely, sweaty as she was. Strands of hair hung into her face, but she didn’t bother pushing them away. Ethan was tempted to take her in his arms and call it a day.
“I’d have broken your leg in the first place.” He stepped closer, lifting his brows. “The back kick was great, but your opponent would know the moment you turned what you’re up to.”
“Only if he knows kickboxing.”
“Always assume he’s as good as you or knows some tricks you don’t.” Ethan grimaced. She was getting better at self-defense, but still he didn’t want to see her facing an enemy. The knot in his stomach was always there just thinking of her being forced to fight. He wondered how he had survived the days when she had served as a police officer. “Stay out of reach. Never get involved in a fight if there’s still a chance to get away.”
“I heard you the first fifteen times.” She exhaled and shook her head. “Hell, Ethan, we’re training because it’s possible I might get into a fight. I’m with the staff of the Secretary of State. I don’t want to be the damsel in distress if it gets rough!”
“You don’t trust me to protect you? I’m disappointed.”
Jazmin sighed, put her bandaged hands on his chest, and looked up at him. “Your job’s to protect Nolan. You’re his bodyguard. I wouldn’t want you to be distracted, and Walter will have your head on a stake if you ever dare look in my direction while on duty. I promised to never do anything that would cost you this job. And I know right now much more’s on trial.”
Ethan pressed his lips together, looking uneasy. He put his large hands over her small ones. “Walter thinks I’m ready to do reconnaissance on site. That’s important, yes. But it’s not that I’d ever—”
She stood on tiptoe and pulled him down at his neck to kiss him. “I know. And I’ll be at your side. I just don’t want you to worry about me. I can take care of myself. You’ve seen it.”
“I have.” He kissed her with feeling, pulling her close, and keeping her in his arms. She was so delicate, so petite he always felt the urge to protect her. “Princess, you’re the toughest woman I’ve ever met.”
“Speaking of...” Her voice dropped. “Everything’s intact on you?”
Ethan smiled lopsidedly, still holding her in his arms. “Yes.” He drawled the syllable into a long and inquiring word.
She looked him in the eyes. “Then there’s some exercise on the agenda we haven’t done today.”
“Not sufficiently, you mean.”
She waved away the argument. “All the same. It’s your free day, after all. Shouldn’t be wasted.”
He loved the sparkle of wickedness in her eyes and gently ran his fingers over her sweaty cheek. “Shower?”
“With you?”
“I’d like to save water.” He followed her toward the door, mesmerized watching the inviting swing of her hips.
“Only reason?”
“Of course.” Ethan kissed her neck and gently touched her shoulders. Sparring with her had been fun, as always. She wanted to learn, she trained hard, and she never gave in. In spite of her slight build, she had a great heart, and more strength than anyone would give her credit for. Her punches were no longer soft and harmless. After close encounters with hoodlums in Colombia and on a yacht in the Caribbean Sea, Jazmin had urged him to teach her self-defense and some dirty tricks. Her fight would never be for show, just to win at any cost. He didn’t want to see her fight off bad guys, and yet knowing she wouldn’t be helpless was a relief. Of course, he swore to push her out of the way and smash into pulp any damn bad guy who dared to get close to his wife.
She turned to look up at him. “I can hear you gnashing your teeth. Shadow boxing with a bad boy again?”
“I’m trying not to think about any man putting a hand on you.”
“Hmm, my bodyguard.” She kissed him sensuously. “I love you with all my heart, captain.”
“You’d better.”
“Or what?”
“Or I’ll teach you some different lessons, you rascal.” He swept her off her feet and carried her upstairs, laughing about her squealing.
They reached the bathroom, kissing, fondling each other, and exchanging affectionate nonsense. Jazmin giggled when she lifted his shirt out of his pants, and he stooped so she could pull it over his head. She looked at it quizzically.
“What do I have to do to make you break into a sweat?” Jazmin turned on the warm water before she made quick work of his underwear.
Ethan smiled. “Ah, I’d know some exercises...”
She cocked her head. “Sparring. Mattress. Don’t mix up lessons here.”
Ethan helped her out of her shirt and shorts. Looking at her body sped up his heartbeat more effectively than any sparring ever could. “Hmm, you could chase me round Anacostia Park first and then—” He followed her into the shower “—we continue in the gym. With whatever you want.”
“I can’t chase you and breathe without an oxygen tent afterward.”
He laughed out loud. “Okay, no chasing, but...” He inhaled sharply when she had him in her hand for a not so gentle squeeze.
“Will that do for starters?”
“First you kick me and now—”
“I turn you on.” Her wicked smile held all the promises she didn’t name. “Call it an apology.”
“You don’t have to—” Ethan couldn’t continue the conversation while she stroked him up and down. He put his hands against the tiled wall and held his face into the warm water.
“I thought I’d make you sweat before you shower.” Jazmin turned him with his back against the wall.
“What’re you—”
“Sshh. A princess likes her secrets, and you’re not allowed to ask.” She knelt in front of him. The degree of wickedness in her expression increased, and he held his breath when she played her tongue around his glans. He knew what this would lead to and already felt weak in his knees.
“Oh, wow...”
“Now I’ll make you sweat.”