Page 14 of Off Limits: The Firsts

“Good to know, but I’m sorry, anyway. We can train somewhere else if you want. Or if it bugs you, I’ll have a talk with them.”

“No need to . . . but thank you for the thought. Besides, it seems like their ribbing is minor compared to the legendary pranks you’ve pulled on them.”

“True.” His lips break into a smug smile. “But it’s not fair to you.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m a big girl. I can handle myself. I’ve got a sword tucked in my purse in case I need to slay any dragons.”

“Your purse?”

“Yeah, it’s big and roomy.” I smile, more than glad to change the subject, as I grab said purse from the cupboard I stashed it in.

“Keep anything else in there besides a sword?”

“High heels,” I joke, earning a raise of his brows. “This girl likes her heels when she’s kicking ass.”

“Gotta love a woman who’s multidimensional. You heading out, too?” he asks, but neither of us makes a move to leave as his eyes continue to ask more questions than I want to answer or even acknowledge.

Suddenly flustered by the intensity of his stare, I begin to ramble. “So, alternate ice and heat every twenty minutes or so for the next few hours. That will help with the swelling and inflammation I caused today. Okay?”

I take a few steps, as if the conversation is over, but Easton doesn’t move out of my way. He just stands there, eyes still searching, continuing to pull at parts of me that need to stay put.

I lick my lips. I shift my feet.

“I know the drill,” he finally says.

But we still don’t move.

“Same time tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

Quit looking at me like that.

“And depending on how the week goes, we might bump up our sessions to twice a day.”

“Okay.”

You’ve run out of things to say, Scout. Time to go now.

“Well, I’ll see you then. Tomorrow, I mean.” I roll my eyes at myself.

“Obviously. Tomorrow, I mean.” A half-cocked smile turns up one corner of his mouth.

Move. Go. Walk.

“You’re nothing like I expected.” I cringe once I realize I’ve just blurted my thoughts out and hate myself the minute I do. My cheeks flush with heat, but my embarrassment gives me the motivation I need to take the first step away from him.

“I’m never what anyone expects. It’s a blessing and a curse.”

His comment begs me to ask more, but I don’t. Can’t. This space is too small for us—it feels like there’s not enough air when he looks at me that way.

“Good night.”

“’Night, Scout,” he says as I reach the doorway. “Hey . . .”

“Yeah?” I turn around, one hand on the doorjamb, my eyes falling back on him.

“For the record, how is it you know that I know how to please a woman in bed?”