He took the blanket off the back of the couch, sliding it over him and then tucked an arm behind his head, listening to her footsteps pad their way down the hall to the bedrooms.
A door soon opened, and he smiled as Hazel said, “Tell me everything!”
Chapter 8
A loud bang woke Elise from a dead sleep. She jolted up in bed, taking stock of her surroundings, her heart racing. The sun was shining outside, and her clock read 7:30 AM. She listened again, hearing more jostling coming from the living room. She quickly threw her hair up in a topknot, then opened her bedroom door, stepping out into the hallway in her strappy nightgown. In a few short strides, she spotted Archer in the kitchen, looking through the drawers. The coffeepot was pulled out from beneath the cabinets and the lid flipped open. “Coffee is in the cupboard next to the fridge.”
He glanced back, looking unruffled from his sleep on the couch. “Did I wake you?”
“No,” she lied, approaching him.
He gave an appreciative sweep of her in her nightgown, his eyes darkening before he went back to fixing the coffee. She headed for her cell phone, unsurprised to find a text. “Penny texted,” she told Archer, sliding on the stool at the breakfast bar.
“What did she say?” He turned the coffeepot on.
Elise read the text quickly before giving him the shorter version. “That she’s onto something but needs more time.”
She texted back: Take all the time you need. Talk soon!
“That sounds promising,” he said, turning around to lean against the counter.
She didn’t mind waking up to Archer being in her kitchen. His hair was a little messy, his eyes slightly puffy, and his jeans and crisp white T-shirt made for one delicious package. “It does.” She left her phone on the breakfast bar, then met him at the sink and grabbed two mugs from the cupboard. “Penny will get this figured out.” She placed the mugs down, then took out the creamer and sugar. “We just have to wait her out.”
“Good.” His voice had lowered. She glanced over her shoulder, finding his focus on her ass. When he met her eyes again, he grinned. “That gives me time to do something else with you.”
Heat pooled low in her body. “What’s that?”
He had her in his arms a second later and planted a kiss on her mouth that did more for her adrenaline than any cup of coffee. When he broke away, he gave her butt a hard slap before releasing her. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
The promise in that kiss stayed with her for the next two hours while they got ready, and they drove back into Manhattan to a gym in Soho, obviously one that catered to boxers. A ring was in the center of the room, but they skipped that and went to one of the corners where mats were placed in a large square.
“What exactly are we doing here?” Elise finally asked, turning in a circle, taking in the small gym. Free weights were on the right-hand side, a boxing bag on the other. A few men and women worked out near the free weights.
“You told me you can defend yourself,” Archer explained, moving to the radio on the iPod station on the far side of the gym. When he turned back, hard rock music filled the room. “Show me.”
“You’re joking,” she said, gaping at him.
He moved into the center of the mats and clapped his hands. “You have a dangerous job. I can help ensure you’ve got the skills to protect yourself. Let me see what you’ve got.”
“I’m not doing this.” She turned away, heading for the door.
He called after her, “I came to you for help because you’re good at your job. I respect that about you. I’m good at protecting, defending, fighting. Respect that about me.”
Dammit. She slowly turned back to him, spotted the intensity on his face, and it made her pause. Made her feel uncomfortable too. She was used to taking care of everyone else. Making sure everything was good and safe for them. She wasn’t used to someone doing that for her. “It’s not all that difficult to protect myself,” she said, approaching him again. “I take my mace out and spray it, then run.”
“Which works only if you have the time to grab your mace.” He took a step closer. “What if I’m coming at you from the front?”
She grinned. “I’d kick you in the balls.”
He gave a firm nod of approval. “Yeah, that’s right. Hit hard. Get him on the ground.”
“Want me to do that now, then?” she joked.
He laughed softly. “I think I’ll pass on that.” The laughter soon faded, and something about him shifted when he began talking. It occurred to her then that she was no longer looking at Phoenix’s head of security; she was looking at the Green Beret.
Staying focused on his target—her—he moved even closer, charging the air around them. “If I get too close and kicking isn’t an option, go for the palm heel strike.” He took her hand and lifted it. “Flex your wrist and aim for the nose. If you can’t reach that, hit the throat as hard as you can.”
“Okay,” she said, feeling the heat of his touch leave her hand and circulate all over her body.
He lifted her elbow. “If you can’t get enough momentum to throw a strong punch or kick, use your elbow and deliver a crushing blow to the face.” She exhaled the breath she’d been holding as he moved in behind her, his strength at her back enveloping her. “If you get an attack from behind, you can get away with this same technique.” He lifted her elbow again. “Eye your target. Pivot. And hit.”
She swallowed deeply as he slid his hand down her arm, releasing her.
“Got it?”
“Yeah,” she said, turning back to him, finding his smoldering gaze. Good, at least she wasn’t the only one turned on one here.
He gave her a firm nod, waving her forward. “Let’s try those out.”
“Okay,” she said, smiling to herself as she turned away. Sure, he’d taught her a few things, but she knew a few things too.
When he came at her from the front and attempted to wrap his arms around her, she snuck under them and then slid his feet out from under him. He landed on the mats on his back. Hard.
He burst out laughing. A laugh she’d never heard from him. So light and free, she could only laugh alongside him. He finally opened his eyes and leaned up on one arm. “Here I thought I was actually teaching you something. You know self-defense, then?”
“A little,” she said. “Luke had me take a couple classes during my training.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Because I didn’t mind you touching me. “You seemed keen on teaching me,” she said, instead.
His eyes sparkled with his chuckle as he jumped to his feet. “All right. Again?”
She smiled back, waving him forward this time. “Come at me.”
And with a huge grin on his face, he did. Again and Again.
Until she landed hard on her back with him hovering over her. They were both breathing heavily from the exertion and dripping with sweat. She laughed freely, and he joined her, falling onto his back next to her. She’d had friends with benefits in her life before. Even had just guys as friends. But she realized now what she had with Archer was different. They’d both seen death up close and personal, and that created an understanding of sorts. They’d also both had to learn to fight in the world to make it safe. Catching her breath, she turned to face him, finding him already watching her. The laughter immediately faded to something…more.