Fighting (21 page)

"Probably
not," I muttered.

"Come
on, let's go one for real."

"Babe,"
Ethan cautioned.

"I
know you don't want to hit me, but how else am I going to be prepared for real
fights?" I asked.

He
cocked his head to the side and said, "You're already prepared for real
fights.  You took down Ollie
and
Spencer simultaneously yesterday, and
they weren't holding back."

Winning
yesterday boosted my confidence, and seeing pride on Ethan's face was almost as
rewarding.

He
tilted his head the other way and said, "But I still don't want to hit
you.  You want to practice taking hits, you can train with Spencer or
Ross."

I
smiled facetiously at him and said, "That's sweet, Ethan.  Really.  I'm
practically drowning in the affection you feel toward me.  I get it.  I'm an
awesome person."  He rolled his eyes at me.  "But who says you would
actually land a hit?" I baited him.

He
narrowed his eyes on mine and then sighed, defeated.  "Fine.  Wrap your
hands good.  I'd hate to hurt your knuckles with my face."

I
chuckled at him and did as he asked.  "If it will make you feel better,
you can limit yourself to what?  Ten percent of your power?  I don't feel like
icing a black eye for the next few days, either."

He
nodded and we lowered into our fighting stances.  He was left handed and I was
right handed, so we mirrored each other.  It went the way our slow motion
fights normally go.  Lots of faking and testing jabs.  After a few minutes
though, we settled into our roles and got serious.  His eyes were sharp on my
form, and I was constantly moving, knowing if he got to me, he wouldn't give up
until I tapped out.  Ethan was ridiculously strong and fast, but I was faster
and planning on using that to my advantage. 

We
exchanged a few punches that actually landed, though they weren't hard enough
to actually hurt.  I landed one to his liver when he left it exposed during a
cross that I dodged. 

After
I backed up, he said, "You're holding back."  I nodded and he said,
"Don't."

"Okay,
Boss."

Instantly,
I threw a push kick against his hip and when he stumbled back (barely), I threw
an outside roundhouse kick to the outside of his left thigh right under the hip
I just shoved, and followed through so his torso spun away from me and he
almost went to a knee.  Without hesitating, I threw his legs out from under him
and scrambled behind him, pulling his back to my front and wrapping my arms and
legs around him quickly in a choke hold.  He tried to escape, but I managed to
choke him out before he did. 

It
took about five seconds before he went limp.  I released him to climb on top of
him, beside myself with shock and nearly delirious with glee.  I straddled his
body on my hands and knees and hovered my face over his, waiting for him to
wake up.  Five seconds later, his eyes popped open and widened when he saw my
face so close to his.

"Welcome
back, buttercup!" I chirped happily at him.  He smirked at me and I said,
"Now, I know that you held back and barely attacked me at all, and then
you gave me permission to not hold back, but I am not letting that detract at
all
from the fact that I just choked you out.   You were out like a light!  It was
awesome!" I cried.  And then it hit me that I actually knocked him
unconscious and I sobered and said quickly, "You're all right,
right?"

He
chuckled at my quick turn around and tugged lightly on my braid with one hand. 
"Yeah.  That was strange, though.  It's been a long time since someone
knocked me out."

I
rolled my eyes and raised my torso up to sit down on his stomach and rest my
palms on his chest.  "No need to brag, Ethan.  We all know you are lord
and master when it comes to fighting."

His
hands found my hips and I suddenly had trouble breathing because I became aware
of our position.  I was straddling him with his hands on me, and it was
precariously close to another activity that was more or less the complete
opposite
of fighting.  I hid my alarm and scrambled to my feet, rambling on about
anything to distract him. 

"Don't
worry, your secret is safe with me.  I won't tell anyone because I would just
end up embarrassing myself.  I mean really, how believable is it that I, or
anyone at this facility, really, could get the upper hand with you in a fight
and manage to choke you out?  Not very.  And they'd know without me telling
them that you held back.  So it wouldn't help my cause, it would hurt it."

I
finally looked at his face and he was on his feet and watching me. 

"I
appreciate the thought, anyway," he said sardonically.

Relieved
that we were on familiar territory again, I glanced at the clock and said,
"It's past ten."

"Yeah." 
We exited the studio and walked down the stairs.  "Your second assignment
starts tomorrow."

"I
know.  Are you excited?  'Cause I'm excited," I said.

"You
just want to see me in a tux."

Uh,
yeah,
I did.

"Pfft. 
You just want to see me all fancied out in a floor length dress."

"Actually
it's the heels I want to see you in.  I just want to see if you can transition
from boots to heels seamlessly like I know you want to," he said.

"Without
falling on my face, you mean," I deadpanned.

He
smiled.  "You can hang on to my arm for balance.  And moral support.  And
to make me look good."

"Oh,
you are mistaken, sir. 
You
are the arm candy, I am the thief."

"I'd
prefer the term bodyguard."

"This
body," I ran my hand down the length of my torso, "doesn't need extra
guarding.  It can handle itself."  I looked at his neck pointedly. 
"Obviously."

We
arrived at my door and I turned to hover in my doorway, facing him.

"Yes,
but this body," he ran his own hand down his torso, "is going to keep
other men from ogling you too closely.  They will hide in their corners and
quiver with fear," he said seriously.

I
laughed.  "Oh, really?"

"No
faith in me, babe."  He shook his head.  "No faith."

I
rolled my eyes and sighed dramatically.  "Yeah, we'll see."

*****

"Recap,"
Brooks ordered.

"Vasquez,"
I said.  "Rich guy.  Owns an auction company that's a front for artifact
smuggling."

"He
stole an ancient artifact that belongs to a family that doesn't have the means
to get it back.  It's displayed in his private home.  He has private security
around the clock to protect him and his most valuable possessions, one of which
is that artifact.  We're going to get it back," Ethan said.

"Ollie
is staying in the van to run base of operations from the computer.  August is
at the front door.  Spencer, Ethan and I will come inside with you,"
Brooks said.

I
was starting to get that nervous excited feeling in the pit of my stomach
again, and I was half-afraid I was going to become addicted to it.

I
ran up to my room and took my time getting ready, which is not something I
normally did.  I had gone to the store with Ethan a few days before to pick up
some things I needed that I didn't already have.  I bought a curling iron and
some extra makeup, and while I was there, I stocked up on tight black clothing
that I affectionately referred to as my
Heist Clothes
.  The dress that
Brooks let me order online arrived the previous week. 

I
curled my hair to emphasize my natural waves and pinned back various pieces to
achieve a regal effect.  I kept my makeup fairly neutral, but wore enough that
you could tell I was wearing it.  I slipped on my black floor length chiffon
dress.  It had a sweetheart neckline with sheer burgundy straps, meaning I had
to wear a black strapless bra.  I would just go without, but I needed actual
support for my C cups.  It was a simple but classy dress, and that's why I
loved it.

I
put on burgundy lipstick to match my straps and then walked down the stairs
barefooted.  I dropped my black high heels to the floor to step into them and
heard someone whistle.

"Well
don't you clean up nicely," Spencer said. 

"Watch
your mouth," I smiled.

"I'll
try not to look up your skirt when you hand off the statue," he said
cheekily.  "You don't trust me, do you?"

"Why
do you think I'm usually in jeans?" I deadpanned.

He
rolled his eyes right as Brooks and Ethan walked over to us. 

Ethan
wiggled his fingers at me in a
come hither
gesture.  "Let's see
'em."

Spencer's
eyebrows flew up and I smacked him on the back of his head.  "He's talking
about my shoes, you pervert."

Spencer
rubbed his head and I raised my dress to show off my kicks.  Ethan smirked at
me and offered me his arm.  "My lady."

I
purposely ignored his arm and walked right past him, nary a wobble in sight. 

He
caught up to me and said, "Impressive.  You're not even teetering."

"It's
a gift."

"You
practiced walking around in your room, didn't you?"

I
scoffed at him.  "I am a woman, you know.  There have been times in my
life where I've worn high heels.  I have experience with this."  He stared
at me and I caved.  "Fine, I practiced in my room."

Smiling
victoriously, he put his hand on my lower back to guide me out to the garage. 
I sped up enough so he wasn't touching me anymore and glanced back at him. 
Ethan looked awfully handsome and put together in a black suit.  He was pretty
much always stunning, especially with a beard, but there was something about
him being clean shaven and suave that had my eyes glued to him.

He
caught me with my eyes on his suit and tie, and I muttered, "Good God,
maybe you should go back inside and wrinkle your suit or something.  I'm going
to have to be
your
bodyguard just to keep the women at bay."

He
tossed his head back and laughed softly.  "I'll take that as a
compliment."

What
other way was there to take it, really? 

He
helped me into the car and sat in the back with me as Brooks drove us. 
Spencer, August and Ollie followed in the van.  Ethan handed me an ear bud and
we put them in our ears.  I toed off my shoes and relaxed back in my seat,
settling in for a long ride.  It was going to take almost two hours just to get
there, which is why we left at seven for a party that starts right at seven. 
We wanted to get there after most people had settled in and gotten comfortable
with the open bar.

We
arrived and pulled up to the front steps of the massive mansion.  Brooks put
the car in park and hopped out to let us out of the back, like a chauffeur
would.  Ethan climbed out and rounded the back of the vehicle to help me out
and escort me up the steps.  He offered his arm, and I took it this time.  I
wrapped my hand around his suit covered forearm and gestured for Spencer and
August to walk ahead of us.  We reached the security guard at the door and he
asked for our names, eyeing Spencer suspiciously because he was dressed in
informal black clothing. 

I
cast a glance around us to make sure we were alone as Ethan said,
"Brown."

We
both followed the unconscious security guard with our eyes as his body fell
toward the ground after Spencer decked him.

"James
Brown," Ethan finished theatrically.

Brooks
and Spencer caught the guard before he hit the ground and hid him in the
bushes.  August adjusted her long brown dress and snatched the clipboard from
the guy's loosened grip.  She stood up and glanced down at the list.

"Ah,
Brown.  Yes, here you are.  Enjoy your evening," she said graciously.

"Why,
thank you," I said, as if I were pleasantly surprised by a stranger's
kindness.

Ethan
and I pushed through the doors and inside with Brooks on our heels.  Spencer
ducked inside and went directly to the left and through a locked door that took
him to the employee's entrance.  Brooks turned to us.

"Get
it done, do it right," he said.

I
ran the back of my fingers down Brooks' cheek in a ridiculously over the top
gesture of affection and said in a whimsical voice, "Yes, sir."

Ethan
chuckled and Brooks swatted my hand away.  "Go away," Brooks
grumbled.

Ethan
escorted me through another set of double doors and into the main party room. 
There were fancy-schmancy couples everywhere and waiters floating across the
room with trays filled with both full and empty champagne flutes.  Brooks
separated from us and scouted the room.

"Got
him," Brooks muttered.  "Vasquez is by the fountain in the middle of
the room, speaking with guests."

"Fountain?"
I asked.  "Dude has a fountain
inside
of his house?"