Vinnie stretched her toes in her borrowed tennis shoes as she jogged down the stairs to the gym. After spending two more hours in the conference room, she knew the plan backward and forward.

Now, under Jax’s orders, she was being trained by Raze in some very quick self-defense moves. “I think this is a waste of time,” she muttered again, stomping in front of him and down the rough steps.

“That’s unfortunate,” he said, his breath brushing the back of her hair.

Yeah, it definitely was. Allowing Raze to put his hands on her would end up with her breathless, turned on, and probably pissed off. Not a comfortable way to be.

She squished across the old mats and then turned around, shaking out her arms. “I don’t see why Sami couldn’t train me just as well.”

“She could have,” Raze said, shutting the door. “I told her I wanted to train you.”

“Oh.” Vinnie took a couple of steps in retreat. “I know you don’t want me to go and meet with the Mercs.”

“Yep.”

“So why are you training me?” She tried to keep the hurt out of her chest.

He stalked closer, all intent and all male. “Because I care about you, and the idea of you being harmed makes me want to blow up the entire Mercenary organization just to ensure your safety.”

The words hit her dead center. She held out a hand. “Please don’t be sweet. I can’t take sweet.”

His lips tipped. “I know you have to be focused and slightly pissed, or you’re going to get scared. But you do not get to be pissed at me. We have to work together.”

“You want to shackle me to a radiator again. Oh, baby. I am pissed at you.” And slightly, very slightly intrigued. She’d never admit that, no matter what.

He nodded. “I get that, but you need to get a few things, too. You’re going to have to accept the mission and the parameters, and you need to be focused and not angry. Especially at me.”

She could be angry at whomever she wished, but that wasn’t how to get into his head. “All right, that’s good. Since we’re finally being real and talking, I think we should talk about us.”

His left eyebrow lifted, and with his face bruised, he looked like a pirate about to plunder. “All right.”

Oh, it was time for her to gain the upper hand. With a guy like him, there was a surefire way to get him to back the hell off. “I like you, and you’re a strong partner to have.”

He straightened, moving his torso back and away from her. “Huh?”

She nodded vigorously, even feeling mean. “Yep. I want the whole enchilada. You know. Hearth and home—and I think you’re a good bet.”

He may have paled a little bit.

“Because we’re building civilization as well, I want to get married before we continue any sexual encounters. Any chance you could find a ring on a scouting mission?” She put a hopeful expression on.

He studied her, and the moments ticked by. “Sure.”

It took every ounce of control she had to stay still. “Su-sure?”

“Yeah.” He moved in, his hands cupping her face. “You’re right. We do have to worry about civilization, and here in Vanguard, we’re safe. We’ll get married right away.”

Holy shit. She opened her mouth to argue.

His descended, and he kissed her deep. Electricity zinged through her torso, bounced around, and landed in her girly parts. When she’d forgotten how to think, he lifted his head.

“During the ceremony, you’re gonna vow to obey, baby.” Amusement glittered in his eyes.

Warmth exploded in her chest. “Oh, you—you—” She kicked him in the shin.

The pop to her ass shocked her.

He grinned. “Nice try, and I guess it’s time you learned I retaliate . . . considering we’re getting married and all.”

Maybe faking him out hadn’t been such a great idea. “I will never marry you,” she hissed, her face heating.

“Too late.” He released her. “You proposed, and I said yes.” He turned, his gaze thoughtful. “In fact, we could actually use our marriage to meet with the good reverend, couldn’t we? Get in with him by talking about a wedding.”

She breathed out, her nostrils flaring. In panic? Could nostrils flare in panic? “Wait a minute. I was just messing with you.”

“I know.” He rolled his shoulders back. “But I like the idea of you being my obedient little wife.”

“Knock it off,” she ordered through gritted teeth.

He studied her head to toe. “Yep. Just perfect.”

She looked for something to throw, but the free weights seemed kind of heavy.

“I’m not kidding about meeting with the reverend,” Raze said.

She shook her head. “It’s too soon. With April joining his church, and Jax offering to sit down and talk, our hitting up the reverend would be too much. Besides, neither of us is Pure.”

Raze frowned, thoughts scattering across his sculpted face. “You’re right.” He shrugged. “I guess we’ll just have to ask Jax to marry us. I’ll write the vows, and you find a nice dress.”

She fought the urge to tackle him, mostly because she’d lose the fight. “Stop teasing me.”

He shook his head. “Sorry, baby. You proposed, I said yes, and now we have a binding contract. You will be mine.”

Enough of this silliness. Maybe if she ignored him, he’d stop it. She’d tried to mess with his head, and it had totally backfired on her. For now, she needed to learn a couple of defense moves in case things went south on her first and probably only mission.

She looked around and shuddered. “Is this where the bodies are buried?” Her voice echoed off the dirty walls.

“We burn the bodies, remember?” He winced.

She nodded. “Not funny, considering it’s probably true.” She glanced at the bright blue gym mats covering the floor. “Those are actually nice.”

“From the school on Chalice Street. Jax said they raided it right off.” Raze rolled his neck. “You should’ve already been down here training. From the second you arrived in Vanguard, you should’ve been training.”

She huffed out a breath. “My work is more important.”

“If we’re attacked and you die without fighting back, then you can’t work.”

She sighed. “You really don’t like me right now.”

He paused. “I’m doing this because I like you. By failing to prepare, you’re preparing to fail.”

Temper rippled through her. “You’re quoting Benjamin Franklin? Really?”

He grinned. “I’ve been hanging out with Jax too much.”

The Vanguard leader loved his quotations, now didn’t he? “Fair enough.”

“Attack me.”

“Oh, I’d love to,” she said grimly. “Anything goes?”

“Yep, but keep in mind, I’m fighting, too. You nail my boys, again, and you’re not going to like the results.”

She stepped onto the mat and turned around to face him. “I’ll take my chances.”

He gestured in a come-and-get-it motion. “Let’s go.”

She frowned and carefully settled her stance, one foot slightly behind the other. Then she shook out her shoulders. Finally, her hands rose and fisted.

“What the hell are you doing?” he asked.

“Getting ready.”

He shook his head, irritation wrinkling his nose. “I said to attack me. You don’t pause and get ready. You fucking attack.”

“Fine.” She rolled her eyes. Taking several moments to think, she finally launched herself at him, head down, trying for a tackle.

He caught her easily, lifting her up, shaking his head. “No. Definitely no.” Setting her down, he took two steps back. “Okay. I want you to attack when I give the order, but this time move instantly. There isn’t time to stop and think and plan. You have to fight.”

She frowned and blew hair out of her eyes. “I’m a psychologist.”

“Not today.” He gave her a second to get her balance. “Attack.”

She threw herself at him, turning, her shoulder colliding with his chest. He grabbed her biceps, lifted her, and then put her down flat on the mat, sprawling over her. Her legs kicked ineffectually, and her hands slapped the mat. Her thighs widened to allow him more room, and heat slid through her entire body. As she struggled, her breasts rubbed against his chest, providing a breath-stealing friction. Finally, she stilled. If she moved one more inch, she’d combust. “How was that?”

He laughed. A true, genuine, honest, and deep laugh. “Really, really bad.”

She gaped. His laugh, the full one, was sexy as hell. Masculine.

He sobered, but the smile remained. “You kinda suck.” She blew out air. “That’s what I was trying to tell you. My time is better spent digging into people’s minds. It’s too late to train in self-defense.”

He lost the smile. “What a rational, scientific, reasonable approach to survival.”

She gave him a look. “I do not appreciate the sarcasm.”

He pressed into the vee of her legs. “You need to know how to get free and run if anybody grabs you in Thousand Oaks.”

Her eyes wanted to roll back in her head from pure pleasure. “Somehow I don’t think they’ll jump on me like this.”

“True.”

“I’ll be fine.” She’d take a gun and a couple of knives. “One night of training isn’t going to do me any good.”

“You’re wrong, and while I don’t agree with your going on this mission, I’m going to make sure you’re prepared. By the end of the night, you’ll know how to break several holds and cause major damage to an attacker. You have no choice.” He nipped her bottom lip.

The bite held pain and warning. She blinked. “Raze?”

“I like you. I like being right here,” he said quietly, his gaze intense. “Remember that during the next several hours.”

What did that mean? “Um—”

He rolled them both and stood, easily planting her on her feet. “If somebody grabs you, it’s going to be like this.” Twirling her around, he slid an arm beneath hers and grabbed her neck, yanking her back into his hard chest. “Get free.”

She took a breath and kicked back. His weight shifted, he lifted, and started moving her toward the door.

Panicking, she struggled against him, her shoulders feeling like they were bouncing off a boulder. She kicked and shook, slapping back, not slowing his stride at all.

He paused at the doorway, set her down, and smacked her sharply on the ass.

Pain rippled through her lower back, and she turned, her hand going to her smarting butt. “What the hell?”

He cocked a head to the side, no give on his hard face. “Every time you let me get you to the doorway, you’re feeling my palm.”

Her mouth gaped open. “You have got to be kidding me.”

“Nope. You need motivation, and I’m happy to provide that.” He looked down several inches at her. “If you can get through the doorway by yourself at any point, then we’re finished training.”

Oh, she was feeling more than a little motivation. Was there any way she could actually knock him out? She eyed the closed door. “Open the door, then.”

He reached behind his hip and opened the door about six inches. “Get back across the room.”

Yeah, she was so going to make him pay. Turning on a tennis shoe, she moved back to the middle of the mat and settled her knees.

He moved for her, straight on, not even trying to hide his attack.

She kicked out. He grabbed her arms and flipped her over his shoulder. The breath whooshed out of her lungs. Three long strides and they reached the doorway. This smack made her groan out loud and rushed her temper hard and fast to the surface. He put her down and she punched out.

His hand enclosed her fist with a loud smack. “Middle of the mat. Now.”

Jerking free, she stomped back to the middle.

He crossed his arms. “Are you ready to learn a couple of moves now?”

She glared at him. “Fine. But don’t be surprised when I knock you on your ass.”

“Looking forward to it.” His chin lowered, and he moved toward her again.