It took almost a week for Alexei to recover enough to be able to train her. In the meantime, she amused herself by doing aerobics routines from YouTube to keep her fitness up. Alexei still walked her home from her shift at the diner, even though he wasn’t training and he was still in pain. He claimed he needed the exercise, but Evie’s heart still warmed at the knowledge he cared about her, her safety, her peace of mind. She’d protested that she was positive Jimmy wasn’t stalking her now, though that wasn’t quite the truth, and Alexei had just shrugged and showed up anyway.

Maybe he just liked spending time with her, a fact that pleased her all the more.

The first training session was slow to get into as they rediscovered the rhythm they’d built over the previous sessions. It took them three or four days before they moved onto the more complicated moves they’d been bordering on before the break.

Alexei demonstrated a takedown move he wanted her to learn by doing it to her in slow motion. He held her shoulders as she hit the ground in a controlled fall as he’d taught her. Her back scratched against the old rug they were using as mats, not an improvement over the specially designed floor at the gym. But Evie appreciated the extra hours of sleep a night, no longer having to bus to and from training.

He loomed over her as she lay there, but she felt no fear. Only a solid trust in him.

“You think I can do that to you?” she asked, disbelieving.

Alexei nodded. “Use my size against me.”

He held out his hand and pulled her to standing. She eyed him doubtfully, taking in his huge, heavy form.

He grinned at her expression. “Trust me.”

She already did.

They ran through the manoeuvre a few times without actually touching each other. Evie had to dodge his punch—which he did in slow motion for her benefit—then, once she was on his outside and he was off balance, she had to grab his shirt, knee him in the stomach, then sweep his leg out from under him.

It was the move that had the most steps in it yet, and she was doubtful she could get his leg out from under him. But she had to try. She squared her shoulders, held her hands up and the ready, and exhaled.

“Ready,” she told him.

He nodded, then they began. The first few time she was too slow and Alexei could easily regain his balance before she went for his leg. But slowly, surely, she got faster and faster as she dodged his swinging fist.

Until she caught him—and herself—by surprise, and took him down. He was too heavy for her to catch, like he did to her, so he fell with a thump, taking her down with him because she still gripped his t-shirt.

Evie fell on top of him, knocking the air from his lungs. He groaned painfully, the sound vibrating through her. She must have fallen on his still-healing ribs. She scrambled to sit upright, not noticing until it was too late that she now straddled him.

She planted her hands against his hard chest for balance, unable to resist flexing her fingers against his solid muscles.

“Sorry,” she whispered, but the soft note in her voice belied the word.

His eyes darkened, and his hands came up over hers, trapping them against his chest. “Don’t be,” he replied, his voice so rough it was almost a growl.

She didn’t move. Didn’t want to. And if she wasn’t mistaken, Alexei didn’t want her going anywhere either. She shifted, and heat speared through her at the friction to her clit.

She gasped, softly, so softly she hoped Alexei wouldn’t hear. But the way his eyes flinted with lust told her that he had. Her cheeks heated, no doubt blooming red under his watchful gaze. But she barely noticed, not with the electricity firing through her veins.

Evie wasn’t sure she’d ever been so ready, so quick. It was like all their weeks of talking, of training and sparring, had been foreplay, leading to this very moment. She’d been preparing herself for him unknowingly.

He moved his arm, keeping both her hands trapped under one of his. His other hand gripped her hip, anchoring her to him.

It was almost an invitation. Use me all you want.

She bent her elbows, lowering herself over him. He kept his gaze on her face the whole time, studying it with a fierce intensity that made her heart beat even harder.

His fingers flexed against her hips, and she knew now it was his way of trying to keep himself under control. The knowledge sent a thrill through her. She felt so powerful around him. Her effect on this big, strong man, making him so desperate for her that he almost lost control. The thought should frighten her. And it did, a bit. But so far Alexei had been nothing but the perfect gentleman.

Her lips brushed over his. Soft at first, a teasing breath. It had been so long since she’d kissed anyone—since she’d wanted to.

Alexei let her hands escape as he brought his up to cup her face. His hand trembled slightly, evidence of the tight leash he had himself under. Evie slid her palms up, over his chest, to clutch at his shoulders.

She deepened the kiss, her tongue dipping into his mouth to explore new territory. It was like learning to kiss all over again, starting afresh. Her memories of physical affection had been so tainted by violence, she’d had to wipe the slate clean and start over.

Alexei was patient, following her lead as she tasted him. Coffee from the diner lingered on his breath.

His hand slipped off her hip and settled on her lower back. With a gentle press, he urged her closer. Her hips flexed instinctively, creating friction again against her clit and she gasped into his mouth.

He groaned at the sound, his hand tightening briefly on the back of her neck. But he deliberately loosed his grip and tried to slow the kiss.

But Evie didn’t want that. She leaned closer, deepening the kiss in a clumsy clash of teeth and lips. She wanted him, wanted to keep this arousal flooding through her for as long as possible. It had been so long.

Her fingers dug into his shoulders. He kissed her back harder now. Yes. This is what she wanted. What she needed. Her mind was blank with lust. Maybe she could do this. Maybe he could keep her so mindless with pleasure that she’d forget…

Alexei moved so suddenly he startled her, rolling her over so she was pinned beneath him. He loomed over her, his eyes hard and dark, his chest bellowing. His erection thickened, pressing into her core over her workout leggings.

Her mind knew the expression on his face was lust. But her mind had fled the second he’d pinned her with his superior weight and she could no longer listen to reason. Her heart hammered, not with desire now, but fear. She couldn’t escape, couldn’t breathe. It was like a heavy weight sat on her chest, and in some ways there was, though Alexei mostly held his bulk off her.

He leaned down again, probably to kiss her. But she turned her face away and made a sound of protest—all she could manage in her state of heightened fear.

Alexei’s eyes darkened for a second, and in that moment Evie panicked with the thought he’d take her anyway, without her consent. He was bigger and stronger than her, and he certainly could do so if he wanted to.

But this was Alexei, surely…

He was gone. He’d thrown himself back and away from her, scowling.

Evie swallowed, and again, trying to work some moisture into her mouth, dry with fear. Her heart calmed a fraction, enough for a sliver of rationale to return.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, pushing away from him and crawling back towards the door. “I’m so sorry.”

With that, she turned and fled, leaving Alexei furious behind her.