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nerve. Using the technique he'd taught her, she broke his handhold around her neck, stepped in, broke his balance and pushed him neatly onto the mat. He rolled as gracefully as a ball, got to his feet in a combat stance and rushed her, his hand rising sharply in a side hand position. He gave a harsh, sharp yell and brought his hand down. Kirry did what came naturally. She threw her hands over her face and screamed. There were chuckles from the other side of the gym, from men who'd seen Lang use that shock tactic on young cops he was training, years ago. Kirry caught her breath and swatted angrily at Lang. "You animal!" she raged. "That wasn't fair!" "People are born with two natural fears," he informed her. "Fear of sudden, sharp noises and fear of falling. A sharp cry can temporarily paralyze, as you saw. That's one of the methods I like to teach. Sometimes just the yell is enough to buy you some time." "It's very unpleasant to be on the receiving end of it!" "I don't doubt it. But getting used to the idea of an attack might save you one day." She saw his point. She was still getting her breath, and her heartbeat was frantic. "Had enough?" he taunted, bringing back her fighting spirit. "Not on your life," she told him shortly. "If you can take it, I can take it. Do your worst!" He proceeded to, grinning all the way. 6 Kirry slumped beside Lang on the mat after an hour of exercises in breaking handholds, balance and repelling attacks. She could barely breathe at all, and every bone in her body felt as if it had taken a beating. "Giving up?" he teased. "Only for the moment," she said, panting. Her face was red and her hair was all awry. Lang thought she looked like a charming urchin. "Remember the day we went swimming in the river?" he reminded with a gentle smile. "You almost drowned because you wouldn't admit that you couldn't last long enough to get across. 1 had to tow you back." "I almost made it," she said, recalling the incident. "And on the way back," he said, lowering his voice as he bent to stare into her eyes, "your top came off." She felt the impact of his gaze as she'd felt it that day, when she'd experienced her first intimacy. Lang's eyes on her bare breasts had made her blush all over, had made her heart run like a mad thing. He hadn't embarrassed her, or made fun of her plight. He'd lifted her very slowly out of the water and looked at her; just that, then he'd put her back down, found her top and turned his back while she put it on again. It had been so natural and tender that she'd never regretted the experience. "I remember the look on your face most of all," he continued quietly. "You were shocked and delighted and excited, all at the same time. An artist would have gone nuts trying to capture your expressions." "It was the first time," she replied simply. "I was all those things. Of course, it wasn't unique for you." "Wasn't it, Kirry?" He wasn't smiling, and his eyes were dark with secrets. She averted her face. "Well, it was a long time ago. We're different people now." He thought of all the places he'd been, all the adventures he'd had. He thought about the close calls and Kirry's laughing eyes, suddenly filled with tears because he wouldn't believe her the one time when it really mattered. "I failed you," he said aloud. "You wouldn't have been happy tied to me," she said, looking back at him. "You wanted your freedom too badly. That's why it didn't work out for you with me or Lorna." His eyes narrowed. "Lorna was different" he said shortly. "She knew from the beginning that I wasn't interested in marriage, and she took me on those terms. But I never laid any conditions on the line with you. I didn't even really rule out marriage at first." "Until you thought I'd slept with Chad." She finished the thought for him. "And that hurt your pride more than your heart." "Love comes hard to some men, Kirry." He searched her eyes for a long moment. "And settling down..." His voice trailed off as he remembered, without wanting to, his own childhood. "I knew you weren't ready." She dredged up a smile. "And despite the fact that you'd proposed, I wouldn't have married you, knowing that you really wanted the Company more than me. It was nice to pretend, though." "Kirry," he began slowly, "I asked you once how you'd feel about trying again. You never really answered me. I wasn't kidding." Her heart leaped, but her expression was wary. "I don't know, Lang." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
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