Tease Me (Private Listing #4)

“You can be my dummy.” I gesture for him to stand next to me, then lift my gaze to Madison. “If you want to sit on the bench, you can.”

She lowers onto the bench and crosses her legs. Leaning in, she pays close attention.

“Besides the obvious knee to the groin. Pressure points will help give you means to escape.” I point to each on Noah. “The sciatic nerve above the knee. The biceps. Brachial plexus above the armpit. The thumb webbing. The shin. The lymph node behind the ear.”

Her eyes take in everything.

“If you get a shot at hitting him where he’s vulnerable, palm to the jaw, thumbs in the eyes, palm to the nose, and knee to the groin.”

“Can we not actually injure the groin?” Noah flinches as I gesture to that area.

“We’ll just work on pressure points tonight.” I hold my hand out to Madison without a thought.

She stands and walks toward me but doesn’t take my hand. I release the breath I didn’t know I was holding and let go of the tension in my shoulders. It’s too soon. She trusts me to train her, but she thinks I don’t trust her.

She may have given leeway to Seth, but she’s not there with me. Her eyes at dinner told me that, but we’ll get there. We have to.

I’ll do whatever it takes to win her back.

Chapter 144

Business Relations

Madison

By the time we get on the elevator to head upstairs, I’m a little worse for wear. Noah’s limping from an overenthusiastic kick to the shin. Blake watches me like he’s proud of me, which makes my heart pound.

My ponytail is loose and I definitely need a shower, but I feel more confident in my ability to fight someone off. I’ll feel even better when we work on holds more.

“Put some ice on your shoulder, tiger.” Blake’s green eyes look me over, making my blood heat.

When he grabbed my wrist one time, I jerked my arm away hard and hurt my shoulder. His fingers were tender as he checked it for me. The attraction between us sizzles in the air every time we get close. As much as I want to give in to it, I can’t.

“Okay.” Before, I would have maybe made a joke or implied something else he could do with ice, but his distrust still burns inside me.

“I’ll ice my shin too.” Noah leans against the side of the elevator. “But thanks for your concern, Blake.”

Blake chuckles softly. “Want Madison to kiss it and make it better?”

Noah lifts his dark gaze to me and my breath catches at the heat there. “She could definitely kiss me better.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Tonight, I’m sleeping.”

The elevator doors open and we all head to the main door. When we get to the kitchen, Blake goes to the freezer and grabs two ice packs.

“Heads up.” He tosses one to Noah, who grumbles when he catches it.

Blake walks the other one over and hands it to me. “Fifteen minutes.”

He reaches up and tucks my hair behind my ear. This is the closest we’ve been this week, not including training tonight. My heart races as I search his eyes. I want to forgive him and get back to where we were, but at what cost?

How often will he need to test me? Why should I be the only one giving my trust to this relationship fully?

“You did well, love.” His words are soft as his gaze drops. He backs away.

I want to reach out for him and draw him into my arms. I want to forgive him, but how do I know he won’t doubt me on something bigger? How do I expose my deepest darkest parts to someone who doesn’t believe in me?

My gaze follows Blake as he goes into his room. Noah watches me in silence. When the door shuts, I release my breath.