out Dr Miller for advice.
Tanner remained mute the rest of the trip. Once they reached home, he shut off the engine and turned his attention to her. "What are your plans?"
She smiled. "Letting Hercules out to pee."
He rolled his eyes. "Smart ass. I meant after the essentials."
Oakley considered the question for a couple of beats. "Well, if you aren't too busy, I thought you could show me more of that self-defense you're so proficient at."
A wicked smile slowly grew on his face. "And once I pin you?"
"To the victor go the spoils?" No sooner had the words left her mouth than she wished them back. Her face burned as he laughed. Hyena .
"I think I'm up for that challenge." His eyes sparked while his dimples popped with amusement.
"Oh, boy."
Chapter 11
What in the world was I thinking? Oakley sidestepped, shifting cautiously around the mat in her classroom at the Y. Tanner pursued, watching her intently. Last time they sparred, she ended up flat on her back with his mouth sealed over hers. Not that being kissed by a human replica of Adonis made for a bad afternoon. In fact, the action flipped her tummy, filled her dreams, and infected her with a craving for more. The downside remained that Tanner appeared interested in nothing more than a roll in the hay. Wham, bam, goodbye ma'am. On the other hand, she saw something deeper and longer-lasting in the potential relationship. Something she dared not set her hopes on, lest they end up smashed like an after-Halloween pumpkin.
He moved with the ease of a jungle cat, prowling and stalking, until he found an opportunity to jab, grab, or kick. It took all her skill and concentration just to stay barely out of his reach. The entire time she realized one fact of utmost importance—Tanner could wipe the floor with her at any moment with little difficulty. His strength, size, speed, and advanced training made her realize he toyed with her like a cat with a mouse.
She spun, tossing out a roundhouse kick that Tanner not only blocked but managed to take advantage of. Throwing his weight against her front side, he sent her tumbling to the mat.
Oakley rolled over to her back, looking up at him. The letch grinned at her as he offered his hand. Taking it, she allowed him to pull her upright.
"Nice move, but your timing was off."
"You're just too fast. I've never practiced with anyone near your caliber." She caught her breath.
Tanner shrugged. "Never let it be said the Marines do anything half-assed."
She grinned. "Well, let's hope that I don't have to fend off a Marine attacker then."
"I'll show you a few tricks, if you'd like." He stepped close enough to tug on her braid.
"That would be great."
He positioned himself directly in front of her. "Okay. Let's start with this."
Thirty minutes later, Oakley panted as sweat rolled down her back and face. Her bangs clung to her damp forehead, but with hard effort and persistence, along with a slave driver for an instructor, she mastered the handful of defense moves Tanner showed her.
"Are you going to take Sam up on his offer?" she asked, using a dry towel from her bag to rub the moisture from her face.
Tanner stood relaxed, his breathing normal, and only the mildest sheen of perspiration marred his brow. "My job isn't nine-to-five or on a set schedule. I don't know how I could instruct a class when I may or may not be here for weeks on end." He took a deep swallow of water from a plastic bottle.
Oakley followed suit, draining half of her bottle in a few gulps. "You would make an excellent instructor. Heck, you taught me easily enough."
His eyes twinkled. "You motivated me."
"Uh-huh. Just how did I do that?" She eyed him with skepticism.
"I get to put my hands on you in order to show you those movements." His left dimple showed. "Not bad at all. Although, I believe we should try it without clothing."
She gasped. "Sparring naked?" Her face heated at his words.
Pearly white teeth sparkled. "Oh, yeah, I could…"
Oakley
Tanner remained mute the rest of the trip. Once they reached home, he shut off the engine and turned his attention to her. "What are your plans?"
She smiled. "Letting Hercules out to pee."
He rolled his eyes. "Smart ass. I meant after the essentials."
Oakley considered the question for a couple of beats. "Well, if you aren't too busy, I thought you could show me more of that self-defense you're so proficient at."
A wicked smile slowly grew on his face. "And once I pin you?"
"To the victor go the spoils?" No sooner had the words left her mouth than she wished them back. Her face burned as he laughed. Hyena .
"I think I'm up for that challenge." His eyes sparked while his dimples popped with amusement.
"Oh, boy."
Chapter 11
What in the world was I thinking? Oakley sidestepped, shifting cautiously around the mat in her classroom at the Y. Tanner pursued, watching her intently. Last time they sparred, she ended up flat on her back with his mouth sealed over hers. Not that being kissed by a human replica of Adonis made for a bad afternoon. In fact, the action flipped her tummy, filled her dreams, and infected her with a craving for more. The downside remained that Tanner appeared interested in nothing more than a roll in the hay. Wham, bam, goodbye ma'am. On the other hand, she saw something deeper and longer-lasting in the potential relationship. Something she dared not set her hopes on, lest they end up smashed like an after-Halloween pumpkin.
He moved with the ease of a jungle cat, prowling and stalking, until he found an opportunity to jab, grab, or kick. It took all her skill and concentration just to stay barely out of his reach. The entire time she realized one fact of utmost importance—Tanner could wipe the floor with her at any moment with little difficulty. His strength, size, speed, and advanced training made her realize he toyed with her like a cat with a mouse.
She spun, tossing out a roundhouse kick that Tanner not only blocked but managed to take advantage of. Throwing his weight against her front side, he sent her tumbling to the mat.
Oakley rolled over to her back, looking up at him. The letch grinned at her as he offered his hand. Taking it, she allowed him to pull her upright.
"Nice move, but your timing was off."
"You're just too fast. I've never practiced with anyone near your caliber." She caught her breath.
Tanner shrugged. "Never let it be said the Marines do anything half-assed."
She grinned. "Well, let's hope that I don't have to fend off a Marine attacker then."
"I'll show you a few tricks, if you'd like." He stepped close enough to tug on her braid.
"That would be great."
He positioned himself directly in front of her. "Okay. Let's start with this."
Thirty minutes later, Oakley panted as sweat rolled down her back and face. Her bangs clung to her damp forehead, but with hard effort and persistence, along with a slave driver for an instructor, she mastered the handful of defense moves Tanner showed her.
"Are you going to take Sam up on his offer?" she asked, using a dry towel from her bag to rub the moisture from her face.
Tanner stood relaxed, his breathing normal, and only the mildest sheen of perspiration marred his brow. "My job isn't nine-to-five or on a set schedule. I don't know how I could instruct a class when I may or may not be here for weeks on end." He took a deep swallow of water from a plastic bottle.
Oakley followed suit, draining half of her bottle in a few gulps. "You would make an excellent instructor. Heck, you taught me easily enough."
His eyes twinkled. "You motivated me."
"Uh-huh. Just how did I do that?" She eyed him with skepticism.
"I get to put my hands on you in order to show you those movements." His left dimple showed. "Not bad at all. Although, I believe we should try it without clothing."
She gasped. "Sparring naked?" Her face heated at his words.
Pearly white teeth sparkled. "Oh, yeah, I could…"
Oakley
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