Alpha One (Shadow Agents #1)(19)
Author: Cynthia Eden

Upstairs.

When the pleasure had hit her, she’d said that she loved him.

He’d never told her the same.

Maybe there was one thing he couldn’t lie about.

Juliana shoved those memories back into the box in her mind. “I want to be able to defend myself if…if—”

“When a bullet or a bomb is coming, there’s not much defense.”

No. “But when you’re trapped in some hellhole and the enemy is coming at you because he wants to torture information out of you—information that you don’t have—then being able to fight back matters.” She’d been helpless in Mexico. If something happened and Guerrero got her again… I won’t be helpless. “You can teach me some defensive moves. I know you can.”

His gaze wasn’t on her legs any longer. That too-intense stare raked her face.

“I need this,” she told him. She had to have some control, some power.

His nod was grim.

He rose, backing up.

The drumming of Juliana’s heartbeat echoed in her ears. She followed him into the opening in the middle of the room. Her toes curled over the old, faded rug.

Light flickered on when Logan bent toward the lamp at his right. Juliana finally started focusing enough to realize that Logan wore no shirt. Just a pair of loose sweatpants. His chest, ripped with muscles, was bare. Only…

Logan was sporting a tattoo now.

She hadn’t noticed the tattoo back in Mexico. But then, he’d kept his clothes on there. Thank goodness. Now it was tempting…all that bare flesh.

Juliana licked her lips. Down, girl.

Her gaze focused on the tattoo. The ink was black, dark, sliding up a few inches over his heart.

Forming a trident.

Why did that symbol look so sexy on him?

Why did she always have to want him?

“I use a mix of martial arts,” he told her as he came closer, positioning his body just a few inches from hers on that rug. “I can teach you a few moves to help with CQC.”

“Um, CQC?” No clue.

“Close-quarters combat.” His words were quiet. His body was too big. She was too aware of his every breath. “You want to be able to kill quickly, efficiently.”

She didn’t exactly want to kill, just stay alive. But Juliana nodded. She’d never heard him sound so cold before. Her hands pressed against her stomach. “And have you done that?”

He didn’t answer. She knew he had. Probably more times than he could count.

Not the boy you knew.

She wasn’t sure she’d ever known him.

“Can we…can we start easier? I mean…” I’m not ready to kill.

He must have read the truth in her eyes. A muscle jerked in his jaw. “When it comes down to it, if it’s your life or your attacker’s, you’ll be ready.” Then he moved in a flash, almost too fast for her to see, and in the next breath, Logan’s hand was around her throat. “If you hesitate, you can die.” His big fingers surrounded her neck, seemed to brand her flesh. She knew with one twist of his hand, he could kill her.

Logan stepped back. “But we’ll start easy, if that’s what you want.”

Had his voice roughened? His eyes had hardened, his body seemed to have tensed.

“Go for your attacker’s weak spots. Always make them your targets.”

Juliana forced her own body to ease its stiffness.

“When you attack—” Logan was circling her now, making her nervous “—use the strongest part of your body.” He stood behind her, came closer. His body brushed against hers. His arm slid around her, and his fingers curled over her hand. “Use your fists.” He lifted her hand, punched out with it and turned her arm. “Your elbows.” He surrounded her. So big and solid behind her, his arms sweeping out.

He spun her around so that she faced him. His fingers still curled over her fist. He lifted her fist toward his neck. “Punch at your attacker’s throat. Hit hard, with every bit of strength that you have.”

His gaze blazed down at her. “You have to be ready to take your attacker out,” Logan said.

She tugged her hand. He didn’t let go. Her eyes narrowed. “What if I’m just trying to get away?”

Another spin, and her back was to him again. He’d freed her, and she stood there, her body too tense and aware.

“I’ll be the attacker,” he said.

Her mouth went dry.

“If I come at you from behind…” And he did. In a rush, he had her. His arms wrapped around her body and he hauled her back against him. Juliana struggled, twisting and straining forward, but she couldn’t get free of his hold. Her struggles just strained her against him.

He was getting turned on.

Juliana froze.

“Hunch your shoulders,” he told her, voice gruff. “Don’t try to lunge away. Curl in…”

She did, hunching her shoulders.

“Then drop.”

She slid out of his grasp. She twisted and turned back up. Her hand fisted, ready to punch.

“When you’re free, go for my eyes. My throat.” His lips twisted. “My groin.”

She wasn’t going there. Not then. With an effort, she kept her eyes up.

“Use your elbow or fist in a groin attack. Hard as you can hit…”

She managed a slow nod.

“But if I come at you straight on…” And he did. He advanced and those big hands came for her throat once more. His fingers wrapped around her neck. Not hurting her. Again, she felt the ghost of a caress against her skin. “Then shove your fingers into my eyes.”

Vicious. Juliana swallowed and nodded. She would do whatever she had to do.

He didn’t drop his hand. Just stared at her. The air seemed to thicken with the tension between them.

“I’m not going to let them get you again.”

His fingers were behind her ear, caressing. She shivered at the touch and the memories it stirred. In the past, he’d liked to kiss her in just that spot.

“I’ll stand between you and any person who comes for you.”

She believed that he would. But Logan was flesh and blood. He couldn’t stop fire or bullets.

He could die, too.

Then what would happen?

I’d be without him again.

Her gaze lifted to his. There was arousal, need, so much lust in his eyes. But he wasn’t pushing her, wasn’t trying to kiss her, and his hand was falling away from her.

She’d told him no hours before. Told him to keep his distance. We’re done.

He’d called her on the lie.