He has a point there, and given the shit I’ve been through and the shit I’m running from, it might be a good idea to know how to defend myself and Cora if it ever comes down to that.
The rest of the group is watching us now, and I give Murphy a smile. “Sure, why not?”
“Hell yeah. Come over here, then.”
I set my things down and follow him into the circle. The others back up to give us some room, and Murphy stands opposite me, walking in a slow circle like he’s checking me out.
I know he’s probably just sizing me up, getting a measure of what he thinks I can do so he can better show me the right moves.
“All right,” he says when he comes back to stand in front of me. “I’m sure you already know the most effective places to aim for if you’re trying to take down a guy, but sometimes it’s not going to be that easy. Sometimes he’s waiting for that, or he’s determined to hit you before you can hit him. You have to know how to defend yourself while you’re waiting for an opening. So if I did this, what would you do?”
He moves with exaggerated slowness, clearly acting like he’s going to grab me by the hair.
I reach up and grab his arm, stopping him before he can touch me.
“Not bad,” he says. “But if he’s stronger than you, he can use your grip to pull you in.” Murphy demonstrates, yanking me off balance with the arm I’m holding on to.
He shows me a better way to block a grab, one that keeps me at a distance and keeps the attacker from getting a hold on me. He takes me through a series of moves, going slow so I can mimic them, and soon enough I find myself actually getting into the physical challenge of it.
Murphy’s a good teacher, patient and encouraging, and soon enough I’m learning that I’m stronger than I thought I was.
“I’m gonna come in for a hit,” Murphy says, telegraphing his move enough that I can see it coming, but not so much that it would be easy to evade if I didn’t try.
I successfully block it and keep my distance, and he grins, coming in again for a high five. “That’s what I’m talking about!” he laughs. “You’re a natural. Your body wants to move, and you can pick up more of this really easily.”
I laugh too because it really does feel good. There’s a feeling of accomplishment I don’t usually have, and it makes me grin widely.
At least it does until I notice Lincoln, standing there watching us from the doorway.
Honestly, considering how intensely he’s staring, his eyes dark and almost predatory, I’m surprised I didn’t notice him there before. I don’t really have to ask how long he’s been there or how much he’s seen because the look on his face says it all. It’s like he doesn’t want to see another man, even one of his fellow firefighters, with their hands all over me. Even in an innocent way like this.
The others are apparently blind to the storm cloud brewing above Lincoln’s head.
Murphy follows my gaze and then waves to Lincoln, and a few others do as well.
“How was the call?” someone asks. “Everything go okay?”
“Simple,” Lincoln replies in clipped tones as he pushes off from the doorframe and stalks closer.
“Just what we like to hear,” someone else laughs.
Lincoln barely gives any of them a passing glance. His eyes are locked on me, and I can feel the tension radiating from his large frame, even from a distance.
And that distance shrinks second by second as he moves closer, practically vibrating with barely controlled restraint.
“Look—” I start, but he cuts me off, wrapping one hand around my wrist.
“I need to talk to Harper about something,” he says, and there’s something in his tone that finally clues Murphy in that he’s fucked up somehow.
He immediately steps back, putting distance between us and nods cheerfully. “Sure,” he says. “See you later.” It’s not clear which one of us he’s talking to, and he doesn’t make eye contact with me at all.
Probably for the best.
Lincoln doesn’t wait for me to say anything. He just pulls me out of the bay down a hallway to a private office. Once we’re inside, he closes the door behind us, shutting out the noise of the firehouse, and then it’s just the two of us.
Almost immediately, the air ignites between us. All the heat and tension and things unsaid seem to be simmering, coming to a boil, and my mouth suddenly goes dry. I lick my lips, an unconscious habit, but Lincoln follows the motion with his sharp eyes and then moves.
In an instant, he has me crowded up against the wall. His large body cages mine in, his hands on either side of my head as he gives me nowhere to run.