Leah gave Pamela a half smile and said, “Hi, Pamela. Is he giving you a hard time?”
“Well, no, but…he’s just so nice and he smells so good and—”
“That’s nice,” Leah snapped and turned to him. “What’s the scenario?”
“I’m a peeping Tom,” he said. “I’ve been watching you every night through your bedroom window with my telescope from across your apartment complex. I’m thinking you’ve been teasing me all this time and I’m going to sneak into your apartment once I see that you’re in the shower. I’m planning to take what you’ve been teasing me with even if I have to force you.”
“Fine,” she bit out, and edged Pamela away so she wouldn’t get hurt. “Pamela, pay attention as I go through the steps with you, okay? Remember, SING.” She turned to him and whispered, “I hope you’re wearing a cup.”
Leah turned her back on him and he wondered for a split second if his killing-two-birds-with-one-stone plan was a good idea after all. He grabbed her across the shoulders and then added a forearm across her neck, both to demonstrate he was serious and that the struggle was real, and to show Pamela that an actual attacker wouldn’t take it easy on her. He took care to make sure Leah could breathe but otherwise prepared to play out the scenario.
Leah gasped and took in a big breath and slammed her sharp little elbow back and knocked the air out of him. “Solar plexus!”
Motherfucker. Is she mad at me?
“Instep!” Leah growled as she struggled for breath and she lifted both feet from the floor, getting gravity on her side, and slammed her weight down as hard as she could on his foot. He caught her just in time so the impact was real and painful but she didn’t actually do any damage.
“Ow!”
“Nose!” Leah muttered, turning from his grip as it loosened and swung the butt of her hand at his nose but thankfully pulled that punch as he made eye contact with her. Next, she kneed him in the groin. Not as hard as she could have, but hard enough to send him to the mat.
And she didn’t stop there. Fuck no.
She disentangled herself from him, jumped on his back, and wrapped her forearm around his throat, choking him. “Pamela, once you have the advantage, do as much damage as you can to immobilize your attacker. Once he’s down, run for help.” She pushed his face into the floor mat. “He’s the enemy.”
I fucking feel like it right now, too.
“Okay, little tiger,” James said with amusement filling his voice as he lifted her off of Vincent. “Well done. The bad guy is now defenseless.”
Leah nodded and James set her on her feet. She turned to Pamela and said, “Your life could depend on fighting back so don’t be afraid to do it in a play-acting session. All of these guys want to keep us safe. Now stop screwing around and kick his ass.”
Pamela blinked and looked down at Vincent who was still on the mat trying to swallow his testicles.
James beckoned to her and said, “Let’s give Vince a rest and try again, shall we?”
“Uh-okay,” she said as Leah kneeled down to Vincent and stroked his shoulder. “Poor baby, did the mean girl beat you up?”
“I’m changing your nickname to little ass-kicker,” Vincent grunted as he sat up, fighting nausea. “You’re little but you pack a punch.”
Leah stroked his head and growled. “She’s lucky I didn’t jump her instead. She looked like she was enjoying herself way too much. For a minute I thought you were flirting with her.”
“No way in hell, doll.” He rose to his feet and put his arm around her shoulders and drew her in so her ear was close to his lips. “I would much rather it’d been you in my arms.”
“Didn’t look like it judging by the way you were grinning.”
“I was smiling at you, little bruiser,” he groaned, resisting the urge to cup his tender nuts in the presence of so many ladies.
Leah scoffed but he felt her arm sneak around his waist. “Whatever. You’re lucky I didn’t break your nose. I had enough momentum going that I could’ve, and I really did think you were wearing protective gear down below.”
James caught their attention when he let out an “Ooof!” as Pamela finally got the hang of the elbow to the solar plexus maneuver.
* * * *
Hank called the class to order for more discussion and Pamela walked over to the bleachers with Leah and whispered to her, “Oh my gawd, those two cops are so hot. I swear I enjoyed that way more than I was letting on. When he grabbed me the first couple of times I thought I’d melt. I’d love to meet one or both of them in a dark alley some night.” She flipped her hair out of her face and winked at Leah.