When you're preparing to be boarded by pirates you take every bit of help you can get - and if that includes a short teaching session by April Osano, the resident self-defense/BDSM expert, you take it.
Especially when Sean Harrison is the unfortunate target...
***
April strutted around a half-naked
Sean as the courtesan studied his bare torso.
Studied the marks Catherine had
left there only a few hours ago.
“Fighting dirty isn’t something
women tend to do. We’re told to play nice, don’t hit below the belt and don’t
pull hair.” April twisted her fingers in Sean’s short black hair and yanked his
head back, hard.
His lips pulled back to expose his
teeth but he stayed silent.
“I find pulling hair quite
acceptable under certain circumstances.” She released him and continued her
circling. “Your teachers didn’t allow you to think outside of the box where
anything goes.”
Her hand flew to the inside of
Sean’s right arm, just below the shoulder. “For example, pinching. A sharp
pinch in the right place—” She twisted and snapped her fingers away. “Can distract
even the most determined opponent.”
Catherine watched the purple welt
rise.
Sean didn’t flinch, didn’t pull
away.
“Fighting dirty tends to have you
thinking about smacking a guy in the balls. A great target if you can get to
it.”
April brought up her right knee and
stopped less than an inch from Sean’s crotch.
He instinctively moved to cover
with both hands.
She smiled and dropped her knee
down. “Most men know that and protect the family jewels automatically.” April
patted Sean’s cheek. “Understandable reaction. That’s the problem when you’re
told to go for the balls—it’s more likely than not an attack will be thwarted.”
Sean exhaled slowly and returned
his hands to his sides.
“But there’re other areas that can
be attacked to inflict almost as much pain. When it comes to vital areas, both
sexes have the same vulnerabilities. The arms, the legs, the nipples.” Her
fingers landed on Sean’s left breast, pinching the delicate skin between her
thumb and forefinger.
He rose up on his feet, grimacing,
but he kept his eyes closed.
“Same for us, dear.” April looked
at her directly. “Giving control, having control and using it. Knowing when to
do what is important and not only in the middle of a fight.” She cocked her
head to one side. “There are always going to be situations that are totally,
utterly out of your control. How you react to them will decide your future.”
Sean whimpered.
“Enough.” Catherine found her
voice. “Enough.”
****
Book two of Tales from the Edge
Catherine Rodgers doesn't like Mercy spaceships, or the courtesans who work on them--not after her husband left her for a Mercy woman. But after her luxurious transport ship gets blown up to prevent her from cracking the lid off a corporate scam that's left hundreds dead and a few people very rich, the only vessel around to save her is theBonnie Belle.
Sean Harrison has worked as one of the Belle's courtesans for years, bringing happiness to countless women along the space lanes. When he's asked to look after Catherine while the Belle brings her to safety, it should be just another job. Somehow it's anything but.
Sean is captivated by Catherine's sense of justice and responsibility. And Catherine finds a softer, more emotionally intelligent man in Sean than she expected. Drawn together in darkness under the threat of death, they find the beginning of something lasting. But with pirates after the Belle and a price on Catherine's head, that beginning might be all they get.
IN THE VOID comes out in only a few days - have you pre-ordered a copy yet?
Drop on by Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, iBooks, Kobo and Carina Press to hop on board the Bonnie Belle for another fateful adventure!
Also on Goodreads!
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