Jake’s hand tightens on my shoulder. “I’ll help her. She’s missed most of the class anyway.”

Nonononononononono. My wish wasn’t a real wish. More like a passing fantasy.

Fuzzy looks from me to Jake and back to me. “Maybe that’s not a good idea.”

“Definitely not,” I say softly.

“Don’t care if it’s a good idea.” Jake gets to his feet and pulls me up, then tucks me under his arm. “That’s what’s going to happen.”

Jake ushers me over to the corner. He gestures me down and we sit cross-legged facing each other as he runs through the three different techniques he is going to teach me. As he talks, his face softens and his eyes light up. His explanations are clear and simple. He gives examples, asks me questions, and is infinitely patient when I struggle with the answers.

As he talks, my mind drifts back to the night we met in his kickboxing class. Even then his passion for teaching drew me in, warmed my heart. He is in his element and I wonder how he could have given it up—or how I could have given up on him.

“Amanda.”

I startle when I realize he’s been talking and I haven’t been paying attention. My cheeks burn and I meet his stern gaze. “Sorry.”

“I said I heard about what you did for Homicide tonight.”

“I didn’t—”

“And Rampage and Obsidian.”

“I haven’t—”

“And that you aren’t charging the fighters to run the case against the idiots from Hellhole.”

“I couldn’t…”

His face softens and he reaches up to cup my jaw, stroking his thumb over my cheek. “You’re really something, baby, but you can’t help everyone. You won’t stay afloat if you do everything for free.”

With a shrug, I look away. “They helped me out. I’m just returning the favor.”

“You’re more than returning the favor. No one here will forget what you do for them. And neither will I.”

Finally, it is time for the demonstration. Jake positions me on my back, his gi rustling as he moves. Then he kneels between my legs. For the first time, I notice he is still pumped from the fight. The vein in his neck is throbbing, his hands clench and unclench, and power simmers beneath his skin. He is all red-hot alpha male. Testosterone oozes from his pores. And in that gi, his chest slightly bared, danger clinging to him like a cloak, my body responds with a violent shudder of need. What would happen if I set him off?

“Hands out of the way. I’m going to mount. We’ll try it first from the closed guard.”

God, yes. Mount me. Mount me.

He leans over me, his hips between my thighs, and rests his hands on my chest. My br**sts swell instantly, ni**les hardening to tight peaks.

“Closed guard means your hands are around my neck, feet up on my back around my hips.” He is breathing harder now, but not as hard as me.

“I feel like a baby opossum,” I murmur as I take the required position. “They also like to hang upside down by their hands and feet.”

Jake’s lips quiver with a repressed smile and his voice softens. “My baby opossum. And no one touches her but me.”

Except he didn’t want to touch me in my office. Gah. I can’t handle this hot and cold. Push and pull. Trying to figure him out is making my brain ache.

“We’ll try the gogoplata first.”

I wiggle my hips from side to side. “Sounds like a dance.”

“Stop,” he grits through clenched teeth. “It’s a serious move.”

“So is this.” I give another wiggle and Jake hisses in a breath.

“You’re not being serious. You’re being tempting. And if you keep that up, it will be the Submission Master for you.”

“Now who’s being tempting?”

I’m pushing him but I can’t help myself. Everything MMA oozes sex, and Jake in his gi is just too much. I want him. I want to drive him crazy with lust. As crazy as me. And then I’m going to walk away so he knows how it feels to be left hanging.

“Who came up with that name ‘Submission Master’?” I murmur. “It turns me on just to say it.”

Jake jerks back until he is on his knees between my legs. “Christ, Amanda. I’m trying to teach you something. It’s hard enough just mounting you, but when you talk like that…”

Amused, I push myself to my elbows. “I’m talking fight talk. Don’t I have the words right? Submission, master, ground, pound, dominate, dominant, mount, rear naked choke hold…can we do that one next?”

Jake’s chest heaves and he studies me—focused, intent. Then his eyes narrow as if he’s made a decision and it’s not going to be good for me. His voice drops to a low, threatening growl, and I shiver. “Don’t play a game you’re not prepared to lose.”

Duly warned, I capitulate. “Okay.”

With quiet patience, he talks me through the rest of the move, which involves him mounting me again and resting one hand flat on my breast while I pull his other hand through and tuck his body firmly between my thighs.

Desire rushes through me like a tidal wave. Jake, hot and heavy, sexy and dangerous, lying on top of me, is more than I can take. His lips are so close it is everything I can do not to take a little taste. I want him so badly, I ache inside. I need to know if Rampage is right and he really thinks I’m his girl.