“
Who are you?”
Jess asked. She had not spoken telepathically to anyone since her mother’s death. After fifteen years it felt clumsy. She sought the direction of the link the way she had with her mother when they had gotten separated in any way.
“
Are you asking me specifically? Or anyone within hearing distance of your shotgun telepathy?”
The deep rich timbres of his voice created shivers in her.
Jess identified the mental link to the sole man seated on the top row of bleachers overlooking the gymnasium. He was leaning forward on his seat, resting his forearms on his thighs, his fingers interlocked. He looked to be completely relaxed in faded jeans and a dark blue T-shirt, intently listening to the “pepper spray is not to be played with” monotone lecture going on in the front of the class. Stunned, she stared at the image of male perfection. He glanced over at her, giving her just a brief acknowledgment.
“
Would you like me to shield your thoughts for you? It’s Jess, right? I am not sure my protégé needs to hear how ‘hot’ you think I am.”
There was a hint of laughter in his voice. He was right. She did think he was pretty hot. Think? Hell, he was hot, really hot, change-her-panties kinda hot.
Protégé? His comment sunk in slowly. Jess looked over the room again, noticing one of the women in Eric’s class looking her right in the eye with a smirk on her face. The woman winked.
“
Oh my god, she can hear what I am thinking too?”
Jess’s hand went to her mouth in wonder and embarrassment. Good thing they were both adults. She could probably go to jail for youth corruption, with the mouth-watering thoughts Bleacher Boy elicited in her.
“
Beauty, everyone within your telepathic sound waves can hear what you’re thinking
.” He was openly laughing at her now. Beneath his laugh she could hear the soft mental giggle of the girl seated with her class in front of the instructor.
Changing the subject before her brain could do a “fantasy take one” starring Bleacher Boy (and choosing to ignore the humor at her expense), she asked about her other pressing curiosity. “
Are you the reason I’m not feeling the effects of all these people this close to me?”
“
I am not quite shielding you. I simply turned down your volume, muffling a little. You were broadcasting your discomfort and fear all the way from the parking lot. Anyone with even rudimentary empathic function would have been curled in a ball weeping before you even entered the room.”
His tone seemed apologetic and somewhat defensive at having buffered her from the pain she usually endured. All Jess felt was relieved appreciation. She really didn’t like the idea that these two strangers were reading her mind, however.
“Jess, we aren’t reading your thoughts. You are broadcasting them.”
“
Well, whatever the reason, you are helping me with the muffling. It’s making this less … difficult.
I appreciate it. If you are still willing to help me, then yes, I would like it very much if you would shield me.”
Annoyed and not sure why she felt she needed to let him off the guilt hook he seemed to be swinging from, she accepted his offer.
The girl in the class snapped her head around and stared at her in shock. What? Accepting help was a sin now? Geez, Jess’s family thought she was too stubborn and independent for her own good.
“
Seriously? Most would consider what I have already done rude, boorish, and socially unacceptable. Why am I only sensing grudging appreciation from you? Well, that and … hmmmmm.”
Jess rolled her eyes. Like he didn’t already know he was gorgeous.
“
I will shield you on one condition: Before you leave, you explain why you are unwilling or unable to do this for yourself and how you have survived without this knowledge.”
All humor and wonder had left his voice. He sounded almost angry or fearful. Not at her necessarily, more like on her behalf.
“
Deal.”
She agreed without hesitation. Instantly silence and peace descended on her mind, which relaxed against the constant bombardment for the first time she could remember since childhood. All those years she had thought she was blocking most of it out, not realizing how little relief she was able to obtain.
“
Oh God, this is better then chocolate-chip cookie-dough ice cream,”
she sent him in gratitude. A half-smile graced his perfect features, the first and only indication he’d given of the conversation that had been happening between them.
“The rest of the afternoon will be dedicated to learning self defense and the basics of martial arts. I am aware that some of you have experience in both. I have been assured that your instructor for this section of training is able to keep it challenging for every level.” The look monotone-man gave her over the heads of the cadets was highly skeptical. In comparison, the “you just friggin wait, jackass” grin on Eric’s face more than made up for any offense she might have felt at the officer’s obvious lack of faith in her ability. “Please welcome Sensei Jess Reed.”
All eyes turned to Jess. Eric whooped, whistled, and clapped like an idiot, making Jess laugh. She rose to her full, imposing five foot two inches and strode her one hundred and ten pound body to the front of the class, her waist-length, rod-straight blond hair swinging from a high ponytail with each step. She knew she looked about as threatening as a piñata in a batting cage.
Reaching the front of the class, she squared her shoulders and released a deep, centering breath. She felt rather than heard the sharp intake of breath from Bleacher Boy when she mentally/spiritually reached within. Feeling her inner self awaken, she turned to face the class. One by one she made direct eye contact with each student before her. One by one the students began to squirm under the pressure of her gold-shot green eyes. Even Eric, who had been under her tutelage for a decade and knew what to expect, couldn’t help but feel the pressure of Jess when she took control of whatever it is she put her mind to. Today it was these cadets, and that included Eric. The only one who seemed resistant to her visual sweep was the protégé-girl. She grinned, giving Jess a nod of respect. Once she was sure she had the attention of every cadet, Jess smiled, looking forward to this class more than she could have ever imagined, thanks to whatever the Bleacher Boy was doing to “shield” her.
“Before we begin, I would like to demonstrate some of the techniques that you will need to be able to perform for completion of this portion of your academy training.” She motioned to the three officers leaning on the wall, watching her. “If one of you seasoned officers could join me for this.” As expected, the one who came off the wall and strode toward her had the name Denbow on his T-shirt. Confident, six feet tall, and solid, Officer Denbow was the perfect candidate to gain the class’s respect. He was already disregarding her abilities due to her physical presence. One of her greatest advantages was her ability to seem non-threatening to her opponent.
“Thank you Officer Denbow.” She motioned to his shirt as her name reference. He nodded. “Shall we begin with a full frontal attack?” This time he smirked and nodded.
They faced each other. Jess gave him a full low bow of respect, despite it being unearned by Denbow at this point. He humored her with a half bow, almost mocking.
“HOI!” She marked go. Denbow came at her with a half-hearted attempt to grab her around the waist. Jess moved with grace, turning left into his lunge and connecting the heel of her hand into the pressure point inside his elbow, a move that caused his entire arm to go numb elbow to fingertips. Continuing her leftward momentum, she connected her elbow to the pressure point just under his ear with just enough force to tilt his center of gravity, leaving him balanced on his left foot. She finished her turn with a palm-heel jab into the center of his ribcage, sending him to the mat with the propulsion of a locomotive.
Denbow’s expression of shock quickly gave way to a look of embarrassment and a hint of respect. When Jess put a hand out to help him rise from the mat, he gave her a sheepish smile, shaking his left hand in an attempt to restore feeling to the fingers. “Okay,” Denbow stated with a chuckle. “Never underestimate your opponent. Lesson learned.” Yeah right, like he meant to do that.
“How about we try another one. This time treat me like I’m a cracked-out perpetrator. Dangerous. Not your ninety-year-old Auntie, hmmm?” Jess innocently batted her eyelashes at Officer Denbow, who bowed low and respectfully to her. They went through several more demonstrations. Jess used simple maneuvers to send Denbow to the mat with every type of attack.
Eric had kept his expression carefully neutral throughout the demonstrations, which didn’t fool Jess. She knew he was jumping up and down inside every time the officer had gone down. Eric gave her a private thumb-up as soon as she released Denbow to rejoin the two officers leaning against the wall.
“Anyone who has no experience in the maneuvers Officer Denbow and I demonstrated, please line up on my left. Anyone who has some martial arts training and just wants to practice and have some fun before testing, line up on my right. And anyone who feels they can pass off this portion of training with no instruction from me, please stand in the center of the mat. One of the officers here will test and pass or fail you right now. Once you pass you will be helping your fellow cadets achieve the same goal. Remember, boys and girls, the people in this room will someday be your partners and backup. Getting everyone to the best they can be is in everyone’s interest.” She waited as the class divided up into the individual’s idea of ability before continuing.
Eric quickly passed off his test and began to teach the others right alongside of her. By the end of the class, three other cadets had also passed off the class and were helping her to teach the others, including Bleacher Boy’s protégé . Who she’d learned was named Jerika. It turned out Jerika was damn near as good at mixed arts as Jess herself.
Graceful and beautiful, Jerika was probably the one Eric had the hots for. If being Bleacher Boy’s protégé included being his lover, Eric didn’t stand a chance against that level of yummy. The idea of Jerika being Bleacher Boy’s lover filled her with jealously. What was wrong with her? He was not the kind of guy who would show an interest in her anyway. Her best friend Aymee attracted men like him, not her. She wouldn’t know what to do with one if she did catch his attention.
When Officer Denbow announced that the class was over, Jess was amazed that four hours had passed so quickly. She didn’t even have a headache. Usually after half this much time around this many people she would feel psychically and emotionally exhausted, practically collapsing. Now that the class was over, she was looking forward to asking Bleacher Boy how he was shielding her and whether he would teach her to do it herself. Beg him if need be. She was not looking forward to the questions she was sure he would want her to answer.
“That was fun!” Eric bounded up to her and lifted her in the air in a bear hug.
“You seriously need a shower.” Jess laughed, and Eric set her back on her feet. Was that growling she was hearing? What the hell?
“Some of the cadets are going to Hooters. Wanna come?” He asked.
“Tempting. I think I’ll go with a ‘hell no’ on that.” Not like he really thought she would say yes. “You should go.” She realized Eric was thinking he was going to have to be with her for the night to get her through the backlash of the class. “I’m really doing well this time. I’m fine, surprisingly.”
“Really?” Eric looked hopeful.
“Really. This wasn’t bad at all.” Actually it was great. No way would Eric believe that.
“I would like to go.” He held a finger up. “One call and I’ll be there. You know that.” His guarded hopefulness made her wonder how often he had sacrificed things to care for her when thing got bad.
“No worries. Go. Have fun. I promise to call you if I need you.” Eric grinned, kissed her cheek, and trotted off to the shower.
“
Meet me in the parking lot and I will answer your questions,”
she projected as she packed her bag, sighing. Time for the inevitable. She didn’t want to talk here, plus the idea of being alone with him filled her with anticipation and a longing she could barely comprehend. What was she thinking? She didn’t even know his name. Alone? With him? Hell yes. She was afraid, curious, and seriously turned on. Her fear was irritating. The other two feelings were, okay, unfamiliar but good. Her friend Aymee’s prediction was right. There was a man out there who struck her fancy. About damn time.
“Pull it together, girl. You act like you’re in heat, for God’s sake,” Jess reprimanded herself below her breath.
“
Already out here waiting,”
came his immediate reply. She looked at the bleachers. Sure enough, they where empty. She hadn’t even seen him leave.
“Of course you are. You probably have an ‘S’ tattoo on your chest too.” She continued the conversation with herself, shoving her towel into her duffel bag.
Jess jogged out to the parking lot, not surprised to see him leaning against her Jeep. He was taller than she had realized at about six foot three, with long, lean, well-defined muscles beneath his jeans and T-shirt. In the waning sunlight, his hair appeared darker, with auburn highlights. What captured her attention was the deep forest-green of his eyes, the color darkened the closer she came. A kaleidoscope of brown specks clustered in the center.