Traitor by Julia Sykes

if you were harmed?” He glared at me, his expression dark. “I am going to tan your hide until you learn your lesson.”
    That got my hackles up. “Yellow,” I said sharply, using my safe word.
    His brows rose in surprise, his mouth falling open slightly.
    “Let’s get one thing straight,” I said angrily. “You can discipline me when it comes to our sexual relationship, but know that I will never tolerate you punishing me for something that I’ve done outside the bedroom. This is my life, Sean. I make my own choices, and I refuse to allow you to dictate what I can and can’t do. That’s called abuse.” I knew that that last part was harsh, but I needed to drive my point home.
    His mouth hardened into a grim line. “Fine,” he barked out. Then he took a deep breath, and his expression softened. “Of course I understand that, Claudia. I was way out of line. It’s just… Please. You have to listen to me on this. I can’t protect you if you’re recklessly placing yourself in danger. Can’t you understand that? You’re small, weak, and you don’t stand a chance against my enemies.”
    “I am not weak,” I said staunchly.
    I gave me a I’ll-have-none-of-this-nonsense look, eyeing me up and down. After a moment, I let out a sigh. “Okay,” I conceded. “Maybe I’m not the strongest person ever. But I can work on that.”
    He considered for a moment. “I’ll teach you some moves for self-defense when we get to your house,” he said. “As much as I hate the idea, I might not always be there when you need me, and you have to be able to defend yourself. Just swear to me that you won’t goad people into attack.”
    I folded my arms across my chest. “I’m not stupid,” I insisted.
    “You certainly are doing a good impression of it,” he said harshly.
    I frowned at him.
    “Sorry,” he muttered. “I’m out of line again.” Then, to my surprise, he shot me a small smile. “Do you have any idea how infuriating you are?”
    “Right back at you.” I tried for a hard tone, but I reacted instantly to his renewed levity. It was so much better than his ire.
    He chuckled. “Fair enough. I guess we’re a good match, then.”
    I was momentarily stunned by his words. It was almost as though he was defining us as a couple. Was that what we were now? I hardly dared hope. I reached out and covered his hand with mine.
    “I suppose we are,” I said with a smile.

 
    Chapter 8
    “Okay,” Sean said. We were standing in my living room as he instructed me on how to defend myself. “Your best move is to hold your hand out in front of you, your palm facing your attacker. I want you to warn him to stop before he is on you. At least try to prevent a physical altercation. If he advances on you anyway, I want you to slam your palm into his nose. This will break it, and if you’re lucky will shove the bone back into his brain. That will put him down completely.”
    I gasped. “But that would kill him,” I protested, alarmed. “I couldn’t do that!”
    His mouth thinned into a grim line. “We’ve been over this, Claudia. If it comes down to you or him, you’re going to choose yourself. Do you understand me?”
    I swallowed against the bile rising in my throat at the thought of taking a human life, but I nodded reluctantly, not wanting to argue.
    “If you can’t put him down completely, then follow up by kicking him in the balls. That should drop him and give you time to get away.”
    “Okay,” I agreed. I definitely didn’t have a problem with that one.
    “His other main weakness will be his eyes. Go for them if he’s in close range. The best way is to use your keys. Make a fist and press them between your fingers and then strike. If you don’t have your keys on you, I want you to use your index and middle fingers. Don’t claw at him; hold them out straight and jab hard.”
    My stomach churned. I didn’t think that I would ever be capable of causing such damage to another human being. The