“It didn’t,” she said as she lifted her foot to her butt and tugged on it. “It wasn’t ladylike.”

It’s sexy as hell though.

“I used to practice a lot more when I got to college; it was a great stress reliever during finals,” she continued. “But I took a break when I got to Farmingdale.”

Hopefully, that meant she was rusty. “I’m more of a kickboxer-grappler,” John said. “I don’t think I have the agility for high-flying kicks, Dr. Reese.”

Victoria shook out her arms and cocked her neck before crouching and raising her fist in a defensive pose. “That’s fine. It’s a little impractical in a real fight.”

And for some reason, that didn’t make John feel better. He was equal parts terrified and aroused to spar with a well-trained fighter who had buried academic rage all day. It was a dangerous endeavor, but he was up for the challenge. Between a sordid affair and getting his ass kicked, John was game. “Just so you know, I don’t have much experience fighting women.”

“Then this is going to be fun.”

“I was afraid you’d say that,” he said, raising his fists to his face. John hunched his shoulders and crouched to her height as he slowly approached her. He would not make the mistake of underestimating the little lady even if he did have a few inches on her. “How do you want to do this?”

“We try to avoid face strikes,” she said, her eyes darting to his pelvis. “And uh...sensitive parts.”

John nodded. “Good, good, that’s a good start.”

“Otherwise, you’re a pretty strong guy,” Victoria said. “I think we’ll be fine.”

He didn’t know what that meant, but didn’t have time to think about it when her foot shot out and swept his legs. John was on the mat in a matter of seconds. Victoria straddled him and gave him a fake strike to the face. “What just happened?” he asked as he lay on his back.

She stuck out her hand. “I swept you.”

“I don’t even know you,” he said, avoiding her help.

With her hand still extended, she said, “I want to thank you for asking me to do this, Mr. Donovan. You have no idea how much I needed a release.”

He suddenly remembered the quiet joke that Chris didn’t tell. Apparently, “letting off a little steam” didn’t necessarily mean sex to Victoria. He took her hand and let her haul him up from the mat. Once upright, John was hypervigilant of his limbs. At any moment, he could end up on his back again. At thirty-eight, he couldn’t afford too many dives.