John sized up her defenses and found them impenetrable, as usual. Victoria was light on her feet and kept her fists at eye-level, like a professional fighter. “It sounds like we might be evenly matched, Dr. Reese,” he said.

Her mouth quirked as she cracked her neck. “If you think so, Mr. Donovan.” She threw a jab that he sidestepped.

“I’m not a fool,” he said, protecting his face. “You’re a lot faster, but I’ve got a longer reach.”

“I’m aware,” she said as she narrowly avoided his fist. Victoria ducked and spun her leg in a long circular sweep in an attempt to take him off his feet again. But he’d learned his lesson the first time and hopped from the floor in time. When she rose from the ground, John plowed into her, planting a leg behind hers and took her to the mat.

“Are you?” he said, now on top of her. “You’re on your back, Dr. Reese.”

“Not for long,” she said, shifting her hips to the side. Before he knew what was happening, John was in an arm bar that extended past the point of comfortable. Victoria’s legs wrapped around him like a vice.

“Jesus Christ,” he panted. This is hot.

“You can tap out anytime, Mr. Donovan,” she said as she clutched his hand against her breasts. “I don’t want to break anything you’ll want to use tonight.”

I think I love her.

John tapped his other hand against the calf draped across his chest. “I give,” he said.

When she released him, Victoria flipped over and onto her feet in seconds. She extended her hand again in a smug fashion that made John smile. “Are you ready?” she asked.

He loved seeing her like this. Victoria was a woman in control and if he was the punching bag for the night, he was happy to do it. Her confidence and power was sexy as fuck. “I thought you said you were going to go easy on me.”

She wiggled her fingers in front of him. “I’m surprised you don’t have more in your arsenal, Mr. Donovan. It shouldn’t take a little professor like me to get the best of you.”

“This is the second time my manhood is being bruised,” John said, taking her hand. When he was back on his feet, he began thinking about his next move. She favored the left jab but he noticed she kept her trunk relatively open for attack. “You have to remember that I don’t want to hurt you, Dr. Reese.”

Victoria shrugged. “I don’t even know if that’s possible.”

He’d been in enough fights to know arrogance when he saw it. She was comfortable enough to trash talk, which could distract even the best fighter. “I’d feel bad if I did hurt you though,” he tried.