Eric shrugged. “If you hurt me, then I’m just not moving fast enough.” He smiled at her. “Don’t hold back on me. Show me everything you’ve got.”

Her gaze searched his. “You think he’s going to get to me.”

“I think I want to make sure that if I’m not at your side, you kick the guy’s ass.” He rolled back his shoulders. He was in sweats and a t-shirt. There was plenty of room in the study, and there was no time like the present. “Show me.”

She shrugged and drove a powerful front punch at him.

Damn nice.

“Where’s the best place to hit with that punch?” Eric demanded as he dodged.

“Eyes, nose, or throat.”

Wherever the attacker was most vulnerable. They circled each other. He liked that her body stayed poised to fight, that she rocked on the balls of her feet. As they sparred, she came at him with a quick knee kick, then one going for his groin.

He smiled at her. He’d rather see her fighting instead of crying any day. “You’ve kept up your practice.”

One shoulder rolled. “I might have even learned a few new tricks.”

He feigned walking away, acting as if they were done, only to spin back and grab her arm. She responded perfectly. Piper didn’t try to jerk back or fight his hold by pulling against him. Instead, she used his own force to strengthen herself as she propelled toward him and delivered a fast, hard kick.

Damn but she was amazing and sexy.

But she frowned at him. “Did I hurt you?”

“Never apologize when an asshole grabs you.”

He went at her again, and this time, because she was hesitating, he was able to take her down. He used care—because this was fucking Piper. Being on the floor was an incredibly vulnerable position and he closed in, moving quickly to see how she would react.

She used his distance against him. Perfect. She watched him with wide eyes and then she kicked out at him, catching him and taking his ass down, too. Piper leapt to her feet, and he smiled. Rule one, baby. Always get up as fast as you can. Get up and run away.

He jumped back to his feet. “What are the five targets you always aim for?”

“Eyes, nose, throat, groin, or a knee.”

Eric nodded approvingly.

She turned away.

Then he rushed toward her. In Krav Maga, they hadn’t worked on flipping an attacker, but he’d taught her some extra techniques back in the day.

He grabbed her from behind. Immediately, she moved to throw off his balance. Her butt shoved back at him as he stumbled and she grabbed his arm, using his own momentum to send him hurtling to the floor.

He stayed there, a smile curving his lips.