The Right to Bear Arms: BBW Military Paranormal Romance (Wild Operatives, #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

we shared stories about our recent achievements. She planned to go back to school for her master’s degree, something her ex had strictly forbidden while they were married. In retrospect, I wish I’d punched him a couple more times before the coward ran away.
    “So, what do you think about coming with me to the gym this Saturday for a couple lessons with my other students?”
    “I don’t know...”
    “It’ll be fun.”
    Daniela dragged in a breath and settled back in her chair. “Me and the gym sort of have issues.”
    “What if I promise not to make you sweat much, and to buy you ice cream afterward?”
    “Frozen yogurt?”
    “Deal,” I agreed, laughing.
    Two nights later, she invited me over for chicken enchiladas and sopapillas. We lit a couple of mosquito torches and sat out back while the hummingbirds visited her deck. I wondered if her feeders and apparent love of the birds were initially what lured me to linger on her property.
    By Saturday, Daniela had improved her speed at loading and unloading the shotgun, and she was ready to begin her combat tactics lessons. My small class met two weekends a month and had several regulars who all had found their way to me for varying reasons. Some of them wanted to get fit, a few did it for shits and giggles, and then there were women like Daniela, learning to defend their lives against true danger.
    Since there were a couple of new faces, I made everyone introduce themselves at the start of the class. After they warmed up with stretches and light calisthenics — during which Daniela shot me dirty looks — I moved to the front of the class to begin the real lesson.
    “Today, we’re going to begin with palm heel strikes and shin rakes. They’re easy to do in close quarters, and it doesn’t take a lot of power to hurt someone. First, I need a volunteer.”
    To no one’s surprise, a busty blonde girl raised her hand from the front of the class. Juliette always offered, and her motivation was transparent. I sighed. Her fair hair and porcelain skin didn’t do a thing for me. I liked them dark-haired and exotic, with big brown eyes and even larger bottoms. If there wasn’t enough meat on a woman for me to squeeze with my hands, they held no interest for me.
    “Daniela? Would you come up front and give me a hand?”
    “Oh, I don’t know—”
    I grinned at her and patted the training dummy beside me. “C’mon, I promise Bob here won’t bite.”
    The gym had provided two body opponent bags when I started my class over a year ago. I donated a third to help out when my classes became popular. The stern-faced, plastisol torso gave the students a realistic visual representation of where to strike an attacker.
    “If someone gets in your space and won’t back down, a strike to their nose or throat with the heel of your palm is gonna make them rethink things quick.”
    Using Daniela as my model, I walked her and the class through the motions then paired them up into small groups.
    “Lock your elbow when you do it, Daniela. Like that. Put some power into it. The more you practice it now, the easier it’ll be if you actually have to do it.”
    As much as I’d have liked to, I didn’t stay with Daniela the entire lesson. I paired her with Blake, a high schooler who’d been bullied since coming out of the closet last year. He didn’t really need the lessons anymore, but he enjoyed helping during classes and seemed to look up to me. Even said he planned to join the ROTC when he went to college. He made a good practice partner for my gal while I moved around the room and helped everyone with their technique. Wait, when did I begin to think of her as mine?
    “Good everyone. Real good. Bring your gloves next time, y’all. I want to pair you off for sparring matches.”
    “Can I fight you again, Russ?” Blake asked.
    “Sure can. You’re faster than I am, so maybe you’ll kick my ass this time.”
    After giving them reminders to stay hydrated, I dismissed the class