Anything You Can Do

Determined to turn him down flat or not, Alicia still drew herself up indignantly when he laughed at her. She was perfectly within her rights not to be interested in him but she definitely didn’t appreciate that reaction in the slightest.

Not that Army was hard on the eyes or that Alicia’s interest was purely in girls. In terms of pure eye candy, she’d have plenty of time for him. But… Their unfinished match was the most obvious reason – Alicia was way more interested in beating him to a pulp than anything else. But she could do without that attitude.

It was literally on the tip of her tongue to say something extremely unpleasant and spin on her heel, grab that shower. But her curiosity held her back – if that wasn’t what he’d wanted to ask, what was?

Arching her eyebrows, she sauntered a step closer, inviting him to get on with it.

And, when he did, he was rewarded with a harsh chuckle. But amused by his bravado as she was, because she’d had him dead to rights less than five minutes before and now he was telling her he could beat her clean, he had a good idea.

The big redhead pursed her lips, but she didn’t have to think for long.

Alicia pushed back against him, pressing her chest into his in silent refusal to give in. He didn’t intimidate her in the slightest and she wanted him to know that as her eyes met his. Hers were just as wide, the adrenaline rush lingering in her gaze.

”I’m in,” She confirmed, with a wide, wicked grin. Just like the one lingering on her lips about the time she nearly cracked his ribs, ”And make sure you’re ready to have your ass handed to you, Armando. Because this? Is going to hurt.”

Alicia leant in even closer, almost whispering in his ear now.

”You. A lot.”

Army would say one thing for Alicia: she didn’t have a problem getting to the point. Direct. Had to like that about her.

He didn’t expect her to back down when he got in close, but he wasn’t expecting her to push into him like that. Most guys he’d fought wouldn’t get that much into his personal space, and he could quickly make the ones who would regret it. Army found himself getting pushed back for a second, before he tensed up and leaned back into her, evening the field and pressing hard.

”Oh, it’ll hurt? Well, shit, I guess I should back off, then. It’s not like I’m a boxer or anything.” He moved back, just enough to give her a little tap on the forehead with his own. She was smiling, of course. They both were. But he could wipe hers off before the day was through. ”Pain’s not a problem, Red. I can take it.” He took a quick look down, glancing at the tender ribs he’d been working on a moment ago. “Can you?”

As much as Army would’ve loved to stay there in a staring contest with the purple-eyed vixen all day, he would have to get things ready for their little bout, and that would require moving away from her. He peeled himself away, taking a step back, then another, before he flashed her a peace sign and grabbed his towel. ”’Till, then.”

And with that, he was off.