Page 21 of Protecting Anna
When he let out a guttural groan, she felt him swell inside of her, and knew he was seconds away from orgasm. As soon as his strong fingers touched her clit, she shot over the edge with him. Their shouts of release mingled together as she collapsed down onto his chest, utterly spent by what had just happened.
After breathing heavily for several minutes, Anna felt both of their heart rates return to normal. Lifting her head, she smiled hesitantly at Ryan. “The way you touch me, make love to me, it’s just so…” She was at a loss for words. How could she describe the depth of feelings she was developing, without scaring him off? Thankfully, his response was exactly what she needed to hear.
“I know, Anna. It’s just so… for me too.”
Ryan’s answering smile was full of warmth and emotion waiting to be shared. But she could tell he too was holding back. Maybe it was just too soon for them both.
He shifted underneath her, and Anna slid over. Ryan pressed a kiss to her shoulder before walking unabashedly naked into the bathroom to dispose of the condom. When he came back, he climbed back into bed and pulled Anna into his side with a contented sigh. She looked up to see his eyes closed, and a very satisfied smile on his face.
As if he could feel her gaze, Ryan opened his eyes and looked down at her, squeezing her even tighter into his side. “You are such a different person from the woman who walked into my bar in January. Now, you’re so strong, and confident, and sexy as hell. You amaze me.”
Anna was speechless. He really saw her as strong and confident?
“Wow. I… I wish I felt that way. I want to feel brave and strong, but honestly the only time I feel safe is with you.” When she felt Ryan shift, she quickly went on, “That isn’t exactly a bad thing, I love how you want to take care of me. I just also want to be strong on my own. I don’t want to live my life scared of my past, you know?”
Ryan was quiet for a moment. Anna lay still, waiting to hear his reply. His hand was lightly stroking up and down her back, comforting her, reassuring her of his solid presence.
“Sweetheart, I want nothing more than for you to see yourself the way I do. I’m in support of whatever we need to do, to help you feel like the incredible woman you are. Have you thought of self-defense classes? It might help you feel more confident about your own strength.”
Anna sat up quickly, the sheet pooling around her waist. She stared down at Ryan with a smile growing on her face.
“Oh, that’s a perfect idea!”
He sat up beside her. “I bet Callie would join you, maybe even her friends Reagan and Melanie. It might be nice for you to meet some more amazing women,” he added gently.
“Okay. I’ll call Callie tomorrow,” she replied.
“Great. Now get back here.” Ryan gently tugged her back into his arms, and she snuggled in tightly. His solid chest was a surprisingly comfortable pillow, and she felt the exhaustion of both a long shift and multiple orgasms overcome her.
She soon fell asleep, tangled in his arms, a peaceful smile on her face. Content that she was working toward a life that would finally be her own.
Chapter 12
In less than a week, Anna and Callie found a self-defense class at a local gym and had asked Callie’s friends Reagan and Melanie to join them. The women decided to meet before the class at the juice bar next to the gym. As they sat there chatting, Anna looked at the group with mixed feelings. It was amazing to build new friendships, especially with such incredible women, but she was still nervous. Would they want to know why she had suggested the class? She wasn’t ready to tell them all of her story; she didn’t know if she could handle their looks of pity or judgement.
When they walked into the gym where the class would be held, Reagan whispered under her breath so that only the four of them could hear, “Damnit, look at us. A room full of beautiful, strong women, and we are all here because we need to learn how to protect ourselves from assholes masquerading as men. What the hell is wrong with this world?”
The other women murmured their agreement as they went to find their places. The instructors arrived, a small, dark-haired woman with an innocent, child-like appearance and, standing just behind her, was a strong bald man who certainly wasn’t someone Anna would want to meet in a dark alley.
Anna gave a gasp of surprise, echoed by everyone else in the class, when the session began not with introductions, but with a demonstration. Before they could register what was happening, the large, bald man went to grab the female instructor from behind. In one seamless maneuver, she twisted her body just enough to drive an elbow into his gut and her fist up toward his nose, before she sprinted to the other side of the gym.
From the far side of the room, the female instructor called out to the class, “Still think we’re the weaker sex? You won’t by the time I’m done with you!” To which the class erupted in cheers.
* * *
Two hours later, Anna and her friends spilled out of the gym, sweaty and exhilarated with how strong and empowered they all felt.
“That was freaking BADASS!” Melanie shouted with a pump of her arm in the air. One of Callie’s fellow ER physicians, she was an outspoken, energetic woman.
“I know, right? I had no idea there were so many ways to drop a guy to the floor,” Reagan added enthusiastically.
“Why do women have to be the ones to learn new behavior? Why the hell can’t guys just stop being abusive assholes?” Anna blurted out the words without thinking.
Callie swung her arm over Anna’s shoulders. “You’re right, it would be so much easier if men just respected women. But, until that magical day, I think it’s great that more women are learning how to protect themselves. So, I personally want to thank you for inviting us to the class with you. Even with Jake in my life, who I know wouldn’t dream of ever hurting me, I feel better knowing that if he wasn’t around I could still defend myself.”
Melanie and Reagan both nodded their agreement.
“Yeah, Anna, you and Callie found two great guys, which is so amazing. But for those of us still in the dating game,” Reagan shuddered, “it’s a nightmare. Now at least I know I could fend someone off if I had to. Although I hope like hell I never do.”
