Read Dalton, Tymber - Brimstone Blues [Brimstone Vampires 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) for Free Online Page B

suffice.”
    “Want to spar with me?”
    “Darling, I don’t want to hurt you—”
    He landed on his back on a mat five feet away, Taz standing over him with a smile on her face. “Cut the crap, Matthias. You know full well what I’m capable of.”
    He climbed to his feet, a wary eye on her. “You caught me off guard, cara .”
    She stepped back a few feet, kicked off her shoes, and motioned him to her. “Come on. Take your best shot, big guy.”
    “Taz, I don’t think—”
    “Do it, Matthias.” She didn’t think she imagined his blue eyes shifted to an inky, deep-midnight color at her challenge.

    * * * *

    Matthias didn’t want to, but knew he had to appease her. Something in her needed this. Even her eyes had changed color from a vibrant green to a deep, dark emerald.
    They faced off and he tried to take it easy, but after she threw him for the third time, it was obvious she wasn’t holding back. If he didn’t stand up to her, she might accidentally hurt him. He sensed her pain, her grief, her rage, carefully guarded but bubbling below the surface, and she needed to get it out of her system. She needed to release the pressure somehow.
    Praying he didn’t go too far, he attacked, barely managing to throw her to the mat. She jumped to her feet almost faster than he could prepare for the next onslaught. She savaged him for over twenty minutes. He didn’t let her have the advantage—it was all he could do to stay on his feet against her. Then he spotted her tears, hot and heavy, and when he had a chance he threw himself at her and wrapped his arms tightly around her, sweeping her legs out from under her, both falling to the mat. She briefly struggled, sobbing, and then she collapsed against him and cried.
    “It’s okay, sweetheart.” He held her, rocking her in his arms as she wept, soothing her.
    Eventually she relaxed, clutching at him, sniffling occasionally. “How can you put up with me?”
    “I love you, cara .” He gently brushed the hair out of her face. “I am the lucky one. You still want to be with me after the hell I’ve brought you into.”
    She sat up. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
    He smiled. “No, you didn’t hurt me. I think we need to spend more time in here together. It’s a great way to release built-up tension. This is why I have this room. There’s something about sparring that is emotionally satisfying, where simply exercising is not.”
    She nodded.
    “How do you feel?” he asked.
    “A little better.”
    “Want to try the swords?” She shook her head and he clarified. “The practice swords.”
    “I’m not trained in that. I only dabbled a little.”
    He stood and helped her to her feet. “That’s all right.” He took two of the bamboo training swords from the cabinet and handed her one. “Just do what I do.” He assumed a stance. “ Yoi !”
    She mimicked him.
    “Good.” He slowly worked through the form with her. As with other skills in her life, she was a quick study. Within twenty minutes, they were slowly, gently sparring with the practice swords. When they finished the first round, he straightened and nodded. “Want to try it harder?”
    A sly smile swept across her face. “You talking about the practice swords?”
    He grinned. “Maybe. Maybe not. One more round, and then we can go upstairs.” Her mood had shifted, lifted, lightened. This had done her a world of good, he sensed.
    “Okay.”
    “ Yoi !” They picked up the pace. Matthias allowed her no quarter. At one point, he thought he had her cornered when she slipped past him, wheeled around and pinned him to the wall, her eyes blazing, breathing heavy.
    He held up his hands in surrender, smiling. “Match to you, my love.”
    She dropped the practice sword and threw herself at him. He caught her and they fell to the mats. He rolled her on top of him and worked on her shirt buttons while she devoured his mouth. She shrugged her shirt off, and he helped free her of her bra, cupping her