Heat by Jamie K. Schmidt

his attention and it certainly wasn’t for self-defense.
    “Okay, if you’re in a dangerous situation, I want you guys to go for the eyes.” He pointed to his. “This is not a time to be nice. Eye gouge. Use your keys, whatever you have. But if all you have is your fingers, jab with your first two.”
    The crowd was squeamish about that.
    “Nose also hurts. Use your elbow if you can, or the heel of your hand. Watch me demonstrate.”
    Max executed a palm strike, narrowly missing Clint’s nose. Then he whirled with his elbow and showed the same blow. “Using the elbow can be a stronger hit for a beginner because you can use the torque of your body to add to the shot. Your elbow is the strongest punch in your arsenal.”
    He showed each woman how to position her body. His hands were professional and sure when he was instructing them. Mallory was beginning to think she’d imagined the sexual tension between them.
    He paired them off and then prowled around the room, correcting grips and techniques. At the end of the forty-minute class, she had drunk two bottles of water and had a black-and-blue mark under her arm from when her partner got a little too into it.
    “Max.” A woman waved him over.
    Mallory’s eyes narrowed. Angie again.
    “Can you show me what to do if I get grabbed from the back?”
    “Sure. Everyone gather around so we can go over this.” Max got behind Angie and slung his arm around her neck. “This is crucial. Before I can get a good grip, point your chin into my elbow. That’s going to stop me from pushing against your windpipe.”
    Angie rested her cheek against his bicep.
    “Close. Get the point of your chin into the crease of my elbow.”
    She rolled her eyes and did what he said.
    “Excellent. Now from here, you want your attacker to be in pain. Stomp on his foot. Pretend to stomp on mine, Angie.”
    She did.
    “Or kick back with your heel into my shin or if you can, my knee.”
    Angie rubbed her heel against his leg.
    “Now, try to get away. Slam your elbow into his guts a few times. Then reach around and grab his pinkie. Pull it down hard. Don’t be afraid to break it. You want him to let go of you. Everybody got that?”
    The class nodded.
    “Good.” He released Angie and stepped back. She stayed where she was, touching her neck and eye-fucking him. “Tomorrow, we’ll go over blocks and counterstrikes. But remember, facing a bigger, more experienced opponent, your first line of defense is to call attention to your situation and run like hell. Any questions? Mallory, can I see you after class?”
    Angie shot her a look of pure hate.
    “Yeah, I guess. I’ve got a drawing class in another half hour.”
    She gathered up her things while the class filed out. Only Angie remained and was now leaning in close to whisper something in Max’s ear.
    “How did it go, girlfriend?” Anya hurried in, heels clacking on the hardwood floor.
    “Okay, I guess. I have to stay. Max wants to talk to me.”
    Clint looked over and bumped into the wooden man dummy. “Yeah, that hurt,” he said, rubbing his shoulder.
    “Does he always get the upper hand on you?” Anya said, pointing to the wooden dummy.
    “Some days you’re the windshield. Some days you’re the bug. I’m Clint,” he said, walking over to them.
    “Anya,” she said, lifting her chin as if he were going to argue with her.
    “Are you looking to take a class in self-defense?” he asked.
    “I can take care of myself, thanks.”
    Clint let his eyes trail down her body. “Those boots seem made for walking.”
    “Better watch out they don’t walk all over you.”
    “The heel would need to be a little higher for that kind of shenanigans,” Clint said, grinning at her.
    Anya was at a loss for words. Mallory thought it was getting a little hot in here.
    Max finished talking to Angie and gave her a hug. Mallory tore her eyes away from the bantering couple in front of her to glare at the voluptuous redhead shaking her way over to