"Watch your attitude.I’m dead serious when it comes to boxing," he says in a steady, lower-pitched voice."The basics are the foundation.If you don’t apply them right during practice, you’re bound to get injured and hurt."
I chuckle while taking a stand in front of the punching bag."Okay, easy, Grumpy.I heard you."
His razor-sharp gaze meets mine.I quickly disconnect and explain what I’ve learned.
"I begin by placing my left foot in front of my right, the right angled out a bit, pointing toward my opponent," I say while showing him."Then I put my hands up to protect my chin, tuck my elbows in, hold my chin down, and make sure my hips are above my feet."I cock a brow."Is that correct, Grumpy?"
He grins."Not bad, but…" He stops next to me and touches my back and arm."It's important that you keep your body and hands relaxed."His right hand touches my knee."Have a slight bend at your knees."
I follow his suggestions, but it's hard to concentrate when he touches me.
"Okay, bounce around, get comfortable in the stance," he says, taking a step back."Make sure your feet are around shoulder-width apart.And remember the most important rule.Always keep your hands up.Now, show me a good jab and cross."
I transfer my weight forward and jab my left hand into the bag.He steps to my right side and punches hard against my right glove.
"Keep that hand up, Alisha.This is sloppy.You need to protect your face all the time.If I wanted, I could hurt you easily."
I grind my teeth hearing him say this, but continue punching."Okay, keep your chin tucked in behind your shoulder and throw the jab straight out as if you're punching into a pipe.And make sure you keep your elbows in and aligned with your fist and
the rest of your body.No part of you should needlessly stick out."
After a few times practicing, Cole gets the boxing paddles and makes me hit them instead of the punching bag.
"Okay, show me the best you've got.But from now on, I'll correct you by punching you if you don't protect yourself."
I nod, and as I throw my left fist into the paddle, he hits hard against my right glove.
"Keep it up.The next one will be against your face."
Shit.I glare at him while lifting my right hand back up.Okay, focus.I hit again, and as I punch, he taps my cheek.Not hard, but noticeable.
"Fuck."
"I told you to protect yourself.Keep your guard up, Alisha."
We keep going, and my frustration builds at a staggering pace when every few punches, I get hit in the face while he growls, "Guard up."
"Oh, goddammit," I yell after being hit for the gazillionth time.
Cole chuckles and lowers the paddles."Calm down.You did well for the first time."
"Oh, fuck off!"I take a few steps back and hold up my gloves."This was a goddamn disaster.I suck at this."With panting breath, I lower my arms to my side and gaze at the floor."I'm so fucking weak."
He steps closer and lifts my chin.
"You're not weak.First times are always hard.I got punched hundreds of times in the first month, and it frustrated the hell out of me.Keeping your protection up during boxing needs to become a habit, and by practicing it over and over, you'll learn
it."He holds out his hands."Enough for today.Let's remove those."
I let out a sigh and stretch my arms.As he helps to remove my gloves, I can't help but stare at his robust hands and remember how well they molded my ass cheeks last night.My attention floats up, and my breath hitches when they lock with his cloudless, blazing storms.The fierceness inside them is in contrast with his relaxed body language.
"It's time to refuel our energy."
I walk to my bag, pull out the small box I’ve put in there this morning.After opening the lid, I hold it out to him."Here, I brought one for you too."
Cole stares at two Boston cream pie donuts, before sending me a slight smirk.
"They're my favorite," he says while grabbing one."But you know a protein shake—"
