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“No trying to kill or cause serious damage,” Ricardo said.

“And you go until someone says quit,” Sean added.

Ricardo frowned. “But someone from outside the fight can stop it early.”

“So, don’t try to kill or hurt my team leader, got it,” Aidan said.

Sean took a readied stance, shaking his head. “Not me I’m worried about.”

“Aw, are you saying you’re worried about me?” Aidan said, unable to help the tease.

As expected, he could see Sean’s eyes flash with irritation and anger before the emotion faded. It was the same in their first conversation, where Aidan watched Sean struggle to rein in his emotions every time Aidan spoke. He had yet to tell if that was his new team leader’s personality or if the guy was just pent up and couldn’t let go of the wheel.

It didn’t matter. Sean was obviously spoiling for something, whether a simple fight or a way of asserting his dominance, Aidan was curious to see how it would go. While he was willing to admit a bit of curiosity at what Sean was capable of in a fight, he wouldn’t admit that part of him found it amusing that Sean thought he’d be easy prey.

Sean watched him, snorting. “You going to start?”

“This is your party. I figure you should have the first dance,” Aidan said.

And again, that flash of temper, followed by a brief struggle and then nothing. Even then, Aidan wasn’t surprised when Sean advanced on him, ready to start the fight. In Aidan’s assessment, that was either a product of Sean wanting Aidan to shut up or his temper starting to get the better of him.

The first blow was easy to dodge, Aidan ducking around it with a soft snort. The next came, and Aidan weaved again and then around the follow-up blow. Sean was testing the waters, not going as hard as he could but trying to read Aidan’s reaction timeand how he moved. When the next attack came, Aidan weaved around it again, expecting the third blow as the fist came for his middle.

“Are we warming up first?” Aidan asked with a cock of his head.

He was almost taken off-guard by the flurry of blows. Sean had apparently decided he’d tested the waters enough and came at Aidan with fists flying. Careful to avoid several blows aimed at him, Aidan dodged around those he could and swept the rest aside before Sean’s fists could touch him.

“I don’t know. Are you done ‘dancing’ yet?” Sean growled.

Frustration again, but was it because he had yet to come close to hitting Aidan or because Aidan hadn’t struck back? Sean was a big man, admittedly only a few inches taller than Aidan, but he had more bulk, and all of it was muscle. Aidan wasn’t so blind as to miss the fact that one solid punch from Sean could spell disaster, and he wasn’t keen on getting his head knocked off by the stronger man.

“I’ve been waiting till you decided to start the fight,” Aidan threw back.

With a speed Aidan hadn’t been expecting, Sean threw himself forward, slamming his shoulder into him. Aidan pivoted on one heel, trying to get away before the blow landed, but was caught by the arm Sean shoved toward him. It was a glancing blow, but enough to take Aidan off-balance, forcing him to twist to catch himself before he was sent flying.

Sean twisted with startling speed and lashed out with one foot, using his body’s momentum to drive his foot forward with extra force. Aidan caught it, a jolt running up his arms as the boot drove into his palms, but it was far better than taking the blow to its intended place in his gut. He knew better than to hold onto Sean’s foot, though, letting it go and using the momentum of the blow to gain distance between them as he stumbled back.

It was becoming rapidly apparent that Sean’s entire strategy during a one-on-one fight was to go at his opponent as hard and fast as possible. He wasted no time advancing on Aidan, lashing out with another series of blows. Aidan dodged again, unable to help his laugh, as the final blow sailed half an inch from his jaw. Sean’s knuckles nearly brushed his cheek as his fist flew by.

Sean growled. “You have a good sense of humor for someone who hasn’t even tried to land a punch yet.”

Adrenaline pumping, Aidan’s shoulders shook with another laugh. “Yeah? I don’t know about you, but I’m having a good time like this.”

It was the truth. It had been ages since he’d sparred with someone in earnest. Sean was trying to hit him and hit him hard. So far, none of the blows would have done more than stun Aidan and probably hurt like hell, but there was a thrill in their safe combat. Even as Sean growled and lunged forward once more, driving Aidan to duck, weave, and make a hasty retreat on a few of his blows, Aidan couldn’t help his good mood.

That was until the next set of blows. Aidan managed the first two hooks well enough, still privately impressed by Sean’s speed. It was the follow-up of Sean’s elbow, which Aidan barely managed to avoid in his surprise, that shot Aidan’s rising good mood in the foot before he could hold tight to it. Elbows and knees were meant for doing damage, not just causing a bruise and a bit of pain.

Heat flaring in his chest, Aidan twisted away from the next punch, diverted the one that followed and prepared himself. Sure enough, another attempted blow from Sean’s elbow came flying, this time from below, as Sean brought his elbow up toward Aidan’s stomach.

Patience breaking, Aidan didn’t bother to divert the blow, twisting and bringing his arm down, so he took the elbow to the meaty part of his arm. Ignoring the flare of pain, Aidan jabbedout, hooking his fist into Sean’s jaw. It hurt like hell, and Sean knew how unconsciously to prepare his body for the attack so he wasn’t knocked out, but it was worth it.

“About fucking time,” Sean grunted.

“Figured if you weren’t going to hit me, someone might as well do it,” Aidan shot back, anger replacing his almost playful good mood.

The blow to Sean’s pride was as bad as the blow to his jaw, and he launched into the next attack. Aidan was careful to make sure Sean’s blows landed on parts of him that wouldn’t be hurt too badly or injured severely, but that didn’t make them hurt any less. His own punches and jabs were far more precise, carefully aimed where they would hurt the most, and despite wanting to return the favor, he made sure not to go too far.

And then Sean tackled him, hard.