17. Paige

17

PAIGE

I keep kicking and punching the bag the way that Kael showed me, and I'm sweating and panting in just about twenty minutes. I come to the gym sometimes, do my cardio, but I've never done this much working out.

For over an hour, he shows me how to place my feet, how to rotate my hips, how to use my body for maximum power.

When the session is over, I'm dead on my feet and ready to go to bed, though I still dread falling asleep.

This becomes our new normal. Every day, I walk downstairs and meet him at the gym after his workout, so he can teach me how to move, how to defend myself, how to use my body to my advantage.

Another day, another training.

He holds the bag. "Again!"

My foot connects, and there's the slightest of movements .

My eyes widen as does my smile.

"It moved. Did you see that? I did it."

He smiles back. "I did. Very good." The smile fades. "Now, again!"

I get back into position and kick with both my left and right legs until I have no idea if my legs will be able to carry me three feet, let alone up the stairs to my room.

But it's worth it as every day, there's the slightest hint of improvement. My endurance has increased as has my muscle mass.

My punches get harder, my kicks get stronger, I hit the target with the hope that I never have to defend myself again, but preparing for it.

It's an effort to get to the kitchen. It was a rough night.

"Time for practice."

"It's too early," I mumble.

He chuckles. "It's nearly ten, Paige."

I groan and sit up, rubbing my eyes.

I go back up to my room so I can change, and I pull on a pair of bicycle shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt.

When I walk down to the basement, he's already there, working a small punching bag instead of the big bag we usually punch.

"I'm doing the little bag today?"

Kael nods. "You need to learn speed. Remember what I told you? You only have so much weight, so you have to use your speed."

I walk over toward him and frown, looking up at the bag. "It seems too easy. "

Kael chuckles. "It's not as easy as it looks."

I stand up and throw a punch at the bag, almost getting hit in the head when the back swings back.

Kael snorts out a laugh, and I turn around to glare at him.

"Focus on the bag." He sobers. "Remember your stance. With this bag, it's not about strength, not about putting your weight behind the punch. This is about speed, so you'll only be using your fists on this one. All you need to do is keep the bag moving."

I do as he says, but when the bag swings back toward me, I miss. I curse under my breath and instantly try again.

"Good." Kael's praise is a murmur as his hand sets on my hip to widen my stance. "Legs apart."

I take in a sharp breath, his hands on my skin making heat pool in my stomach.

"Quicker."

I punch faster, getting the bag to swing back and forth, and I feel pretty good about it—until the bag hits me in the face when I misjudge my punch.

I yelp and stumble backward, and Kael cups my face in his hands.

"Let me see."

Kael searches my face, frowning slightly, his bold brows drawing together.

His eyes light on mine, almost a deep blue because of how they've darkened with something I can't quite name.

"You're okay," he murmurs, but he keeps his hands cupping my face.

I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out.

Kael 's looking at my mouth. He swallows visibly.

I can't stop looking into his eyes, getting lost in them, and my heart starts to race .

This is a bad idea. A terrible idea. I have to do something. Say something. "I haven't forgotten about our bet. Have you?"

His eyes meet mine again, and I lose myself in them.

This attraction has been harder and harder to manage. I've been touching myself every single night thinking about Kael, about how he could make me come, how he'd feel inside me.

His touches as he corrects my positioning burn my skin, and I crave his hands all over me.

"No, princess, I haven't."

"When do you think I'll be ready to spar? I think I'm getting better. Don't you?"

He nods. "You are getting better, and it won't be long now. Maybe the bet won't take effect in the first sparring session, as that would be unfair, but yes, I remember it."

His eyes darken, and my body reacts immediately, readying itself for something that won't happen. Not with him at least.

I smile as I step back from him.

He drops his hands, his eyes still burning through me.

Waving goodbye at him, I head upstairs to get in the shower and once again take care of myself.

Sleep has been little to none, but at least I'm eating better with Kael around the house.

Maybe sleeping would help with my training, but I'm still not in a good place. Not a place where my mind is free from the horrors of that afternoon. So, I drink lots of coffee and pretend to sleep every night while I fight to keep my eyes open.

Sometimes, I lose that battle, but so far, I've been able to not scream again. Or at least, he hasn't come to my room gun drawn since that first night.

I head to the kitchen one afternoon. Our morning session is done, and I'm all showered, but I'm hungry.

As I walk in, Kael is standing in by the stove, something sizzling in front of him.

He looks over his shoulder at me. "Hey."

"Hey."

"You hungry? I have enough for two."

"Not even going to ask what you're cooking and just going to say yes, because I'm actually starving." I go to the cabinet and grab us both plates to start setting the table.

It's been a while since we shared a meal together. We might live in the same house for now, but except for our training sessions, which are more than intense, and I don't just mean the training part, we hardly cross paths. It's like we are purposefully avoiding each other. Or more like he's avoiding me since he's stuck in his room all the time.

I don't look at Kael as I work, but his presence is overwhelming just the same. I almost feel him here, my breath coming short.

When he's done, he serves us both and sits to eat with me. For a second there, I wasn't sure he would.

If this tension between us goes on much longer, something will give. There's no way anyone can survive this forever.

I pick up my fork and take a bite of the chicken alfredo he put in front of me. "Any news about what's happening with the Murphys?"

He chews, shaking his head. When he swallows, he looks at me. "Things have not changed one thing or another. "

"So, we still have no idea how long you'll be stuck here with me?"

He frowns but shakes his head again, getting a forkful to his mouth.

Is he avoiding talking to me? Why?

"Do you want to do something today?"

He lifts one brow, looking at me. "Like what?"

"I don't know. Watch a movie, go to the park. Something."

His eyes are on me for a few seconds, but he makes no move to answer.

"Well?"

He lowers his eyes to his dinner. "It's better we stay in. You can watch a movie if you want. I'll be in my room."

When he's done eating, he picks up his plate, washes it, and leaves the kitchen with a, "I'll see you tomorrow for training."

I don't know how long I'll tolerate him ignoring me like this. I'll let him have his say for now, but this will not last forever.

I'm still not strong enough to beat him. At least, he doesn't think so. I've been practicing a lot more than he knows, though, so I'm ready to put it to the test.

Kael's been working the smaller punching bag, his hair falling over his face, muscles glistening as he hits it over and over.

The smaller sparring sessions we've had over the last couple of days gave me a few ideas, and I think I'm ready for him to stop avoiding me. It's time to claim that bet.

As my eyes find him, my panties get wet.

Why does he have to look like that? Every muscle bulges when he punches the bag, and it's so hard not to stare, to focus on my own training.

He stops and gets two bottles of water, throwing one my way.

I catch it, open it, and take a drink. "So, when do we get to spar again?"

"Anytime you want, princess."

"Don't call me that," I mumble.

He just grins, throwing his hair out of his face, his blue eyes bright.

"Fine, I'll set the mats, so we can go for it."

He puts them on the floor, stretching them out so a big area is padded.

I stand on the end of the mat, looking at him, and he makes a come-hither gesture with his hand that makes my skin heat up.

He's grinning wickedly, his muscles and tattoos on display.

Shit.

I take a breath and step toward him, kicking out with my right leg. I think I've got him, but he grabs my ankle, and I go down on my butt, squealing.

He's still holding my ankle, my leg in the air as he looks down at me.

"Gonna have to do better than that, little princess."

I growl in the back of my throat, annoyed, and I stand up, putting my hands near my face while he does the same.

I throw a punch with my left to feint, and he reaches out to grab my wrist, but then I throw out my right leg, connecting with his rigid abdomen.

He makes an "oof" sound, coughing out a breath but still grinning as he takes my foot and turns it, flipping me over onto the mat.

I yell into the mat, frustrated, and stand up, jumping up and down to keep momentum.

"You can give up anytime, kiddo."

"No!" I yell, and take a deep breath, channeling all my anger and fear, my frustration and attraction to Kael, and I lean forward, punching him in the stomach with my right fist.

Kael huffs out a breath, but he doesn't even stumble backwards. This man is a brick wall. I'm never going to take him down with moves alone.

His blue eyes are on mine, the grin still on his face as he jumps around, waiting for me to attack.

"Come at me," I tell him.

He cocks his head, and then shrugs, coming toward me.

I don't move, looking up at him, and when he gets close, I put my hands on his heaving chest.

Kael's eyes go dark, and I slide my hands down to his stomach.

He trembles, letting down his hands.

I punch and kick like my life depends on it, going for the body rather than punching his pretty face.

Finally, I remember what he told me about using my body weight, and I kick with all my strength, throwing my weight forward.

Kael goes down, and I go with him, falling on top of him.

Kael's laughing. "You did it. Good job, Paige."

I feel like a million dollars. I took down a man twice my size just with my body–even though I'd had to use my feminine wiles, it feels like a huge accomplishment.

He pulls me more firmly on top of him, his gaze boring into mine. His hands are on my hips, squeezing, and I'm close enough to lean down and kiss that full mouth of his.

Kael goes silent, breathing hard beneath me, and I can feel him hard through his sweats.

I grind down against him, and Kael lets out a moan that makes pleasure and heat settle in my abdomen.

He tilts up his chin, and I just know he's going to kiss me, and I don't think I can stop him.

I don't know if I want to.

Looking into his eyes, I lower my mouth to his, craving his taste.

As my nose touches his, his phone rings.

I scramble up, as does he to grab his phone.

We stare at each other for a second longer before he looks down at his phone and narrows his eyes.

"A bet is a bet. I'll cook dinner tonight." He turns his back to me.

I hurry up the stairs and into my room.

What just happened? I was about to kiss Kael.

Again.

What the hell is wrong with me?