Page 136 of The Quiet Witness

“Don’t forget to breathe, sweetheart.” The bastard in front of her threw her a wink. His voice still as calm as when they had started. The amused glint shining strong in his eyes sent her heart roaring as he drove her ever more toward that inevitable corner.

She felt it close in on her. His eyes didn’t leave hers for a second, enjoying her grappling for space. Keeping her arms up and tightly against her body, she at least managed to defend most of the punches that rained down on her, and the ones that did land were quickly forgotten in the rage that was slowly starting to boil over.

“Good defense.” His eyebrows raised in genuine admiration. “Quite a feat, considering you’re being pressed into that corner like a little cute rabbit.”

She huffed. Ready to offer him a retort that no member of a church wanted to hear when he hit her with a swift jab to the cheek and a light hook to her clenched abdomen.

So much for honing emotions.

Weathering the flurry of attacks, she felt her back collide with the corner, she stepped toward the left once more in hopes for an escape, but her foot glided over the sweat-slick mats beneath her, causing her to fall face-first into his chest. At once his gloved hands came up around her upper arms, firmly guiding her back to her feet. Seeing her cheeks heat up in embarrassment, he chuckled.

“No, no, Kate. As much as I want to allow that move to end this obvious torture for you, I just nope. I can’t.” With a final gentle push for her to keep her balance, he dove straight back into the game. Landing a teasing kick to her femur.

What an absolute freaking bastard.

She couldn’t take it anymore. With a roar of frustration, she sent a forceful right hook flying to his face.

At once the room was silent. He just stood there, dumbfounded.

A joyful shriek erupted from her heaving body. A hit! Right on his ear, the tip of it turning bright red already.

Her back hit the cushioned floor with a whoosh, and her wrists… pinned down on the cool black mats beside her.

She heaved for a full breath to reach her lungs, but Lucien settled his weight on her in the mount position, the same one that had her burst into a blind panic mere weeks ago.

Nothing could steal away this moment’s joy though. Finally able to suck air back into her lungs, her eyes remained glued to his ever reddening ear.

“Never allow a hit, whether striking true or missing, to bring you off-kilter.” There was a note of lecture in his tone, but she didn’t miss the glint of pride flashing across his face.

“I got you.” She breathed out.

He smirked at her, hands still firmly pinning her wrists against the floor. ‘‘You sure did. You also let me tackle you to the ground.”

She shook her head. Trying hard to ignore the closeness between them. Not because of a panic attack, there were no more phantom fingers clutching at her throat. But for the unfamiliar warmth soaring in the depths of her stomach, she shifted beneath him, trying to hide the effect he had on her, muttering. “That’s beside the point.”

The reverberations of his answering laugh had her join in. High, she must be high on the fact that she’d managed to hit the smoothest weasel on the planet.

But he wouldn’t let her get off that easily. Forest green eyes hovered above hers with a challenge. “Now what are we going to do better next time?”

“Oh, my God, Lucien, just let me gloat already!”

“Let’s leave God out of the equation, dear. He’s got enough on his hands already. Lucien will make do here.” His head tilted, taking her in as she blew her hair out of her face. Still trapped beneath his body and hands. “Especially seeing as you’re in quite the predicament here.”

Kate angled her feet so that she could get them behind his, wanting to throw him off like he had taught her before. His answering grin told her enough, it was going to take more than the trick he had taught her.

He shifted his weight to stop her attempt. “See, predicament.” She expected the room to start zeroing in on her. For pressure to take hold of her throat. But nothing happened. Still, with the feelings currently coursing through her lower abdomen, she was going to have to get out before she would make the same mistake of going for a kiss.

“Is this my reward for causing that red ear of yours? Or.” She huffed. “Can’t you take a hit to your ego?”

“Oh, I can take a hit alright, I think it’s you currently fighting with that, sweetheart. Besides, I merely wanted to up your threshold on those dear panic attacks of yours.” He beamed a proud smile. “I think it’s safe to say you’re handling it damn well. Since it’s been…” He set a knee over her wrist, slipping a hand free of his gloves to check his watch. “A minute and a half already. Training is paying off.”

Either that, or it was the fact that it was him currently ‘testing’ her resolve. Because she was pretty sure if it was anyone else pressing down on her like this, she’d be a panicking mess already.

I think it’s the second option really. As the thought hit, Lucien’s eyes narrowed on hers, they skimmed over her red-cheeked face in obvious surprise. All the while she was trying to fish her feet behind his, awkwardly trying to get herself out of the shameful position and more importantly, the thoughts Lucien seemed to read as easily as a newspaper.

Great, now he knows the effect he has on me. Life will no doubt become even more interesting.

His voice deepened, rumbling over her. “You’ve fully earned the right to gloat. In fact, I’ll let you have about two whole minutes to gloat your ass off before round two. That said, I figure you’d like a good second option to get yourself in the clear, judging by the way you’re grasping at my feet… unsuccessfully I might add.”