“What are you doing?” she asked sharply. She might be new to magical training, but she was positive it didn’t require a striptease.
He shrugged out of the button-up shirt and tossed it to the side, pulling his undershirt free from his black fitted trousers and stretching his chest. A partial grin curled up his face as he released the stretch and rolled his shoulders out.
“You look wired, so I’m going to wear you out.”
Her mouth dried.Wear her out.She was slow to answer, studying the smirk on his face and trying to decide if he knew what he was saying. No, this was a desert, and he was a cactus that looked like water.
“You want to spar?”
He nodded, taking a weighted step that had her moving back two. His grin widened as he paused. “What do you normally do when you feel like this?”
“Make Gage spar with me until I can’t think, or run until my legs and brain give up.”Have sex with Topp until I pass out.She heated—she probably didn’t need to mention that one.
He tipped his head at her in reply and removed his belt. The metal buckle made a clank against the hardwood floor outside the mats.
Oh.He was giving her an outlet before they practiced using her magic. She reassessed him silently. “I told you before that I’ll do my job—you don’t need to baby me or whatever it is you’re doing.”
Aidan gave a short laugh. He didn’t move an inch as his intense blue eyes scanned her from her long brown ponytail to her feet and back up again.
“Noticing your discomfort and addressing it is babying you?”
She folded her arms. “Feels like it.” She itched to do exactly what he was offering—to spar and train until she couldn’t breathe—but the way this mannoticedeverything was too unsettling. Her entire life had revolved around and counted on people not noticing.
Aidan nodded and walked loosely to the center of the mat. “Me paying attention feels unsafe.” He looked up, his face clear of any mocking or condescension. “That I try to understand you.” His low, rich tones cascaded over her, both alleviating and exacerbating the high pitch of anxiety strumming through her.
“It’s unnecessary.” Her gaze went to the door. She could just go for a run outside. She’d barely seen a quarter of the estate grounds.
“Elysia, I don’t need you to trust me with your life right now. I just need you to spar with me and let a little steam off before you have a panic attack.”
His matter-of-fact tone had her almost smiling. Shewasa little worked up. Taking a step closer to the center of the mat, she tightened her ponytail.
“Okay, let’s go,” she muttered.
Aidan didn’t wait for more permission than that. He kickedher feet into a better stance, and Elysia responded just like she would have if Gage had done so, moving into her fighting posture. Adjusting her arms, he looked her over and nodded at what he saw.
“Good,” he murmured, stepping back, but catching her chin so she looked up at him. “How about this? You don’t have to trust me. It’s not a requirement or expectation. Just keep talking to me. Keep coming to me when things are good, when they’re bad, all of it. Use me to win your freedom.”
Something in her loosened at his words. The idea that she didn’thaveto trust him. She didn’thaveto suddenly be a healthy, well-functioning sort of person, when the truth was, she might never be. Going to his office and explaining what was going on had been difficult, but Gage’s words were in her mind—maybe if she just kept taking steps, she’d wake up one day and be surprised at where she was and who she’d become.
Elysia nodded, and instead of making a big deal about it, Aidan simply settled back into his own stance before looking at her evenly. “For the record, I like your thorns. All the most beautiful flowers have them.”
Stunned, warmth bloomed in her stomach, but she deflected. “Ready?”
He nodded and they began. His easy movements and ability to dodge every punch and kick reminded her once again of training with Gage. And even more so how he seemed to be studying her, taking notes on what she was doing all the while, never so much as catching the edge of a blow.
Muscles finally warm, she pretended to grow frustrated, making her movements appear tired, choppy, and ill-formed. It was juvenile, but as expected, Aidan relaxed, slowing his responses to hers.His mistake.Darting in, she landed a kick behind his knees, grinning as his legs buckled while her foot was already slamming into his back. He crashed face first down to the mat, and she dropped as fast as she could, ripping one arm behind his back and squishing his face to thefloor.
Hot, sweet victory flooded through her as she dominated him. Breath heavy, she laughed openly only for Aidan to twist his head so he could look at her.
“Oh, you think that’s funny, do you?”
Faster than she could blink, Aidan rolled, pinning his knees around her hips and gripping her wrists above her head. Leaning forward, the heat of him settled against her, and she damn near moaned at the sensations that shot through her.
Blue fiery eyes set on hers, and Aidan rolled his hips once more as he brought his face closer to hers. “Are you feeling better, Thorn, or do we need to go again?”
Flushed and sweaty, she squirmed, but his grip and knees only tightened, keeping her firmly pressed against both him and the mat. Eyes narrowed, she spat her reply.
“Again.”
