“Up.”
I don’t move. The sky is very blue and peaceful. If I just stay here?—
His hand closes around my arm and hauls me to my feet. I groan.
“Again.”
“I need a moment.”
“Your enemies won’t give you a moment.” He’s alreadycircling, a predator’s prowl that does things to me I shouldn’t be thinking about right now. “They’ll gut you while you’re catching your breath and asking nicely for a rest.”
“I’m not asking nicely. I’mtellingyou I need?—”
Too late. He’s coming at me again. At least this time I see the way his shoulders shift and his weight transfers. I move, sidestepping just like he showed me. And for half a second, I think I’ve done it right.
Then he adjusts, faster than I can track, and my back slams into the ground. The impact drives the air out of my lungs, and stars burst across my vision.
“Well, at least you moved that time.” His voice comes from somewhere above me.
I lie there, wheezing.
“Up.”
I drag myself upright. I don’t know how. Maybe my body has stopped consulting me on these decisions, and just obeys him now.
“Let’s try this again.” He’s behind me, close enough that I can feel the heat of him. “You’re still crossing your feet, and throwing off your balance.”
“I know.”
“Then stop doing it.”
“I’mtrying.”
“Try harder.”
I grind my teeth, swallowing my response.
His hands settle on my hips again. The touch shouldn’t affect me. He’s adjusted my stance a thousand times already today. This is more of the same.
But I can feel the warmth of his palms through my pants, and I’m acutely aware of exactly how close he’s standing. The heat of him behind me. The brush of his breath against my hair.
“Step left.”
I step.
“Now right.”
I step right. His hands move with me, fingers curled slightly against my hips, adjusting my stance.
“Relax!”
“I can’t relax when you keep snapping at me.” That’s not why I can’t relax. It’s hard to focus on anything when I can feel every point where his body almost touches mine.
“You’re distracted.”
“I’mnot.”
“Liar.” His lips brush against my ear. “You’re not thinking about your balance. You’re thinking about my hands.”
