"Never celebrate too early," I advise, keeping my weight on my forearms to avoid crushing her. "And never assume your opponent is defeated until they're completely immobilized."
She squirms slightly, testing my hold, then stops when she realizes it's secure. "Noted."
I should move now. Get up, continue the lesson. But something in her gaze holds me in place. Her breath comes in quick, shallow pants, her chest rising and fallingagainst mine. The scent of her, something floral mingled with clean sweat, fills my senses. Her hair has partially escaped its ponytail, copper strands splayed across the black mat like flames.
My admiration gets the better of my mouth.
"You move well. Strong legs. Compact frame. Powerful base."
She freezes.
Just for a second.
Then her eyes shutter, and her whole posture changes.
"If you're trying to criticize my body," she says, voice tight, "you're going to have to try harder. There's nothing you can say I haven't heard before."
I straighten. "That wasn't a criticism."
"You don't need to explain," she cuts me off, her walls visibly rebuilding. "I'm sorry my body doesn't meet your expectations."
The misunderstanding ignites something hot and frustrated in my chest. So, I stop holding my weight back, letting her feel the full press of my body against hers. My hips press lightly into hers. There's no way she doesn't feel what I'm feeling. No way I can pretend I'm not hard as granite.
Her eyes widen, pupils dilating as she registers our position. And something else, something she can't possibly miss given our close contact.
She blinks up at me, stunned.
"Can you feel the length of my disappointment?" I say, my voice low and rough.
She doesn't move. Neither do I.
Her breath hitches.
My gaze drops to her mouth. Her lips part. Her hands slide to my chest.
I lower my head, just a fraction.
Then the door bangs open.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! I didn't... I should have knocked... I'll just..."
Sophie's flustered voice shatters the moment. I roll away from Jade immediately, years of combat training allowing me to be on my feet in a smooth, controlled motion that belies the chaos in my mind.
Jade sits up more slowly, her cheeks flushed, that carefully composed mask sliding back into place as she smooths her ponytail.
"It's fine, Sophie," she says, her voice impressively steady. "We were just finishingup."
Sophie stands in the doorway, tablet clutched to her chest like a shield, her wide eyes darting between us. "I just came to let you know that your mother is here..."
"What!?" Jade snaps, all the color draining from her face in an instant. The woman who was soft and pliant beneath me seconds ago vanishes, replaced by someone rigid with tension, her eyes going cold and distant.
When the door clicks shut behind her, Jade rises to her feet, her movements stilted, keeping a careful distance between us. The woman who confidently challenged me minutes ago has been replaced by someone more guarded, more measured.
"Jade... I'm sorry..." I start to say. What, I don't know. To apologize? Truth is I'm not sorry at all.
"Mr. Reid... don't bother." Her voice is flat, all the warmth and playfulness from earlier completely gone. Whatever just happened between us clearly pales in comparison to her mother's presence.
Then she's gone, leaving me alone with the ghost of her warmth against my body and the unsettling realization that Jade Sinclair might be the most dangerous assignment I've ever accepted. Not because she's reckless. Not because she's high-profile. But because she's getting under my skin.
