It was a flimsy excuse, and we both knew it. But I couldn't just stand by and watch anymore. Not when every instinct in my body was screaming at me to get closer, to touch her, if just for a moment, under the guise of training.
Rissa raised an eyebrow but stepped into position across from me without comment. I took a defensive stance, gesturing for Rissa to come at me. "Are you sure you want this?" she asked, a playful challenge in her tone.
I smirked. "You tell me."
The moment she lunged, I realized she was fast. Faster than I expected. She threw a quick jab, which I blocked easily, but then followed it up with a leg sweep. I barely avoided it, my reflexes kicking in just in time.
"Not bad," I acknowledged with a hint of surprise.
"Not bad?" Rissa huffed, circling me, studying me. "You're holding back."
I tilted my head, considering her words. "Maybe you are."
She laughed cockily. "Maybe I don't want to hurt you."
A grin tugged at my lips. "Try me."
And she did. Without hesitation, Rissa moved in with a controlled but powerful kick. It caught me off guard, and I stumbled back a step, the impact reverberating through my body.
Rissa grinned in triumph. "Told you."
Something shifted inside me, a surge of energy. I dropped my stance then moved with inhuman speed. She barely had time to react as I dodged her nextstrike, pivoted, and hooked her leg, flipping her onto the ground.
Rissa let out a sharp breath, her eyes wide as she landed on her back. Before she could recover, I was on top of her, pinning her wrists beside her head. Our chests heaved in unison, heat radiating between our bodies. My grip tightened slightly as my wolf snarled in satisfaction, the scent of her filling my senses.
For a moment, I forgot where we were. Forgot about the pack watching us, the training session, everything. All I could focus on was the way Rissa felt beneath me, the rapid rise and fall of her chest, the way her lips parted slightly as she stared up at me.
Something unreadable flashed in her eyes, a flicker of emotion that vanished as quickly as it appeared. But it was enough to snap me back to reality, to remind me of the line I was dangerously close to crossing.
I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to lean in closer, to taste her lips and see if they were as soft as they looked. It took every ounce of self-control I had to pull away, to release her wrists and push myself to my feet.
Rissa sat up slowly, her cheeks flushed, her breathing still uneven. She wouldn't look at me as she stood and brushed dirt from her clothes.
"I think that's enough for today," I said roughly.
She still wouldn't look at me. "Yeah. I should probably go."
I watched her walk away, my wolf pacing restlessly inside me. It wanted to follow her, to pull her back and finish what we'd started. But I couldn't. Not now. Not like this.
So, I forced myself to turn away and focus on the rest of the training session. But even as I went through the motions, my thoughts kept drifting back to Rissa. To the way she felt in my arms, the heat that had ignited between us.
The following night, I stood in my kitchen, the aroma of grilled steak wafting through the air as I finished preparing dinner. A knock sounded at the front door, interrupting my thoughts. I wiped my hands on a dish towel and went to answer it.
Krystal stood on the porch, her nine-year-old son Bryce bouncing excitedly beside her. "Thanks for watching him," she said with a grateful smile.
"No problem." I waved off her gratitude. "Elle will keep him busy." As if on cue, Bryce dashed inside, calling out for his favorite cousin.
"Uncle Nathan, where's Elle?" he asked.
"She's in her room, buddy. Why don't you go find her?" I suggested, ruffling his hair affectionately.
Bryce grinned and took off down the hallway, his feet pounding against the hardwood floor. Krystal watched him go, shaking her head with amusement and exasperation.
"I don't know where he gets all that energy," she said, chuckling softly.
"You were exactly the same way," I teased, enjoying the easy banter with my niece.
Krystal rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. "Yeah, well, good luck keeping up with him."
