This time he was faster. He lunged just a little.
But that was okay, because she was better.
She snapped her arm around his with the minimum of stumbling.
And he appeared to agree.“That’s it. One more time.”
He moved almost before he’d finished speaking.
Still though, she caught him.And she did it so hard and so well it brought him almost eye level with her. It left an imprint of his arm on the underside of hers—the obvious swell of his bicep and the jut of his elbow, deep in that suddenly sensitive place.
Though, she shook it off quick.
She had to, because a second later he said,“Hey, check it out.” And when she turned to see what he was pointing at, she felt it. She felt his hand brush the back of her sweater, so light it could have been nothing.
But her body didn’t take it as nothing. Her body responded automatically, as if this short lesson had already left its mark on her. She hooked her arm over his in one fluid move.
Much to his delight.“Good girl. Yes, perfect. You feel that?”
“I feel it. I don’t know what it is, but I feel it.”
“It’s you, being in control. No one can take it from you. I can try to trick you, but it won’t ever work now. Because you’re ready for me, aren’t you?”
“Hell yeah, I’m ready.”
“Eyes front, then.”
“Eyes front,” she echoed, and the moment she did she felt his hand. Not hovering this time, not whispering against her sweater. He grabbed a handful of it, in a way that should have sent her reeling—and especially when she felt his knuckles against her shoulder blade.Like him, she thought. But instead of panicking, she moved.
She got her arm around his.
And even sweeter, she forced him to his knees.
She didn’t know how. She wasn’t even sure whether she had done it herself, or he had helped her. She only knew how it felt after it happened. Suddenly, every possible joyous emotion inside her was bubbling up to the surface, as if they’d never actually been away at all. They hadn’t died, the way she had sometimes feared they had. They were all still there, just waiting for her arm around his and him on his knees and those black eyes looking up at her, with something like triumph flashing in them too.
“Oh my god. Oh my god, I can’t believe it works,” she said.
And then his eyes flashed brighter. They burned, as he replied. “Wouldn’t have taught you it if I thought it might not.”
“But even so,fuck. I just did it. I can just do it.”
“Of course you can. Of course.”
He stood, as he spoke. Brushed his hands off, all calm and composed again in a way she just couldn’t be yet. That joy was still bubbling through her. She still felt breathless.
And more than that, she felt grateful.
“Thank you. Thank you,” she said.
Though he just shook it off.
“I told you. Don’t thank me.”
“I can’t do anything but.”
“Then just do it in your head.”
“I would, but I think you’ll know what I’m saying, anyway.”
