And then there was Mia. It was horribly wrong that she was here. That she suffered. That she would live under constant threat, just so Grayson remained obedient.
Perhaps he had let his emotions influence their training. He needed to make sure that didn’t happen again.
Grayson swallowed roughly. “I’m fine.”
Mia’s brown eyes gentled. “You can tell me the truth.”
Never. His sins were not hers to bear. “I’m fine,” he repeated. He shifted back a step, feeling her closeness too much. He cleared his throat. “I have to leave again.”
Her lips pursed. The only sign of her anxiety was her fingers falling to twist in her skirt. “How long will you be gone?” It was the only question she asked now. The first time he’d left her, she’d pressed for details. He’d hedged, not wanting to show her the darker side of him.
After he’d returned, she must have seen the haunted look in his eyes. She hadn’t asked again.
“Two weeks,” he told her. “Maybe three.”
She glanced away, her throat bobbing. “So long?”
Grayson eased closer and wrapped his gloved hands around her nervous fingers, making them drop the folds of her skirt. “I’ll return as soon as I can.”
She searched his face. “You’ll be careful?”
“Of course.” He brushed a stray brown curl from her cheek and hooked it behind her ear. “Is there anything you need before I go?”
Mia gave him a firm look. “You worry too much about me, Grayson Kaelin.”
His mouth quirked. “You’ll make me gray before my time,” he agreed.
She huffed a short laugh. “I think I see some right here.” Her fingertips brushed his temple and pleasant tingles raced over his scalp.
He expected her hand to fall immediately, but it didn’t. Her touch drifted down from his temple, the soft pads of her fingers tracing an old scar that crossed his cheek before sliding to wrap around the nape of his neck. With gentle pressure, she laid her palm against his suddenly hot skin and drew his head down so their foreheads rested against each other.
Grayson’s heart raced as their breaths mingled, the smell of jasmine swimming around them.
Her thumb slid over the hollow under his ear, the simple stroke raising every hair on his body. “Promise me you’ll come back.” Vulnerability cracked her soft words.
Every protective instinct he had surged to life. He eased back, lifting his free hand to cradle her face, their gazes holding. “I’ll always come back to you, Mia.”
She held his fervent stare for a moment, then wordlessly folded her arms around him, drawing him in for an embrace.
Grayson’s arms tightened around her, an ache rising in his chest. He prayed he’d have the strength to let go.
Chapter 14
Clare
Bennick’s arms banded around Clare, pinning her arms to her sides and hauling her back against his chest. “Break free.”
His exhales thrummed warmly against her neck and his hard body expanded against her back as his lungs filled. Even after weeks of training, she still wasn’t used to being so close to a man. It made her skin tight and she was hyper-aware of herself. She prayed he hadn’t noticed how much she was sweating.
She dropped her weight and Bennick shifted his stance to balance them both. Before he could stabilize, she stomped on his foot and shoved an elbow into his ribs.
His grip loosened and Clare took the opportunity to tear free. She planted a foot on the ground and spun her other foot, aiming for his gut.
Bennick caught her leg and grinned, his blue eyes shining. “Excellent.”
Clare’s balance wavered but he released her before she could topple. Breath fanning out, she swiped loose hairs away from her hot face. “I didn’t hit hard enough.”
“No, but you’re getting more confident.” He spun a finger. “Turn around, I want to show you something.”
Clare pivoted, trying not to tense as Bennick locked his arms around her chest. They’d been training for three weeks now. She should be used to his nearness, the surrounding feel of him pressed up behind her, but she wasn’t. If she could feel his every breath, he must feel hers. It only made her breaths come faster.
Bennick took her hand and splayed it against her abdomen, his hand resting atop hers. Her breath caught. He’d been touching her throughout the lesson, but the weight of his fingers stretched along hers felt new. She could feel the calluses on his skin and even though she was overheated, she fought a shiver.
Perhaps it was her imagination, but Bennick’s voice seemed deeper than before. “Feel the pull of your muscles here. Twist your shoulder inward as you turn.”
Clare swallowed and twisted as he’d instructed, trying to ignore the racing of her heart.
Bennick’s mouth dropped to her ear. “Did you feel it?”
His hand was still resting on hers, his breath warming her neck. Her skin prickled and her cheeks heated. “Yes.”
“Good. Remember the power there.”
Too soon, his hand withdrew. Clare tried to be discreet as she rubbed the sweat from her palm against her skirt before Bennick’s arms tightened around her again.
“Break free.”
She followed the order, this time pulling her body up in a ball to throw him off balance. She even managed to land her elbow in his ribs as she twisted, and his grunt was genuine. One of these times, she’d manage to actually free her arms like he wanted and he’d get an elbow in his face.
Hard to say if that would make her grin or splutter an apology while blushing furiously.
“Good!” Bennick said. “That was better.” He caught sight of her red face and his forehead creased. “You’re flushed.”
“I’m not.” The denial spilled out, only
