Page 10 of I Am Lioness

“Really, really.”

“Prove it.”

I would have proven her regardless, but something about the challenge in her tone fueled me into action like a match laid to a trail of gasoline.

“Turn around, Hazel.” I ordered.

She didn’t hesitate, briskly pivoting in place.

My hands came up to her waist and our eyes instantly met in the mirror before us, brown to blue. I dug my fingers into her skin and ducked my head low, letting my lips dance beside her ear. “Now bend over for me, sweets.”

I heard her sharp intake of breath, saw her eyes flutter shut. Then her head hit my chest. “What did you just say?”

“I said, bend over for me.”

“Why the h-hell would I do that?” She stammered through her question.

“Were you not stretching when I interrupted you?”

“Yeah, a-and?”

“So we’ll continue where you left off.”

“I'm very capable of stretching by myself.” Her fingers pried my hands off her body and she turned to face me once more. “Prove it another way.”

My lips curled in a smirk. “Alright, then spar with me.”

“You're kidding right?”

“On the contrary, I'm very serious.”

“I'm not sparring with you.” She said definitively.

“Why not? Afraid I'll make you tap out?”

Hazel scrunched up her face. “Not in the slightest. Hypothetically speaking, if we sparredyouwould be the one tapping out, unless of course you're looking to get knocked out.”

“You’re a cocky little thing, huh?” I questioned, highly amused with the little spit-fire standing before me. “So certain you can tap me out. Prove it, short stuff.”

“Call me short stuff again and you'll see why I'm so cocky.” She gritted out, shooting me a death glare.

“Oooh, feisty.I like it.”

“You think you like it until you're down on the mat begging me to let you breathe.”

I chuckled, the sound deep within my throat. “I don't beg, sweetheart. But you will… When I'm done with you.”

“Look who's cocky now.” She rolled her eyes trying to seem unaffected.

“Confident, not cocky. There's a difference.” I corrected her.

“You two were looking mighty cozy over here.” Luis snickered, appearing beside us with a huge satisfied smile spread across his face. “How it's going, Lioness?”

She held up a hand. “Luis, please, just Hazel.”

“We’re on a first name basis now? You know that automatically makes us friends, right?”

Hazel’s body shook with silent laughter. “I think so, yes.”

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