Page 37 of Valkyrie Unknown

“What was that?” She deepened her voice and landed on both feet again. Was that supposed to be me? “This isn’t a dojo. You don’t want me to pull my punches, but you’re going to pull yours?”

This was more tantalizing than her sleeping half-naked in the bed next to me, or my thoughts about her in the shower. I could smell her adrenaline, and I swore I could taste the sweat beading on her skin. This was fun and challenging, and if I were half a millennium younger, it would have me hard and horny.

As if I wasn’t anyway.

Images of the two of us fought their own battle in my mind, for my attention. Fantasies of stripping her down in the middle of the forest for a new kind of workout. The kind where I ran my tongue over her body and made her scream in pleasure.

She danced closer and met my gaze, as her expression glided from determined to sultry. “It’s not as much fun if you’re only doing it for me.”

Now that I knew this was one of her cards, it was easy to see the flirting was meant to be a distraction, not a seduction.

I didn’t mind one bit. “I know how to fight.”

“Everyone has something to learn.” She said one of the wisest things I’d ever heard, and simply stopped. No more bouncing or dancing or circling.

Which meant I needed to do the same. “I’m not going to try to kill you, and I’m simply suggesting I can take a harder hit.”

She stepped closer, and the scent of adrenaline spilling from her vanished. The sound of her pulse hammering under her skin disappeared. The way she masked some of her body’s natural reactions was disconcerting, and it wasn’t something she’d taught herself. The fact that both indicators vanished in a blink made me thinkmagicrather thanphysical control.

The one thing she didn’t mask was the desire she radiated. Was that something she didn’t want to hide or couldn’t? Was this all thanks to her knives? From what I’d seen, she didn’t have anything else magical on her, aside from the talisman I’d given her.

“Are you tattooed?” I didn’t mean to ask that now.

She stepped closer, until she pressed against me, heat searing between us. “Are you asking me to take off my clothes, so you can see?” Her question was a purr.

She reeked of a want that mirrored mine, but the way she was hiding the rest of her reactions told me I was right about this being a distraction.

That didn’t make it much easier for me to ignore how good it felt when she adjusted her weight and her full body rubbed against mine.

“I’m asking what enchantments or spells you have access to, outside of your blades.” I didn’t live this long by giving into lust every time it popped up.

“None. I’m just little. Old. Me.” Her voice stayed sweet, and her body submissive.

Aside from her right hand, which moved from my chest to her hip, then toward my side, in a blink.

I grabbed her wrist before she could fake-stab me in the flank, spun her, and pulled her back into me, wrapping my other arm around her as I yanked hers across her chest, to restrain her.

Fuck,this was fun.

She twisted under my grip, and ducked, using the momentum of my capturing her to try to throw me over her shoulder.

There wasn’t enough inertia, and the movement resulted in her ducking away from me as I stumbled forward.

Clever girl.

“Being sexy won’t get you out of every situation.” I was reminding myself this was a battle as much as I was warning her.

She ducked her head, though her gaze never left me. “You think I’m sexy?”

“Yes.” No reason to lie about that.

“I’m not in every situation.” She resumed circling me. “I’m fighting you. Why would I use techniques meant for someone else?”

Fair point. The fact she had to make it meant I was floundering.

What an incredible feeling, to be surprised by a fight. We’d gotten away from my original request, though. “Hit me in the gut as hard as you can.” I planted my feet and squared my stance.

“You’re sure?” She frowned and shook her head. “Gods, that sounded cliché. Forget I asked.” Azzie balled her hands into fists.

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