Page 61 of Vicious Princess
He holds me in a tight grip. With a roar, I heel him in the calf. He curses, which makes a choked laugh bubble out of me. His grip on me loosens, and I use that moment to wrench myself free.
For a few long moments, we circle each other, neither advancing. It’s a dance of sorts.
This time around, I don’t wait around for him to make the first move. I charge forwards, pretending I’m aiming to punch him in the face. When he tries to block that, I catch him in the side.
That wins me a wild smile. Daegel sends a couple of quick punches my way, but I manage to block them all.
“Not bad, Wildarrow. For a human, that is.”
I scoff. “Is that all you’ve got, faeling? I expected more from someone who’s an Ezkai Major.”
For a heartbeat, he goes unnaturally still. As if he’s a statue of marble. Then one of his eyebrows quirks up, and before I know it, he whips me around by my forearm and has me in a chokehold.
“Still. Not. Impressed,” I snark through clenched teeth.
Daegel chuckles, his hot breath tickling the back of my neck. “I’m not surprised to hear that.” His words are a whisper, a lover’s caress. “You’ve got quite an appetite.”
I sink my teeth into his forearm. He doesn’t expect it.
Shock is the only reason he loses his concentration, and I use it to tip the power balance. I lean forwards with all my weight and toss him over my shoulder.
Daegel lands on his back, and before he has a chance to get back on his feet, I straddle his chest and pin his arms to the floor with my knees.
He blinks rapidly, as if this is an unexpected turn of events.Ha. Take that.
My excitement is short-lived. Daegel wraps his leg around my torso and throws me off him with such force, my bones rattle. Kicking and punching, I try to roll away. But he grabs my leg and pulls me closer before crawling on top of me to pin me in place.
We’re both panting.
With each deep breath, our chests push against each other, and it awakens the fire deep inside my belly. For a heartbeat, we remain in this position, our gazes locked.
When Daegel brings his face to mine and our lips meet, it’s the last thing I expect.
Yet, I embrace it. Gently, he brushes his tongue over my bottom lip, and my mouth parts, welcoming him.
All the tension that’s been building between us since that night at the bar erupts.
I can’t get enough air into my lungs, but I don’t care. No way can I force my lips away from his, make my fingers stop caressing his lush hair, prevent my legs from wrapping around his waist as I spread them wider to make space for him.
That’s why I’m thankful when Daegel pulls away, breathing heavily. His lips are red and swollen.
“Shit.Fuck,” he curses, breathless. He’s off me in the blink of an eye. I’m left lying on the cold stone floor alone. “I’m sorry, Phoenix. I shouldn’t have done this. I’m your instructor and your mentor.” He runs his hands through his hair and turns his back to me.
Slowly, I pull myself up. My knees are wobbly, and I’m hot all over.
“Yeah, you shouldn’t have,” I say.
It was very inappropriate for him to kiss me like this, right here.
Dangerous, even.
Yet, if I said I wish he hadn’t done it, I’d be lying.
I’m so damn stupid. This, whatever the fuck is going on between us, can cost me my only chance at revenge.
Get it together for fuck’s sake.
He faces me, eyes hard. “It won’t happen again while we train. You have my word.”
