Page 102 of Shielded Heart 1
“Fewer syllables,” both females replied simultaneously. They exchanged a glance with one another and burst into laughter.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Arcanthus lowered his gaze. “So…you’re teaching her how to fight by throwing her around?”
Sekk’thi snorted. “How did you learn? By holding hands and talking until someone died of boredom?”
Arcanthus shook his head and sighed. “By being thrown around. In the mud, in my case.”
The ilthurii threw up her hands and tilted her head, silently claiming victory.
“That doesn’t mean it’s okay to throwheraround, ilthurii. She’s…small.”
Samantha pushed herself to her feet, narrowing her eyes. “That doesn’t stopyoufrom being rough.” She lifted her chin, claiming her own little victory. “You don’t hear me complaining. As a matter of fact, I believe I beg—uh…” She glanced at Sekk’thi, as though suddenly aware she had an audience, and cleared her throat, her already red cheeks darkening. “Anyway, I’m fine.”
“Firstly, little terran, what we do in thebedroom, in the bath, in my workshop, and that one time in the lounge, is entirely between the two of us and is acompletelydifferent situation. Secondly—”
“Thelounge?” Sekk’thi asked. “Do not tell me you mated on one of the couches.”
Samantha clasped her hands behind her back. “Um…”
“It was one of the tables,” Arcanthus said. “Well, it startedon one of the tables, and moved to—no, I’m not going to let you send me on a tangent. Secondly”—he pointed a finger at Sekk’thi—“you did not have my permission, as your mentor and employer, to toss my mate around, in a training scenario or otherwise.”
Sekk’thi rolled her eyes. “As though I would ask your permission.”
Arcanthus chose to ignore the comment. “Thirdly, I have to know—is she any good?”
“Samantha shows promise, and she has taken well to the blaster.”
“You’re training her with blasters? I can’t believe that you would—” Arcanthus snapped his mouth shut and closed his eyes.
Instincts. These pesky instincts. Samneedsto learn because of the world I’ve dragged her into.
“My apologies, ladies,” he said in a softer tone. “I simply would have preferred to have been informed when this training began rather than stumbling in on it. Now, Sekk’thi, if you’re done abusing my mate, I’m going to take her.”
Sekk’thi waved her hand. “I release her into your care.”
Arcanthus turned to face Samantha fully, offering her his free hand.
Sam stepped forward and laced her fingers with his. “I wasn’t keeping it from you. It…just kind of happened, and I never thought to mention it.”
He walked her toward the exit, leaning closer. “I’m not upset, Samantha. I’m glad. And proud of you. But stepping in on that scene without any context… It triggered the instincts you’ve awoken in me.”
She grimaced. “Sorry.”
He turned his head to glance at her. Her skin glistened with a light sheen of sweat, and her hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, revealing her slender, elegant neck. She was dressed in a shirt and pants, both of which were form-fitting. He was certain that the Samantha of two weeks ago would never have worn such clothing if she knew anyone would see her in it.
“Don’t be sorry, little terran,” he said as they entered the corridor. “I’m actually rather turned on right now. Maybe we can find some unconventional uses for what you’ve been learning…”
That Samantha still blushed when he said such things, despite how many times they’d joined since she’d come here, only made him want her more—and, on a deeper level, it made himadoreher.
“Maybe,” she said, peeking up at him with a grin.
His mouth curled into a grin of his own. “We both know there’s nomaybeinvolved.”
She tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear and glanced at the package in his hand. “What’s that?”
Arcanthus lifted it slightly. “A gift for you.”
Her eyes rounded. “For me?”
