Page 68 of Protected By Monsters (Everwood Demons 1)

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Iducked the fist shot towards me, and I caught Jack’s wrist, using his own momentum to yank him forward.

He recovered before he stumbled and gave me a playful smirk as he spun and swept his foot at my feet, knocking me flat on my ass.

I sucked at this.

“Fuck you, mate!” I snarled as my head thumped on the ground. I groaned as I held my head, wishing I could just best him at least once in these practice sessions.

Ugh, I hated when I got head blows.

“You know, no one else talks like you. Apparently it’s an Australian thing,” Jack mused, smirking as he offered me his hand.

I scowled at him, but allowed him to pull me to my feet. I had to quickly avert my eyes, something I’d been struggling with since we’d started sparring today. He’d taken his shirt off from the heat, and a part of me thought he enjoyed how it made me squirm.

“You’ve been teaching me for weeks, taking time out to go over the combat training, but as soon as we properly spar, I can’t even land a decent blow,” I groaned.

“You’ll get there, you’re improving,” Jack assured me, but I had a feeling he was just being nice.

“I feel like I’m so behind. Even Xander can fight better than me and use the weapons. I’m useless,” I sighed.

Jack looked up at the clear blue sky overhead, sighing before he stepped closer to me and planted his hands on my shoulders.

“You are far from useless, Lily. You can wield hellfire, something very few demonics can do, and not to the extent and power that you can,” he said softly as those dark eyes searched mine.

My heart fluttered at just how close he was and my skin tingled beneath his hands.

His eyes slid down to my lips, and that charming smirk broke out once more. God, he would make any girl swoon.

He inched forward, and my breath caught as my whole body stiffened in anticipation.

Was he going to kiss me?

What would it be like? Would he be a sweet kisser? Passionate? Demanding?

Hell, I barely knew how to kiss, and now my stomach was tightening in worry.

What if I made a fool out of myself?

Had any of them kissed a girl before?

No. Diane would’ve said something, but all she’d ever mentioned was their lack of interest in girls. Until I came. Something both she and Hadley had noticed. They loved it, and were constantly pointing it out if they were watching me or looking my way. I always shrugged it off as them being my protectors and keeping an eye on me, but I knew better.

“Focus, Lily,” he murmured, blinking as if he was forcing himself out of a trance. His eyes met mine, and his brow furrowed.

“Hmm?” I mumbled, still caught up in the hopes that he might make a move.

None of my hellhounds had made any moves on me, but I’d seen their sideways glances, and I knew I was the same. I couldn’t help but check them out in our training session, awed by their athletic abilities and moves. And their bodies. I’d seen Jack shirtless a number of times now, and every time it made my stomach flutter and my heartbeat quicken.

“That power that has flared up a few times, that pure energy inside you. Have you tried to draw it forth?” Jack asked.

I inwardly deflated.

I’d really hoped he’d finally make a move. But I knew that was wrong. I was being silly. My hellhounds wouldn’t do that. Besides, if they all liked me, that would put a strain on their own relationships with one another. I was being selfish in hoping one of them would want me.

And the fact that I wanted all of them was even stranger.

“No,” I mumbled after a moment when I realized he was waiting for an answer.

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