Page 34 of Tamed (The Courtside King Duology 1)

Kai watched Breck glare at their backs. Under that glower, he looked nervous. Which amused Kai a little, but mostly he just found it endearing. “Don’t worry,” he reassured. “This won’t take long.”

Breck slid him a look and muttered, “Uh huh. Promises, promises.”

———

Some ten minutes later, the last of the stragglers headed out. Five minutes more and Kai’s assistants took off, too. Breck frowned as he watched them leave. Guess they had places to be. But, damnit, so did he. Like home in the shower. He’d made plans to go drinking with Ned, Tad, and Jay. Was supposed to meet up with them at eight and he still had assignments to do.

So why had he agreed to stay after with Kai? He didn’t care about this class. And he sure as hell didn’t owe the guy any favors. This was stupid. He should’ve said no. He scowled at himself.

Big idiot move.

Standing at the door, Kai turned the dojang’s sign from ‘open’ to ‘closed,’ then headed over and joined Breck beside the mat.

Silence surrounded them.

Kai smiled. “Much better.”

“I’m used to the noise.”

“Yes, I guess you would be. Basketball stadiums can get deafening.” Kai slid on his punch mitts and eyed Breck’s dobok. “You took off your chest guard.”

Breck shrugged. “Figured this was casual, and that thing is annoying.”

Kai’s lips curved as he tightened the wrist straps. “Okay. Light contact. And we’ll be working with the techniques we practiced today.” He motioned to the center of the mat. “Shall we begin?”

“Sure.” Not that it’d make a lick of difference. Breck had already all but mastered the stuff.

They moved to the middle and assumed position.

Kai nodded. “You attack first. We’ll go from there.”

“Okay.”

And just like that, they were dueling, with the whole place to themselves. No one watching. No one judging. Just the two of them. Breck and Kai. Student and teacher. Apprentice and master. Getting physical. Swapping hits. Breck’s heartrate climbed. Which was no surprise. Like always, Grandmaster asshat was driving him hard.

Breck lunged, unloading an arsenal of whatever felt right at the moment.

Kai sidestepped and chuckled. “You come at me like a bull.”

“And?” Breck grated. “Bulls are fast. Aggressive.”

“Bulls are predictable.”

“Not this bull.”

“Every bull.”

“Sounds like a matter of opinion.”

Breck came at him again, not buying the bullshit. Kai dodged, but more deftly this time. As if making a point. Breck frowned, surprised. Had Kai been holding back all these weeks?

Kai regarded him with assessing eyes. “You see? Predictable,” he repeated. “You must be nimble, your actions fluid. Like a leopard.”

“Like a leopard,” Breck repeated flatly.

Kai grinned. “I’m not your guard on the basketball court.”

“You’re my opponent. Same difference.”

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