Chapter 122
Seoul, Korea
Hotel Gym
Rain groaned from her back, looking up at the ceiling. “Ow,” she complained. “What did I do wrong that time?!”
Lucien stood next to her then crouched down, resting his elbows on his knees and looked at her. “You engaged instead of allowing the attack to come to you,” he explained. “Those that attack first, when not a blitz or surprise attack, I suppose is a good way to put it, their success rate is cut in half compared to that of the one they are attacking. If you are equals, the one being attacked has the advantage. Make sense?”
Rain gave him a look. “No, not at all. That makes no sense! In movies the one attacking always has the advantage.”
“That is movies,” Kita said, joining them and offered Rain his hand and pulled her to her feet. “Movies lie, all of the time.”
“Not always,” Rain grumbled.
Kita shook his head, his eyes moving over her, appraisingly. “Movies say there is always a happy ending, regardless of the situation or plot. Movies warp the minds of impressionable young women and romantics by promising there is someone for everyone out there and that they will somehow fall into each other’s arms.”
Lucien snorted, trying not to point out the obvious with that one.
Rain had ended up in Kita’s arms over a dozen times that Lucien knew of.
“Movies promise those that are goodhearted will come out unscathed and will be safe regardless of the situation or danger they face,” Kita continued. “So yes, movies lie. Even documentaries lie,” he added when Rain opened her mouth to argue with him. “You should be simply ashamed of yourself for thinking otherwise.”
Rain made a mocking face, causing the corners of Kita’s mouth to twitch in amusement. “They all aren’t that bad,” she pouted, trying to play cute and innocent with him.
It never worked, to Lucien’s amusement.
Kita gave her a look. “Uh huh. I will admit, when you are eventually cast as a villain that is adamant on taking over the world, you will be starring in the first truthful movie ever because you are simply evil,” he conceded.
Rain smiled wide; she would take it as a compliment.
Lucien shook his head; he couldn’t figure out what his brother’s problem was.
Yes, Kita had absolutely no experience with women outside of a professional capacity, and it showed, but how he was with Seon Rain was different and confusing. It was awkward at times, especially when working on training with the uncoordinated young woman since Kita refused to touch her. Out in public they were never more than arm-length apart. Even in the suite they were always in the same room and within touching distance of the other.
But when training, Kita refused to touch the young woman.
Lucien was the one that was sparring, or attempting to spar, with Rain. Kita would instruct, but refused to touch her in any way when he did.
If Lucien didn’t know any better, he’d swear his big brother was scared of the young woman.
There was only one way, that Lucien could think of, to get Kita to stop running from the young woman he was gravitating towards when not training.
And it was the one thing that would cause a fight that could get him fired, but it was one he was willing to endure and risk to get his brother’s head where it needs to be.
“Grace,” Lucien said. “You lack grace, Seon Rain. It isn’t something we can give or teach you, it’s something you develop through exercises that are specifically designed to help to hone your coordination and grace.”
Rain gave him a look. “How do you hone something you don’t have?” she asked.
“That’s what I have to figure out. But I will,” he promised. “I’m turning in because I need to check on a few things. Brother, work with Seon Rain. Since you refuse to spar with her try dancing with her, a dance of death if you will. Remember, there is no comfort in the growth zone and no growth in the comfort zone, Brother. Stop keeping her at arm’s length and help her, dance with her, prepare her for the dance of death.”
A smile filled Rain’s face. “Dance of Death! I like it!” she beamed, jumping up and down with excitement.
Lucien smiled because of his glaring brother that was fighting the urge to strike him, then he patted Rain on the top of the head. “Be a good girl and make him dance with you. I’ll check on your cousin and see if your opera tickets have been coordinated.”
Rain gave him two enthusiastic thumbs up.
Once they were alone, her smile fell and she turned to Kita.
“You don’t have to teach me or train me, or dance with me,” she promised. “You’re uncomfortable with it. I’m sorry.”
Kita shook his head. “It is not that,” he tried to explain.
“What is it?”
“I do not want to hurt you,” he said.
Rain nodded her understanding. “I’m asking you to do this, so even if you did somehow hurt me in the process, I would never hold it against you. I would apologize because of it obviously upsetting and hurting you, even if only on the inside. That isn’t what I want. I want to be able to defend myself, eventually. I want to give my all to the opportunity I am being given to just read for the villain part in a major production. But I don’t want you feeling awkward or scared in order to do it-”
“I am not scared,” Kita interrupted. “I just do not know how to do what you are asking me to do.”
“Dance with me then,” Rain offered. “That you know how to do, I vividly remember you scolding me because I was foolish enough to think the swaying at the theater while waiting for our ride was dancing.”
That, he could do.
Kita took Rain’s hand in his then pulled her into him, turning her in the process so her back was pressing against his chest.
Rain squeaked in surprise and her eyes widened when his arm wrapped around her waist and he picked her up.
“What are you doing?” she managed to ask when he lowered her down so her feet were on top of his.
“You wanted to dance, a dance of death even, so we will dance,” Kita said as if it were obvious. “Let me lead, allow your body to move in time with mine… And anything embarrassing that might arise from either of us, never mention and please ignore.”
Rain quickly nodded; she wasn’t entirely sure what he would be embarrassed about, but she knew the risk of embarrassing herself was great.
Kita slid his hands along Rain’s arms to her hands then he weaved his fingers through hers.
Her lashes fluttered and the breath she was holding rushed out of her.
“Breathe,” Kita huskily whispered, his head resting against hers. “Feel your body as it moves in time with mine. Allow me to control it… Uh, ignore that,” he scolded when her eyes widened when a part of him made its presence known against her body.
“Okay,” Rain said breathlessly, causing Kita to groan.
That’s what he feared would happen.
Kita picked up one foot, and moved it then followed with the next, effortlessly moving them around the room. He moved his hands through the air, moving hers with them, in smooth movements that were comparable to tai chi in nature.
It was stiff at first, she didn’t want to relinquish control because control had been taken from Rain her entire life, but she trusted Kita. She wanted to turn over everything to him, but she didn’t know why. Never had he hinted that he was interested in taking anything from her, but she still wanted to give him everything.
Rain hated that confliction, but it was worth to be in his arms now.
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