Chapter 572: Self-Defense
Book Fifteen: Ancient Ways
Sweat stung my eyes, the thud of my hands against the heavy bag vibrating up my arms and into my chest. I leaned back and lashed out with one foot in a roundhouse, connecting solidly with the cracked vinyl, the chain creaking as I sent the bag swinging.
"Nice hit." I turned, wiping my face on the shoulder of my t-shirt to the grinning face of my kick-boxing instructor. Sage steadied the bag, deep green eyes smiling as much as his mouth.
A rather yummy mouth, as it turned out. Nice little chin-cleft, too, a bit of beard shadow roughing up his wide jaw, dark brows framing that sea-colored gaze. Thick lashes framed his eyes, lashes I was jealous of the moment I walked into the gym and he looked up to greet me.
With that same smile he gave me now.
"I'm feeling more balanced." I drew a deep breath, bobbed up and down on my toes as I faced off with the bag again. "That tip you gave me about staying lower really helped."
He shrugged, his tanned skin rippling under his black tank with "Arno's Gym" straining across the front over his very nicely developed pecs. "Anything I can do to help," he said in his tenor voice. Mellow, soft for such a big guy. Sage stood almost as tall as Liam, though he had more of Quaid's bulk.
Yup, comparing boys. Fun stuff.
The only difference, this boy was normal. Completely. Not a trace of latent power to be felt. As Sage steadied the bag for me, one big shoulder holding it firm, his large hands gripping the sides for leverage, I found myself grinning.
Nothing wrong with normal now and then.
I felt my mood shift as my mind went to Liam and my decision to choose him, to see what we could do about the relationship he claimed he desperately wanted. Two thuds with my gloved fists released some of my returning tension.
Guess he didn't want to be with me as much as he said. If he did, we wouldn't have spent the last eight months with the elephant in the room that was his mother firmly placed between us, her false smile and need to be part of every single thing her son did driving me to contemplate murder.
Thud. Thud.
It felt good to let my anger out in a way that made me stronger instead of driving me to dismember and dispose of someone. Someone with salon perfect hair and the most grasping sense of ownership on the boy she'd given birth to and then served up to her Unseelie lordling master I'd ever had the misfortune to encounter.
Bitter, me? Naw.
Thud. Thud. Whack.
I caught a glimpse of Charlotte watching, standing in the corner with her arms crossed over her chest, glaring at Sage. All pissed off and wolf fur ruffled I'd decided to learn to fight.
When I told her my plans to find a gym when we came home to Wilding Springs a few weeks ago, she frowned.
"Why?" That was Charlotte. My bodywere was nothing if not blunt and to the point.
"I want to learn to defend myself," I said. She should be all for it, shouldn't she? Less worry for her. And for me.
Instead, she grunted. "That's what you have me for," she said, sounding hurt.
Seriously?
Ever since my little jaunt to the Sidhe realm, when I'd been forced to allow Shaylee and my demon to fight for me against the thralled Quaid, I'd realized just how vulnerable I was when I didn't have access to magic. Yes, I could run. So what? Anyone could do that. But, there were times when running wouldn't be an option.
Had happened now more times than I could count. Learning to fight instead, to have as much confidence in my body's ability to defend me as my magic, was at the top of my to-do list.
Right up there with finding some way to get rid of Sonja O'Dane permanently. Hopefully without turning Liam against me.
I tried to explain it to Charlotte who continued to scowl and play the deeply wounded bodywere.
Followed me to the gym I found in the phone book, still scowling.
Walked in with me, glaring.
She came with me, every time. Refused to help. To participate, despite the fact I knew what an amazing fighter she was. Could have learned a lot from her if she wasn't so damned stubborn about it. I felt terrible for the other people at the various gyms I tried who gave her a berth so wide she practically emptied every place when she walked in. It wasn't fair to the normals, not even a little. But I also knew better than to ask her to leave.
Three gyms later, the management at each spot took care of my wince-worthy worries for me by just asking us to leave. I was beginning to wonder if Charlotte would prevent me from finding the right place and if I'd have to be more firm about her staying home.
But when Sage smiled at me despite Charlotte's deadly emanations the first morning we met, standing to his full height with the biggest kettle bells I'd ever seen casually held in his very capable hands, I knew I'd found the place I was looking for. A little rough around the edges, full of bulky guys too busy looking at themselves to care what I did. Quiet. Dark.
Perfect.
"Good job, Syd," Sage said, bringing me back to the present. "Now double jab, uppercut, snap kick."
He'd taken one look at me that first day and seemed to know exactly what I needed.
"This isn't a normal gym," he said. "But you know that, right?"
I nodded, feeling a little intimidated as he towered over me, though more so by the instant zing of attraction I felt. Just what I needed, another boy to wrangle. But Sage's casual manner put me at ease as he set down the bells and offered his hand.
"Sage America," he said. Rolled his eyes in good humor. "Sad, right? My parents were late blooming hippies who thought it would be cool to curse their son for life."
I laughed and shook his hand. "Sydlynn Hayle," I said. "Same problem."
Instant friend.
Had to love it.
From that moment on, Sage was my go-to guy, though never in a forceful or bossy way. He let me try to figure stuff out on my own, fumbling with my hand wraps, my gloves, how to handle the heavy bag at the back of the room. Each time he gave me just enough space to feel frustrated before offering a hand, a simple explanation. Made me feel like I was valuable, important to him. His hands felt warm when he pulled the wraps tight. Confident when he laced up my small boxing gloves. Totally professional when he showed me how to keep the bag from taking me out instead of the other way around. Helped me find my rhythm, made sure I was comfortable.
Left me alone as if knowing that was what I really wanted.
Then showed me how it was supposed to be done when I hesitated.
I put the attention off to the fact it was his job and he was very good at it, but still, I looked forward to seeing him every morning.
Charlotte's sudden soft growl behind me caught my attention and I turned around.
"She'll be here soon," she said, her flat, unfriendly gaze locked on Sage.
He just grinned as she backed off, returning to her place.
"Only two kind of people need a bodyguard," Sage said, casual and quiet. "I'm guessing you're not famous."
"Infamous," I said. "But nope."
He nodded. "Rich, then. Good for you." Like it was no big deal. I could really go for this guy-
Syd. Down girl.
"So I'll see you in the morning." He released the bag, gave me a salute. "Unless you're not busy tonight."
Whoa. That came out of left field. So much for professional. Still, he said it in such an offhand way, like it didn't matter, was just an offer.
And not unwelcome.
Because yeah, I did need another boy to worry about.
Was that real regret stirring, knowing I had to turn him down? The "she" Charlotte mentioned had to take priority.
"Can't tonight," I said. "But some other night, you bet."
Tell me I didn't just agree to go out with a normal.
Sage's little grin dimpled one stubbled cheek as he turned away. "That'll be great. I'm fairly new to town, just trying to settle in. It would be nice to have someone to hang around with."
Would it ever.
"See you, Syd." Sage tipped his chin at Charlotte with another smile before leaving me to clean up and go home.
Eyes front, girl. No staring at the wide shoulders walking in the other direction tapering down to a narrow waist over hips just visible at the hem of his loose shorts, the way the black fabric cupped his rock-hard ass-
I was going to girlfriend hell.
And I was okay with it.
***
