Chapter 29 Let the Training Commence
Chapter twenty-nine
Let the Training Commence
Alaceandra
Supple black leathers hug my body as I find myself in a position I never thought I would be in.
Sam straddling me, his dagger poised at my throat.
He has bested me for the thousandth time and my brow is drenched in sweat, every bit of me aching with exertion.
I have not seen Baldar since Sam grabbed him at breakfast, and I really hope he is okay.
For some reason I have grown attached to the small creature and his absence is unsettling.
Sam looks glorious, his toned chest glistening in the sunlight.
The gentle weight of his body presses me to the ground firmly.
Since the leathers are fashioned into intricately detailed pants and a long-sleeved shirt, I can feel his warmth seeping into me.
Every single time we find ourselves in this position, me pinned under Sam, both chests heaving with the strain of the fight, I start to notice more and more about him.
The man I always used to think was more of an intellectual than a fighter, has quite the build.
His body is lean, but not wiry. His movements speak of years of training and brutal precision.
I wonder how he has kept this part of himself secret from me.
I had been crushing on him as much as I was Sorin, but now it seems like I do not even know him.
Not in this form. I am battling between feeling excited by this new change in him or terrified.
Time will tell. He shifts on top of me and I cannot help but notice the erection that has been slowly growing throughout our training session.
The erection that Sam is now doing his best not to press against me.
What would this position be like without clothes between us?
Chest heaving, I let out a frustrated groan.
Shush brain! My body has been geared up since being in the cave and the river with Sorin.
If that was not bad enough now there is the prince to contend with.
I am a wound-up ball of need, and it is driving me insane.
I should not be letting myself feel this way.
I am betrothed to the prince for goodness' sake!
My actions with Sorin alone would disgrace me.
But the prince seems okay with it. I remind myself.
And so does Sorin. Even still, I have not even hinted at my interest in Sam.
It would be greedy to think I could have the three of them.
But still… Sam twists on top of me causing goosebumps to break out along my skin. What is wrong with me?
“Okay, okay!” I wiggle beneath the blade. “I yield, Sam. This is impossible, you have years of experience there is no way I am going to beat you.” I groan. Sexual and physical frustration ensuring my bad mood.
He sighs, then moves his wooden blade from my neck before rolling away from me.
“It is not impossible. You just need more practice and to pay attention.” He offers me a hand, giving me a stern look.
“The creatures out here are skilled, I would know.” He runs a hand over where his injury is now wrapped in bandages.
“I need to prepare you to fight them if it comes to that.”
The reminder dampens my arousal. “Are you sure you should even be training me? You cannot be fully healed yet. You still have six more days according to Sylvie.”
He stands, readjusting his position so that we may begin again. “I am fine, Lace, I appreciate your worry, but it is unwarranted. Now please return to starting position.”
“Sam, I am concerned—”
“Now, Lace. Stop stalling,” I bristle.
I grit my teeth. “What is with you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You have been acting weird since we found each other.”
He narrows his eyes at me, guard firmly up. “What. Do. You. Mean?”
“What do I mean? You scooped up a beast everyone seems afraid of and practically ran out of the kitchen!” He actually has the audacity to roll his eyes at me.
I narrow mine at him. “A creature who knows your name, by the way.” My voice is full of suspicion.
“You are being more brash, commanding and short this morning and I do not know how to take it. I acknowledge this may be your disguise with the prince or how you train people, but you have never acted this way towards me. It is odd and I just want to know the cause of it.”
Sam sighs and drops his blade and once again offers me his hand.
I take it this time and he hauls me up. “Look, Lace. There is a lot at play here. I apologize for my behavior I’m just—” He runs a hand over his face.
“Stressed.” He decides. “You are not prepared for all you will have to face, and I knew I should have been training you for it sooner, but I just thought I had more time,” he says the last bit under his breath.
Why does everyone have a riddle for me to solve? “More time for what?”
He hangs his head. “We really should continue training…”
“This is what I am talking about! Why will you not give me a straight answer? How am I to prepare myself for some difficult and dangerous journey when all the people I trust seem to want to keep secrets from me?”
Sam huffs. “Secrets, Lace? Really? You are the one complaining about secrets? As if we are the only ones hiding things?”
I look at him, confused.
He stalks towards me and I back away until my back bumps into the tree behind me. He puts his arms on either side of me, caging me against the tree. His mouth is just a breath from mine.
“Let’s talk about secrets. Do you want to explain to me why, when we found you and Sorin, you had the scent of a female who had just freshly cum?
With a hickey no less. Or this morning, you come up from your temporary quarters with your lips slightly swollen from, what I can only assume to be, the prince’s lips? ”
My mouth pops open. Why does he care?
“No? A loss for words I see.” His face forms a crass smile I have never seen from Sam.
“When have my interactions with men ever been any interest to you? And for that matter how did you—” I force out.
He laughs. “How did I know? I disguise things, Lace. To disguise you must observe and know what to hide and you have been of interest to me since I first spotted you.”
My eyes widen as my mind races over his comment. “Then why have you never said anything?”
He frowns. “You know the answer to that one.” My father? The reminder of Tikilium’s ruler shuts me up. He backs away from me and picks his dagger back up before finding where mine had fallen and throws it across from him. “Back to starting position, Lace, we will stop when I see an improvement.”
I grit my teeth but scoop up the dagger and we begin our training once again.