Reeve stirred in her chair. Ivan’s hand on her lap restrained her.
Perhaps seeing Reeve’s reaction kept Mei Lein tense. But Charles knew she had methods to alleviate any strain. “Are you still a student of Tai Chi?”
Mei Lein stepped back, her head down. “Yes, sir.”
“Very good. Concentrate on your breathing. That alone.”
Mei Lein’s stomach and shoulders moved only little while Charles circled her, his hands never leaving her skin. Down each arm, up the back of each leg, across the back of her neck he went. In spite of Mei Lein’s outward calm, Charles felt her anxiety translated into her muscles. He visualized black spots of tension throughout Mei Lein and enticed them to leave; out the top of her head, through the soles of her feet, down through her own fingers, until Mei Lein was a cle
