Venom And Vice

12

We were both silent for countless seconds. “She’s not Raisa, Caz. You know that, right?” Lochlan’s comment winded me. He was the only one of my brothers who knew about my past, but I was still surprised he’d brought it up. “You didn’t know Raisa, so that’s hardly your call to make.” My voice grew sharp with warning. “No, I didn’t,” he conceded, forging cautiously ahead. “But I know these circumstances are very different. We’ll all work together to keep both Rebecca and Ashley safe.” “The only thing that will keep Ashley safe is if her powers are kept secret. Since she’s likely to out herself, the best way to go about such a feat would be sending her into hiding.” “For how long?” “Indefinitely.” Lochlan cringed. “You know the girls would never agree to that.” “I suppose if you’re crippled by the need to cater to their whims, that would be a problem.” The shrewd grin that split Lochlan’s face sent a surge of tension coiling the muscles at the base of my neck. “I think I’m going to enjoy watching you complete this assignment even more than I anticipated.” “You’re a d**k, you know that?” He threw back his head on a peel of laughter. Before Lochlan left that morning, I got Ashley’s number from him and texted her to meet me in the gym that evening. I spent most of my day trying unsuccessfully not to think about how our first training session would go. Lochlan had informed me that she’d been working with Liam since her transition. I was curious how much she’d learned, which then led to thoughts of what else they might have done together. The possibilities made me irrationally angry. I had no right to take that frustration out on her, but there was no escaping my mood. I would have to do my best not to act like the Neanderthal she’d accused me of being. My best bet was to think of this task as clinically as possible. I was training her as I might any other Huntsman who first came to Earth and was unfamiliar with the customs. Except in this scenario, the trainee was a beautiful woman who needed to learn something I’d never actually taught before. So really, I was completely out of my depths. I’d never had to show anyone how to use magic because that was something we all naturally developed growing up. Between the uncertainty of how to teach her and my own curiosity about what she’d learned with Liam, I decided to start out in the gym and explore her current abilities. Having a plan, no matter how cursory, eased my nerves. I arrived at the gym a few minutes before Ashley. Everyone else was preparing for the club to open, so we had the place to ourselves. Normally, the gym was my oasis. A place to work out tension and unwind. The addition of Ashley’s presence engulfed the room in an oppressive tropical heat. She walked two steps inside the room and paused. “I appreciate you doing this,” she said calmly. “But I can find someone else to work with. I’m sure Lochlan didn’t realize how things are between us.” I was surprised at the lack of animosity in her tone. After our elevator encounter and my hasty retreat the night before, I had fully anticipated to be the recipient of her scorn. I wouldn’t have blamed her if she had arrived toting a sizable chip on her shoulder. However, that hadn’t happened. Ashley was calm, and her comment was made without any aggressive undertones. “I don’t think it’s an issue unless you do.” Her brows rose. “I mean, I’m okay if you’re okay. At this point, I just want to learn.” If she could pretend nothing had transpired between us, then so could I. Hell, maybe this wouldn’t be half as awkward as I’d thought. A sound resembling a grunt came unbidden from my chest at the absurdity. “Well, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way,” I grumbled, “let’s get started. I’ve heard you’ve been training in combat techniques. I thought we’d test your abilities—both physical and magical—then formulate a plan.” With a nod, she followed me onto the grappling mat and lowered her center of gravity with bent knees, lifting her hands to protect her face. She was comfortable in the ready stance. It was a good sign. So was the sleek definition her body had gained over the months. I had intentionally avoided taking in the details of her body whenever she’d been near me. There was only so much temptation a man could take. In her spandex training gear and the bright gym lights, I couldn’t miss the way her curvy physique was now taut with lean muscle. Five months earlier, I’d been the one to carry Ashley’s lifeless form out of the alley where she’d almost died. I’d held her on the way to the hospital —a fact she likely didn’t know, though it would forever be engrained in my mind. I knew exactly what her soft, feminine body had felt like back then and could testify that she’d come a long way since. Much like Rebecca, Ashley hardly resembled the girl who’d stumbled into our club without a care in the world six months prior. That girl had no idea how to fight and certainly wouldn’t have successfully evaded me when I shot out my arm to grab for her hand. This Ashley was different. Stronger and infinitely more prepared. She dodged my attack effortlessly. On my second advance, I pressed forward with my full body, wrapping my arms around her small frame. Lightning fast, she flung her knee up into my crotch, shooting bolts of crippling pain throughout my body. I doubled over instantly.