ZAIA.
Blow after blowâ¦
The pain in my body is screaming at me to stop, to take a break and breathe⦠but I donât want to.
I refuse to.
This is a way to release the rage inside of me and itâs⦠empowering.
âZaia⦠letâs take a break.â Atticusâs breathless voice comes as he grabs my fist, yanking me against him, and twists my arm behind my back. âThatâs enough for today.â He says, looking down at me.
His hair is drenched in sweat, as is his body. Iâm the same. The hairs that refused to stay back are sticking to my face and I can feel the trickles of sweat dripping down my bare stomach as we stand there chest to chest.
âNo. Iâm not⦠but if you want to go, Iâll continue with one of my guards.â I say quietly, breaking free and turning away from him, about to summon one of my men when he grips hold of my elbow and forces me to face him.
âZaiaâ¦â Thereâs concern in his eyes as he observes me, but I refuse to let people see the cracks within meâ¦
I raise an eyebrow and tilt my head.
âWhatâs wrong Atticus? Canât you handle me?â I ask challengingly as I slowly tug out of his hold and cross my arms.
He smirks slightly before sighing and shaking his head.
âAlright then, Red, letâs go again.â He says as he adjusts his sweatpants and reâties. the string. Heâs shirtless, and heâs getting a lot of attention from the other females.
here and a couple of the guys.
He would make a good partner. I just hope he finds the one and gets that happily ever after he deserves without being hung up over me.
âChecking me out?â he asks, cocking a brow.
âI appreciate the view, but no, I was just thinking you arenât getting any younger. I want to see you settle down.â I say as I fall into stance. Iâm proud to say Iâm a fast learner and this time I make the first move.
âThat wonât happen,â he replies as he blocks meâ¦..
âOk, Iâm done, even if you arenât. I give up.â Atticus says breathlessly as I pin him to the ground, Iâm straddling his stomach a dagger to his throat. He raised his hands in surrender, dropping them onto the ground beside his head as he looks up at me.
we Hours have passed and we are the only ones left in the training hall. I know I pushed him today, but I feel a little calmer, or maybe thatâs because Iâm just exhausted.
âYou went easy on me, didnât you?â I ask, tilting my head.
âHonestly? No. I didnât because this isnât a joke, and I donât want you to underestimate the enemy or a real match. Not that you donât know how to handle yourself on the battlefield,â he says quietly, slapping the side of my thighs. âYou did good Red.â
I suddenly become aware of our position and dropping the dagger, I climb off him.
groaning at how achy my body is.
âTake a breather.â He says, grabbing my arm and pulling me onto the ground beside.
him.
My back hits the mat beneath me as I lay there beside him staring at the ceiling.
The sound of our thundering hearts as we recover is loud in the room, but itâs oddly satisfying.
Thereâs silence between us until he speaks.
âYou really want me to settle downâ¦â Atticus says, making over at him.
e turn my head to look âYes, you arenât getting any younger. Find a good woman. Life is short.â I say with a small smile.
âBut would that be fair to the woman?â he asks, his smirk fading slightly.
âWhat do you mean?â I ask. âI mean, you can be a little annoying, but youâre a good person.â
Not that I have any right to give him advice when my own relationship is something I canât even keep together.
Komentar