Page 50 of Eternally Bound
“Much better,” he said, his gaze dipping to her red lips before he tore his eyes away. “Now let’s try some live training with the shurikens.”
Kadence stopped bouncing and frowned at him. “What do you mean?”
He didn’t respond as he crossed over and pulled the shurikens free of the dummy. He carried them back to her and handed them over. “See if you can hit me with them.”
“No,” she said and tried to shove them back at him.
“Yes.” He folded her fingers around them before walking away from her. “Remember, if you hit me, it won’t kill me.”
“I’m not throwing these at you.”
“You have to know how to react against a vampire. Your hunter blood is exceptionally strong, but that doesn’t matter if you’re not properly trained. You can do this, and if you don’t, I’m going to spend the next couple of hours knocking you on your ass until you can’t sit for a week.”
“I’ve spent plenty of time on my ass these past days,” she retorted.
“I’ve been taking it easy on you.”
Kadence gawked at him as he turned to face her, the cocky look on his face both endearing and maddening.
“Don’t be afraid, Kadydid. I won’t hurt you.”
She scoffed at his words, but before she could formulate a reply, he was coming at her in a blur of speed and muscle.
CHAPTER 23
Kadence had gotten better at being able to discern where he was as they worked together, and her eyes adjusted to his fluid movements. Reacting on instinct, she released the shurikens in rapid fire, purposely aiming not to hit him, but making a point. When she released the last one, she darted to the side. She didn’t move fast enough to avoid him though.
Wrapping his arm around her waist, he lifted her off her feet before taking her down to the mat. Though he’d knocked her on her ass more times than she could recall recently, he’d never gone to the ground with her. Now, she found herself staring into his burgundy eyes when he planted his fists beside her head and his thighs between hers as he knelt over her. They didn’t touch, but the heat of him melted her body as if they were flesh to flesh.
“You got a little close on that last one,” he said with a glance at the blood beading from the scratch on his corded bicep.
Glancing down his body, she noted the slices in his black shirt and the one in his baggy pants. She could have hit him with each one she’d thrown, something she’d made sure he knew.
“Maybe I didn’t get close enough with the others,” she replied.
“Is that so?” he inquired and lowered himself so that his chest barely touched her.
Kadence sucked in her breath, but didn’t release it as his eyes dropped to her mouth and they heated with desire. All the nerve endings in her body screamed for him to touch her, to ease this need he so easily brought to life in her.
Just when she thought she might pass out from lack of oxygen, he bent his head until their lips brushed against each other. He seemed to be waging a silent battle with himself as he remained unmoving above her. Then, he let out a low groan and took possession of her mouth. Her heart knocked into her ribcage as his tongue slid over her lips before she opened her mouth to his.
The scent and feel of him filled all her senses. Her legs opened further to him, and he settled himself between her thighs. He growled against her lips and thrust his hips forward. The rigid evidence of his arousal rubbing against her made it impossible to think as sensation took her over completely. The delicious sensations his body evoked in hers made it impossible to catch her breath as his tongue drove into her mouth in the same rhythm of his hips moving against her.
Ronan stroked his hand over her face before running it down her shoulder and lower as her hips rose to meet his. He had no idea how any of this had happened, but he lost himself to the wonder of her body as he cupped and kneaded her breast.
For nearly a week, he’d kept himself restrained from touching her in an intimate way. He hadn’t planned for anything to change tonight, but he’d been unable to stop himself from bringing her down beneath him, and then there had been no denying him after.
Her back arched to press her breast more firmly into his palm. His hand twisted in her shirt to tear it away from her. He wanted to shred her clothing, bare her to him, and take her with all the savagery of the demon within him.
She’s an innocent!The reminder made him realize that, if he took her the way he planned, he would hurt her, badly. He would ruin her, but worst of all, she would hate him for it.
Ronan launched himself off her so fast, Kadence didn’t realize he wasn’t there until cold air flowed in to chill her overheated skin. She blinked at the empty space above her before turning to find him stalking across the room. His body was so rigid she thought he might break apart with the way he carried himself.
Kadence rolled over as he turned back to face her from fifty feet away.
“I am sorry,” he said in a clipped tone she barely recognized.
“For what?” she inquired as she pushed herself to her feet. When she stepped toward him, he took one back like she was a magnet repelling him.
