My words must have upset Kael because he let out a long sigh and fell silent. The surroundings were quiet, with no one nearby. Only the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves in the wind could be heard. I gazed at the dense forest in the distance, its lush greenery stretching endlessly into the horizon. It was a desolate place, likely inhabited only by wild beasts. For some reason, I felt a pang of nervousness and looked away.
After a while, Kael spoke. “Okay, Seraphina, but I think you should learn some self-defense moves. I’ve already shown you a few. Now, try using them to attack me.” He took two steps back and assumed a defensive stance. Kael was tall and muscular, his biceps visibly straining against his white T-shirt.
Even through the fabric, I could see the contours of his muscles. His expression turned serious, his deep brown eyes fixed on me with an intense, almost dark gaze. Staring into his eyes felt like peering into an abyss. My body tensed, and I instinctively took a step back. I didn’t know what I was afraid of, but Kael seemed completely different from the carefree, charming man I had known. Now, he resembled a ruthless warrior, exuding an overwhelming aura of power.
Realizing my fear, I forced myself to stay composed. Why was I afraid of him? “Come on, Seraphina, don’t be afraid. I won’t fight back,” Kael added, noticing my hesitation. Determined not to appear weak, I lunged forward, aiming a punch at his chest.
Unsurprisingly, Kael blocked it effortlessly. I followed up with a right hook aimed at his jaw, but he dodged it with ease. Frustrated, I gritted my teeth. I knew hitting Kael wouldn’t be easy, but his casual evasion only fueled my irritation, though I couldn’t quite understand why.
“Seraphina, for a beginner, you’re picking this up quickly. Try to relax and use your own methods to attack me,” Kael encouraged. Taking his advice, I began throwing punches wildly, treating Kael like a human punching bag. Yet, every strike was either dodged or blocked. My movements were chaotic, but Kael anticipated each one with precision. It was infuriating. By the time I was panting and exhausted, Kael remained calm and composed, as if watching a child play. Finally, as I threw another punch, Kael sidestepped and moved in close. His hand slid past my shoulder to the back of my head, pulling me toward him.
I wasn’t well-versed in boxing, but after watching a few matches at the Eagle Club, I recognized this move as a clinch-a way to immobilize an opponent. I wanted to curse. He had promised not to fight back, yet here he was, attacking me.
Before I could react, I was pressed against his chest. His body was solid muscle, even his chest hard and unyielding. My face collided with his chest, and I winced at the sharp pain. This was bad. Kael had complete control over me, and I hated the feeling of being utterly dominated. I didn’t want to be weak, even if I wasn’t strong.
I looked up at Kael, ready to voice my frustration, but before I could speak, he cupped my chin and kissed me. There was no warning. His lips were on mine, his tongue exploring my mouth with a possessive intensity. His taste filled my senses, and my tongue was forced to dance with his.
He was relentless, each movement of his lips and tongue sending shocks through my body, as if hammering at my heart. He stole every breath from me, leaving me weak and clinging to him for support. Kael held me tightly, as if trying to merge us into one. The kiss was entirely his domain, and I was powerless to resist.
When he finally pulled away, he nipped at my lips, leaving a tingling sensation. My lips felt swollen. “Seraphina, your stamina isn’t great. A single kiss has left you this exhausted,” Kael teased, a satisfied smile on his handsome face. His eyes, however, held a deeper hunger, the same look he gave me when we were both in bed. But this was outdoors, and even if no one was around, I didn’t want things to escalate here.
Kael’s next words snapped me out of my thoughts. “Alright, Seraphina, I think you need to work on your stamina. Starting tomorrow, you’ll join me for runs to build up your endurance.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “What?”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I pushed out of his embrace, removed my boxing gloves, and tossed them at him.
“I hate exercise,” I said.
Growing up, every girl around me had been into sports, but I had always been clumsy and uncoordinated. Whether it was ball games or running, I was terrible at all of it, which eventually led me to avoid any form of physical activity. Now, Kael wanted me to start exercising, and the idea filled me with dread. I was also worried that my unusual physical reactions might catch his attention. The incident where I had kicked Vivienne’s friend still puzzled me. How had I done that? Would they report me to the teachers? These thoughts filled me with unease.