章 572: Chapter 572: Self-Defense

Book Fifteen: Ancient Ways

Sweat stung my eyes, the thud of my hands against the heavy bag vibrating up my arms and into my chest. I leaned back and lashed out with one foot in a roundhouse, connecting solidly with the cracked vinyl, the chain creaking as I sent the bag swinging.

"Nice hit." I turned, wiping my face on the shoulder of my t-shirt to the grinning face of my kick-boxing instructor. Sage steadied the bag, deep green eyes smiling as much as his mouth.

A rather yummy mouth, as it turned out. Nice little chin-cleft, too, a bit of beard shadow roughing up his wide jaw, dark brows framing that sea-colored gaze. Thick lashes framed his eyes, lashes I was jealous of the moment I walked into the gym and he looked up to greet me.

With that same smile he gave me now.

"I'm feeling more balanced." I drew a deep breath, bobbed up and down on my toes as I faced off with the bag again. "That tip you gave me about staying lower really helped."