Page 13 of Maar's Girl

She steps closer, and I can smell the faint scent of her perfume. My heart hammers against my ribs. "You know," she says, her voice low, "when you talked about jalsaghar earlier... I felt it too. I wasn't just saying that."

Before I can respond, she leans in and presses her lips to mine. The kiss is soft, tentative, but it ignites a fire in my veins. For a moment, I forget everything—my mission, my lies, my very name. There's only Alyssa, her warmth, her taste.

I pull back, breathless and conflicted. Her eyes search mine, filled with questions I can't answer.

"Alyssa, I—" The words catch in my throat. I want to tell her everything, to confess, to beg for forgiveness. But I can't. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

She touches my cheek, her fingers gentle. "It's okay, Raaj. I know this is complicated. We don't have to figure it all out tonight."

I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. She gives me one last smile before disappearing into her quarters, leaving me alone with my turmoil.

As I walk back to my own room, her kiss lingers on my lips, a bittersweet reminder of what I can never truly have. I've fallen for her, hard and fast, and there's no going back now. But how can I protect her from the very danger I represent?

CHAPTER 10

ALYSSA

"Ibelieve my rehabilitation is complete," Raaj says as I walk up to him.

I feel a mix of excitement and sadness wash over me as Raaj's words sink in. My heart skips a beat, torn between joy for his recovery and the realization that our time together might be coming to an end.

"That's... that's wonderful, Raaj," I manage, trying to keep my voice steady. "You've made incredible progress. How do you feel?"

Raaj's eyes meet mine, a warmth in them that makes my breath catch. "Better than I have in a long time, thanks to you."

I can't help but smile, even as a pang of longing hits me. "I'm glad I could help. But, you know, there's still more we could work on. Your flexibility, for instance..."

"Always the dedicated therapist," Raaj chuckles, the sound sending a shiver down my spine.

"Speaking of which," I say, seizing an opportunity, "I've been meaning to ask. Have you ever tried Fanged Fighting?"

Raaj's eyebrows shoot up. "You know about Fanged Fighting?"

I nod, a hint of pride in my voice. "I picked it up in school. It's an amazing workout, and the discipline is incredible."

"I'm impressed," Raaj says, a new spark of interest in his eyes. "I've practiced it myself."

An idea strikes me. "We should spar sometime. It could be great for your rehab, and... well, it'd be fun."

Raaj grins, a challenging glint in his eye. "You're on. But don't expect me to go easy on you just because you're my therapist."

I laugh, feeling a thrill of excitement. "Wouldn't dream of it. How about this afternoon? We can use the training room in the east wing."

"Perfect," Raaj agrees. "I look forward to seeing what you've got."

As we part ways, I can't help but feel like I've broken through another of Raaj's barriers. The prospect of sparring with him, of sharing something we both enjoy, fills me with a warmth I can't quite explain.

The air in the rehabilitation center's mock cave is thick with humidity, the heat designed to mimic the natural environment of Vakutan. Sweat beads on my skin, the thin, traditional garb clinging to me like a second skin, accentuating the curve of hip and breast in a way that feels both empowering and vulnerable. I watch Raaj across from me, his own attire barely containing the coiled strength beneath. His eyes meet mine, a smoldering challenge reflected in their depths.

"Ready to get schooled?" I quip, adopting a fighting stance, my muscles taut and ready.

Raaj's lips twitch into a half-smile. "In your dreams."

We circle each other, the air charged with anticipation. The first move is mine, a swift kick that Raaj deflects with ease. He counters with a feint, then a jab, forcing me to dance back, our movements fluid and synchronized. The rhythm of our sparringis a dance, a conversation of bodies that speaks louder than words.

"Not bad," Raaj comments, his breath even despite the exertion.

I retort, "Just 'not bad'?" and launch myself at him with renewed vigor. Our limbs tangle, the slickness of our skin making grips precarious. We're both laughing now, the sound echoing off the cave walls, a testament to the joy of the fight.

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