Page 53 of Diamond

But, first, she needs to know where to strike. "The best places to slice are here and here," I tell her, pointing at my neck and wrists. "If there is no armor, make quick stabs for the chest and belly if you are standing, and the back of the ankles or knees if you are on the ground."

She moves her head up and down, which is her way of saying she agrees, and I assume must also mean she understands.

"If you are behind someone, the base of the skull is good for a stab or you can reach around to the throat to slice… if you are tall enough."

She wrinkles the small structure between her eyes, and I smile. I was initially taken aback by humans breathing from there, but now it's just endearing. Especially now that I know that it can convey emotions, though I'm not sure which one yet.

I take in a deep breath, and then move my body behind hers, still pulling in the air as I settle myself behind her and so her personal scent invades my senses. I take a moment to enjoy it, then bend my body down so I can place the knife in her hands, carefully rearranging it so she can take it in a firm grip.

I bite down on my tongue and taste blood when I imagine her with something else in that hold. I have to keep my hips away from her so I don't announce my struggles by pressing into the middle of her back as I move my arms so they are positioned to the outside of hers.

She shivers as my braids engulf her and my fingers wrap around her wrists, but she doesn't complain. I hope it doesn't mean she is still afraid of me. My hearts constrict at the thought, but then I get distracted for a moment, enjoying the way my braids have mixed with her long hair, before pushing all the unhelpful thoughts aside.

It doesn't work and I'm right back to looking. Light mixed in with dark, soft waves caressing war braids. The glide of her hair against my skin makes me ache to run it through my hands.

This is about our survival, I remind myself, not about how much I want to touch her soft body.

It's hard to remember that admonishment after I get her arms in the correct position and then move my hands to her hips. She's just as delicate as I remember, and now as I move her, I also realize just how flexible she is.

I clear my throat. "Keep your hips shifted this way so you provide a smaller target. Good, now move your body a bit lower and shift your weight this way so you can move more nimbly."

As I shift her to keep adjusting her stance, I move my grip up from her hips to help her feel the difference between her balance in different positions. "Does that make sense?" I ask as I tilt her weight a little too far forward, then reposition my hands to pull her back.

When I do, the heavy weight of her generous breasts pushes against me and she takes in a sharp breath. I let go of her, appalled that I have frightened her, but she grabs me with her free hand, moving it back to her body, once again right under her breast.

"Like this?" she asks.

It takes me a moment to understand what she's asking, since my world has narrowed to the feel of that soft weight, then I realizethat she has moved her body back into the exact position I had her in.

I swallow thickly again, then answer. "Yes, that is correct. Then you can shift like…"

A groan tries to rise up when I realize I will need to press her up against me to best demonstrate how she can move from one stance to the next. My marks are flaring with my embarrassment as I pull her close, but she's right. We don't have much time.

28

Rin

Now that his hand is brushing the bottom of my breast, the only thing that's keeping me from turning around to see if he will let me kiss him is the unfortunate reality that learning this could save my life.

When he pulls me up against him, I almost give in anyway. It takes me a moment to remember that he is a lot taller than me, and then I register what I'm feeling between my shoulder blades. He's aroused… and big.

I'm panting as he takes me through different scenarios with his body, somehow still moving me gracefully through it despite how much smaller I am, but I force myself to focus. Even though his rough hands send shivers when they slide along the thin fabric of my black suit, or when his long braids brush against my face as he bends to rearrange my limbs.

It's easy to image how much my heart would beat in fear during an actual fight as it tries to gallop out of my chest with each new place he touches me.

By the time he stops and steps away from me I don't exactly feel like I know what I'm doing, but at least I have some idea of what to do. I'm no longer holding the knife like a complete amateur.

"That is much better, Nasrin. We will keep practicing."

I turn to him, just in time to see him rearranging himself, confirming that I didn't imagine that I made him just as hot and bothered as he did me.

It makes me even bolder than usual and I move toward him, closing the space between us again. His glowing eyes widen as I get close. I'm disappointed when I realize I would need a step ladder to try to kiss him. Instead, I reach forward, taking one of his braids in my hand, marveling at the difference in texture.

It reminds me of horse hair. Straight, thick, and even longer than the hair the genali gave me. I move my gaze back to his face. His eyes are locked on to where I have a hold of him.

"I like when you touch me, Kuret."

He takes in a shocked breath, eyes darting back to my face and his dark hairless brow furrowing. His marks are undulating and I'm convinced it means he likes what I just said. Really likes it.

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