Page 64 of Her Highlander's Darkest Temptation
Lydia took it from his hand and tested the weight and balance cautiously. “It does feel better.”
“Aye. It should. Now then, if ye’re serious about learnin’, then there’s some things ye need tae ken.” Donall stepped up behind her, adjusting her grip on the blade and her stance. “In battle, ye willnae be able tae set yer stance, but when ye’re practicing, ye want yer feet tae be a little more than shoulder width apart, balanced on the balls o’ yer feet…”
Donall nudged her calves apart with his thigh. His blood hummed with the awareness of Lydia’s closeness, and he bit the inside of his cheek and forced himself to focus. “Now then, ye want tae hold the blade like this…”
He adjusted her hands around the hilt, making sure her wrist was straight and her grip was relaxed enough to allow flex, without being loose enough to release the hilt at the first impact.
Lydia’s hands were soft against his hand, the slim, talented fingers mimicking his positioning with ease. For a moment, his vision wavered, picturing those capable hands around his shaft, holding him with the same competence and ease with which she held the hilt of her blade.
Focus.
“Here. Once ye have the blade gripped properly, there’s the basic types o’ strikes an’ blocks. Low, middle, high. Ye start like this…”
Lydia moved with him, her body pliant in his arms, her movements graceful and fluid as he guided her through a simple pattern.
Donall could feel his body trying to respond to her movements. He bit his lip and willed himself to remain in control. “Dae ye feel it, the way the blade is supposed tae move in yer hand?”
“I think so. But, what if I do not have a blade?” Lydia tipped her head back to look at him, and Donall clamped down ruthlessly on the urge to bend and kiss her lips.
“Use yer elbow, or yer foot, or yer knee.”
To his surprise, Lydia blushed. “Oh, I know about using me knee. When those men attacked me on the road, I used that move…”
Donall recalled one of the brigands had been limping slightly and smirked. “Good.”
“But if I am not facing them…” A shadow passed over her face. “When I was held from behind, I could do nothing.”
“Here.” Donall took the blade and set it to one side, then pulled Lydia closer, gripping her with one arm around her waist and his other hand clamped on her arm.. “If ye’re held like this… stomp yer foot down. Try tae hit the instep, here…” He used his own boot to tap the relevant spot on her foot. “Or the ankle, or rake the shin… whatever ye can manage.”
“All right.”
“Another thing ye can dae… if ye’ve any movement in yer arms, drive yer elbow back, try tae hit yer captor in the gut.” He tugged her arm back in demonstration. “Hard as ye can. Aim fer the softer areas, below the ribs. Twist intae it if ye can.”
“I think I understand.” Lydia’s expression was filled with concentration.
“Show me.”
Her first effort was weak, but credible. “Harder.”
“I do not want to hurt you…”
“Don’t worry about that.” Donall grinned down at her. “I’ve taken worse in wrestlin’ matches with the men afore now.”
Her next blow made him cough, and he was certain that, with the proper encouragement and reason, she could do far more damage. “Good.”
His body was responding to her closeness, and Donall forced himself to let her go and step away, before he could embarrass himself. “Now, ye can also stab with a dagger the same way.” He gestured to the blade. “Pick tha’ up, and show me how ye use it.”
Lydia nodded and picked up the practice blade.
She was unskilled and untrained, but Donall could see that she had talent with a blade. It was raw and unpolished, but if she chose, Lydia could be a halfway decent sword-maiden.
Donall watched her practice until he caught the telltale tremor of her hands and arms that indicated she was on the vergeof overstraining herself. Then he stepped in and stilled her movements. “Enough fer taeday lass. Ye’ll be sore enough as it is, ye dinnae want tae dae yerself an injury.”
“No. Evelyn would not be pleased.” Lydia tossed her head to try and dislodge the tendrils of sweat-dampened hair that had escaped the confines of her plait. “
“Most squires beginnin’ trainin’ need a hot bath.” Donall stepped closer and lifted a hand to brush aside the damp locks for her. Her small, soft smile of satisfaction was like a siren call, and he indulged himself in a quick, chaste kiss to her cheek, where the stubborn strands of hair had been. “Ye should bathe afore ye go tae see Evelyn. ‘Twill soothe the aches.”
“Thank you. For teaching me. And for…” Lydia gasped as Donall dipped his head and claimed her lips for a more heated kiss.
