Page 16 of The Stone Secret
“I’ll speak to Lionel,” Selas says.
Cameron nods curtly, her expression fierce. “Now let’s train.”
Not falling in love with her is going to be impossible.
CHAPTER7
CAM
Selas demonstrated how to evade, how to get under Serath’s defenses and attack, but I was struggling to nail it. Serath’s scent and proximity scrambled my mind.
I landed on my back for the umpteenth time with him on top of me, huge frame hovering over mine. He was beautiful and sexy. Yes, so fucking sexy. My skin flushed, heat focused like a firm grip on my throat and a pulsing need between my thighs. Every point of contact was fire, every breath shared was aching need.
I wanted his mouth on mine. His naked skin against mine.
His pupils swallowed his irises, and a rumbling vibration thrummed between us. He dipped his head, lips drawn to mine.
“Focus!” Selas snapped.
Shit.
Serath blinked sharply and, in the next moment, was shoved off me by Selas. She stood over us, hands on hips like a superhero facing off against a villain. “This isn’t going to work.”
Serath groaned and pulled himself to his feet, walking away from us, his hands fisting at his sides.
I closed my eyes and breathed, forcing his scent out of my head. “I can’t concentrate.”
“I know,” Selas said. “We need to rethink this training method. You two together are a bad combination.”
“We need to figure this out,” Serath said. “Once she’s an elite, we’ll be on the same team. In the same building.” Another groan.
Yes, we’d be under the same roof with our rooms close together. Rooms with beds and…Oh god, this was insane. “I need to be able to focus with him around or I’ll be a liability.”
“It won’t come to that,” Selas said. “We’ll bring in the others to help next session. Orix can take Serath’s place in hand-to-hand, but Serath will stay in the room so you can get used to his scent being present during battle.” She offered me her hand to help me up. “We will figure his out.”
My hair was a mess, most of it having come out of the tie. I yanked off the elastic and gathered it up into a high pony, then rolled my shoulders. “I’m not done for the day. Selas, can we spar? Like, really spar, no holding back on your part.”
Selas smiled wickedly. “With pleasure.”
* * *
Selas kicked my ass.
Nothing surprising there, but it gave me a chance to study her technique and to fight with Serath’s scent hanging in the air. It spiked every time Selas landed a blow, every time I hit the mat. His low growls accompanied every hit I took as if he felt the pain of it.
Selas called it after twenty minutes. “Take a seat, Cam.” Then to Serath, “You did well. I was expecting you to tackle me to the ground at one point.”
Serath looked sheepish. “I can’t say it didn’t cross my mind.” He bridged the distance between us and gently pinched my chin, tipping my head up so he could study my face. “No bruises. Good.”
“Her stone skin activated every time I landed a blow,” Selas said. “Unlike with Curi. You’re getting more in touch with your gargoyle self,” she said to me. “We can work on that more too.”
I’d only had a couple of sessions with Selas, but her methods worked. “Thank you.”
“Now take a seat and observe.”
Serath was still holding my chin, his thumb sweeping back and forth against my skin.
“Um…Serath?” Selas said.
