The third time she catches him by surprise and it reinforces his lesson about always staying focused.
Not that any man would have blamed him.
Pressed up snugly against her back, one arm wrapped tightly around her chest, with his head resting against her cheek... he couldn't help but be slightly distracted.
He was just getting ready to explain to her what to do next, willing his own body not to react to hers, when she caught him completely off guard and sent him hurtling to the floor. The spot he's been lying in for the last ten seconds trying to catch his breath.
"Oh my god, I am so so sorry! I've been reading about moves on the internet and I swear I didn't think that would even work. Are you okay, did I hurt you?"
He stares up at her from the mat finding her panic almost amusing. In hindsight maybe he should be bothered or even a little embarrassment but he isn't. She's learning and he's proud of her for that which spurs a quick recovery and he jumps to his feet flashing her a small smile, "only you could research self-defense and actually learn something from it-" he rubs his hip as he moves to stand in front of her, allowing a fair amount of distance between them. "I think I've been going too easy on you."
She doesn't like the mischievous glint in his eye and hesitates as he uses his hand to signal her forward. "I want you to tackle me-" he explains, standing casually as if he's asking he's asking her to run a computer simulation. "Don't hold back... run straight at me."
A sigh pulls from her lips as she contemplates the instruction. She's glad he's okay but it feels like a trap, some sort of misguided payback and she's reluctant to participate. "Are you sure?"
He nods his head in conformation and she shakes herself safe in the knowledge that -whatever is about to happen- he won't let her get hurt. It's a small consolation prize, one she holds onto it as she tenses and breaks out into a run. She's about to tackle him when he intercepts the move and before she can figure out what's happened she's on her back, her body trapped beneath the weight of his with her wrists pinned above her head. The only thing she can do is glare up at him as she tries to catch her breath, "was I supposed to... learn something from that?"
"Honestly, that was mostly for show." He grins at the annoyed pout but her full lips quickly draw another reaction from him and the amusement turns into something more heated... the response exasperated by her squirming beneath him. He swears she's doing it deliberately and swallows a low growl as he pushes himself up extending his hand down to her.
She accepts the offer biting her lip at the tension straining his muscles. At first she thought she was imagining things, that he couldn't possibly be turned on by their lessons but when he pulls her -a little too roughly- and she stumbles against his chest there's no mistaking the desire pooling in his gaze. For the first time it becomes abundantly clear that she's causing the reaction and her cheeks blush in response, a nervous smile playing on her lips, "now what?"
"Now we try that in reverse."
He can practically feel the heat radiating from her flushed uncertainty and it takes all of his self-control not to act on the impulse to kiss her. He knows he's playing with fire, that it's only going to get worse if he indulges it but being this close is like an addiction. He can't get get enough of her and honestly... he doesn't want it to.
"I'm going to rush you."
"No, no, no-" her senses come flooding back and she protests holding up her arms, "I have no idea what I'm doing and maybe you think I'm ready for this kind of thing but I really don't feel ready. Not that I don't trust you, cause I do. It's just-"
"Felicity, relax," he captures her flailing hands, holding them close to his chest. "I'm not going to make you do anything you're not comfortable with but I know you can do this. It's just like before except instead of using your weight to lift me you use my weight to flip yourself. We can go through it slowly... as many times as you want."
She steels a deep breath and gives a slight nod reluctantly agreeing to listen.
"I want you to hold under here-" he guides her fingers into position, waiting for her to loosely grasp his forearms. It's only a reenactment but the placement is important and he gives a gentle tug making sure she has the right grip, "good... now, you want to pull me forward and drop into a side roll using the momentum to swing yourself on top of me."
She has no idea how she's supposed to do that especially in slow motion but she starts by tugging him closer, her brain struggling to process the next steps as the space between them becomes void.
"Ok, I can do this. I like being on top..." she's half talking to herself when she realizes the words have slipped out and she flusters, quickly trying to backtrack, "on top but not in that kind of way. Well, sometimes in that kind of way... which is so not the point because I'm betting you don't get many complaints in that department-"
She slams her mouth shut, forcing air passed the lump in her throat, "I'm just going to shut up and get on top of you now... in a totally 'not that kind' of way."
Her embarrassment makes it impossibly hard to concentrate but she does her best urging him down and trying to imagine what the weight would feel like if it was all happening in real time. It sort-of works and the moment her knees skim the mat she turns using the 'imaginary' momentum to flip him. He complies with the direction and she straddles him, going over it in her mind and trying to figure out how the whole thing should piece together.
He waits patiently, swallowing roughly as the pressure on his hips threatens to drive him crazy. She's lost in her own world, analyzing and doing whatever it is 'she does' to solve puzzles but there's only so much he can take.
Why the hell did he say they could do this until she's comfortable with it? Clearly that was a mistake.
This whole thing is a mistake because now he's stuck beneath her taunted by images of what her legs would feel like wrapped around his waist and he's not sure he can take it much longer.
"Felicity?"
"Yup?" She glances down at him confusion painting her expression. He looks like he's in pain and she quickly jumps off him, offering her hand to help him up, "are you okay? I didn't hurt you did I?"
"No, sorry... just cramp." The lie is flawless and it removes her guilt which is really all he cares about. That and getting his adrenaline kick-started. Anything to take his mind off her legs and exactly where he wants them positioned right now. "You ready?"
She wants to say no but his confidence in her motivates a different response and she turns taking her place at the end of the mat. When she faces him again he's already in position and she swallows giving a nervous nod.
She can do this.
She can-
He runs at her and oh-god-she's-terrified.
A thousand thoughts flash through her mind and she grabs his arms but the momentum sends her crashing backwards, pulling his weight down on top of her as his hand winds around her back. It takes the brunt of the impact but she still screws her eyes shut as they land with a muffled thud against the mat.
"Are you okay?"
His voice is laced with concern and she blinks slowly, surprised to find that she is.
"Yeah, I think so..."
The fingers wedged beneath her back don't falter and it takes her a moment to realize that his other hand is supporting his full weight, keeping him elevated a few inches above her. Somehow he's managed to catch himself and break her fall.
Well... not somehow.
She can see his arm muscle flexing out of the corner of her eye and she swallows sharply resisting the urge to comment on it. "I'm okay."
"Good-" he slides his hand from beneath her and and pushes up on the balls of his feet. He needs to keep them moving because if he doesn't he's going to give in to the desire burning through his veins and he's doing this to help her, not put her in more danger.
"Ready to try again?"
She's still high from the adrenaline rush and can only manage a nod, her legs shaking as she accepts his arm and retakes her position. It should be less intimidating the second time round but it isn't and the only difference is, that when he lunges, she forces herself not to think.
Instead she relies on instinct and grabs his arm trying to use the momentum to roll her herself on top of him. It doesn't work. She overshoots the mark and winds up back beneath him, panting in order to catch her breath.
He's breathing heavily as well but takes their weight with ease allowing himself to linger in the moment. Her eyes are bright, her lips begging him to give in to temptation but he doesn't. Whatever is happening between them he needs to be sure and as difficult as it is to pull himself up he knows he needs to think about this before acting.
"Better," he confirms, swallowing roughly as helps her to her feet. He doesn't know if he's deliberately trying to torture himself but he takes his position again, repeating their mantra, "now... let's do it again."
He's never been confident in his emotions or his own ability to change but he's learning along with her. Progressing their relationship, taking that next step is all still up in the air but right now there's one objective he is sure of; that he needs her safe.
Whatever the cost to his sanity.
AN: Thank you for the reviews, they make my day! Sorry if this one is a little rough, it's late and I was meant to go to sleep an hour ago :P
