I'm sorry it's taken so long to update. I'm totally bogged down with exam review, exams, family stuff and work. I've been completely stressed out, but I feel bad for not posting in such a long time, so this is the first half of chapter 10. Hopefully I'll have the rest up in a week. R & R if you're so inclined.
Blood Lust
Passion
The sunlight filtered through the grimy window, dappling the floor of the makeshift training room with trembling patterns despite the dirt the light had to fight through. It was nearing sunset and the slanting rays helped to cheer up the stark gray room just a little. The ancient paint covering the walls was flaking in spots, revealing the hard concrete underneath. The floor was cold to the touch, except for where the padded mats added an inch or two of protection. But neither occupant in the room was all that interested in their surroundings. They were more than just a little distracted by each other.
Alec ducked easily under her right hook, bringing up his forearm to block her follow-up. He shifted backwards and she followed, throwing offhand blows at him as they made their way around the room, moving back and forth in an intricate dance.
Alex jumped high into the air as Alec attempted to sweep her legs out from under her. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, but some stray strands had come free to dance along her line of vision. Impatiently she blew them out of her face and Alec was momentarily shocked at how cute such a simple action could be. His lack of attention cost him as Alex landed a kick at his stomach. He grunted slightly and stumbled back, a hand protectively raised against his stomach, even though it was a fairly light blow.
He eyed her accusingly as he let his hands drop to his sides. "You're holding back on me, Lex. I though we agreed to go all out?"
A look of knowing guilt flashed across her face before she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin defiantly. "So are you!" she argued back, trying to excuse herself. "I know you're not moving half as fast as you really can, so don't go telling me I'm breaking our deal."
He acknowledged her point with a cocky grin and rolled his shoulders, loosening his muscles. He noticed that when he did so Alex's gaze drifted down to his bare chest before snapping back up to his face. His grin widened and he returned the favour by eyeing the way her chest rose and fell beneath her training tank top. She had blushed when she realized he'd seen her ogling him, but when he let his eyes wander she arched one eyebrow at him with a knowing smirk.
"Why don't we start over? I won't hold back if you don't," he offered. Before she could even nod in agreement he moved against her. He blurred around her, coming up from behind and wrapping his arm around her neck. She stiffened in surprise at his speed, but reacted instantly, hooking her right foot behind his leg and knocking them both to the floor. She nailed him in the stomach with her elbow on the way down and rolled away, jumping to her feet.
Alec flipped lightly to his feet and they circled each other warily, small excited smiles adorning both of their faces. It was a few days after their confrontation and they were currently training in the biggest room in Alex's apartment. While they had discussed many different aspects of their separate and secret lives, this was the first time they had sparred together. It had been Alec that suggested it. Even though Alec knew in theory the power of the Slayer, his rather large ego made him confident that he would win their little contest and therefore it would give him a chance to show off in front of Alex. Had Alex known this, she would have caustically remarked that his attitude was comparable to the testosterone-filled spectacles lesser animals put on for females in mating season. But while she noted his confidence, she attributed it to his usual cocky swagger and accepted his challenge without making a feminist vow to soundly whoop his ass.
They moved around each other for a silent minute, looking for possible openings and weaknesses. Alex broke the impasse first, rushing straight at him, only to duck to one side at the last second, snapping her leg up. Alec barely blocked her in time and attempted to grab hold of her calf but she slid free of his grip, wheeling around the other way with her leg still in the air. This time she did manage to land her kick and he doubled over, his breath rushing out of his chest with a whoosh. He hadn't realized exactly just how much she'd been reigning in her strength! That was gonna bruise tomorrow.
Alec's competitive nature kicked in and he went on the offensive, determined not to let her get the upper hand. He attacked relentlessly, his stiff male pride refusing to let him be beaten by a human girl. And one who was a full head shorter than him too.
Alex flowed from one block to the next, almost anticipating his moves before he made them. He landed one or two hard punches, but she ignored the dull ache his fists left behind and let herself slip into what she called the 'zone'. Everything outside of their designated fighting ring fell away. She was no longer conscious of the world outside or even the room in which they were standing. All she was aware of was her footing and the man in front of her.
Alec let his face slide into an impenetrable mask, the inner soldier wiping any sign of excitement from his features. He forced her back again and again, his movements controlled and deadly. She ducked under a punch and spun around, forcing him to turn so that he was now the one being backed into a corner. He managed to maneouver his way back into the middle of the room, giving himself more space to move around.
They continued trading blows for a good five minutes, neither really gaining the upper hand. Their techniques, while almost evenly matched in ability, were as different as night and day. Alec fought with the controlled, militaristic style Manticore had trained him in. Each movement served a purpose and his style was flawless. He was every bit as dangerous as Alex was and he certainly had way more official training than she did. But she was in no way at a disadvantage. Though Alec had at least fifteen years of fighting experience on her, she had spent nearly every night of the past six years fighting for her life. But it was more than just her six years as the Slayer that allowed her to keep up with a genetically enhanced and specially trained warrior. It was instinct that dictated her movements more than personal experience. She fought with a fierceness bred into her that Manticore had never managed to achieve with its soldiers. The experience of all the past Slayers existed in her and while her technique lacked the trained veneer Alec's had, she met him blow for blow and proved she was more than equal to his challenge.
Alex swung a hard right at his face and missed, but the momentum of her punch left her with a blind side that Alec immediately exploited. He kicked her hard in the side, knocking her to the floor. He quickly kneeled over her before she had a chance to rise again and grabbed her wrists, twisting her arms up and holding them over her head. She thrashed underneath him, but to no avail.
Alec grinned triumphantly at her and settled back on his haunches, not releasing his hold on her. She glared up at him and his smile grew even wider. "Say uncle," he teased, flexing his hold on her arms. She narrowed her eyes at him, then sighed in defeat and he knew he had won. She shifted under him and suddenly her pelvis brushed up against his groin, rubbing him in completely the right way. His attention immediately shattered as he drew in a sharp breath and his hold on her wrists loosened minutely. Which was exactly what she had expected.
With amazing strength, Alex wrenched her hands out of Alec's grasp and used his momentary distraction to heave her body up against his again, this time throwing him off of her onto his back. She pounced on him in a very feline manner and kneeled on his arms, straddling his chest. She crossed her arms under her breasts and stared down at him with an innocent expression. "Uncle," she complied sweetly with his request.
He growled unintelligibly at her under his breath, then his body relaxed as he conceded the round to her. A smile spread across her face as she felt his muscles loosen underneath her. He noticed this and frowned sulkily. "You didn't play fair."
Alex shrugged unapologetically and shifted her knees to free his hands. "All's fair in love and war," she quoted at him without making a move to vacate her perch on his torso.
Alec lifted his hands and tightly grasped her hips, pulling her body down against his. He watched with a smirk as she drew a sharp intake of air as she felt him through the clothing separating them. He firmly placed a hand at the back of her neck and drew her down so she placed her hands on his chest for support.
"Well, you won the war part," he whispered huskily in her ear, flicking his tongue out to lick the corner of her jaw lightly. "Wanna see who wins the next part?"
She giggled low in her throat, blue eyes shining down at him. She tightened her hold on his shoulders and leaned forward, parted lips hovering above his mouth. Their eyes drifted shut as they kissed lightly, barely more than a mere brushing of their lips. She leaned in further, insistently deepening the kiss and he responded in kind, squeezing her hips gently in appreciation.
Things would have progressed from there, had Brian not chosen that moment to come home from work.
"Lexa? You in here? I wanted-" he cut off in mid-sentence, mouth hanging open in shock.
"Brian!" Alex leapt off of Alec as if she'd been electrocuted, face flushing a vivid shade of red. Alec was a little more leisurely about rising, straightening his hair with one hand as he glanced over at Alex, amused at the embarrassed look on her face.
"Oh God, I'm sorry- I didn't- I mean . . . I came in here to tell you I got a tip about a couple of demons holed up on Wellington Avenue in sector four." Brian appeared just as awkward as Alex, but he quickly attempted to slip into his professional mode and forget the intimate picture the couple had made on the floor. He soooo did not want to think of Alex doing that. Or anything remotely like 'that'.
Alex cleared her throat and wiped her hands on her sweats, relieved that Brian didn't mention anything about her and Alec, especially considering how he'd hit the roof when she told him she'd been discovered. "So, these just your regular run-of-the-mill baddies or do I want something from them?" She asked, not looking at Alec, who she knew had to be greatly entertained by her awkwardness with the situation.
"You want something from them," Brian replied. "They ran in the same area as that Kayorsha demon that was killed last week. You should try to find out what they know about the major evil in Seattle."
Alex nodded and asked, "Friend or foe?"
"They didn't seek me out, so I have no idea whether they're willing to deal or not. You might have to beat it out of them."
"Ooh, my specialty," she quipped, moving over to a bench lined up against one wall. She picked up a hooded sweatshirt and zipped it up. She turned back around and offered Brian a smile. "I'll be back as soon as I find them."
Alec cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him. "If you don't mind, I'll go with you," he said, pulling on his shirt.
"Oh, that's okay," Alex said, not wanting to inconvenience him by putting him in a life or death situation. "I'll be fine. You don't have to come."
"I want to," he replied simply, picking up his leather jacket and preceding her out the door before she could argue with him.
She watched his back with a small smile, touched that he wanted to come with her. Brian caught her eye and she shifted self consciously from foot to foot, but all he said was, "Be careful out there."
She smiled gratefully at him for not reminding her of all the reasons she shouldn't be involved with anyone. "I will," she replied quietly and followed Alec out of the apartment.
Blood Lust
Passion
The sunlight filtered through the grimy window, dappling the floor of the makeshift training room with trembling patterns despite the dirt the light had to fight through. It was nearing sunset and the slanting rays helped to cheer up the stark gray room just a little. The ancient paint covering the walls was flaking in spots, revealing the hard concrete underneath. The floor was cold to the touch, except for where the padded mats added an inch or two of protection. But neither occupant in the room was all that interested in their surroundings. They were more than just a little distracted by each other.
Alec ducked easily under her right hook, bringing up his forearm to block her follow-up. He shifted backwards and she followed, throwing offhand blows at him as they made their way around the room, moving back and forth in an intricate dance.
Alex jumped high into the air as Alec attempted to sweep her legs out from under her. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, but some stray strands had come free to dance along her line of vision. Impatiently she blew them out of her face and Alec was momentarily shocked at how cute such a simple action could be. His lack of attention cost him as Alex landed a kick at his stomach. He grunted slightly and stumbled back, a hand protectively raised against his stomach, even though it was a fairly light blow.
He eyed her accusingly as he let his hands drop to his sides. "You're holding back on me, Lex. I though we agreed to go all out?"
A look of knowing guilt flashed across her face before she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin defiantly. "So are you!" she argued back, trying to excuse herself. "I know you're not moving half as fast as you really can, so don't go telling me I'm breaking our deal."
He acknowledged her point with a cocky grin and rolled his shoulders, loosening his muscles. He noticed that when he did so Alex's gaze drifted down to his bare chest before snapping back up to his face. His grin widened and he returned the favour by eyeing the way her chest rose and fell beneath her training tank top. She had blushed when she realized he'd seen her ogling him, but when he let his eyes wander she arched one eyebrow at him with a knowing smirk.
"Why don't we start over? I won't hold back if you don't," he offered. Before she could even nod in agreement he moved against her. He blurred around her, coming up from behind and wrapping his arm around her neck. She stiffened in surprise at his speed, but reacted instantly, hooking her right foot behind his leg and knocking them both to the floor. She nailed him in the stomach with her elbow on the way down and rolled away, jumping to her feet.
Alec flipped lightly to his feet and they circled each other warily, small excited smiles adorning both of their faces. It was a few days after their confrontation and they were currently training in the biggest room in Alex's apartment. While they had discussed many different aspects of their separate and secret lives, this was the first time they had sparred together. It had been Alec that suggested it. Even though Alec knew in theory the power of the Slayer, his rather large ego made him confident that he would win their little contest and therefore it would give him a chance to show off in front of Alex. Had Alex known this, she would have caustically remarked that his attitude was comparable to the testosterone-filled spectacles lesser animals put on for females in mating season. But while she noted his confidence, she attributed it to his usual cocky swagger and accepted his challenge without making a feminist vow to soundly whoop his ass.
They moved around each other for a silent minute, looking for possible openings and weaknesses. Alex broke the impasse first, rushing straight at him, only to duck to one side at the last second, snapping her leg up. Alec barely blocked her in time and attempted to grab hold of her calf but she slid free of his grip, wheeling around the other way with her leg still in the air. This time she did manage to land her kick and he doubled over, his breath rushing out of his chest with a whoosh. He hadn't realized exactly just how much she'd been reigning in her strength! That was gonna bruise tomorrow.
Alec's competitive nature kicked in and he went on the offensive, determined not to let her get the upper hand. He attacked relentlessly, his stiff male pride refusing to let him be beaten by a human girl. And one who was a full head shorter than him too.
Alex flowed from one block to the next, almost anticipating his moves before he made them. He landed one or two hard punches, but she ignored the dull ache his fists left behind and let herself slip into what she called the 'zone'. Everything outside of their designated fighting ring fell away. She was no longer conscious of the world outside or even the room in which they were standing. All she was aware of was her footing and the man in front of her.
Alec let his face slide into an impenetrable mask, the inner soldier wiping any sign of excitement from his features. He forced her back again and again, his movements controlled and deadly. She ducked under a punch and spun around, forcing him to turn so that he was now the one being backed into a corner. He managed to maneouver his way back into the middle of the room, giving himself more space to move around.
They continued trading blows for a good five minutes, neither really gaining the upper hand. Their techniques, while almost evenly matched in ability, were as different as night and day. Alec fought with the controlled, militaristic style Manticore had trained him in. Each movement served a purpose and his style was flawless. He was every bit as dangerous as Alex was and he certainly had way more official training than she did. But she was in no way at a disadvantage. Though Alec had at least fifteen years of fighting experience on her, she had spent nearly every night of the past six years fighting for her life. But it was more than just her six years as the Slayer that allowed her to keep up with a genetically enhanced and specially trained warrior. It was instinct that dictated her movements more than personal experience. She fought with a fierceness bred into her that Manticore had never managed to achieve with its soldiers. The experience of all the past Slayers existed in her and while her technique lacked the trained veneer Alec's had, she met him blow for blow and proved she was more than equal to his challenge.
Alex swung a hard right at his face and missed, but the momentum of her punch left her with a blind side that Alec immediately exploited. He kicked her hard in the side, knocking her to the floor. He quickly kneeled over her before she had a chance to rise again and grabbed her wrists, twisting her arms up and holding them over her head. She thrashed underneath him, but to no avail.
Alec grinned triumphantly at her and settled back on his haunches, not releasing his hold on her. She glared up at him and his smile grew even wider. "Say uncle," he teased, flexing his hold on her arms. She narrowed her eyes at him, then sighed in defeat and he knew he had won. She shifted under him and suddenly her pelvis brushed up against his groin, rubbing him in completely the right way. His attention immediately shattered as he drew in a sharp breath and his hold on her wrists loosened minutely. Which was exactly what she had expected.
With amazing strength, Alex wrenched her hands out of Alec's grasp and used his momentary distraction to heave her body up against his again, this time throwing him off of her onto his back. She pounced on him in a very feline manner and kneeled on his arms, straddling his chest. She crossed her arms under her breasts and stared down at him with an innocent expression. "Uncle," she complied sweetly with his request.
He growled unintelligibly at her under his breath, then his body relaxed as he conceded the round to her. A smile spread across her face as she felt his muscles loosen underneath her. He noticed this and frowned sulkily. "You didn't play fair."
Alex shrugged unapologetically and shifted her knees to free his hands. "All's fair in love and war," she quoted at him without making a move to vacate her perch on his torso.
Alec lifted his hands and tightly grasped her hips, pulling her body down against his. He watched with a smirk as she drew a sharp intake of air as she felt him through the clothing separating them. He firmly placed a hand at the back of her neck and drew her down so she placed her hands on his chest for support.
"Well, you won the war part," he whispered huskily in her ear, flicking his tongue out to lick the corner of her jaw lightly. "Wanna see who wins the next part?"
She giggled low in her throat, blue eyes shining down at him. She tightened her hold on his shoulders and leaned forward, parted lips hovering above his mouth. Their eyes drifted shut as they kissed lightly, barely more than a mere brushing of their lips. She leaned in further, insistently deepening the kiss and he responded in kind, squeezing her hips gently in appreciation.
Things would have progressed from there, had Brian not chosen that moment to come home from work.
"Lexa? You in here? I wanted-" he cut off in mid-sentence, mouth hanging open in shock.
"Brian!" Alex leapt off of Alec as if she'd been electrocuted, face flushing a vivid shade of red. Alec was a little more leisurely about rising, straightening his hair with one hand as he glanced over at Alex, amused at the embarrassed look on her face.
"Oh God, I'm sorry- I didn't- I mean . . . I came in here to tell you I got a tip about a couple of demons holed up on Wellington Avenue in sector four." Brian appeared just as awkward as Alex, but he quickly attempted to slip into his professional mode and forget the intimate picture the couple had made on the floor. He soooo did not want to think of Alex doing that. Or anything remotely like 'that'.
Alex cleared her throat and wiped her hands on her sweats, relieved that Brian didn't mention anything about her and Alec, especially considering how he'd hit the roof when she told him she'd been discovered. "So, these just your regular run-of-the-mill baddies or do I want something from them?" She asked, not looking at Alec, who she knew had to be greatly entertained by her awkwardness with the situation.
"You want something from them," Brian replied. "They ran in the same area as that Kayorsha demon that was killed last week. You should try to find out what they know about the major evil in Seattle."
Alex nodded and asked, "Friend or foe?"
"They didn't seek me out, so I have no idea whether they're willing to deal or not. You might have to beat it out of them."
"Ooh, my specialty," she quipped, moving over to a bench lined up against one wall. She picked up a hooded sweatshirt and zipped it up. She turned back around and offered Brian a smile. "I'll be back as soon as I find them."
Alec cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him. "If you don't mind, I'll go with you," he said, pulling on his shirt.
"Oh, that's okay," Alex said, not wanting to inconvenience him by putting him in a life or death situation. "I'll be fine. You don't have to come."
"I want to," he replied simply, picking up his leather jacket and preceding her out the door before she could argue with him.
She watched his back with a small smile, touched that he wanted to come with her. Brian caught her eye and she shifted self consciously from foot to foot, but all he said was, "Be careful out there."
She smiled gratefully at him for not reminding her of all the reasons she shouldn't be involved with anyone. "I will," she replied quietly and followed Alec out of the apartment.
