Some Characters and Ideas borrowed but the Storyline is Mine. NO COPYING!

Chapter Nine – Duel

Clay was exactly as Raze had described him. What he had failed to mention though, was how good he looked. When I entered the room I was transfixed, just like a rabbit caught in the path of a wolf. Good analogy. I think I stood there for around five minutes admiring how blonde his hair was and how nice his tanned, muscled body looked – not too bulky; but nice and perfect - as he blocked Raze's advances.

Alcide broke my trans-like state when he knocked my elbow and had a giant grin on his face. I realised that Raze and Clay had stopped fighting and were now standing there, looking at me. Damn that body chemistry! I couldn't help blushing and even thought of turning around to run out but Alcide was behind me, blocking my escape route as if he had read my mind.

'You must be Max.'

'Yes, I guess you're Clay' I responded in a very small voice. I almost wished I would die that moment; I was mortified. I started to back up because I hated being embarrassed, but Alcide put both hands on my shoulders and gave me a slight push. I glared at him but he just smiled and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. 'You're dead' I uttered through clenched teeth.

I could hear Raze and Clay laughing behind me so I turned round and glared at them, but it just made them laugh harder. Just great! If there is one thing I hate more than being embarrassed; it is being embarrassed with people finding me funny and laughing at me. 'Stop it' I groaned. The laughing died down to a few chuckles and as Clay apologised he shot me a dazzling smile. Nice white teeth, I thought. I realised I was starting to drift off into dream world again so I stopped myself. Even though he still had laughter in hid eyes, at least he had stopped laughing.

'Um… you fight' Clay asked.

'What weapons?'

'Any, really. Want to duel?' I shot him a nefarious grin. 'You can choose the weapon; or we could fight hand to hand if you want?'

'You know how to use a Bokken or a Shinai?'

'Sort of, but we don't have any here. How about Escrima Sticks?'

'Ok.'

Clay walked over to the weapons cabinet on the far wall and picked up two. He threw me one which I caught one handed and started to twirl it around, to get the feel of it. I have good reflexes. 'I'm actually wearing the wrong clothes for this, but never mind. Want to place a bet on who wins?'

'Nah, not really. Raze? Alcide?'

'Because you have never fought with each other before, there is no point.'

'Aw, come on!' I retorted exasperatedly.

'Lets just test each other this time and then place a bet on the next duel. Ok?'

'If there is a next time, that is' I quipped with a predatory grin. Clay shot me another of his dazzling smiles. This was going to be harder than I thought; if all Clay had to do to distract me was grin. Why was I so attracted to him?

We took our fighting stances in the middle of the room and the duel began. Block, block, strike. Strike, strike, block. We continued in this style as we tried to find gaps in each others defence. After a short time I noticed that we had attracted a small crowd. Well, two people apart from Alcide and Raze. One was a guy with shoulder length black hair and to my dismay, the other was Lucian. Brilliant.

My next attacks grew more aggressive as I decided to imagine that I was fighting Lucian instead of Clay. My fierceness took Clay by surprise and he almost had his Escrima Stick knocked from his hand.

'You're good.' Clay remarked without breaking eye contact or slowing down.

'Surprised?'

'No, just commenting.'

'You're not too bad, yourself.'

'Thanks.'

We then continued to spar in silence. After another 20 minutes of the block, block strike sequence I decided I would add some variation and liven it up. I struck twice rapidly and then without giving Clay and chance to respond, I swung my stick round and swept him off his feet. He landed on his back on the mat.

'Hey, no fair!'

'You should have been looking out for it. If you notice the signs, it can be quite easy to counter.' I held out my hand to pull him up. However, he had a different idea. He caught me with my own trick and it was my turn to hit the floor. He stood up and grinned triumphantly but I foot-swept him and he fell back down on top of me. We rolled around the mat trying to see who was best, laughing. We were both extremely competitive.

I thought I had finally pinned him, but he tickled me which made me squirm and lose my balance. He rolled me over and lay on me so I couldn't move. I struggled unsuccessfully to get him off me and he just laughed. I was shocked when he then leaned down and kissed me. I froze after he pulled back and lay contentedly with his arms crossed over my chest, resting his head on his arms and a satisfied smile on his lips. I lay immobile, mouth opening and closing like a fish. 'I'm not that bad am I?' he joked.

'Never… been…Not…before…' I gasped and started to blush.

A round of applause rose from the small crowd as Clay helped me up. He stroked my cheek gently, which made me look up to meet his eyes. 'I'm sorry.' He apologised. 'I should have asked.' That made me blush even more.

'Yeah, you should have' I answered softly, but I looked up and grinned faintly. He hugged me against him.

'You up for a rematch later?'

I laughed. 'Fine.'

'I'll hold you to it.'

I smiled and then noticed Lucian making his way towards us so I made an excuse of needing another shower and left to go to my room. I hoped to have as little contact with him as possible.

Alcide caught me in my room and congratulated on how well I fought Clay. Then he grinned wistfully and asked what I thought of him to which I groaned and told him to be quiet. I then actually went to have that shower. I relished in the warmth as the shower soothed my aching muscles. It showed that I had finally used my full potential and it was a good ache. As I dried off, pulled an oversized sleep shirt over my head and crawled into bed, I thought about Alcide's question. I didn't know how I felt about Clay but I was too tired to think about it deeply.

As I drifted off to sleep I pictured Clay with his mischievous grin and looked forward to seeing him again. Could it be love at first sight? Did such thing exist? And anyway, could I love him even if he was Lucian's son? These thoughts plagued my dreams but I fell asleep with a faint smile on my lips.