"Damn, you're pretty when you sweat." Ezariel's trademark devilish grin flashed across his face once more. Jackie had awoken in a different room. It was more of a warehouse, styled as a training centre. Ezariel had almost straightaway engaged her in a close-combat sparring session. Jay was dressed in sweatpants and a tight tank top again and Ezariel couldn't help but notice her fabulous shape. She was, without any reasonable doubt, a gorgeous, curvaceous woman. His comment earned him a hard kick in the face, and he grunted from the impact.
Jay had impressive form. Her style was half martial arts, half full on kickboxing. Her style highlighted her feminine body and Ezariel was thoroughly enjoying himself. She threw a halfhearted left hook at him and he caught her arm and twisted it into an awkward position and pushed her roughly, yet safely, into the nearest cold, concrete wall.
"You don't seem very into this, love," Ezariel said in her ear.
She quirked an eyebrow and winced in pain. "You're hurting my arm."
"Tough. What's up with you?"
Jackie hesitated. "I'm tired, and out of shape, E."
"Hm," Ezariel said softly and then twisted her around and trapped her with his arms with her back against the wall. "Well then, maybe it's time you got back into shape, huh?"
Jay looked at him innocently. "How?" she asked.
E grinned. "Throw yourself into this, babe."
Jackie lashed out and hit him, sending him careening backwards. She took him by his right arm and twisted it behind his back, making him cry out in pain. She then sent him flying towards the wall closest to him and pinned him there.
"Now who's out of shape?" she grinned.
He laughed and groaned at the same time. "Alright, alright. You win."
She relented and he turned to face her. "Mmm," was all he managed to get out at the sight of her sweaty skin and messy hair.
"So what's next, boss?" she asked smoothly. He grinned, took her hand, and pulled her towards the nearby bathroom.
"E, what are you doing?" Jay asked confusedly. He pulled her into the bathroom and pointed.
"No. Way." She said it with shock etched into every line of her angelic face.
"I warned you." The bathtub was filled with water, and ice floated in it, making it glacial cold.
"You want me… to…?"
"Yes. How to withstand severe pain and torture, remember?"
Jackie groaned, but pulled off her tank top. Ezariel grinned wickedly at the sight of her lacy bra. She smiled and turned away from him, so all he could see was her back.
"Now that's just mean," he said jokingly.
Jackie grinned and shed her sweatpants, and then with a gasp entered the icy bath. Without any orders, she submerged her entire body into the frosty water. Ezariel looked on appraisingly. Jackie stayed submerged for a minute or two before breaking the surface, shivering violently.
"Two more times, Jay, and then we'll get you warmed up."
Jackie just nodded and determinedly submerged herself again. After two more ice baths, E helped her out of the bath and into a separate room where a change of clean, warm clothes laid waiting. Ezariel waited in an adjoining bedroom while she dressed and then called her in once she finished.
He patted the space beside him under the comforter and said, "Come join me."
Jackie was still shivering violently but she managed to get out, "W-why… would I d-do th-that?"
"You'd do that because if you don't there's a fair chance you'll suffer lasting effects from hypothermia."
Jackie glared, but crossed the room to lie beside E anyway. After she lay down, E threw the covers over her and twisted a protective arm around her shoulders, inviting her closer. Jay didn't like the intimacy, but E's skin was warm and soft. Jackie involuntarily cuddled towards him so her cheek was resting on his chest and her eyelids slowly closed. Her body was exhausted from all the shivering, and it was comfortable here. E wrapped his arms closer around her fragile body and allowed himself rest as well.
They didn't realize they'd fallen asleep in each other's arms until the next day.