Winter Fire (The Witchling #3)(32)

“No, I’m done,” Morgan said carefully.

“He’s taller than the others. Maybe you’ll listen when I tell you to use your lower center of gravity instead of fire,” Conner returned.

“No worries, Connor,” Beck said casually. “If she’s done, she’s done.” Every fiber of his being told him to stop there, but he couldn’t help but want to get a jab in while he had the chance. He was far too frustrated – and attracted to her – not to want to see her flush. “Besides, I don’t want you kicking my ass, Connor, if I mess up.”

Connor laughed. “Yeah, true.”

Morgan whirled.

Beck smiled, loving the look on her face and the spark in her eyes.

Your turn. He mouthed to her. She sneaked a hasty glance at Connor, and he realized she was afraid to tell her brother about last night.

“So you won’t fight me, because you’re afraid of my brother,” she said, planting one hand on her hip.

“I’ll be moving out of the way,” Isaac said, shifting away.

Beck shrugged, reminded of a similar conversation from yesterday. It was a button, and yes, it felt good to push it. In a public setting, nothing was going to happen, especially with Connor there.

“Go ahead, Beck,” Connor said. “You’re the only one I trust here.”

“Beck?” Morgan raised an eyebrow at him. “He sleeps with every girl at school.”

“Only the blondes,” Beck corrected and winked.

She flinched physically before her face flushed deep crimson.

“I’ll go one more round,” she said.

“You sure?” Beck asked.

“I insist.”

“Nice knowing you, Beck,” Adam said quietly.

Beck stepped onto the mat. He really didn’t mind the thought of putting his hands on her again.

“Don’t worry,” he told Connor. “I’ll go easy on her.”

Conner smiled. “I’m not worried about her.”

“Hey, Beck, watch out. She has a killer – “

Smack! Beck was driven back a few steps as Morgan’s first kick landed at his temple. His ears rang.

“ – roundhouse,” Isaac warned. “Sorry.”

“Morgan! You don’t use full force!” Connor barked.

“His head is hard enough. He’ll be fine, Connor,” she replied.

“No, no, I deserved that one,” Beck added quickly. He met Morgan’s gaze. She was smiling proudly.

Connor looked at him quizzically.

“I wasn’t expecting someone so small to kick so high,” Beck said and shook his head. He squared off with Morgan, whose hands were up in a ready position. “You hit hard.”

“I have to. People like to take out their issues on me,” she snapped.

“You should probably stay away from people like that.”

“I’m trying.”

“You’re here in the guys’ gym this morning why?”

“For picking a fight with one of the girls in dance class,” Connor answered.

Beck forced himself not to smile. “So my talk yesterday didn’t work?”

“Which one?” Morgan challenged.

“Am I missing something?” Connor asked warily.

As if also afraid of Connor finding out about last night, Morgan launched at him. Unaccustomed to sparring with girls, Beck didn’t want to make the first strike for fear of hurting her. Even if she held nothing back on him, he planned to pull his punches and let her win.

She hit hard and well, her stature and size giving her the advantage of speed. Beck blocked one kick only for her elbow to land in his ribs. He snatched her wrist and spun her, but before he could pin her against him, she slammed her heel into his instep and threw her weight, the way her brother told her to. Beck lost his grip, and she slapped him hard enough that he laughed, feeling her frustration with him.

“Good, Morgan, good!” Connor cried.

Fire magick was creeping into Beck. Decker was right; the element made Beck want to engage her rather than retreat, as he planned. Their brief touching lit his blood on fire in a way he’d never felt before. He wanted her in a way that he didn’t think possible: more than physically. Her fire and her wit were total turn ons as well.

“Alright,” he said, flashing a smile. “Now, I’m ready.” His cheek burned from her slap.

The guys laughed.

He assessed her stance. He had a feeling that – on their feet – she’d win. She was quick and able to maneuver quickly, with a repertoire that relied upon kicks and punches. Those required distance. No, he wasn’t going to beat her on their feet.

On the ground, however, where his size became an advantage he could use it to overpower her; He reasoned that her ability to kick or punch would be nullified. Of course, he had to get her on the ground, first. He might end up black and blue.

Suddenly, he wanted to win. He wasn’t sure why, except that it mattered to him that she saw he wasn’t going to back down. Whatever her issue was with guys, she clearly was accustomed to them running from her or her brother. Her two hits hurt. He really wasn’t too keen on being a punching bag today. He dealt with enough of that from Dawn.

Morgan kicked at him again.

Beck kept his blows gentle and his blocks even gentler, not wanting to hurt her, even accidentally. He wanted to win – his way. The way that his brother and mother and everyone else seemed to think was the wrong way. He wanted to win without anyone getting hurt.