Hearts and Minds by JC Hay

Author:JC Hay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Space Pirate, Psychic, Beta Hero, Alpha Heroine
Publisher: Metal Pig Press
Published: 2017-03-11T16:00:00+00:00

GODS SHE’S FAST. It was all the more thought he had time for before she was on him. The first shot caught him squarely on the chin and rocked his head back like a hinge. She smiled, predatory, like a shark that smelled easy prey. “That one I owed you.” The anger rolled off her in slow waves, equal parts aggression and dominance.

He grinned. “We’re even, then. My turn.” He threw an assortment of obvious shots, probing her defenses. She had reach on him, but only barely. Her biggest advantage that he could see was speed. Well, speed and a disarming beauty. He refused to think about the latter further. She countered his punches without comment, but he could sense the frustration in her. She wanted more of a challenge from him. He was happy to oblige.

She turned his next punch back on him, spun the block into a grab before he could pull his arm back. She drove two quick punches into his unprotected ribs and shoved him away. He countered by letting the shove spin him around so that he was behind her and launched a flurry of jabs that slipped from inside her guard to land on her shoulders and mid-back. She spun into another series of attacks and this time he gave ground, hoping she’d follow him.

She bought into it completely. Her left hand dropped and Galen snapped his right leg up to attack the opening. She caught him by the ankle and his momentum twisted him out of position, left him glaring up at her while she levered him off balance. “You telegraphed the leg too much. Nice try though.”

He returned her smile. “Glad you approve.” He flipped backwards, kicking out of her hand and driving his left foot squarely into her sternum. He came down, lightly, ready for her counterattack.

She didn’t disappoint, lunging forward with a speed that made him feel like he was in slow motion. He blocked what he could, marveling at how fast she could change stance and attack from an unexpected angle. When he pressed back, she fell away like water—his hits either not landing or landing without any force behind them. Pride was quickly supplanting the anger and frustration in the complex tangle of her emotions. She was enjoying herself. He tensed to lunge forward when Bree called out, “Time.”

They both relaxed, and she tossed him his towel from the side of the ring. “You’re pretty good.”

“I learned a lot watching the guards brawl at the embassy. When I was old enough, Mom let me attend martial arts with them. Said it would be good for my discipline.”

“Was it?”

“No clue, really. I always thought my discipline was good beforehand.” The AI called out a warning and Galen wiped his face one more time before tossing the towel out of the ring. “What do you think?”

She gave her feral grin again, and his pulse quickened. Gods, she has no idea how sexy she is. “That you need to study more.” Bree called the end of the break, and Syna attacked again.

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