Breck lunged, unloading an arsenal of whatever felt right at the moment.
Kai sidestepped and chuckled. “You come at me like a bull.”
“And?” Breck grated. “Bulls are fast. Aggressive.”
“Bulls are predictable.”
“Not this bull.”
“Every bull.”
“Sounds like a matter of opinion.”
Breck came at him again, not buying the bullshit. Kai dodged, but more deftly this time. As if making a point. Breck frowned, surprised. Had Kai been holding back all these weeks?
Kai regarded him with assessing eyes. “You see? Predictable,” he repeated. “You must be nimble, your actions fluid. Like a leopard.”
“Like a leopard,” Breck repeated flatly.
Kai grinned. “I’m not your guard on the basketball court.”
“You’re my opponent. Same difference.”
“No. Not the same. I’m your adversary. Not some obstacle you’ve got to circumvent to reach the hoop. You must defeat me, not merely find a way around me.”
Breck pursed his lips. He hated lectures. “Whatever, Sensei. Can we just do this?”
Kai’s smile ebbed, as if Breck’s indifference was a slight. “Again,” he muttered, the command detached.
Breck attacked, still going with his charging-bull approach.
Punch, punch, KICK—
Kai dodged, then knocked Breck’s supporting foot out from under him with his leg.
Breck hit the mat. “Oomph!”
Shit. Should’ve seen that one coming.
Kai had been going over that move for the last two weeks.
Kai peered down at him.
Breck shot him a glare.
“Predictable,” Kai reiterated. “You must surprise me with ambush moves. Perhaps, if not like a leopard, then… maybe a lion.”
“A lion,” Breck drawled, waiting for Kai’s reasoning.
“Yes, because they’re bigger.” Kai smiled and offered him a hand. “Since, you know, you’re so determined to go with brawn.”
Breck narrowed his eyes. Was Kai mocking him now? Challenging his abilities?
Anger flared as ego reared its head. Jaw clenched, he gipped Kai’s hand—and put all his strength into giving a yank.
Eyes widening, Kai plummeted forward.
Aw, fuck.
Breck braced.
Probably should’ve planned Kai’s trajectory a little better.
Kai plowed into him.
Breck grunted, laid out flat again on the mat.
“Jesus,” Kai laughed, splayed atop him. “What was that? Some trademark move called sour grapes?” His teasing words stoked Breck’s ire, even as his warm breath tickled the hairs on his neck.
His body tightened hungrily.
Ugh. Stop it, body!
This know-it-all on top of him was not turning him on.
Forcing a scowl, he shifted stiffly under Kai’s weight. “Guess I don’t know my own strength. Or maybe you’re just not packing as much as I thought.”
Kai eased up and met his gaze. “Jeja,” he murmured. “That stunt was childish.”
Breck glared, clenching his teeth. Because, honestly, what could he say? It had been childish. But, goddamn it, Kai made him rash when he was pissed.
Kai’s eyebrow quirked. “Your jaw’s ticking. You mad?”
Breck bristled.
And why in the fuck was Dickhead still on top of him?
He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Kai shoved to his feet, pulled off his mitts, and tugged Breck up by his arm. “Why are you here?” he asked, voice serious.
Breck frowned. “For Taekwondo.”
“Yes, but why? Do you truly want to be here, Breck? Do you genuinely want to master this martial art?”
Breck glanced away. That was a loaded question. And not an easy one to answer at that. Because in truth, a part of him did want to be there… just not to learn Taekwondo. To engage with Kai. Which made no sense. Before now, he’d never been a glutton for punishment.
“Yeah. Of course,” he lied. “Why the hell else would I come?”
“You tell me,” Kai pressed. “Because it doesn’t really feel like you’re interested, at least not where learning is concerned.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I think you do.” Kai eyed him intently. “You don’t really want to be here. Just admit it.”
Breck clenched his jaw. “If I wanted to be somewhere else, I fucking would be.”
“You sure about that?” Kai sounded irritated. “You sure you wouldn’t rather be off bouncing your ball?”
Breck stiffened. “I play six days a week. I think I’m good.”
Kai crossed his arms. “So then you’re tired. Have overextended yourself.”
“I’m fine.”
“Then prove it,” Kai’s gaze hardened, “and stop wasting my time. I’m not here to entertain you. This isn’t a daycare.”
Daycare? Oh no, he didn’t.
Breck seethed. “You didn’t just say that.”
“Yes… I did.” Kai stared him down. “Why? Getting angry again? Gonna throw another tantrum?”
Breck fisted his hands.
Kai frowned and shook his head. “Where’s this king you all go on about? I see no scepter. No golden crown. Just a hole in your pretty face that needs a binky.”
A binky? A fucking pacifier?
Breck lunged, not thinking, just reacting, tugging from memory a move Tad used whenever they roughhoused. Ramming Kai’s gut with his shoulder, he snapped his arms around his thighs, then pile-drove him backward with all his might.
Kai hit the mat.
Breck followed him down hard, momentum landing him square atop Kai’s muscular chest. Breath left them in a rush, the haze of his fury evaporating. Then, just like that, their new position doorbell’ed his junk.