CHAPTER 4
Rayne
PIPER WATCHED MY EVERYmovement. Her eyes flicking to different parts of my body as if trying to decipher which part she'd like to take a bite out of first. Unfortunately, for me that wasn't the case.
Move damn it.
Piper's thoughts fluttered through my mind betraying her true motives. I didn't need mind reading powers to figure that out. No. Sadly, there was nothing sensual about her gaze. Everything she was looking for was a weakness, some tell that I'd attack.
Sighing, I did what she wanted me to do and launched at her. I threw myself across the training room that was usually reserved for the twins and their workout equipment. It'd been converted to now have ample space for Piper to train. The majority of the weight machines were pushed off to one side while the floor had been covered in an off blue foam mat. The twins hadn't been too happy about having less space to work out, but we all had to accept the changes going on around us.
Piper included.
I had a half second to think I might actually hit the love of my life when Piper shifted to one side at the last moment, her wooden sword hitting me in the side.
"Why am I helping you do this again?" I grimaced as I rubbed the affronting spot. "Can't you just practice with the other hunters?"
Relaxing her stance briefly, Piper scowled. "Because I need to train against a real vampire, not a vampire hunter. While they may have superhuman powers too, it's not the same." She blew a strand of blonde hair out of her face. "Besides, they beat the shit out of me every time just to spite me, not to train me." Fucking Mizuki and her cronies.
Nodding, I cracked my knuckles. "I'm sorry. I would take this burden off of you if I could."
Piper gave me a soft smile. "I know. But there's no use in wishing. It is what it is. Now come on. I want to get some more practice in before I get called in again."
Shifting a foot back into a fighting stance, I prepared to attack again. While Piper had a weapon, I only had my hands and fangs to keep me safe. "More realistic," Piper had said. Realistic my ass. I knew for a fact several vampires carried weapons on them at all times because of situations like these. If you let your guard down, that was exactly when the hunters would strike.
"No weapons," I called out, making Piper frown. "What are you going to do if you're attacked and your weapon gets tossed or broken?" I pointed out with all seriousness. "You need to be able to defend yourself not just with an advantage."
Piper smirked. "Alright." She threw the wood sword to the side and lifted her hands into a martial arts stance she had learned from her trainer Billy. "Show me what you've got."
We circled around each other for a moment, each of us searching for an opening. I didn't want to hurt Piper but if it was what it took to keep her safe, I'd do it. I'd do a lot of things to keep her safe. Even if it meant making her hate me for it later.
Not holding back, I feigned left before dropping down and kicking out, sweeping Piper's legs out from under her. Before she could regain her balance, I was on top of her, my fangs at her throat but not piercing. "I win," I breathed along her neck. Then I felt something on my back. Something sharp. I froze.
Piper grinned up at me, her hand holding a dagger I'd never seen her pull. "I think that means I win."
Smiling back at her, pride swelled in my chest. "That's my girl." I leaned forward and kissed her neck, my hands moving from the mat to her hips.
"Rayne," Piper giggled, arching up to push me off. "We're supposed to be training, not playing around."
I laid on the floor and watched her stand up. "Yeah well how about a break? We can get all hot and sweaty the fun way." I wagged my eyebrows at her.
Shaking her head with a laugh, Piper re-sheathed her dagger in the holder under her pant leg. She was wearing a sports bra and sweatpants so there weren't many places for her to hide a weapon. I'd have to remember that next time.
"How about we finish training and then I'll think about it." She arched a brow at me. No funny business.
Pushing up to my feet, I held my hands out, showing I had nothing up my sleeves. Which in my tank top and gym shorts I literally had no sleeves. "Alright but I'm warning you. I'm not holding back anymore."
Piper's lips ticked on one side. "Good."
About a half hour later, I was even breathing heavily, and I didn't need to breathe! Old habits and all that. Piper had sweat dripping down her face and neck, sliding along her skin and between her breasts. It was quite distracting. Plus, she kept thinking naughty stuff to throw me off.
I'm going to bite that bubble butt of yours the second I get those clothes off.
My attack faltered by just a fraction of a second. It was enough for Piper to get the upper hand. She grabbed my wrist and pinned me to the mirror wall, my arm twisted behind my back.
"Give up," Piper purred into my ear, pressing her front tightly against my back. I could feel every inch of her curves and it was damn distracting.
"Depends." I licked my lips, glancing over my shoulder. "Are you going to follow through on all those things you were using to mess me up?"