Page 13 of Guardian’s Destiny (Space Guardian’s Mate #3)

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After a short break where we refreshed ourselves with a drink of water, we went back to our initial sparring positions. I circled Sloane, eyes fixed on her enticing form as she mirrored my movements. The training room's lighting cast a soft glow on her skin, accentuating every curve and muscle. I swallowed hard, pushing away the sudden urge to reach out and touch her.

"Ready?" I asked, my voice gruffer than intended.

Sloane nodded, a determined glint in her eyes. "Bring it on, big guy."

I lunged forward, aiming a slow punch at her midsection. She easily sidestepped, countering with a swift jab to my ribs. I grunted, more from surprise than pain.

"Not bad," I admitted, impressed by her speed and precision. "But remember, in a real fight?—"

My words were cut short as Sloane swept my legs out from under me. I hit the ground with a resounding thud, the air pressed from my lungs.

"In a real fight, I shouldn't let my guard down?" Sloane finished my sentence, a smirk playing on her lips as she stood over me.

I couldn't help but chuckle, even as I winced from the impact. "Exactly."

As I climbed to my feet, I found myself acutely aware of our size difference. I towered over her, my muscular frame dwarfing her smaller one. Yet she moved with a grace and confidence that belied her stature.

"Let's try again," I said, settling into a defensive stance. "This time, focus on?—"

Sloane didn't wait for me to finish. She darted forward, and her fist connected solidly with my solar plexus. I doubled over, caught off guard by the force of her blow.

"Sorry!" she exclaimed, but the amused glint in her eyes betrayed any attempt at genuine concern. "I didn't mean to?—"

I waved off her apology, straightening up with a pained smile. "Don't apologize. That was... impressive."

I wanted to tell her how captivating she was, how her determination and skill left me in awe. But I held back, knowing she still viewed me with a mix of wariness and distrust.

Instead, I cleared my throat and said, "Your technique is indeed pretty good for a human. But remember, an opponent my size won't go down so easily."

Sloane raised an eyebrow, a challenge in her voice. "Oh? And how would you suggest I take down someone like you?"

The question sent my mind spiraling in decidedly unprofessional directions. I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand.

"Well," I began, moving closer to demonstrate, "when facing a larger opponent, you'll want to use their size against them. Like this?—"

As I reached out to position her arms, our mating marks brushed, sending a jolt of electricity through me. I wondered if she felt it too, this undeniable pull between us. But for now, I had to be content with these small moments, these fleeting touches during our training sessions.

I stepped back, trying to regain my composure. "Now, try that move on me."

Sloane nodded, her eyes narrowed in concentration. She launched forward with surprising speed, and before I knew it, I was flat on my back, staring up at the training room ceiling.

"Like that?" she asked, a hint of smugness in her voice as she stood over me.

I couldn't help but chuckle, both impressed and slightly humiliated. "Exactly like that. Though I have to admit, I wasn't quite prepared for how... effective you'd be."

As I got to my feet, wincing slightly, I realized I'd severely underestimated her abilities, and keeping up with her was proving to be a challenge.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?" I asked, curious.

Sloane's expression turned guarded. "Do you actually ever use that brain of yours for listening, or is it simply programmed on how to get women on their backs?"

"I thought that was the whole purpose of this training, getting you on your back?" I countered, winking at her, enjoying the flames dancing in her eyes as her temperament rose. Before she could erupt like a volcano, I raised my hands in deference. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have underestimated you. You said you were in the Marines, whatever kind of army that is, and you were well trained."

She gave me a narrowed eye once over before she nodded. "Alright, can we get serious then?"

This time when we circled each other, I was a lot warier of her than before. I watched her every move carefully, like I would any other opponent. Every action she made was calculated and precise. I found myself working harder than I had in years, struggling to match her intensity.

"You're full of surprises, aren't you?" I panted, narrowly dodging a well-aimed kick.

"You have no idea," she replied, her eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and something deeper, more intense.

In that moment, I realized I was in trouble – and not just in terms of our sparring match. This female was getting under my skin in ways I hadn't anticipated more than the mating marks already. I had watched the other males with their mates, had enjoyed their banter and affection for each other, and had even yearned to find it for myself. Now I realized that just because Sloane and I might have the same mating marks didn't mean anything to her. If I wanted her to be my true mate, I would have to work for it, for her. And I had a feeling she wasn't going to make it easy.

The padded chair was comfortable enough, but I wanted to share the bed with her. I wanted her .

"Is this enough for you for today?" I asked a little while later, while sweat was dripping from every corner of my body. This female had given me a workout I hadn't had in a very long time. That and the constant focus on not hurting her or getting overly aroused had taken their toll.

"Are you ready to concede?" She grinned a challenge.

She didn't look much better than I felt. Her hair was plastered in places to her head despite the carefully arranged ponytail she was wearing. Her bodysuit wasn't doing much better, emphasizing her delectable curves and giving me another hard-on.

"Let's call it a truce for today and continue tomorrow," I offered generously.

As much as she was trying to mask it, she was breathing as heavily as me—clearly outlined by her voluptuous breasts as they heaved underneath the snuck material.

"Alright," she nodded, pushing some of the hair that had come loose from her face. "Dibs on the shower."

"Dibs?"

"That means I go first." Her grin turned into another challenge.

"Fine by me." She looked surprised at my easy surrender but didn't reply and walked out of the training room, with my eyes glued to her behind. I was sure she was swinging her ass on purpose, knowing fully well where my gaze had traveled.