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Not really.
Layers of heavy fabric and pads separated my foot from his knee.
But I considered my sword an extension of my arm, and its point caressed the tip of his forehead, right where his widow’s peak led to a perfect lock of coal hair draping over his right eye.
He stayed perfectly still as I brushed it aside with my épée. “Interesting.”
“How so?”
“You’re an octopus, not a bull.”
My heart stopped in my chest.
I’d done it now.
I’d revealed myself to him.
With my stupid mouth and smartass attitude.
You wanted this, I reminded myself.
Somehow, it felt more like an accident than a goal.
I said nothing, fortunate enough to remember to breathe.
“Did you know…” His husky tenor pierced all the protective layers ofmy uniform, gliding down my skin like black velvet. “…Aristotle thought octopuses were dumb? Do you take it as a personal offense?”
Silence.
I’d frozen in place, replaying the past two periods, wondering what had given my identity away.
Zachary Sun being Zachary Sun, he didn’t let me bask in the unknown for long.
“Even behind a mask, your poker face is as mediocre as your Go skills.” His gaze tangled with mine so easily, I almost forgot that I still wore a mask. “You looked like you were sitting on a carpet of needles. Out of place and out of sorts. Quite different from my usual teacher.”
I peeled my mask back, staring down at him with a sneer.
Unruly blonde locks cascaded past my waist, bracketing my entire body. Sweat glistened on my skin.
Our eyes locked. I couldn’t stare this man down without my body humming the angry beat of a heavy metal song.
Being in constant forced proximity to him would be a problem. My body ran too hot near this man.
“So, this is how you found out about the soirée.” He tipped his head back, allowing my blade to run over the curve of his forehead and nose with the faintest touch. Adrenaline stormed through my veins. He was playing with fire. “I mentioned it in passing to you during one of our sessions.”
I didn’t respond.
Per usual, he already had it all figured out.
He assessed me with critical eyes. “You really aren’t one of them, are you?”
“One of whom?”
“Them. People. Average. Simple. Dumb.”
I said nothing.
“My, my. I’m going to have so much fun with you.” A slow smile spread across his lips. So faint. He was incredibly stingy with his happiness. “My own shiny toy. To enjoy. To abuse. To break.”
