End Point

Chapter 13

"Ellis, time to get up!" Adam said as he shook her awake.

Ellis stared at him blearily, before she grabbed the blankets, and pulled them over her head.

"Just let her sleep." Ash said from the hallway.

Ellis sat up immediately, clutching the blankets to her chest.

"What're you doing here?" she glared at Ash.

"You're dressed, just so you know." he pointed out wryly.

Ellis glanced down, realized she was wearing a pretty black lace nightgown, and cocked her head to the side trying to decide if it was better or worse than being naked. Then she shrugged. It was Ash, and if he had any lecherous thoughts, Adam would kill him. It was all good.

"You were supposed to start training today. Of course I am here." Ash said with a sigh.

"Oh yeah... that." Ellis turned her glare full throttle on her fiancé who blinked at her innocently. He had decided that she needed to get better at hand to hand combat, and ahd somehow conned her into agreeing to be taught, and Ash into teaching. Apparently, Adam didn't think he'd be able to teach her properly.

"Get up, love." Adam said calmly, completely unfazed by her death glare.

"But..." Ellis started, but Adam just gave her calm eyes. Ellis sighed, and nodded. Then she turned a narrow eyed look on Ash.

"Out!" she snapped.

"What did I do?" Ash whined.

"Ash." Adam said coldly and Ash gave Ellis a dirty look before he moved out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Ellis pushed the blankets away and slid out of bed. She could feel Adam's eyes on her as she walked to the washroom and gave him a sexy smile over her shoulder. "Like what you see?"

"I love what I see." he drawled. "But even that is not going to get you out of this."

Ellis stuck her tongue out at him, and she slammed the door of the washroom so hard that it's hinges rattled. Adam laughed.

...

"You ready?" Ash asked, looking apprehensive. Ellis had had a murderous aura around her ever since she had come downstairs. He had no idea what Adam had done, but he sure has hell was not grateful for it.

Ellis nodded, and for the first time, Ash realized that all the anger was just a cover. He was teaching her actual physical combat, and now he understood why Adam could not teach her. Ellis knew how to fight, what she really needed to learn was to master her fear of other people in general, and other men in specific. He slowly advanced on her, but instead of making it silent, he kept talking as he moved, telling her how he was moving, how she could counterattack, where she could side step and where she should press her advantage.

Soon it was all about the physical movements, and the only thought left in her mind was the next attack; the next counter. Adam watched it all from the side and not once did he interfere. Not even when Ash accidentally landed a punch on Ellis's ribs.

"All right! That's it for today." Ash said finally, and Ellis simply collapsed on the mats. Adam had converted the basement into a gym. Half of it was weights and machines, while the other half was a dojo. The poor laundry machine had been given one teeny tiny corner. She had thought the dojo was for him to train with his team mates. Now she knew better.