Read Under the Cover of Night :: Training

She hadn't come to visit them. Rory wondered if it was a punishment for losing control, but then again he felt Emer was above that kind of behavior. She was a powerful vampire, not an uptight college chick who was going to ignore his calls when he upset her. He had to assume she wouldn't have time for them every night and he didn't know what kind of leeway she had within the facility, maybe she could come and go from the compound as she pleased.

Rory knew Benjamin was feeling it too, wondering when she'd come to play with them again. He remembered the trail of soap suds down Benjamin's abs and how he'd tried to hide his erection. When his hand had passed over it, Rory had found himself thinking: Touch it, and then shook it off, unsure about why he'd care. Sure, it felt good when Benjamin had sucked him off, but it wasn't like Rory was into him.

He glanced sideways at Benjamin. Benjamin was standing next to him and watching the door. His hair was so long now that black curls framed his eyes. They were both waiting for Emer. The guards had let them out and escorted them to the training room this morning. He suspected now that Lieutenant Stevenson had put him in his place; they were expected to behave.

Rory couldn't help but smirk when he noticed that Sergeant Han hadn't taken his eyes off of him. Han's hand rested on his gun and his stance was stiff. It would probably be awhile before Han relaxed around Rory again and he found the thought amusing.

The door opened and Emer walked in. Rory felt her pull and wanted to go to her, but stayed where he was. As she approached, the smell of grass and car exhaust reached him, confirming his suspicions that she'd left last night.

Unlike the endless thunder of human hearts around them, her heartbeat was dull and steady, like his and Benjamin's. Rory found her presence calming—even though he knew she was about to make them bleed.

Much to Rory's surprise, however, Emer didn't pick up her sword and shield. Instead, she waited for Lieutenant Stevenson to join her. "Lieutenant Stevenson will be assisting with your training for the next couple of weeks. We will start with some basic strikes and then move into kicks and takedowns. When I feel you have a firm enough grasp on the basics, we will begin sparing."

Rory and Benjamin both nodded.

Stevenson stepped forward, "Assets ninety-one and ninety-two! Show me what you think a punch is and I'll decide if you're right. Let's get started."

The training session had been long, and despite Benjamin's new strength and speed, he was tired. Once Stevenson had established he and Rory were a pair of "pampered millienials who still sucked on their mama's teets," he had them do drills. They had to jab, hook, and then uppercut with their dominant arm and then repeat with their other one.

Though Benjamin could still do the motions, he hadn't anticipated being this fatigued. He thought his new strength and speed meant he'd never tire, however, he was exhausted—and the more tired he was, the hungrier he became.

When he stepped forward and did his second to last jab, he imagined punching through Stevenson's chest. Benjamin wanted to open up his hand, grab Stevenson's heart, and pull it out, still beating. He needed to feel it, hot and pulsing in his palm; the blood pouring down his arm, and then he wanted to bite into the savory pillowy flesh...

"Ninety-two! Pick up that arm and watch your form!" the Lieutenant ordered.

And while Benjamin imagined killing Stevenson with each punch, he managed to finish the training session without actually murdering him.

The Lieutenant eventually turned and left without praise or goodbye and just when Benjamin felt he'd finally get to relax, a sweet voice whispered behind him, "My turn."

The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

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Published by Raven's Hollow Art and Publishing

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