I finished my set and straightened, and Cheon's hands dropped away from my hips immediately. Her face was flushed, and I couldn't tell if it was from the workout or from touching me.
Probably both.
"Last set," she announced. "Then we move to combat drills."
"Finally," Mera said, pushing herself off the mat. "Something interesting."
We rotated through the final sets. My muscles screamed. Sweat dripped down my back. But I kept going because Cheon was watching with those sharp grey eyes and I'd be damned if I tapped out in front of her.
When we finished, all three of us were breathing hard and thoroughly drenched.
Cheon grabbed water bottles from the bench and tossed one to each of us. "Good work. You kept up better than I expected."
"You sound disappointed," I said.
"Maybe a little." She smiled, small and genuine. "I was hoping to see you struggle more."
"Sadist."
"You already said that."
"It's still true."
